Monday, February 06, 2012

What's Wrong Here?

Take note of this book:-

The Prehistory of Jordan, II. Perspectives from 1997, ed. by H.G.K. Gebel, Z. Kafafi, and G.O. Rollefson (1997). III + 662 p., 207 figs., 46 pls., 160 tables, 49 contrib., softcover.  ISBN: 3-9804241-3-8
Price: 95,00 €

Well, if we are talking about "prehistory", Jordan was included in what the world knew, and which an invented people want to be known, as "Palestine".  In fact, there is an article entitled "Tracking Activity Patterns Through Skeletal Remains. A Case Study from Jordan and Palestine" but not one that includes "Israelite".  In other words, there are no Jews, Hebrews or Israelites in this academic anthology.

And if you suggest that the geographical territory is defined by today's contemporary borders for convenience, what do we do about this article - " The Early History of Copper Metallurgy in the Southern Levant"?  Is Israel not in the Southern Levant?

Can there be such a terminology as "Jordanian Palaeolithic Research"?  Is the research "Jordanian" or is the palaeolithic period* "Jordanian?  Can it be Jordanian so long ago?

Academics, these days.  Harumph.

UPDATE

Consider this topography found at this article, "Pastoral Clashes: Conflict Risk and Mitigation at the Pottery Neolithic Transition in the Southern Levantby Lee Clare of the University of Cologne here, p. 13:



__________
*
The Palaeolithic, or Stone Age, is the longest period of human history. The end of this period is traditionally positioned some 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the Ice Age.

^

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