Overview

Studying archaeological evidence from sites covering over 200 kilometres of the banks of the Euphrates River, Lisa Cooper's excellent monograph explores the growth and development of human settlement in the Euphrates River Valley of Northern Syria during the Early and Middle Bronze Ages from circa 2700 to 1550 BC. Cooper focuses on the nature and development of the urban politics that existed in the area during these periods and highlights two principal inter-related characteristics of the Euphrates Valley: the study of specific aspects of Euphrates culture, such as the nature of urban secular and religious architecture, mortuary remains, and subsistence pursuits, to underline the unique character of this region during the Early and Middle Bronze Ages the striking resilience of its cultural traditions over many centuries despite the political instability and environmental degradation. Including studies on the tribal background of the populations, the economy, the unique geography of the Euphrates, the ethnic and social structure of its inhabitants, and the influences of states surrounding it, this is a unique and invaluable resource for all students of archaeology and ancient history.

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9780415487207

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Reviews

'This constitutes an extremely useful and comprehensive synthesis of the Early Bronze Age material... which makes this general and well-informed account, to say nothing of the references themselves, of great value... the book is undoubtedly an invaluable, comprehensive, well-informed and very readable volume.... a must for anyone interested in third millenium ancient Syria.' - Antiquity 'Lisa Cooper's Early Urbanism on the Syrian Euphrates has an ambitious and noteworthy goal ...The study's core themes and overall intellectual project are fascinating and worthwhile, and Cooper is to be commended for completing a Herculean task. Furthermore, this volume is an important resource for researchers in the region, since many of the sites described in the book are now flooded by Taqba and Tishrin dam projects ... Ultimately Cooper's synthesis is a 'must read' for scholars seeking a detailed regional synthesis, and the volume provides a rich foundation for developing theoretical models in the Ancient Near East...' - Cambridge Archaeological Journal

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University of British Columbia, Canada

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