Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir... more Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir dominates its surroundings. The region’s topography has limited population growth throughout history, which in turn has limited archaeological research. This situation is improving however, with renewed surveys, excavations and re-examination of unpublished finds. Concordantly, this study is part of a renewed publication of the finds from the excavation of Mt. Adir. A time of geopolitical shift, the Levantine Iron Age I saw the appearance of new local polities. While some vanished as soon as they appeared, others became regional powers. Sitting in the border area between such groups, the cultural and political affinity of Mt. Adir, and in accordance its environs, has been an ongoing source of debate. For these reasons, a petrographic study of the pottery assemblage was initiated, examining a range of ceramic types. By reconstructing the movement of goods, we aim to help shed light on the geopolitical status of the region. Four of the petrographic groups were made locally or at a nearby region, the other two reflect geological environments of the Mediterranean coast, areas which at the period were part of Phoenicia. In addition, we discuss new and legacy data concerning the production local of the wavy-band pithoi, suggested in the past to have been produced in Tyre.
Material, Method, and Context. Papers on the First Millennium BCE in the Eastern Mediterranean Presented to Ilan Sharon on the Occasion of His Retirement (Ägypten und Altes Testament 110), 2022
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2014
The chronology of Iron Age Israel in general, and that of the Iron Age IIA in Judah in particular... more The chronology of Iron Age Israel in general, and that of the Iron Age IIA in Judah in particular, has received a great deal of scholarly attention over the last two decades, especially because of its implications for the debate on the historicity of the United Monarchy. The number of large and well-dated Iron IIA assemblages in Judah, however, is quite small, and in most cases the relevant assemblages are composed of sherds only. The authors of this article are currently preparing for publication a large assemblage of about 200 complete and intact vessels that were unearthed in 1968 by Trude Dothan in an Iron Age IIA tomb below Tel ʿEton. This, along with additional recently published “new” assemblages, warrants a reexamination of the chronology of Judah in this important era. The present article presents the ceramic finds from the tomb at Tel ʿEton and then analyzes the recently published assemblages from other sites in Judah. Those assemblages are then organized in relative sequence, from transitional Iron I—IIA assemblages, through early and late Iron IIA assemblages, and up to terminal Iron IIA (or even transitional Iron IIA—IIB) assemblages. Finally, we attempt to offer (approximate) absolute dates for those ceramic horizons.
Tel ‘Eton is a large site in the southeastern Shephelah, Israel, that has been excavated since 20... more Tel ‘Eton is a large site in the southeastern Shephelah, Israel, that has been excavated since 2006 by Bar-Ilan University. The site, which is surrounded by large burial fields, is located at the edge of the trough valley that separates the Shephelah (lowlands) from the highlands, and carries great potential for understanding the interaction between the well-known Shephelah and the lesser-known highlands. This article summarizes the history of the mound, as revealed in the excavations, from the Early Bronze Age to the early Hellenistic period (with a few settlement cessations within this long period). In addition, the expedition has methodological objectives, including assessing the advantages and limitations of surveys, shovel tests, and of various remote sensing methods, as well as to study site formation processes, ancient construction techniques, and more; these are also briefly presented in the article.
The distinction between clean and unclean, often associated with bodily functions, is a common fe... more The distinction between clean and unclean, often associated with bodily functions, is a common feature of human societies. Consequently, diverse groups developed different ways of maintaining separation between the realms. Despite its prominence in many ethnographies and in anthropology at large, and although the spatial expression of this separation is susceptible to archaeological enquiry, the concept of purity had received less attention by archaeologists. The completion of the excavation of a large house at Tel ʿEton supplied us with detailed information on household life and practices in Iron Age Israel. The finds from this house, along with a very large archaeological dataset about Iron Age Israelite society at large and the wealth of textual data from this period, give us insights into the practices associated with purity/impurity. The article reconstructs how Iron Age Israelite society coped with the implications of impurity (mainly women during menstruation) in its daily li...
The first encounter between archaeologists and the sites or areas of their study is the topsoil. ... more The first encounter between archaeologists and the sites or areas of their study is the topsoil. Still, very little attention is paid to the processes that create the matrix of the topsoil and the archaeological assemblage contained within it, and hence to what data can be obtained from it. This paper, which is part of a larger study on the formation of the archaeological record at Tel ‘Eton, aims to reconstruct the way the topsoil was formed. For this purpose, we studied not only the mound's topsoil and archaeological layers below it, but also the site's environment, in terms of texture (sedimentation/decantation method), color (Munsell charts), phosphate concentration (Olsen method) and vegetation (aboveground plant biomass). Results showed differentiation between the sampling groups and geographical settings in all the measured parameters – in both values and variance. The data imply that the mound’s topsoil was created by an upward movement of materials and their homogen...
