"Residential flexibility" refers to the types of shelters in which people lived.  A variety of habitations have been utilized over the centuries which include stone houses, residential caves, and tents.  Some groups have also utilized ancient ruins as temporary habitations, including ancient Roman tombs and cisterns, and the standing ruins of Crusader castles and Umayyad hunting lodges.  During much of the Ottoman period, the majority of Central Jordan's population lived in make-shift cave villages during the winter months.  These villages were located near fertile agricultureal lands on which cereals were produced.  Families would abandon these villages during the drier parts of the year and follow their flocks of animals to more distant pastures.

Reference: http://www.hf-fak.uib.no/smi/paj/LaBianca.html

 

 

Edited 1/26/06 tlc