past horizons22 From the beginning of the excavations, it became clear that the main architectural features at Kfar HaHoresh comprised terrace walls, as well as a series of mostly quadrilateral lime plaster surfaces. These surfaces, usually bounded on one or two sides by L- shaped stone wall foundations, vary in size from 3x1.5m up to a massive precinct measuring over 20x10m, which is currently in the process of being exposed. Some of the plastered surfaces are unattached to stone- built walls, and were perhaps accompanied by mud- brick walls. Although none were identified during excavation, micromorphological analyses have shown that mud- brick, or pisé, was used extensively at the site. These structures are accompanied by hearths, ovens and pits, as well as cultic features, such as stelae and platforms. Several lime kilns have also been identified on site. Many graves occur under or in the vicinty of these walled structures. Human burials at Kfar HaHoresh ( presently totalling around 70 individuals) vary from single articulated through multiple secondary burials comprising up to 15 individuals, plus intentional arrangements of human bones. Indeed, in one case the long bones of several individuals appear to have been arranged, perhaps into the profile of an animal, prior to being plastered over. Skull caches were found, including three modelled skulls. Burials at Kfar HaHoresh display an unusual demographic profile compared to other PPNB populations, with an abnormally high representation of young adult males. Grave goods comprise chipped and groundstone tools, shells, minerals and animal bones. The numerous flint artefacts recovered at Kfar HaHoresh derive from three distinct reduction sequences: naviform, ad hoc and bifacial. Tools include sickle blades, projectile points, burins, perforators and bifacials. Groundstone tools and animal bones, mostly of hunted animals, are also abundant. In fact, the faunal assemblages from the site comprise amongst the largest numbers of identified items from PPNB contexts in the southern Levant. The species represented are Above: Plastered surface area ( credit: A. N. Goring- Morris) Far left: Symbolic items: phallic figurine, votive axe on serpentine, shell pendant and incised token ( credit: A. N. Goring- Morris) Left: Projectile points, sickles blades and perforators ( credit: G. Laron)

23past horizons comparable with other contemporary sites in the region and include mountain gazelle, wild goat, fallow deer, wild boar, wild cattle, red fox and hare, as well as rodents, birds and rare fish. Goat occurs in higher percentages than in Late Pleistocene assemblages in the area, perhaps indicating incipient domestication, similar to other PPNB sites in the region. The material culture at Kfar HaHoresh is rich and varied. Extensive exchange networks are indicated by Mediterranean, Red Sea and freshwater sea shell ornaments. Exotic minerals include malachite from south of the Dead Sea, obsidian from central Anatolia, and a serpentine votive axe from northern Syria or Cyprus. Symbolic items include plain or incised polished pebble tokens. Neolithic fertility symbols are often associated with female imagery, but at Kfar HaHoresh only phallic figurines have been found. Also recovered at the site are stone and clay figurines depicting both human and animals. The use of clay at KHH, prior to the emergence of pottery in the succeeding period ( the Pottery Neolithic 6400- 4500 calBC), is currently under analysis. It appears that clay was widely used at the site, especially for the manufacture of beads, tokens and figurines. Thus far, it seems that all clay products were manufactured on site, and that various degrees of firing were used in the process. Based on its location, together with the wide range of unusual mortuary installations and practices documented at the Kfar HaHoresh, as well as the varied nature of the material culture remains, it has been interpreted as a mortuary site, serving the populations of nearby settlements in the lowlands, such as Yiftah'el and Ayanot Zippori. The 2007/ 2008 seasons focused on exposing a large plaster- surfaced structure, assigned to the earlier phases of occupation at the site. As the continued ? ? Map of the Near East, showing the location of Kfar HaHoresh at kfar hahoresh only phallic figurines have been found