Definition: Abu Hureyra is an archaeological site in the Euphrates valley of northern Syria, dated 9000-6000 BC, before, during and after the introduction of agriculture in the region. The site is remarkable for its excellent faunal and floral preservation--that is, the bones of animals and seeds of plants were found in very good condition there.
Abu Hureyra has the earliest to date evidence for the domestication of einkorn and emmer wheats and for barley, from an occupation level dated to 9600 BP. The site also contains evidence of the cultural and technological processes that went into domesticating einkorn wheat.
Excavation results from the Abu Hureyra site were reported by A.M.T. Moore, G.C. Hillman, and A.J. Legge, recently published by Oxford University Press.
Sources
Doebley, John F., Brandon S. Gaut, and Bruce D. Smith. 2006. The molecular genetics of crop domestication. Cell 127: 1309-1321.
Moore, A.M.T., G.C. Hillman, and A.J. Legge. 2000. Villages on the Euphrates: The Excavation of Abu Hureyra. Oxford University Press, London.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Common Misspellings: Abu Hureya
