@article{oai:nichibun.repo.nii.ac.jp:00000350,
 author = {YASUDA, Yoshinori},
 journal = {Nichibunken Japan review : bulletin of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies},
 month = {Jan},
 note = {Northwestern Syria has been a center of olive cultivation since the Early Bronze Age.  This report offers an explanation of the rise and fall of olive cultivation based mainly on the palaeoecological studies of Tell Mastuma site in Idrib Prefecture.  Mass production of olives started in the latter half of the Early Bronze Age at Tell Mastuma.  Olive cultivation brought the economic and political apogee of Tell Mastuma.  However, the prosperity of Tell Mastuma was suddenly destroyed in the Late Bronze Age and the site was abandoned for more than 700 years.  This catastrophic break was induced by a brought.  The brought was the main factor in the weakening of the political and economical power and the subsequent cultural hiatus at Tell Mastuma.  In the beginning of the Early Iron Age, the climate became wetter.  People came back to Northwestern Syria and Tell Mastuma was reoccupied.  Olive cultivation once again brought prosperity to Tell Mastuma during the Roman Period.},
 pages = {251--273},
 title = {<FEATURE ARTICLES: Changes in the Environment and Civilizations in Turkey and Syria>The rise and fall of olive cultivation in northwestern syria : Palaeoecological study of tell mastuma},
 volume = {8},
 year = {1997}
}