For decades, ethnicity has been a major,focus in archaeology. The problems are whether ethnoi existed, and in what sense; and whether archaeology can identify them. This paper shall attempt to identify and define the main populace of the hill country of Canaan in the Iron Age I, an issue which has aroused countless debates based upon biblical connections. We shall deal with the issue in archaeological terms only. A full survey of 2,000 sq. km. in Manasseh, together with an analysis of other surveys and excavations, creates an archaeological profile of this culture and isolates it from others in the central hill country and the Galilee. The 11 variables selected for processing are: settlement pattern; site size and plan; architecture; continuity from Late Bronze into Iron II; limited pottery inventory; diet, based on botanical and zoological specimens; metallurgical finds, their origin and nature; cult and cultic places; place-names; size of population; and cultural connections with previous and subsequent cultural entities. Together, these create a portrait of a unique culture which differed from its predecessor but was quite similar to the subsequent Iron Age II culture. A cross-check with Iron I cultures of neighboring countries (Syria, Lebanon and Jordan) further illustrates how the culture of the hill country in Canaan retained special characteristics.
