The Second millennium BCE lithic assemblage from Area E, seasons 2005-2011

During the 2 nd millennium BCE in the Near East, metals became more and more available and used. Nevertheless, this increasing availability of metals, first copper and then bronze, did not immediately result in the general cessation of the production and use of flint tools for either specialized or domestic activities, at least until the spread and general adoption of iron technology, in the early 1st millennium BCE (Rosen 1997). The 2nd millennium BCE assemblage recovered from Tell es-Safi/Gath, Area E, well reflects this scenario, already documented in other contemporary sites in the Levant (e.g. Rosen 2004 with references). These flint collections are characterized by two different components, a formal and standardized production of Large Geometric sickle segments, and a non-diagnostic manufacture of ad hoc tools produced and used in domestic contexts. Although the formal types show the existence of a craft-specialized production of sickle elements, the non-standardized ad hoc tools and the waste products associated with their production also offer important information about the production and use of flint in early historical times.