Munhata
Munhatah · Munhata (Beth Shean Valley)
Yarmukian to Ghassulian (c.6400–3500 BCE)·Yarmukian → Wadi Raba → Ghassulian Chalcolithic·🇮🇱 Beth Shean Valley, Jordan Rift, Israel
About
About Munhata
Stratified Neolithic–Chalcolithic mound (5 m high) in the central Jordan Valley, excavated by Jean Perrot. Yarmukian Pottery Neolithic (c.6400–5800 BCE) white-ware–related painted levels, Wadi Raba and Chalcolithic Ghassulian levels document the valley’s agricultural transition. Notable for Yarmukian ceramic figurines and a plastered skull.
Why it mattersKey Beth Shean Valley, Jordan Rift sequence for Yarmukian to Ghassulian (c.6400–3500 BCE); valley agricultural mound controlling jordan ford.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Munhata relative to neighbouring centres?
Theories
- 01Regional centre hypothesis for Beth Shean Valley
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Yarmukian c.6400 BCE
- Period
- Yarmukian to Ghassulian (c.6400–3500 BCE)
- Culture
- Yarmukian → Wadi Raba → Ghassulian Chalcolithic
- Builders
- Yarmukian communities
- Purpose
- Valley agricultural mound controlling Jordan ford
- Rediscovered
- 20th century survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1960
Foundation/earliest horizon
1980
Major excavations
2020
Conservation/monitoring
On the ground
Structures & features
32.4300° N · 35.5700° E · -200 m · 2 mapped features
Yarmukian levels
structureYarmukian painted houses with ceramic figurines
32.4302° N · 35.5703° EPlastered skull horizon
graveGrave with plaster-modelled skull under house floor
32.4298° N · 35.5697° E