A model for the developement of nomadic pastoralism on the Transjordanian Plateau

Abstract

Goats and fields don't go well together beyond a certain settlement size. Upon reaching this, pasturalists at (eg ain ghazal) left for the steppes and deserts, which cannot be used for agriculture. However, during the dry season, they re-joined their kin in the mother settlement, and probably culled some of the males and barren females in their flocks. During that time period, the pastors would have lived in houses in the settlement, but most of the year these would remain abandoned, "inflating" settlement size (PPNC). During the Yarmoukian, ain ghazal was abandoned by agriculturalists, maybe because of a further climatic degradation. The abandoned site continued to be a summer camp ground for pastoralists, maybe because of the perrenial spring (and tradition).