Neolithic Period: Natufian Culture

 

I

 

Introduction

The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several parts of the world. Among the main developments achieved by humans during the Neolithic were the creation of sedentary settlements along with the domestication of animals and plants.

 


II


 Learning Objectives

 

  • Understand the two core processes that allowed the survival of Neolithic societies
  • Explain the main characteristics of dance since the beginning of agriculture.
  • Discuss the importance of the Natufian culture within the context of the Neolithic period.
  •  Experience the dynamics of the areyto dance as a retention from the Neolithic period in the Caribbean

 

III

 

 Main Lesson


1


 Question 1

What two core processes do we need to address in order to understand how early Neolithic societies got to survive? Explain

 

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2


LINK

Dancing at the Dawn of Agriculture


Question 2

 Read the Introduction to this book and summarize the main points addressed by the author in regards to dance.

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3



 (min. 25 - 35 min.)
 
 The Natufian culture is a Late Epipaleolithic archaeological culture of the Levant, dating to around 15,000 to 11,500 years ago. The culture was unusual in that it supported a sedentary or semi-sedentary population even before the introduction of agriculture. The Natufian communities may be the ancestors of the builders of the first Neolithic settlements of the region.
 
The Levant is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, it is equivalent to the historical region of Syria, which included present-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and most of Turkey south-east of the middle Euphrates. 
 
Question 3 

 Why is the Natufian culture important in the context of the Neolithic period?

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IV

 

A Note to Remember

 During the Neolithic humans created sedentary settlements. This made possible the domestication of animals and plants and vice versa. Dance is the oldest and the prevalent theme of artistic scenes in the Ancient Near East and South East Europe. Dance was also the performance mode of the calendrical rituals of early farmers.The Natufian culture, for instance, which predates the introduction of agriculture, even if it had already created sedentary or semi-sedentary settlements, were the first people to routinely bury their dead close to or within their living sites. The burials, which occurred both alone and in groups,suggest the performance of rituals and probably dance.

 

 

V

 

Case Study 

 



VI


Activity


Areyto Dance Restoration
 
Secondary Sources:
 
 https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Archive_and_the_Repertoire/IZsSlR5-fzIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=areito
 
 
 
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Mismeasure_of_Desire/uWhdMtGt5xUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Taino
 
(page 49 - 51)
 
 
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Calusa/xrfs5iF9EV4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Abaibo&pg=PA22&printsec=frontcover 
 
(Last sentence of page 21 - 22)
 
 
 
 
VIII
 
Glossary 
 
calendrical rituals: Calendrical and commemorative rites are ritual events marking particular times of year, or a fixed period since an important event. Calendrical rituals give social meaning to the passage of time, creating repetitive weekly, monthly or yearly cycles.
 
dance: complex form of communication that combines the visual, kinesthetic and aesthetic aspects of human movement with (usually) the aural dimension of musical sounds and sometimes poetry.

community dance: a form of group behavior whereby an indefinite number of individuals start to move their muscles rhythmically, establish a regular beat, and continue to do so for long enough to arouse euphoric excitement shared by all participants. This capability marks humans off from all other forms of life.

Natufian culture: A Late Epipaleolithic archaeological culture of the Levant, dating to around 15,000 to 11,500 years ago. The culture was unusual in that it supported a sedentary or semi-sedentary population even before the introduction of agriculture. The Natufian communities may be the ancestors of the builders of the first Neolithic settlements of the region.
 
The Levant:  An approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, it is equivalent to the historical region of Syria, which included present-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and most of Turkey south-east of the middle Euphrates.
 
 
 
IX
 
Students' Work 
 
I. The Levant: The Natufian Culture


Emi Haderer, Nat Hoadley, Nydia Kyriakopoulos, Carlota Sagarduy, Alyssa Plasencia, Jolie Montlick

The Neolithic shift to settled communities (such as the Natufians in the Levant) likely influenced dance by giving rise to more structured and symbolic forms. Dance might have been part of rituals, celebrations, or events tied to the agricultural lifestyle, reflecting the connection between the community and the land.

Kayla Humphrey. Krystelle Emogene, Laralyn Jackson, Lauren Tierney, Haley Dexter

The Natufians invested a less alcoholic beer by fermenting wheat in the ground and the domesticated animals and they started planting things and developing housing, because they started to stay in the same place and trade with other villages. They had a surplus of food and would store it. Whatever they could produce is what they ate, and reproduction is more prevalent. transitioning from a Nomadic lifestyle. This lifestyle could connect community and show how their life style and dance or rituals would be connected to their new lifestyle.

 
II. Neolithic Ritual Dance
 

 
Jason Fiske, Jason Hicks, Hailey , Ana Maria, Nick
 
 

 
Josh Arden Renato Luis Gui Sydney Leah Abby Ale


Make Up Work

 
Nicholas Marino
Nick Marino 2/1

To understand how early Neolithic societies survived, we need to learn about their food production methods and social organization.

The Natufian culture bridges hunter-gatherer societies and early agriculture in the Neolithic period.

The introduction outlines dance's significance in early Neolithic societies during the transition to agriculture.

 

 
Mia Roselli
Natufian Culture

The transition to settled communities during the Neolithic period likely impacted dance, leading to the emergence of more organized and symbolic forms. Dance became integrated into rituals, celebrations, and events linked to the agricultural lifestyle, reflecting the deep connection between the community and the land.

With the domestication of animals, cultivation of crops, and the development of permanent housing, communities began to stay in one location and engage in trade with neighboring villages. The surplus of food allowed for storage and ensured a more stable food supply. This transition from a nomadic lifestyle facilitated increased reproduction and population growth.

The shift towards settled living not only influenced their lifestyle but also had implications for their cultural practices, including dance and rituals. These practices likely became intertwined with their new agricultural way of life, serving as expressions of community identity and reflecting the significance of their relationship with the land.

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