Yuval Gadot
Tel Aviv University, Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, Department Member
During the excavations of Area 10 of the Giv’ati parking Lot excavations, 16 handles of storage jars bearing impressions made by royal stamps and ranging in time between the Iron Age and the Hellenistic period were found. The article... more
During the excavations of Area 10 of the Giv’ati parking Lot excavations,
16 handles of storage jars bearing impressions made by royal
stamps and ranging in time between the Iron Age and the Hellenistic
period were found. The article presents the stamps and discuss their contribution for Jerusalem's history. First page
16 handles of storage jars bearing impressions made by royal
stamps and ranging in time between the Iron Age and the Hellenistic
period were found. The article presents the stamps and discuss their contribution for Jerusalem's history. First page
Research Interests:
during the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem. Was the transition from the Byzantine to the Islamic period a short and dramatic event or a long and steady process? This study aims to examine later post-earthquake of the 8th century CE. Thus,... more
during the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem. Was the transition from the Byzantine to the Islamic period a short and dramatic event or a long and steady process? This study aims to examine later post-earthquake of the 8th century CE. Thus, we carried out a study of Mount Zion's (seasons 2018 and 2019) faunal assemblages, analyzing the species discovered at the site, was on evaluating the cultural identity and economic preferences of the local population. As the site was located inside the Jerusalem walls, the locals gained their meat supply from the local markets and might have been involved in agriculture outside the walls. Although the site experienced architectural alterations between the two periods, the Christian population remained, and their faunal economy did not change from the Byzantine period till after the earthquake.
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Steatite scarabs were the most common type of seal‑amulets in Egypt and the southern Levant during the 2nd millennium BCE. Past scholarship attempted to create criteria for the identification of Egyptian vs. Canaanite scarabs, emphasizing... more
Steatite scarabs were the most common type of seal‑amulets in Egypt and the southern Levant during the 2nd millennium BCE. Past scholarship attempted to create criteria for the identification of Egyptian vs. Canaanite scarabs, emphasizing mostly their typological and iconographic features, while other aspects of their production have largely been disregarded. This article examines the production of steatite scarabs from the southern Levant, using the chaîne opératoire theoretical and methodological framework, in which each phase of the production sequence is analyzed separately. The presented results of this analysis include a detailed account of the techniques and tools employed in their creation, a general estimation of the location of their centers of production, and potential connections between steatite scarab production and other ancient industries. While the social contexts of production are highlighted, it is noted that further research is needed to elaborate upon the relationship between Levantine and Egyptian artisans.
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This article describes two installations that include a web of shallow rock cut channels. These are unique installations that date to the late Iron IIa period. The function of the installations is unknown. We suggest they were meant at... more
This article describes two installations that include a web of shallow rock cut channels. These are unique installations that date to the late Iron IIa period. The function of the installations is unknown. We suggest they were meant at soaking vegetal product and that production was under the control of the palace/temple.
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Evidence of fire is one of the most important features for identifying and characterizing destruction events. Analysis of microscopic remains of fire has developed exceedingly in recent years, enabling archaeologists to examine new... more
Evidence of fire is one of the most important features for identifying and characterizing destruction events. Analysis of microscopic remains of fire has developed exceedingly in recent years, enabling archaeologists to
examine new questions relating to the intensity of destruction events and to the circumstances of the creation of destruction layers. One of the most crucial events in the history of the Southern Levant is the Babylonian destruction of Judah and its capital Jerusalem in 586 BCE, which shaped the biblical narrative and theology for generations to come. Building 100 was an extraordinarily large and rich elite building, thoroughly destroyed
during the Babylonian campaign. This paper presents a study of the destruction layer excavated within the rooms of the building. FTIR spectrometry and archaeomagnetic analysis were combined in the micro-archaeological study of the remains in order to create a detailed reconstruction of the destruction event. This reconstruction sheds new light on how the Babylonian destruction was manifested in reality in the elite buildings of Jerusalem.
examine new questions relating to the intensity of destruction events and to the circumstances of the creation of destruction layers. One of the most crucial events in the history of the Southern Levant is the Babylonian destruction of Judah and its capital Jerusalem in 586 BCE, which shaped the biblical narrative and theology for generations to come. Building 100 was an extraordinarily large and rich elite building, thoroughly destroyed
during the Babylonian campaign. This paper presents a study of the destruction layer excavated within the rooms of the building. FTIR spectrometry and archaeomagnetic analysis were combined in the micro-archaeological study of the remains in order to create a detailed reconstruction of the destruction event. This reconstruction sheds new light on how the Babylonian destruction was manifested in reality in the elite buildings of Jerusalem.
