Fazael 2, one of the latest Chalcolithic sites in the Jordan Valley? Report of the 2007–2008 excavation seasons

Excavations at Fazael 2 provide important insights into our understanding of the latest phases of the Chalcolithic period in the southern Levant. Radiometric determinations suggest that Stratum 2 at the site was occupied about 4000—3900 Cal BC, thus being among the latest Chalcolithic settlements in the Jordan Valley. This article describes the first two seasons of excavation and presents the architecture and stratigraphy accompanied by a description of the various assemblages found at the site. These assemblages are typically Chalcolithic in almost every aspect, but the flint artifacts attest to the beginning of the use of Canaanean blades at the end of the Chalcolithic period. This is contrary to the accepted opinion that ascribes their appearance to the beginning of the succeeding period (Early Bronze Age I). Thus the possibility of a very late, possibly even post-Ghassulian Chalcolithic, entity may not be ruled out.