Extensive excavations over the last few decades in and around Jerusalem have yielded large quanti... more Extensive excavations over the last few decades in and around Jerusalem have yielded large quantities of cooking vessels, including instances of intentional cooking-pot deposits. Since not all concentrations of cooking pots can be grouped as a single phenomenon, this article aims at categorizing and defining the different categories of cooking-pot deposits in Early Roman Jerusalem to better understand each occurrence and to offer a refined interpretation thereof. This allows us to trace and evaluate different processes and behaviors prevalent in Jerusalem during the Early Roman period. It also sheds light on the dynamics of interaction between the local population, visitors and pilgrims in the ‘Temple City’ of Jerusalem during the late Second Temple period.
During the Hasmonean period the city of Jerusalem was designated and shaped in order to serve as ... more During the Hasmonean period the city of Jerusalem was designated and shaped in order to serve as the capital city of the newly established kingdom. During this period, the city had advanced on several levels leading up to the affluent Herodian period which followed. In this article, various archaeological remains from the city will be examined, together illuminating significant progress in the city's development, specifically during the 1st century BCE – during the reign of King Alexander Jannaeus. It is suggested that under his rule, Jannaeus actively developed the city in terms of size, economy, technology and water supply facilitating significant progress of the city. Jannaeus' endeavors emphasized the centrality of the city and confirmed its physical status as the capital city.
Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman
presence brought with it new ceramic b... more Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman presence brought with it new ceramic building materials, including bricks, roof tiles, pipes, and tubuli, usually in relation to public buildings, particularly bathhouses. Among the most well-known are the tiles bearing stamps of the Tenth Roman Legion. In the Byzantine Period, such materials were stamped with private Greek names. A group of tiles uncovered in the Wilson’s Arch excavations fill the chronological gap between the legionary production and the Byzantine period and display the name of Colonia Aelia Capitolina. These were made from a different ceramic ‘recipe’ than the legionary tiles, indicating they were produced in a separate workshop and implying a shift in the third century CE from military production (and ownership) of public buildings to municipalinitiated construction projects. These tiles support the theory that the original civic centre of Aelia Capitolina was located directly west of the Temple Mount.
This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of A... more This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of Aelia Capitolina. This group bears rare impressions consisting of three Latin letters: IVL. The IVL group is studied typologically and petrographically, suggesting that a private workshop operated in Aelia Capitolina no later than the 3rd century CE. Petrographically, the IVL group is different from the well-known ceramic building materials bearing impressions of the Xth Roman legion Fretensis, manufactured in the kilnworks near the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei Ha'Uma). This suggests that the IVL group was not produced in the legionary workshop. The current study is an additional facet contributing to the discussion on the various modes of production of ceramic building materials in Jerusalem during the Late Roman period. Further examined is the relation between military, municipal and private ceramic production, possibly as a mirror of the municipal development and processes that Jerusalem underwent during the period under discussion, and the role of the City of David within these processes.
During a salvage excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, a mass grave containin... more During a salvage excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, a mass grave containing the skeletal remains from 124 individuals, many with evidence of weapon injuries, was discovered in a water cistern outside the Old City of Jerusalem. Radiocarbon dates derived from human bone and the date of the material finds suggest the skeletal remains date to the end of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 1st century BCE. The aim of this research is to analyze the weapon injuries in order to reconstruct the nature and context of this violence. The human skeletal remains from 23 individuals recovered from the cistern were selectively retained and examined macroscopically in a laboratory setting. Silicone casts of selected weapon injuries (n=5) were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Numerous examples of peri-mortem, blunt- and sharp-force trauma were observed including evidence that at least 17 individuals were decapitated. The extent and nature of the observed injuries as well as the evidence of their haphazard deposition into the cistern suggest that these individuals were the victims of a massacre. As a highly visible act of violence, massacres are often used as a mechanism for social control. When contextualized, this skeletal assemblage is most likely evidence of a massacre that occurred during the reign of the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus. This is the first archaeological evidence for the use of socially sanctioned violence to legitimize the Hasmonean state and to maintain social control at the end of the 2nd century-early 1st century BCE.
Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Medit... more Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Mediterranean, as it is not considered precise enough to solve specific chronological questions, often causing the attribution of historic monuments to be based on circumstantial evidence. This research, applied in Jerusalem, presents a novel approach to solve this problem. Integrating fieldwork, stratigraphy, and microarchaeology analyses with intense radiocarbon dating of charred remains in building materials beneath Wilson's Arch, we absolutely dated monumental structures to very narrow windows of time–even to specific rulers. Wilson’s Arch was initiated by Herod the Great and enlarged during the Roman Procurators, such as Pontius Pilatus, in a range of 70 years, rather than 700 years, as previously discussed by scholars. The theater-like structure is dated to the days of Emperor Hadrian and left unfinished before 132–136 AD. Through this approach, it is possible to solve archaeological riddles in intensely urban environments in the historical periods.
Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Medit... more Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Mediterranean, as it is not considered precise enough to solve specific chronological questions , often causing the attribution of historic monuments to be based on circumstantial evidence. This research, applied in Jerusalem, presents a novel approach to solve this problem. Integrating fieldwork, stratigraphy, and microarchaeology analyses with intense radiocarbon dating of charred remains in building materials beneath Wilson's Arch, we absolutely dated monumental structures to very narrow windows of time-even to specific rulers. Wilson's Arch was initiated by Herod the Great and enlarged during the Roman Procurators, such as Pontius Pilatus, in a range of 70 years, rather than 700 years, as previously discussed by scholars. The theater-like structure is dated to the days of Emperor Hadrian and left unfinished before 132-136 AD. Through this approach, it is possible to solve archaeological riddles in intensely urban environments in the historical periods.
Recent excavations in the Russian Compound in Jerusalem provide evidence of internal and external... more Recent excavations in the Russian Compound in Jerusalem provide evidence of internal and external struggles in late Hellenistic Judea. The article presents the main findings and attempts to link them to historical events that occurred in Hasmonean Judea.
Since it was discovered in the 19th century, Wilson’s Arch has been at the heart of discussions a... more Since it was discovered in the 19th century, Wilson’s Arch has been at the heart of discussions about Jerusalem’s urban development. We excavated beneath the arch for three consecutive years and exposed eight strata ranging from the Hasmonean period to Ottoman times. Here we present our results and discuss our finds with particular emphasis on two issues: the date of the arch’s construction and the discovery of a small 2nd century CE theatre-like structure.
Extensive excavations over the last few decades in and around Jerusalem have yielded large quanti... more Extensive excavations over the last few decades in and around Jerusalem have yielded large quantities of cooking vessels, including instances of intentional cooking-pot deposits. Since not all concentrations of cooking pots can be grouped as a single phenomenon, this article aims at categorizing and defining the different categories of cooking-pot deposits in Early Roman Jerusalem to better understand each occurrence and to offer a refined interpretation thereof. This allows us to trace and evaluate different processes and behaviors prevalent in Jerusalem during the Early Roman period. It also sheds light on the dynamics of interaction between the local population, visitors and pilgrims in the ‘Temple City’ of Jerusalem during the late Second Temple period.
During the Hasmonean period the city of Jerusalem was designated and shaped in order to serve as ... more During the Hasmonean period the city of Jerusalem was designated and shaped in order to serve as the capital city of the newly established kingdom. During this period, the city had advanced on several levels leading up to the affluent Herodian period which followed. In this article, various archaeological remains from the city will be examined, together illuminating significant progress in the city's development, specifically during the 1st century BCE – during the reign of King Alexander Jannaeus. It is suggested that under his rule, Jannaeus actively developed the city in terms of size, economy, technology and water supply facilitating significant progress of the city. Jannaeus' endeavors emphasized the centrality of the city and confirmed its physical status as the capital city.
Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman
presence brought with it new ceramic b... more Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman presence brought with it new ceramic building materials, including bricks, roof tiles, pipes, and tubuli, usually in relation to public buildings, particularly bathhouses. Among the most well-known are the tiles bearing stamps of the Tenth Roman Legion. In the Byzantine Period, such materials were stamped with private Greek names. A group of tiles uncovered in the Wilson’s Arch excavations fill the chronological gap between the legionary production and the Byzantine period and display the name of Colonia Aelia Capitolina. These were made from a different ceramic ‘recipe’ than the legionary tiles, indicating they were produced in a separate workshop and implying a shift in the third century CE from military production (and ownership) of public buildings to municipalinitiated construction projects. These tiles support the theory that the original civic centre of Aelia Capitolina was located directly west of the Temple Mount.
This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of A... more This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of Aelia Capitolina. This group bears rare impressions consisting of three Latin letters: IVL. The IVL group is studied typologically and petrographically, suggesting that a private workshop operated in Aelia Capitolina no later than the 3rd century CE. Petrographically, the IVL group is different from the well-known ceramic building materials bearing impressions of the Xth Roman legion Fretensis, manufactured in the kilnworks near the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei Ha'Uma). This suggests that the IVL group was not produced in the legionary workshop. The current study is an additional facet contributing to the discussion on the various modes of production of ceramic building materials in Jerusalem during the Late Roman period. Further examined is the relation between military, municipal and private ceramic production, possibly as a mirror of the municipal development and processes that Jerusalem underwent during the period under discussion, and the role of the City of David within these processes.
During a salvage excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, a mass grave containin... more During a salvage excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, a mass grave containing the skeletal remains from 124 individuals, many with evidence of weapon injuries, was discovered in a water cistern outside the Old City of Jerusalem. Radiocarbon dates derived from human bone and the date of the material finds suggest the skeletal remains date to the end of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 1st century BCE. The aim of this research is to analyze the weapon injuries in order to reconstruct the nature and context of this violence. The human skeletal remains from 23 individuals recovered from the cistern were selectively retained and examined macroscopically in a laboratory setting. Silicone casts of selected weapon injuries (n=5) were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Numerous examples of peri-mortem, blunt- and sharp-force trauma were observed including evidence that at least 17 individuals were decapitated. The extent and nature of the observed injuries as well as the evidence of their haphazard deposition into the cistern suggest that these individuals were the victims of a massacre. As a highly visible act of violence, massacres are often used as a mechanism for social control. When contextualized, this skeletal assemblage is most likely evidence of a massacre that occurred during the reign of the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus. This is the first archaeological evidence for the use of socially sanctioned violence to legitimize the Hasmonean state and to maintain social control at the end of the 2nd century-early 1st century BCE.
Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Medit... more Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Mediterranean, as it is not considered precise enough to solve specific chronological questions, often causing the attribution of historic monuments to be based on circumstantial evidence. This research, applied in Jerusalem, presents a novel approach to solve this problem. Integrating fieldwork, stratigraphy, and microarchaeology analyses with intense radiocarbon dating of charred remains in building materials beneath Wilson's Arch, we absolutely dated monumental structures to very narrow windows of time–even to specific rulers. Wilson’s Arch was initiated by Herod the Great and enlarged during the Roman Procurators, such as Pontius Pilatus, in a range of 70 years, rather than 700 years, as previously discussed by scholars. The theater-like structure is dated to the days of Emperor Hadrian and left unfinished before 132–136 AD. Through this approach, it is possible to solve archaeological riddles in intensely urban environments in the historical periods.
Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Medit... more Radiocarbon dating is rarely applied in Classical and Post-Classical periods in the Eastern Mediterranean, as it is not considered precise enough to solve specific chronological questions , often causing the attribution of historic monuments to be based on circumstantial evidence. This research, applied in Jerusalem, presents a novel approach to solve this problem. Integrating fieldwork, stratigraphy, and microarchaeology analyses with intense radiocarbon dating of charred remains in building materials beneath Wilson's Arch, we absolutely dated monumental structures to very narrow windows of time-even to specific rulers. Wilson's Arch was initiated by Herod the Great and enlarged during the Roman Procurators, such as Pontius Pilatus, in a range of 70 years, rather than 700 years, as previously discussed by scholars. The theater-like structure is dated to the days of Emperor Hadrian and left unfinished before 132-136 AD. Through this approach, it is possible to solve archaeological riddles in intensely urban environments in the historical periods.
Recent excavations in the Russian Compound in Jerusalem provide evidence of internal and external... more Recent excavations in the Russian Compound in Jerusalem provide evidence of internal and external struggles in late Hellenistic Judea. The article presents the main findings and attempts to link them to historical events that occurred in Hasmonean Judea.
Since it was discovered in the 19th century, Wilson’s Arch has been at the heart of discussions a... more Since it was discovered in the 19th century, Wilson’s Arch has been at the heart of discussions about Jerusalem’s urban development. We excavated beneath the arch for three consecutive years and exposed eight strata ranging from the Hasmonean period to Ottoman times. Here we present our results and discuss our finds with particular emphasis on two issues: the date of the arch’s construction and the discovery of a small 2nd century CE theatre-like structure.
Excavations in the City of David-Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021
The Early Roman pottery report from Area J of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David.... more The Early Roman pottery report from Area J of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David. Shared upon request.
Excavations in the City of David-Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021
The Roman pottery report from Area D of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David.
Share... more The Roman pottery report from Area D of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David. Shared upon request.
Excavations in the City of David-Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021
The Roman and Byzantine pottery report from Area D of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City o... more The Roman and Byzantine pottery report from Area D of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David. Shared upon request.
Excavations in the City of David-Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021
The Roman pottery report from Area H of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David.
Share... more The Roman pottery report from Area H of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David. Shared upon request.
Excavations in the City of David-Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021
The Roman pottery report from Area F of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David.
Shar... more The Roman pottery report from Area F of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David. Shared upon request.
Excavations in the City of David - Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021
The Early-Roman pottery report from Area A of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David.... more The Early-Roman pottery report from Area A of the Reich-Shukron excavations in the City of David. Shared upon request.
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Papers by Tehillah Lieberman
presence brought with it new ceramic building materials, including bricks,
roof tiles, pipes, and tubuli, usually in relation to public buildings, particularly
bathhouses. Among the most well-known are the tiles bearing stamps of the
Tenth Roman Legion. In the Byzantine Period, such materials were stamped
with private Greek names. A group of tiles uncovered in the Wilson’s Arch
excavations fill the chronological gap between the legionary production and the
Byzantine period and display the name of Colonia Aelia Capitolina. These were
made from a different ceramic ‘recipe’ than the legionary tiles, indicating they
were produced in a separate workshop and implying a shift in the third century
CE from military production (and ownership) of public buildings to municipalinitiated
construction projects. These tiles support the theory that the original
civic centre of Aelia Capitolina was located directly west of the Temple Mount.
presence brought with it new ceramic building materials, including bricks,
roof tiles, pipes, and tubuli, usually in relation to public buildings, particularly
bathhouses. Among the most well-known are the tiles bearing stamps of the
Tenth Roman Legion. In the Byzantine Period, such materials were stamped
with private Greek names. A group of tiles uncovered in the Wilson’s Arch
excavations fill the chronological gap between the legionary production and the
Byzantine period and display the name of Colonia Aelia Capitolina. These were
made from a different ceramic ‘recipe’ than the legionary tiles, indicating they
were produced in a separate workshop and implying a shift in the third century
CE from military production (and ownership) of public buildings to municipalinitiated
construction projects. These tiles support the theory that the original
civic centre of Aelia Capitolina was located directly west of the Temple Mount.
Shared upon request.
Shared upon request.
Shared upon request.
Shared upon request.
Shared upon request.
Shared upon request.