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For full article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03344355.2023.2246811 Excavations on Jerusalem’s Southeastern Ridge, in the Giv>ati Parking Lot excavations, have exposed a man-made ditch, some 30 m wide and at least 6... more
For full article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03344355.2023.2246811
Excavations on Jerusalem’s Southeastern Ridge, in the Giv>ati Parking Lot excavations,
have exposed a man-made ditch, some 30 m wide and at least 6 m in depth, close
to the hill’s summit. This paper presents the technical features of the ditch, including
the rock scarps that delineate it from the north and south, as well as an enigmatic
installation composed of a series of intertwined channels. Through comparison with
data from previous excavations farther east, it is clear that this ditch traversed the
entire width of the ridge, creating a disconnect between the Southeastern Ridge and
the Ophel. Although the initial cutting of the ditch cannot be determined, it is clear
that by the Late Iron IIA, the ditch served as a moat between the acropolis—possibly
including the Temple Mount—and the city. This continued until the Late Hellenistic
period, when construction activities backfilled the ditch, leading to its disappearance
from the cityscape.
Excavations on Jerusalem’s Southeastern Ridge, in the Giv>ati Parking Lot excavations,
have exposed a man-made ditch, some 30 m wide and at least 6 m in depth, close
to the hill’s summit. This paper presents the technical features of the ditch, including
the rock scarps that delineate it from the north and south, as well as an enigmatic
installation composed of a series of intertwined channels. Through comparison with
data from previous excavations farther east, it is clear that this ditch traversed the
entire width of the ridge, creating a disconnect between the Southeastern Ridge and
the Ophel. Although the initial cutting of the ditch cannot be determined, it is clear
that by the Late Iron IIA, the ditch served as a moat between the acropolis—possibly
including the Temple Mount—and the city. This continued until the Late Hellenistic
period, when construction activities backfilled the ditch, leading to its disappearance
from the cityscape.
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Advances in the sciences have heavily influenced the manner in which archaeology is conducted in recent years in Israel. In the past decade, this has also impacted the archaeological research of Jerusalem, applying innovative methods and... more
Advances in the sciences have heavily influenced the manner in which archaeology is conducted in recent years in Israel. In the past decade, this has also impacted the archaeological research of Jerusalem, applying innovative methods and taking a leap into the future with new approaches. In this article we wish to highlight the contribution of the scientific toolkit to the research of chronology, connectivity, foodways, environment and identity in ancient Jerusalem.
Fitst page only. for full article see: https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/en/article/jerusalem-in-history-101628hebai-2023-0009?no_cache=1
Fitst page only. for full article see: https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/en/article/jerusalem-in-history-101628hebai-2023-0009?no_cache=1
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Tel Megiddo is a major type-site for the Middle Bronze in the Levant. During this period a new burial custom appeared in which the dead were interred beneath occupied houses. This tradition is well attested in Area K at the site. Area H,... more
Tel Megiddo is a major type-site for the Middle Bronze
in the Levant. During this period a new burial custom
appeared in which the dead were interred beneath
occupied houses. This tradition is well attested in Area
K at the site. Area H, near the palatial complex, revealed
a monumental masonry-constructed chamber
tomb. This article presents the results of residue analysis
conducted on ceramic vessels placed in these tombs
as burial offerings. Hundreds of intramural Middle
Bronze tombs with ceramic offerings were excavated in
the Levant, but this is the first time the content of the
vessels is revealed.
in the Levant. During this period a new burial custom
appeared in which the dead were interred beneath
occupied houses. This tradition is well attested in Area
K at the site. Area H, near the palatial complex, revealed
a monumental masonry-constructed chamber
tomb. This article presents the results of residue analysis
conducted on ceramic vessels placed in these tombs
as burial offerings. Hundreds of intramural Middle
Bronze tombs with ceramic offerings were excavated in
the Levant, but this is the first time the content of the
vessels is revealed.
