Early Syrian Ebla in Comparison with Syro-Palestinian EB IV*

Correlation of EB III and IV evidence in Syria and Palestine is essential for proposing solutions to the problem of contacts and influences. The ceramic evidence from Ebla IIB 1-2 has a special bearing on the discussion of Palestinian connections with Syria; material from other sites in the north-central region of Syria is also surveyed. The result is that it may now be possible to propose firmer correlations at the same time that limits on the connections become clearer. An explanation is proposed regarding the quite opposite phenomena attested for EB IV in the two regions, urbanization in Syria and deurbanization in Palestine.