have better survived the lapse of centuries, and afford us to-day the fullest, and almost the only evidence for the ancient history of Canaan.
Excavations so far carried out in Palestine, notably at Tel al-Hesy (Lachish), Tel al-Jezer (Gezer), Ain Shems (Beth Shemesh), Ascalon (Askalon) and Tel al-Mutesellim (Megiddo), have established a chronological framework for these earlier periods on evidence largely derived from the development of the pottery types and their decoration in successive ages.
These periods may be tabulated as follows :
Palaeolithic. The instruments, which are confined in their distribution to the hill-country, are mostly of the "Chellean" type, though other forms are occasionally found.
Neolithic. The date and distribution of this age are uncertain. Its instruments are coarse and, with its rude hand-made pottery, shade into the following period.
Early Bronze (c. 2000–1700 B.C.). Vases are wheel-made but still coarse in type.
Late Bronze (c. 1700–1200 B.C.). This period shows strong Cypriote and Mycenaean (Mediterranean) influences at work.
Early Iron (1200–600 B.C.). New types, due to Philistine and Israelite invasion, are predominant. Egyptian scarabs and amulets are very common.
Hellenistic (600–100 B.C.). Attic vases are useful as dating factors. Both black-figured (600–450 B.C.) and red-figured (450–200 B.C.) are found in the more important sites.
Roman and Byzantine (100 B.C.–636 A.D.). Lamps, glass, etc.
Dolmen groups are to be found at the north-west end of the Sea of Galilee, but are of no special interest except to the archaeologist. Of greater importance are the five megalithic monuments called the Caves of the Children of Israel (Kabur Beni Isra'in), which lie close to the village of Hizmeh, a few miles north of Jerusalem. Their origin and