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The aim of this study was to determine if the protozoa that cause dysentery might have been present in Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, during the Iron Age. Sediments from 2 latrines pertaining to this time period were... more
The aim of this study was to determine if the protozoa that cause dysentery might have been present in Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, during the Iron Age. Sediments from 2 latrines pertaining to this time period were obtained, 1 dating from the 7th century BCE and another from the 7th to early 6th century BCE. Microscopic investigations have previously shown that the users were infected by whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Taenia sp. tapeworm and pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis). However, the protozoa that cause dysentery are fragile and do not survive well in ancient samples in a form recognizable using light microscopy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits designed to detect the antigens of Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia duodenalis were used. Results for Entamoeba and Cryptosporidium were negative, while Giardia was positive for both latrine sediments when the analysis was repeated three times. This provides our first microbiological evidence for infective diarrhoeal illnesses that would have affected the populations of the ancient near east. When we integrate descriptions from 2nd and 1st millennium BCE Mesopotamian medical texts, it seems likely that outbreaks of dysentery due to giardiasis may have caused ill health throughout early towns across the region.
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Excavations in the Giv'ati Parking Lot in Jerusalem uncovered extensive architectural remains dating from the Iron Age to the Early Islamic period, the latest dating to the Abbasid period. The remains from the Abbasid period comprise a... more
Excavations in the Giv'ati Parking Lot in Jerusalem uncovered extensive architectural remains dating from the Iron Age to the Early Islamic period, the latest dating to the Abbasid period. The remains from the Abbasid period comprise a large commercial area where a metal industry operated. This paper presents an Abbasid-period stone mold for casting metal artifacts engraved with an Arabic inscription, whose purpose and meaning are discussed by the authors based on parallels from material finds and written sources.
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This article presents Building 100 - a public building that was uncovered at the "Givati Parking Lot" excavation site, located on the northwestern slope of the southeastern ridge, a short distance from the Opheel and the Temple Mount. We... more
This article presents Building 100 - a public building that was uncovered at the "Givati Parking Lot" excavation site, located on the northwestern slope of the southeastern ridge, a short distance from the Opheel and the Temple Mount. We show evidence of wealth accumulation and its display during the Iron Age IIB-C. We offer to recognize the building as a bureau לשכה
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This is the story of the landfill that operated in Jerusalem during the first century CE and served as its garbage dump during the ca. 50-year period that followed Jesus’s crucifixion through to the period that led to the great revolt of... more
This is the story of the landfill that operated in Jerusalem during the first century CE and served as its garbage dump during the ca. 50-year period that followed Jesus’s crucifixion through to the period that led to the great revolt of the Jews just prior to the city’s destruction.
The book presents an extensive investigation of hundreds of thousands of items that were systematically excavated from the thick layers of landfill. It brings together experts who conducted in-depth studies of every sort of material discarded as refuse—ceramic, metal, glass, bone, wood, and more. This research presents an amazing and tantalizing picture of daily life in ancient Jerusalem, and how life was shaped and regulated by strict behavioral rules (halacha). The book also explores why garbage was collected in Jerusalem in so strict a manner and why the landfill operated for only about 50 years. Half a century of garbage from Early Roman–period Jerusalem provides an abundance of new data and new insights into the ideological choices and new religious concepts emerging and developing among those living in Jerusalem at this critical moment. It is an eye-opener for archaeologists, historians, anthropologists, and theologians, as well as for the general reader.
The book presents an extensive investigation of hundreds of thousands of items that were systematically excavated from the thick layers of landfill. It brings together experts who conducted in-depth studies of every sort of material discarded as refuse—ceramic, metal, glass, bone, wood, and more. This research presents an amazing and tantalizing picture of daily life in ancient Jerusalem, and how life was shaped and regulated by strict behavioral rules (halacha). The book also explores why garbage was collected in Jerusalem in so strict a manner and why the landfill operated for only about 50 years. Half a century of garbage from Early Roman–period Jerusalem provides an abundance of new data and new insights into the ideological choices and new religious concepts emerging and developing among those living in Jerusalem at this critical moment. It is an eye-opener for archaeologists, historians, anthropologists, and theologians, as well as for the general reader.
