Baaz Rockshelter

General information

The excavations at Baaz Rockshelter are part of the Tübinger Damaskus Ausgrabungs- und Survey Projekts (TDASP, Tübingen Damascus excavation and survey project). The project was founded in 1999 following a survey in May of the same year. The site was discovered in this survey and was excavated in three campaigns in 1999, 2000 and 2004.

Location and geology

The site Baaz is located 50 km north-northeast of Damascus at the foot of a oligozene calcite cliff between Ma`aloula and Jaba`deen in the foothills of Antilibanos. It is 1530m above ocean level. The Rockshelter measures about 6x10 m and faces southwest. The highland and the lower plains are easily accessed from the site, the former through a passageway. Nearby springs provide constant access to water. Undoubtedly, this convenient location was important in prehistoric times. During the survey, it was documented that most caves and rock shelters along this cliff do not contain any sediments due to geological and anthropogenic factors. The preservation of sediment in Baaz can be attributed to the protected location of the entryway. Even in heavy rainfall as observed on October 25th 1999, the rock shelter remains unaffected by the elements.

Methods

The main excavation area in 1999 measured 2x2 m (Qu. 20/32, 20/33, 21/32, 21/33), the secondary area 1 m to the south measured 2x1 m (Qu.20/30, 21/30), which was not further excavated in the 2001 campaign. The main are however was expanded by 2x1 m in the north, west and south, connecting the 2 areas. In both campaigns, a Leica-Laser-Theodolite in combination with a Husky field computer were used to document the most important finds three dimensionally. The software used was a modified version of the EDM program by H. Dibble and S. McPherron, which was developed particularly for use at Palaeolithic sites and enables the excavators to efficiently document a large quantity of finds.

In total, 10 000 finds were documented; stone artefacts, bone and botanical remains being the most common find categories. Further, ceramics, ornamental shells, painted plaster and grinding tools made from stone were found. All stone artefacts larger than 2 cm, animal remains larger than 5 cm and charcoal pieces larger than 1 cm were documented and measured, as well as all tools and fauna which could be determined, regardless of size. All archaeological sediments were sieved so no small finds would be lost. Additionally, a cast of the ground with a fireplace and mortar was made.

Literature

Barth, M. M. 2006. Die Silexartefakte von Baaz: eine epipaläolithische und neolithische Fundstelle in der Damaskus Provinz, Syrien. In Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project 1999 – 2005. Edited by N. J. Conard. Kerns Verlag: Tübingen. [pdf]

Conard, N. J., A. W. Kandel and M. Masri. 2006. The 2004 excavation at Baaz Rockshelter. In Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project 1999 – 2005. Edited by N. J. Conard. Kerns Verlag: Tübingen. pp. 179-185. [pdf]

Conard, N. J., A. W. Kandel and A. Abdulrachman. 2006. The 2000 excavation at Baaz Rockshelter. In Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project 1999 – 2005. Edited by N. J. Conard. Kerns Verlag: Tübingen. pp. 171-178. [pdf]

Conard, N. J., A. W. Kandel and A. Dyab. 2006. The 1999 excavation at Baaz Rockshelter. In Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project 1999 – 2005. Edited by N. J. Conard. Kerns Verlag: Tübingen. pp. 161-169. [pdf]

Wahl-Groß, C. 2004. Der Schmuck aus der epipaläolithischen und neolithischen Abrifundstelle Baaz in der Damaskus Provinz, Syrien. In Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project 1999 – 2005. Edited by N. J. Conard. Kerns Verlag: Tübingen. [pdf]