This is the final report of the excavations conducted at the site of the fortress of Mount Adir i... more This is the final report of the excavations conducted at the site of the fortress of Mount Adir in two seasons separated by 43 years. In addition to summarizing the available data on the fortress, the study focuses on the broader context—the interconnectedness between the Iron IB settlement system in the Upper Galilee and the contemporaneous centres in the northern part of the country, especially in the coastal area. It seems that during the Iron Age IB a local political entity was established in the Meron Ridges—the ‘Upper Galilee Polity’—which controlled the entire Upper Galilee region. The fortress at Mount Adir played a central role in this entity and the ceramic assemblage that was found there indicates trade relations, mainly with the cities and ‘village-states’ of the northern coastal region. The end of the ‘Upper Galilee Polity’ was connected to the growth of political forces west and east of the Upper Galilee during the Iron IIA.
Vol.:(0123456789)1 3Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences , 2022
Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir... more Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir dominates its surroundings. The region’s topography has limited population growth throughout history, which in turn has limited archaeological research. This situation is improving however, with renewed surveys, excavations and re-examination of unpublished finds. Concordantly, this study is part of a renewed publication of the finds from the excavation of Mt. Adir. A time of geopolitical shift, the Levantine Iron Age I saw the appearance of new local polities. While some vanished as soon as they appeared, others became regional powers. Sitting in the border area between such groups, the cultural and political affinity of Mt. Adir, and in accordance its environs, has been an ongoing source of debate. For these reasons, a petrographic study of the pottery assemblage was initiated, examining a range of ceramic types. By reconstructing the movement of goods, we aim to help shed light on the geopolitical status of the region. Four of the petrographic groups were made locally or at a nearby region, the other two reflect geological environments of the Mediterranean coast, areas which at the period were part of Phoenicia. In addition, we discuss new and legacy data concerning the production local of the wavy-band pithoi, suggested in the past to have been produced in Tyre.
T el 'Eton (opening photograph), usually identified with biblical Eglon (see Box A), is a 6.6 hec... more T el 'Eton (opening photograph), usually identified with biblical Eglon (see Box A), is a 6.6 hectare mound located in Israel's lowland (the Shephelah), at the edge of the trough valley which separates the lowlands from the Judean highlands (fig. 1). The ancient city is situated near an important junction on the north-south road that meandered along the trough valley and the east-west road that connected the coastal plain with Hebron. The site's location near large valleys also secured its proximity to fertile soils, increasing its economic importance.
Using a biographic-like approach, this article presents the initial results of the study of an el... more Using a biographic-like approach, this article presents the initial results of the study of an elite Iron Age house at Tel 'Eton, from its conception, through its birth and life, to its death and decomposition. Massive preparations preceded the construction of the house, and the latter incorporated continuous foundations, and quality building materials, including ashlar stones. The building was pre-planned, and some of the original rooms had two doorways leading to them, in order to enable easy future subdivision , without endangering the structure's physical integrity. The house evolved over the years, and its inner division changed overtime, reflecting the changes in the life-cycle of the extended family that lived in it. The house was destroyed in heavy conflagration in the late 8th century BC; hundreds of artifacts and complete vessels were unearthed below and within the debris, allowing for a detailed reconstruction of the use of space within the building on the eve of its destruction and the processes that accompanied its destruction (perhaps even 'execution'), and subsequent collapse.
The article discusses the results of surveys, shovel testing and excavations conducted at Tel >et... more The article discusses the results of surveys, shovel testing and excavations conducted at Tel >eton, a central site in the southeastern Judean Shephelah. Prior to excavations at the site, the mound was mapped and divided into 39 topographical subunits. each subunit was subsequently surveyed, and this was followed by shovel testing. A comparison of the results of the survey and shovel tests not only to each other, but also to the results of the excavations, gives us a better understanding of the history of the site. in addition, it allows us to examine the accuracy and the reliability of surveying and shovel testing as tools for predicting settlement history.
Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir... more Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir dominates its surroundings. The region’s topography has limited population growth throughout history, which in turn has limited archaeological research. This situation is improving however, with renewed surveys, excavations and re-examination of unpublished finds. Concordantly, this study is part of a renewed publication of the finds from the excavation of Mt. Adir. A time of geopolitical shift, the Levantine Iron Age I saw the appearance of new local polities. While some vanished as soon as they appeared, others became regional powers. Sitting in the border area between such groups, the cultural and political affinity of Mt. Adir, and in accordance its environs, has been an ongoing source of debate. For these reasons, a petrographic study of the pottery assemblage was initiated, examining a range of ceramic types. By reconstructing the movement of goods, we aim to help shed light on the geopolitical status of the region. Four of the petrographic groups were made locally or at a nearby region, the other two reflect geological environments of the Mediterranean coast, areas which at the period were part of Phoenicia. In addition, we discuss new and legacy data concerning the production local of the wavy-band pithoi, suggested in the past to have been produced in Tyre.
Material, Method, and Context. Papers on the First Millennium BCE in the Eastern Mediterranean Presented to Ilan Sharon on the Occasion of His Retirement (Ägypten und Altes Testament 110), 2022
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2014
The chronology of Iron Age Israel in general, and that of the Iron Age IIA in Judah in particular... more The chronology of Iron Age Israel in general, and that of the Iron Age IIA in Judah in particular, has received a great deal of scholarly attention over the last two decades, especially because of its implications for the debate on the historicity of the United Monarchy. The number of large and well-dated Iron IIA assemblages in Judah, however, is quite small, and in most cases the relevant assemblages are composed of sherds only. The authors of this article are currently preparing for publication a large assemblage of about 200 complete and intact vessels that were unearthed in 1968 by Trude Dothan in an Iron Age IIA tomb below Tel ʿEton. This, along with additional recently published “new” assemblages, warrants a reexamination of the chronology of Judah in this important era. The present article presents the ceramic finds from the tomb at Tel ʿEton and then analyzes the recently published assemblages from other sites in Judah. Those assemblages are then organized in relative sequence, from transitional Iron I—IIA assemblages, through early and late Iron IIA assemblages, and up to terminal Iron IIA (or even transitional Iron IIA—IIB) assemblages. Finally, we attempt to offer (approximate) absolute dates for those ceramic horizons.
Tel ‘Eton is a large site in the southeastern Shephelah, Israel, that has been excavated since 20... more Tel ‘Eton is a large site in the southeastern Shephelah, Israel, that has been excavated since 2006 by Bar-Ilan University. The site, which is surrounded by large burial fields, is located at the edge of the trough valley that separates the Shephelah (lowlands) from the highlands, and carries great potential for understanding the interaction between the well-known Shephelah and the lesser-known highlands. This article summarizes the history of the mound, as revealed in the excavations, from the Early Bronze Age to the early Hellenistic period (with a few settlement cessations within this long period). In addition, the expedition has methodological objectives, including assessing the advantages and limitations of surveys, shovel tests, and of various remote sensing methods, as well as to study site formation processes, ancient construction techniques, and more; these are also briefly presented in the article.
The distinction between clean and unclean, often associated with bodily functions, is a common fe... more The distinction between clean and unclean, often associated with bodily functions, is a common feature of human societies. Consequently, diverse groups developed different ways of maintaining separation between the realms. Despite its prominence in many ethnographies and in anthropology at large, and although the spatial expression of this separation is susceptible to archaeological enquiry, the concept of purity had received less attention by archaeologists. The completion of the excavation of a large house at Tel ʿEton supplied us with detailed information on household life and practices in Iron Age Israel. The finds from this house, along with a very large archaeological dataset about Iron Age Israelite society at large and the wealth of textual data from this period, give us insights into the practices associated with purity/impurity. The article reconstructs how Iron Age Israelite society coped with the implications of impurity (mainly women during menstruation) in its daily li...
The first encounter between archaeologists and the sites or areas of their study is the topsoil. ... more The first encounter between archaeologists and the sites or areas of their study is the topsoil. Still, very little attention is paid to the processes that create the matrix of the topsoil and the archaeological assemblage contained within it, and hence to what data can be obtained from it. This paper, which is part of a larger study on the formation of the archaeological record at Tel ‘Eton, aims to reconstruct the way the topsoil was formed. For this purpose, we studied not only the mound's topsoil and archaeological layers below it, but also the site's environment, in terms of texture (sedimentation/decantation method), color (Munsell charts), phosphate concentration (Olsen method) and vegetation (aboveground plant biomass). Results showed differentiation between the sampling groups and geographical settings in all the measured parameters – in both values and variance. The data imply that the mound’s topsoil was created by an upward movement of materials and their homogen...