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The ichthyological evidence that is available for the import and trade of fish into ancient Jerusalem is summarized against the backdrop of social and political developments of the Iron Ages to Early Islamic periods (10th century BCE to... more
The ichthyological evidence that is available for the import and trade of fish into ancient Jerusalem is summarized against the backdrop of social and political developments of the Iron Ages to Early Islamic periods (10th century BCE to 10th century CE). Fish remains, originating from the Nile River, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Lake of Galilee, are regularly found in excavations of Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s nearest water source, the Gihon spring, does not allow for fish habitation, therefore the remains of fish represent trade imports. The aim of this paper is to assess the production and trade of fish through the lens of new assemblages from the City of David, in Area D3, and from the Givati Parking Lot excavations, in Area 10, dating to the 8th through 2nd centuries BCE. These finds also allowed us to explore production and consumption within ancient urban centers that engaged in long-distance commerce. These assemblages, paired with previously published assemblages, allow for an in-depth diachronic perspective of fish consumption and trade. Results of this research indicate that production techniques varied by species and that trade was sustained after the destruction of the city in 586 BCE. It also attests to changes in trade and consumption as a reaction to political and cultural changes in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
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Fot the entire article see: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266085 The article presents results of residue analysis, based on Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) measurements, conducted on 13... more
Fot the entire article see:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266085
The article presents results of residue analysis, based on Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) measurements, conducted on 13 ceramic storage jars unearthed in the Babylonian destruction layer (586 BCE) in Jerusalem. Five of the jars bear rosette stamp impressions on their handles, indicating that their content was related to the kingdom of Judah’s royal economy. The identification of the original contents remains is significant for the understanding of many aspects related to the nutrition, economy and international trade in the ancient Levant. The study shed light on the contents of the jars and the destruction process of the buildings in which they were found. The jars were used alternatively for storing wine and olive oil. The wine was flavored with vanilla. These results attest to the wine consumption habits of the Judahite elite and echo Jerusalem’s involvement in the trans-regional South Arabian trade of spices and other lucrative commodities on the eve of its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266085
The article presents results of residue analysis, based on Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) measurements, conducted on 13 ceramic storage jars unearthed in the Babylonian destruction layer (586 BCE) in Jerusalem. Five of the jars bear rosette stamp impressions on their handles, indicating that their content was related to the kingdom of Judah’s royal economy. The identification of the original contents remains is significant for the understanding of many aspects related to the nutrition, economy and international trade in the ancient Levant. The study shed light on the contents of the jars and the destruction process of the buildings in which they were found. The jars were used alternatively for storing wine and olive oil. The wine was flavored with vanilla. These results attest to the wine consumption habits of the Judahite elite and echo Jerusalem’s involvement in the trans-regional South Arabian trade of spices and other lucrative commodities on the eve of its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar.
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This preliminary report presents an assemblage of ivory items found in the precincts of the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. Such prestigious ivory items have only been found in prominent cities, such as Late Bronze Age Megiddo... more
This preliminary report presents an assemblage of ivory items found in the precincts of the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. Such prestigious ivory items have only been found in prominent cities, such as Late Bronze Age Megiddo and Iron Age Samaria, where they originated in buildings recognized as part of palatial complexes. These items are the first of their kind to be found in Jerusalem, revealing the wealth of Jerusalem’s elite on the eve of the city’s destruction in 586 BCE. The findings shed light on the cultural and economic role of the city’s elite in the “global” network that connected royal courts and their agents across the ancient Near East.
