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Mureybetian was a culture, subdivided from pre-pottery neolithic a (PPNA). Named after Mureybet, an area found near the Euphrates river, in northern Syria

Known for its archaeological significance. Particularly as it relates to the neolithic period and northern Mesopotamia. Mureybet is a tell, or ancient mound, translating ‘covered’.

The site as occupied between 10200 and 8000BC; and, excavated between 1964-74
It was then covered under lake Assad and, Tabqa dam.

In the areas early stages. It was a small village occupied by hunter-gatherers
At first crops were gathered, but eventually cultivated. And, animals hunted before domestication could begin. It’s believed these people remained somewhat wild. Because while it was first being colonized, earth was experiencing cooler temperatures. An onset of the younger dryas.

Mureybet tell and its environment is situated above a ridge that is 4 meters (or 13 feet) above the river Euphrates
Natural species of vegetation included terebinths (pistachio trees), almonds and wild cereals. (1)

During the younger dryas, climate was very different 12900-11600 years ago (2)
An effect was it was cooler, and more humid. And, vegetation had greater open forest steppe.

Mureybet was at the northern end of the area of Natufian culture, and not far from Tell Abu Hureyra
It was about 50km.

Occupation history
4 phases: Natufian up to middle PPNB, 10200-8000 BC, based on AMS RC dates (1)

10200-9700BC: Natufian phase 1A
Characterized by hearths, and cooking pits but no dwellings. There is evidence of rye and barley being cultivated. And, inhabitants hunted gazelle and equid (wild horse). They had dogs, and fishing was also important.

9700-9300BC: Khiamian phases: IB, IIA and IIB
Sometimes poorly understood and debated. This time period included the transition from Natufian to neolithic. It is the only site where Khiamian culture is associated with architectural remains. Round semi-subterranean structures with a diameter of 6 meters (or 20 feet) were found. To be exact. In subsequent phases. Smaller round houses were also built at ground level and begin appearing. The walls were built with compacted earth and stones.
Hearths and cooking pits were important. Located outside of the buildings. There had signs of barley, rye and buckwheat. Numerous well used grinding stones were found too. Vindicating grains were an important part of diet. There were also fish, equid (horse) and gazelle remains for protein.

9300-8600 BC The Mureybetian phases IIIA and IIIB
A sub phase of the PPNA. That was named after where it was found. Here is when the architecture became diverse. Multi celled buildings begin to appear. Next to round buildings that were already in existence. Walls were built with cigar shaped stones. And, covered with earth.

They had semi subterranean structures that were compared to Jerf el Ahmar
Where they are interpreted as special buildings used for community function.

Many of the multi roomed buildings were too small for people but what could be used for storage

Hearths, and cooking pits were now lined with stone

There was evidence of barley, rye and einkorn; and, animal hides were being processed (3)

And, one of the earliest known writing for record keeping was discovered. Clay counting tokens
This period coincided with explosive growth or cereals and trade in the near east (4)

8600-8000BC: IVA 8600 to 8200; and, IVB 8200 to 8000 BC
Dating to PPNB, their were not too many architectural samples. Outside of mud built walls or rectangular structures. Not many domestic cereals were found either.

During this period. The hunters were focused on Equids, as well as Aurochs

Domesticated cattle, sheep and goat were probably present during this period

Excavation produced an abundance of tools. Mostly from local flints
Included was points, burins, scrapers, borders and herminettes (a wood working tool). (10) Apart from lithics, other categories were also present in smaller quantities.

Arrow points
1) Flint arrowheads appeared in khiamian period (9700-9300BC: Khiamian phases: IB, IIA and IIB), other tools: burins end scrapers and borers (5)
2) Mureybetian (9300-8600 BC The Mureybetian phases IIIA and IIIB) stone tools included mb arrowheads, scrapers, burins, while borers were much less common (6)
3) PPNB byblos arrowheads replaced MB; and other technological improvements were introduced (7)

Personal ornaments such as pierced shells, small stone and shell discs were found. Bones used for needles to make clothes, baskets, awls and axe sheaths as well

Other items included softer stone like limestone vessels, and carvings from ivory
8 human figurines resembling women from limestone and baked earth were found. (7)

Hunter-gatherer to neolithic. Mureybetian is important for understanding the transition from natifian to khiamian to mureybetian(PPNA) to PPNB. It sheds light on the cultural and technological innovations of early societies.

Like other archaeological sites in the Fertile Crescent. It builds understanding to our transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture. A fundamental step in the development of civilizations and neolithic architecture in the near east.

Cite: 1) Ibáñez, Juan José (2008b), “Conclusion”, in Ibáñez, Juan José (ed.), Le site néolithique de Tell Mureybet (Syrie du Nord). En hommage à Jacques Cauvin, BAR International Series, vol. 1843, Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 661–675, hdl:10261/9794 (https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F979
4), ISBN 978-1-4073-0330-7

2) Rasmussen, S.O., Andersen, K.K., Svensson, A.M., Steffensen, J.P., Vinther, B.M., Calusen, H.B., Siggaard-Andersen, M.-L., Johnsen, S.J., Larsen, L.B., Dahl-Jensen, D., Bigler, M., Röthlisberger, R., Fischer, H., Goto-Azuma, K., Hansson, M.E., Ruth, U., A new Greenland ice core chronology for the last glacial termination. Journal of Geophysical Research 111, D06102.

3) Ibáñez, Juan José (2008b), “Conclusion”, in Ibáñez, Juan José (ed.), Le site néolithique de Tell
Mureybet (Syrie du Nord). En hommage à Jacques Cauvin, BAR International Series, vol. 1843,
Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 661–675, hdl:10261/9794 (https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F979
4), ISBN 978-1-4073-0330-7 pg 667-671

4) Wayne M. Senner (1 December 1991). The Origins of Writing (https://books.google.com/bo
oks?id=Kc4xAlunCSEC&pg=PA29). U of Nebraska Press. pp. 29–. ISBN 978-0-8032-9167-6.
Retrieved 14 September 2012.

5) Ibáñez 2008b, pp. 663–664
báñez, Juan José (2008b), “Conclusion”, in Ibáñez, Juan José (ed.), Le site néolithique de Tell
Mureybet (Syrie du Nord). En hommage à Jacques Cauvin, BAR International Series, vol. 1843,
Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 661–675, hdl:10261/9794 (https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F979

6) báñez, Juan José (2008b), “Conclusion”, in Ibáñez, Juan José (ed.), Le site néolithique de Tell
Mureybet (Syrie du Nord). En hommage à Jacques Cauvin, BAR International Series, vol. 1843,
Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 661–675, hdl:10261/9794 (https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F979 pg 664-67

7) báñez, Juan José (2008b), “Conclusion”, in Ibáñez, Juan José (ed.), Le site néolithique de Tell
Mureybet (Syrie du Nord). En hommage à Jacques Cauvin, BAR International Series, vol. 1843,
Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 661–675, hdl:10261/9794 (https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F979

Bibliography: van Loon, Maurits N. (1968), “The Oriental Institute excavations at Mureybit, Syria: preliminary report on the 1965 campaign. Part I: architecture and general finds”, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 27 (4): 265–282, doi:10.1086/371975 (https://doi.org/10.1086%2F371975), JSTOR 543223 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/543223)