Canaanean blade technology: New insights from Horvat Ptora (North), an Early Bronze Age I site in Israel

Technological analysis of material from the excavations at Horvat Ptora (North) offers new insights into the Canaanean blade technology in the southern Levant during the Early Bronze Age I. Regular blades were detached by using two different techniques, indirect percussion and pressure blade removal, according to their position within the reduction sequence. Moreover, if a lever-pressure system permitted detachment of large blades, the frequency of narrow blades suggests that long crutches in a standing position were employed as well. Technological variability indicates that the modalities of Canaanean blade detachment were not so uniform, and shows that the knappers adopted different strategies. The recognition of knapping mistakes suggests that some episodes of knapping took place on-site. This hypothesis is supported by the identification of some core-trimming elements and other flakes linked to the preparation of flint nodules. If the production of Canaanean blades reflects a specialized activity performed by a few skilled and expert artisans, their use seems to reflect a wide range of functions, not only as sickle elements and reaping knives specifically employed in agriculture, but also other tool-types used in expedient and domestic activities. A “lower” value of Canaanean blades, suggested by the lesser development of gloss, and of resharpening, and the expedient use of blades, seems to suggest that these blanks were easily available and that specialized knappers regularly supplied the site.