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The following paper presents the results of radiocarbon (14C) dating of Middle Bronze Age (MB) contexts in Jerusalem. The dates, sampled with microarchaeology methods from three different locations along the eastern slopes of the city’s... more
The following paper presents the results of radiocarbon (14C) dating of Middle Bronze Age (MB) contexts in Jerusalem. The dates, sampled with microarchaeology methods from three different locations along the
eastern slopes of the city’s ancient core, reveal that Jerusalem was initially settled in the early phases of the period, with public architecture first appearing in the beginning of the 19th century BC and continued to develop until the 17th century BC. At that time, a curious gap in settlement is noted until the 16th century BC, when the site is resettled. The construction of this phase continued into the early 15th century BC. The dates presented are discussed in both the site-level, as well as their far-reaching implications regarding MB regional chronology. It is
suggested here that the high chronology, dating the Middle Bronze Age between 2000 and 1600 BC is difficult to reconcile with dates from many sites. In contrast, a more localized chronology should be adopted, with the Middle Bronze Age continuing into the early 15th century BC in certain parts of the southern Levant, such as the region of Jerusalem.
eastern slopes of the city’s ancient core, reveal that Jerusalem was initially settled in the early phases of the period, with public architecture first appearing in the beginning of the 19th century BC and continued to develop until the 17th century BC. At that time, a curious gap in settlement is noted until the 16th century BC, when the site is resettled. The construction of this phase continued into the early 15th century BC. The dates presented are discussed in both the site-level, as well as their far-reaching implications regarding MB regional chronology. It is
suggested here that the high chronology, dating the Middle Bronze Age between 2000 and 1600 BC is difficult to reconcile with dates from many sites. In contrast, a more localized chronology should be adopted, with the Middle Bronze Age continuing into the early 15th century BC in certain parts of the southern Levant, such as the region of Jerusalem.
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The article presents finds unearthed during the renewed excavations at the Giv>ati Parking Lot in the ‘City of David’, Jerusalem. The finds, which date from the late Iron Age to the Persian and Early Hellenistic periods, testify to the... more
The article presents finds unearthed during the renewed excavations at the Giv>ati Parking Lot in the ‘City of David’, Jerusalem. The finds, which date from the late Iron Age to the Persian and Early Hellenistic periods, testify to the importance of the western slope of the City of David ridge in the city’s urban development. When water was transferred from the Gihon Spring to the Siloam Pool the significance of the rugged eastern slope of the ridge was reduced. As a result, the western slope was adapted for public construction. After the 586 BCE destruction, the city was rebuilt along the summit of the ridge and on the northwestern slope.
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We present new evidence for the location, size, and nature of Jerusalem in the early Hellenistic period, the third and second centuries BCE. The evidence derives from excavations in an area known as the Givʿati parking lot, which is... more
We present new evidence for the location, size, and nature of Jerusalem
in the early Hellenistic period, the third and second centuries BCE. The
evidence derives from excavations in an area known as the Givʿati parking
lot, which is situated on the western slope of the city’s southeastern ridge
in the early Hellenistic period, the third and second centuries BCE. The
evidence derives from excavations in an area known as the Givʿati parking
lot, which is situated on the western slope of the city’s southeastern ridge
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התכנית המלאה של הכנס הט"ו של חידושים בארכיאולוגיה של ירושלים וסביבותיה
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Paleomagnetic analysis of archaeological materials is crucial for understanding the behavior of the geomagnetic field in the past. As it is often difficult to accurately date the acquisition of magnetic information recorded in... more
Paleomagnetic analysis of archaeological materials is crucial for understanding the behavior of the geomagnetic field in the past. As it is often difficult to accurately date the acquisition of magnetic information recorded in archaeological materials, large age uncertainties and discrepancies are common in archaeomagnetic datasets, limiting the ability to use these data for geomagnetic modeling and archaeomagnetic dating. Here we present an accurately dated reconstruction of the intensity and direction of the field in Jerusalem in August, 586 BCE, the date of the city's destruction by fire by the Babylonian army, which marks the end of the Iron Age in the Levant. We analyzed 54 floor segments, of unprecedented construction quality, unearthed within a large monumental structure that had served as an elite or public building and collapsed during the conflagration. From the reconstructed paleo-magnetic directions, we conclude that the tilted floor segments had originally been part of the floor of the second story of the building and cooled after they had collapsed. This firmly connects the time of the magnetic acquisition to the date of the destruction. The relatively high field intensity, corresponding to virtual axial dipole moment (VADM) of 148.9 ± 3.9 ZAm 2 , accompanied by a geocentric axial dipole (GAD) inclination and a positive declination of 8.3˚, suggests instability of the field during the 6 th century BCE and redefines the duration of the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly. The narrow dating of the geomagnetic reconstruction enabled us to constrain the age of other Iron Age finds and resolve a long archaeological and historical discussion regarding the role and dating of royal Judean stamped jar handles. This demonstrates how archaeomagnetic data derived from historically-dated destructions can serve as an anchor for archaeomagnetic dating and its particular potency for periods in which radiocarbon is not adequate for high resolution dating.
