Dakerman archaeological site
| Dakerman Archaeological Site | |
|---|---|
 Gold earrings in the shape of a leech. from Sidon, necropolis of Dakerman, gold, iron age III (600-400 BC) | |
Interactive map of Dakerman Archaeological Site | |
| 33°33′04″N 35°22′01″E / 33.551018°N 35.367016°E | |
| Periods | Chalcolithic (c. 4500–3000 BC), Early Bronze Age I |
| Location | Sidon, Lebanon |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | Roger Saidah (1967–1972) |
The Dakerman archaeological site is a Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age I settlement located approximately one kilometer south of the ancient tell of Sidon, Lebanon. Discovered and excavated by Roger Saidah between 1967 and 1972, Dakerman represents the earliest known permanent human occupation in the Sidon area, dating back to around 4000 BCE.[1] The site informs on the spatial organization, architectural practices, and funerary customs of coastal Levantine societies during the 4th millennium BC.[2]
Excavation history
Archaeological investigations at Dakerman were primarily conducted by Roger Saidah from 1967 to 1972. Saidah's work revealed a well-preserved Chalcolithic village, making it one of the few extensively studied sites from this period on the Lebanese coast, alongside Byblos.[2] His findings were initially published in 1979, and a more comprehensive posthumous publication of his 1977 Sorbonne doctoral dissertation further detailed the significance of Dakerman for understanding the Middle Bronze Age in southern Phoenicia.[3]
Settlement and architecture
The Dakerman settlement is characterized by its distinctive architectural remains. Excavations uncovered 23 well-preserved, isolated, single-room houses. These structures typically featured an ellipsoidal or oval plan, measuring approximately 8 by 4 meters.[2] The houses were constructed with stone walls, and some retained plastered floors, which, in instances where the structures had been burnt, preserved imprints of reeds.[2]
Unlike the continuous occupation observed at Byblos, the inhabitants of Sidon-Dakerman abandoned the site after the 4th millennium BC.[2] Evidence also suggests the presence of a possible fortification wall or enclosure, approximately 60 meters long, on the southern side of the settlement, though its exact nature as a defensive structure or a simple enclosure remains debated.[2]
Funerary practices and significance
Funerary practices at Dakerman during the Chalcolithic period included the continuation of jar burials, a tradition also observed in other coastal sites of the northern Levant. Immature individuals were typically interred in large ceramic vessels or jars, often placed in close proximity to habitation structures.[2] While grave goods were found, they were generally less diverse compared to those discovered at Byblos.[2]
Dakerman is primarily dated to the Chalcolithic period (c. 4500–3000 BC), with some evidence extending into the Early Bronze Age I. The site's archaeological layers provide an almost uninterrupted sequence of occupation from the end of the 4th millennium BC.[4] Its findings permitted the understanding the transition between the Neolithic and Bronze Ages in the Levant, particularly concerning the development of new technologies, settlement patterns, and social organization in coastal communities.[2]
See also
References
Citations
- ↑ Lendering 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Artin 2018.
- ↑ Karageorghis 2007.
- ↑ Doumet-Serhal.
Sources
- Artin, Gassia (2018). "The Chalcolithic Period on the Lebanese Coast" (PDF). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A. 120: 471–484. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- Carayon, Nicolas (2012). "Sidon's Ancient Harbour" (PDF). Ancient Ports - Antiques. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- Doumet-Serhal, Claude. "20 years of excavation in Sidon, Lebanon". Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL). Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- Karageorghis, Vassos (2007). "Cyprus and Sidon: Two thousand years and interconnections". Cahiers du Centre d'Etudes Chypriotes. 37: 263–276. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- Lendering, Jona (2020). "Sidon (1)". Livius.org. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- Saidah, Roger (1979). Fouilles de Sidon-Dakerman: l'agglomération chalcolithique. Beirut: Imprimerie Catholique.
- Saidah, Roger (2004). Sidon et la Phénicie méridionale au bronze moyen: l'apport des fouilles de Dakerman. Institut français d'archéologie du Proche-Orient (IFAPO).