Topic 1: Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements during the Early Civilization Period

Iron Age

Sources:
http://www.bu.edu/anep/Ir.html

# The Iron Age is divided into two periods -

1. Iron I (1200-1000 B.C.)
2. Iron II (1000-550 B.C.)

1. Evolutions in Iron I:
 Numerous small settlement and significant sedentary occupation started (Palestine, Israel,
Egypt, etc).
 Many of the fortification lines built in the Bronze Age continued into the Iron Age I
especially at sites in the lowlands. In the Philistine plain, several cities (Ashdod and Ekron)
are surrounded by newly constructed solid brick walls.
 In the hill country, which was sparsely populated in the Bronze Age, most newly established
villages (Kibbutz Sasa, Ai, Raddana, Bethel, Tell Beit Mirsim, Arad, Tell Malhata and Tell
Masos) were unfortified throughout Iron I. Some sites, however, do have houses built
around the perimeter, thus creating a flimsy form of protection.
 There exist a number of forts dated to the end of Iron I. Such forts consist of casemate walls
and towers located at the corners, thus extending the defensible perimeter.
 Square house with central courtyard with rooms off the
courtyard was built (Egypt).
 The ring city developed in the cities in Judah and Israel. It is
also known as radial city now. A paved or cobblestone inner
street runs parallel to the fortification wall with storage
houses and other buildings abutting that wall. Just inside
the entrance gate there appears to be a square with public
buildings. Various other radial streets fan off that square or
off the main ring street. Such streets are usually paved or
cobblestone and are generally two to three meters wide.
The origin of such a plan was developed in the village design.
 Well structured temples have elongated rooms with pillars, an altar, and portico entrance
made which was used for both religious and social works.
 Vehicles using wheels made and used (Chariots, Horse Carriage, Cart)
 Water systems were constructed and used at the most of the Iron Age to provide access to
underground springs, especially during times of siege. Hidden staircases leading down the
outside of the tell to underground water occur at the end of the Bronze Age and the
beginning of the Iron Age. Such systems, although providing access to the water, may have
proved to be vulnerable to enemies surrounding the city. Another early water system at
Gibeon was a large circular shaft inside the city walls. Stairs along the perimeter of the pit
led down to the base and underground water.
 Burial system changed with little significant changes from the Bronze Age where ordinary
people were buried stone-lined cists or cut tomb and some riches used anthropoid coffins.
 There was little change in the shapes and style of pottery from Late Bronze age. An excessive
use of paint on the shoulder and upper half of vessels is found on early Iron I vessels, but by
late Iron I it begins to disappear.
 Most weapon styles continued into without any significant change. The weapons also
continued to be made of bronze, though iron weapons began to appear.
 Jewelry was made by gold, bronze, etc and became very popular.
2. Evolutions in Iron Age II:
 Fortification still developed (Solomonic Fortifications). Solid walls, some with crenellations
appeared to offer more protection. By late there was a return to the construction of
casemate wall system. At the end fortifications with two fortification lines, one half-way
down the slope and the other at the crest of the mound developed. An elaborate gate
system provided entrance into the city. The depictions show towers built along the wall at
regular intervals. The towers have parapets with shield-like designs. Windows also are
located below the towers.
 The fort's building structures were used as temple and store rooms.
 Houses developed in many ways
 Houses with the four-room house with rows of pillar were made both in the hill
country and on the Philistine plain. The pillars in a courtyard area probably held up a
shed area where cooking and other chores were performed and where animals may
have been stabled. Rooms were generally elongated rectangles.
 Later solid walls replaced the row of pillars. Houses also are less uniform in size.
Some of the smaller ones were flimsy in construction.
 Later houses were small rectangular structures with two or, in one case, three
rooms. The houses opened on a narrow street with a drainage ditch in the center.
 Next the houses were rectangular one room structures.
 The pillared house was the exclusive type of house structure once. A complete block
of houses, constructed of mud-brick and with earthen and stone floors, ovens, and
storage bins between pillars, could be entered from the narrow streets surrounding
the block.
 Storage warehouses and/or chariot depots were developed. Long deep building adjacent to
the fort’s walls served as storage warehouses for grain and other agricultural and
commercial products, chariots, etc.
 Industrial structures constructed for iron smelting and processing, dye and, oil pressing,
viticulture, weaving and pottery manufacture. Some of these activities appeared to be local,
cottage industries although others seem to be truly industrial parks.
 Royal cities and palaces were made (Judah and Israel).
 Fewer structures identified as temples including a stone pillar and an altar with channels.
 The hidden staircase down the slope of the tell continued to be used into earliest parts for
water supply system. Later more developed water tunnels. A winding staircase was cut
down inside the site to just above the water level. From there a tunnel would lead down to
the underground spring outside the city's walls. Inhabitants would walk down the stairs and
through the tunnel to the water supply. Later the underground water tunnel was modified
so that the water flowed from the outside spring into the city itself (Jerusalem).
 Use of vehicles increased much more.
 In pottery, painted treatment on most vessels had been replaced first by hand-burnishing
and later by wheel-burnishing.

Md. Sohel Rana

Chairman
Department of Urban & Regional Planning (URP)
Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST)
Email: sohelrana1017051@gmail.com