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A fresh look and discussion of the 586 BCE destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.
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Report on new findings along the western slope of the "City of David" ridge.
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The article reviews the chrono-stratigraphy of the City of David ridge—the site traditionally considered as the location of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem. Several scholars have recently challenged this conventional view, arguing that the... more
The article reviews the chrono-stratigraphy of the City of David ridge—the
site traditionally considered as the location of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem.
Several scholars have recently challenged this conventional view, arguing that the southeastern hill became part of the city only in the 8th century
BCE. Five stratigraphic anchors are discussed in detail, including the finds from Kenyon’s Section A, remains surrounding the Gihon Spring and the stratigraphic sequence in Area E. These, as well as remains excavated in Area G and the ‘Ophel’, show that at least three Iron II construction phases need to be taken into account, the earliest probably dating to before the middle of the 8th century BCE.
site traditionally considered as the location of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem.
Several scholars have recently challenged this conventional view, arguing that the southeastern hill became part of the city only in the 8th century
BCE. Five stratigraphic anchors are discussed in detail, including the finds from Kenyon’s Section A, remains surrounding the Gihon Spring and the stratigraphic sequence in Area E. These, as well as remains excavated in Area G and the ‘Ophel’, show that at least three Iron II construction phases need to be taken into account, the earliest probably dating to before the middle of the 8th century BCE.
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The author proposes that an unprecedented growth in the number of rural settlements around Jerusalem took place during the 7th century BCE and not, as has been broadly maintained, in the 8th century BCE. It also shows that the decrease in... more
The author proposes that an unprecedented growth in the number of rural settlements around Jerusalem took place during the 7th century BCE and not, as has been broadly maintained, in the 8th century BCE. It also shows that the decrease in the number of sites in the transition to the Persian
period is less dramatic than has previously been claimed. The author asserts that the large number of 7th century BCE sites around Jerusalem is the result of the devastation of the Shephelah wrought by Sennacherib and that a relatively large number of Iron Age sites survived into the Persian period
due to the role played by Ramat Rahel, which replaced Jerusalem as the economic and political hub of the southern highlands.
period is less dramatic than has previously been claimed. The author asserts that the large number of 7th century BCE sites around Jerusalem is the result of the devastation of the Shephelah wrought by Sennacherib and that a relatively large number of Iron Age sites survived into the Persian period
due to the role played by Ramat Rahel, which replaced Jerusalem as the economic and political hub of the southern highlands.
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A bulla fragment was found in the excavations of Tel Aviv University at the City of David/Silwan. It is made out of local terra rossa soil, and the reading is: קם // ---לך --- The names אחיקם and אליקם are the best candidates for the name... more
A bulla fragment was found in the excavations of Tel Aviv University at the City of David/Silwan. It is made out of local terra rossa soil, and the reading is: קם // ---לך --- The names אחיקם and אליקם are the best candidates for the name in the upper register. The title “עבד המלך” is the best candidate for the title in the lower register. The seal's quality and the reconstructed title of its bearer indicate that it was used by a high official in the royal Judahite administration.
