In 2009, the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon uncovered Building
572, a well-preserved, multi-roo... more In 2009, the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon uncovered Building 572, a well-preserved, multi-roomed Iron Age mudbrick structure constructed in the twelfth century BCE, concurrent with the early settlement of the Philistines in Ashkelon. The building itself is an excellent example of Philistine domestic architectural traditions that would persist throughout the Iron Age I. At the centre of the building, an enigmatic four-horned installation was accompanied by an assemblage of artefacts that provide insight into Philistine cultic practice, while illustrating the eclectic and international nature of early Philistine settlement.
The ancient Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, identified as “Philistine” during the Iron Age, ... more The ancient Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, identified as “Philistine” during the Iron Age, underwent a marked cultural change between the Late Bronze and the early Iron Age. It has been long debated whether this change was driven by a substantial movement of people, possibly linked to a larger migration of the so-called “Sea Peoples.” Here, we report genome-wide data of 10 Bronze and Iron Age individuals from Ashkelon. We find that the early Iron Age population was genetically distinct due to a European-related admixture. This genetic signal is no longer detectible in the later Iron Age population. Our results support that a migration event occurred during the Bronze to Iron Age transition in Ashkelon but did not leave a long-lasting genetic signature.
ABSTRACT The microstructure and chemical composition of eight faience beads from an early Iron Ag... more ABSTRACT The microstructure and chemical composition of eight faience beads from an early Iron Age (12th century BCE) assemblage found in the ancient city port of Ashkelon (Israel) are determined by means of FTIR spectrometry, pXRF, microRaman and SEM-EDS analysis. The results are compared with published data of Egyptian and Near Eastern artifacts. Each sample exhibits a hue which is obtained by adding a specific colorant to the glazing mixture. A new gray chalcopyrite-manganese-based colorant was identified. Cementation glazing was most likely used in the manufacturing process of the specimens analyzed, except for the blue bead, which is an Egyptian blue frit. The results suggest that these objects represent a unique assemblage, quite different from contemporary Egyptian and Near Eastern materials, and provide new information regarding the Iron Age faience evidence in the southern Levant.
In 2009, the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon uncovered Building
572, a well-preserved, multi-roo... more In 2009, the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon uncovered Building 572, a well-preserved, multi-roomed Iron Age mudbrick structure constructed in the twelfth century BCE, concurrent with the early settlement of the Philistines in Ashkelon. The building itself is an excellent example of Philistine domestic architectural traditions that would persist throughout the Iron Age I. At the centre of the building, an enigmatic four-horned installation was accompanied by an assemblage of artefacts that provide insight into Philistine cultic practice, while illustrating the eclectic and international nature of early Philistine settlement.
The ancient Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, identified as “Philistine” during the Iron Age, ... more The ancient Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, identified as “Philistine” during the Iron Age, underwent a marked cultural change between the Late Bronze and the early Iron Age. It has been long debated whether this change was driven by a substantial movement of people, possibly linked to a larger migration of the so-called “Sea Peoples.” Here, we report genome-wide data of 10 Bronze and Iron Age individuals from Ashkelon. We find that the early Iron Age population was genetically distinct due to a European-related admixture. This genetic signal is no longer detectible in the later Iron Age population. Our results support that a migration event occurred during the Bronze to Iron Age transition in Ashkelon but did not leave a long-lasting genetic signature.
ABSTRACT The microstructure and chemical composition of eight faience beads from an early Iron Ag... more ABSTRACT The microstructure and chemical composition of eight faience beads from an early Iron Age (12th century BCE) assemblage found in the ancient city port of Ashkelon (Israel) are determined by means of FTIR spectrometry, pXRF, microRaman and SEM-EDS analysis. The results are compared with published data of Egyptian and Near Eastern artifacts. Each sample exhibits a hue which is obtained by adding a specific colorant to the glazing mixture. A new gray chalcopyrite-manganese-based colorant was identified. Cementation glazing was most likely used in the manufacturing process of the specimens analyzed, except for the blue bead, which is an Egyptian blue frit. The results suggest that these objects represent a unique assemblage, quite different from contemporary Egyptian and Near Eastern materials, and provide new information regarding the Iron Age faience evidence in the southern Levant.
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Papers by Adam Aja
572, a well-preserved, multi-roomed Iron Age mudbrick structure constructed in the
twelfth century BCE, concurrent with the early settlement of the Philistines in
Ashkelon. The building itself is an excellent example of Philistine domestic
architectural traditions that would persist throughout the Iron Age I. At the centre of
the building, an enigmatic four-horned installation was accompanied by an
assemblage of artefacts that provide insight into Philistine cultic practice, while
illustrating the eclectic and international nature of early Philistine settlement.
572, a well-preserved, multi-roomed Iron Age mudbrick structure constructed in the
twelfth century BCE, concurrent with the early settlement of the Philistines in
Ashkelon. The building itself is an excellent example of Philistine domestic
architectural traditions that would persist throughout the Iron Age I. At the centre of
the building, an enigmatic four-horned installation was accompanied by an
assemblage of artefacts that provide insight into Philistine cultic practice, while
illustrating the eclectic and international nature of early Philistine settlement.