Pre-Pottery Neolithic B

Quick Facts: Who was Pre-Pottery Neolithic B?

Subject:

Pre-Pottery Neolithic B

Known for:

A major Neolithic culture in Upper Mesopotamia and the Levant, c. 8800–6500 BC.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) is part of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, a Neolithic culture centered in upper Mesopotamia and the Levant, dating to c. 10,800 – c. 8,500 years ago, that is, 8800–6500 BC. It was typed by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon during her archaeological excavations at Jericho in the West Bank, territory of the State of Palestine. Cultural tendencies of this period differ from that of the earlier Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA), in that people living during this phase began to depend more heavily upon domesticated animals to supplement their earlier mixed agrarian and hunter-gatherer diet.

Career & Major Achievements

In addition, the flint tool kit of the period is new and quite distinct from that of the earlier period. One of its major elements is the naviform core.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This is the first period in which architectural styles of the southern Levant became primarily rectilinear; earlier typical dwellings were circular, elliptical, and occasionally even octagonal. Pyrotechnology, the expanding capability to control fire, was highly developed in this period.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Pre-Pottery Neolithic B

True or False: “True or false: The PPNB culture was characterized by the exclusive use of circular dwellings, similar to earlier Neolithic periods.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): False. The PPNB period is notable for its shift towards predominantly rectilinear architectural styles, departing from the circular or elliptical forms of earlier dwellings.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Pre-Pottery Neolithic B