This is the final report of the excavations conducted at the site of the fortress of Mount Adir i... more This is the final report of the excavations conducted at the site of the fortress of Mount Adir in two seasons separated by 43 years. In addition to summarizing the available data on the fortress, the study focuses on the broader context—the interconnectedness between the Iron IB settlement system in the Upper Galilee and the contemporaneous centres in the northern part of the country, especially in the coastal area. It seems that during the Iron Age IB a local political entity was established in the Meron Ridges—the ‘Upper Galilee Polity’—which controlled the entire Upper Galilee region. The fortress at Mount Adir played a central role in this entity and the ceramic assemblage that was found there indicates trade relations, mainly with the cities and ‘village-states’ of the northern coastal region. The end of the ‘Upper Galilee Polity’ was connected to the growth of political forces west and east of the Upper Galilee during the Iron IIA.
Vol.:(0123456789)1 3Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences , 2022
Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir... more Located in the steep hilly terrain of the Upper Galilee, the Iron Age I mountain fort of Mt. Adir dominates its surroundings. The region’s topography has limited population growth throughout history, which in turn has limited archaeological research. This situation is improving however, with renewed surveys, excavations and re-examination of unpublished finds. Concordantly, this study is part of a renewed publication of the finds from the excavation of Mt. Adir. A time of geopolitical shift, the Levantine Iron Age I saw the appearance of new local polities. While some vanished as soon as they appeared, others became regional powers. Sitting in the border area between such groups, the cultural and political affinity of Mt. Adir, and in accordance its environs, has been an ongoing source of debate. For these reasons, a petrographic study of the pottery assemblage was initiated, examining a range of ceramic types. By reconstructing the movement of goods, we aim to help shed light on the geopolitical status of the region. Four of the petrographic groups were made locally or at a nearby region, the other two reflect geological environments of the Mediterranean coast, areas which at the period were part of Phoenicia. In addition, we discuss new and legacy data concerning the production local of the wavy-band pithoi, suggested in the past to have been produced in Tyre.
T el 'Eton (opening photograph), usually identified with biblical Eglon (see Box A), is a 6.6 hec... more T el 'Eton (opening photograph), usually identified with biblical Eglon (see Box A), is a 6.6 hectare mound located in Israel's lowland (the Shephelah), at the edge of the trough valley which separates the lowlands from the Judean highlands (fig. 1). The ancient city is situated near an important junction on the north-south road that meandered along the trough valley and the east-west road that connected the coastal plain with Hebron. The site's location near large valleys also secured its proximity to fertile soils, increasing its economic importance.
Using a biographic-like approach, this article presents the initial results of the study of an el... more Using a biographic-like approach, this article presents the initial results of the study of an elite Iron Age house at Tel 'Eton, from its conception, through its birth and life, to its death and decomposition. Massive preparations preceded the construction of the house, and the latter incorporated continuous foundations, and quality building materials, including ashlar stones. The building was pre-planned, and some of the original rooms had two doorways leading to them, in order to enable easy future subdivision , without endangering the structure's physical integrity. The house evolved over the years, and its inner division changed overtime, reflecting the changes in the life-cycle of the extended family that lived in it. The house was destroyed in heavy conflagration in the late 8th century BC; hundreds of artifacts and complete vessels were unearthed below and within the debris, allowing for a detailed reconstruction of the use of space within the building on the eve of its destruction and the processes that accompanied its destruction (perhaps even 'execution'), and subsequent collapse.
The article discusses the results of surveys, shovel testing and excavations conducted at Tel >et... more The article discusses the results of surveys, shovel testing and excavations conducted at Tel >eton, a central site in the southeastern Judean Shephelah. Prior to excavations at the site, the mound was mapped and divided into 39 topographical subunits. each subunit was subsequently surveyed, and this was followed by shovel testing. A comparison of the results of the survey and shovel tests not only to each other, but also to the results of the excavations, gives us a better understanding of the history of the site. in addition, it allows us to examine the accuracy and the reliability of surveying and shovel testing as tools for predicting settlement history.
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