Stories of sediments: Cultural formation processes at the neolithic tell at Paliambela Kolindrou
Δημήτρης Κοντογιώργος Ανάσκαμμα 6 (2013): 131-143.
From the introduction
The tell as a type of site is particularly characteristic of the eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Balkans. In the most general terms tells are artificial mounds composed of the remains of past human settlements built up at a non uniform rate over long periods of time. The remains preserved in tells exist as a composite of occupational strata, destruction levels, and, to a small extent, additions of naturally deposited sediment. The steep-sides and flat tops of some tells are determined primarily by the structural features they encompass. Most significant among these features are systems such as circuit walls and circuit ditches encircling other cultural deposits.
Although Paliambela has neither steep sides nor a flat top, excavation during 5 years (i.e., 2000-2004) has confirmed the presence of significant constructions, including EN pit-houses, MN rectangular built houses, MN circuit ditches and LN circuit walls. Patchy Final Neolithic and Bronze Age deposits were also detected on the south-east of the tell. Finally, the test section on the nontell component of the site revealed MN and LN ditches, as well as LN pits.