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"The paper presents a new discovered 7th Century BCE Bulla Fragment that was found in the excavations of Tel Aviv University at the City of David/Silwan. The reading is: קם // ---לך ---. The names אחיקם and אליקם are the... more
"The paper presents a new discovered 7th Century BCE Bulla Fragment that was found in the excavations of Tel Aviv University at the City of David/Silwan. The reading is: קם // ---לך ---. The names אחיקם and אליקם are the best candidates for the name in the upper register. The title “עבד המלך” is the best candidate for the title in the lower register. The seal's quality and the reconstructed title of its bearer indicate that it was used by a high official in the royal Judahite administration. "
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ABSTRACT: The recent excavations of a section of the first-century CE garbage dump found on the eastern slope of the Lower City of Jerusalem (the City of David/Silwan) have provided an opportunity to conduct the first quantitative... more
ABSTRACT: The recent excavations of a section of the first-century CE garbage dump found on the eastern slope of the Lower City of Jerusalem (the City of David/Silwan) have provided an opportunity to conduct the first quantitative analysis of the relative frequencies of the various functional groups and types within a complete assemblage of chalk vessels. As our assemblage derives entirely from random garbage deposited in the Jerusalem city dump, these data may be presumed representative of the quantitative breakdown of vessel types used by Jerusalem’s population during the last decades of the Second Temple period. Our study also investigates the ratio of chalk vessels to pottery at our site, an issue of particular interest in light of the manner that contemporary Jewish ritual law related to utensils made of these two kinds of materials.
Research Interests: Ancient History, Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Jewish Law, Jewish Studies, and 30 moreNew Testament, Biblical Studies, Second Temple Judaism, Ancient Religion, Quantitative Research, Quantitative Methods, Biblical Archaeology, Ancient Near East, Archaeology of Ritual and Magic, Jewish Ritual Purity Law, Historical Development of Halakhah, Archaeology of Ritual, Quantitative methods (Archaeology), Quantitative analysis, Jerusalem, Ancient Judaism, Judaic Studies, Early Judaism, Chalk artefacts, Garbage, Jerusalem Archaeology, Ritual Purity, Stone, History of Halakhah, Anthropology of Garbage in Cities, Archaeology of Refuse, Roman Archaeology, History of Judaism In Antiquity, Second Temple Judaism and Early Christianity, and Archaeology of garbage
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This article reports on the finding of a seal and a bulla found in the GivꜤati Parking Lot excavations at the City of David ridge, Jerusalem. The two objects were found within the destruction debris of a public building that was heavily... more
This article reports on the finding of a seal and a bulla found in the
GivꜤati Parking Lot excavations at the City of David ridge, Jerusalem. The two objects were found within the destruction debris of a public building that was heavily burnt during the 586 BCE Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. The seal is scaraboid and reads: ‘(belonging) to ʾkr son of Matanyahu’. The bulla (seal impression) reads: ‘(belonging) to Netanmelek Servant of the King’. On the basis of palaeographic considerations and their archaeological context, the two objects can
be dated to the late seventh century BCE. Their finding adds to the known corpus of names from Judah dating from that era and contributes to our understanding of the Judahite royal bureaucracy and to the urban layout of Jerusalem.
GivꜤati Parking Lot excavations at the City of David ridge, Jerusalem. The two objects were found within the destruction debris of a public building that was heavily burnt during the 586 BCE Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. The seal is scaraboid and reads: ‘(belonging) to ʾkr son of Matanyahu’. The bulla (seal impression) reads: ‘(belonging) to Netanmelek Servant of the King’. On the basis of palaeographic considerations and their archaeological context, the two objects can
be dated to the late seventh century BCE. Their finding adds to the known corpus of names from Judah dating from that era and contributes to our understanding of the Judahite royal bureaucracy and to the urban layout of Jerusalem.
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Terraced hillsides are one of the characteristic elements of the topography of the highlands of Bilād al-Shām. Intimately tied to certain patterns of land use, land tenure, and water management (including the control of drainage from... more
Terraced hillsides are one of the characteristic elements of the topography of the highlands of Bilād al-Shām. Intimately tied to certain patterns of land use, land tenure, and water management (including the control of drainage from run-off irrigation), and requiring extensive coordination in labor for construction and maintenance, ancient agricultural terraces are an insufficiently explored window on pre-modern rural societies, which directly reflect traditional land use and labor organization. The growing interest among geographers, soil scientists, historians, and archaeologists in relic terraces has been bolstered by the ‘rural turn’ in Islamic studies, as well as recent developments in scientific techniques that allow for more precise dating of the terraces themselves.
This paper presents the preliminary results of a newly launched, multi-disciplinary investigation of Khirbet Beit Mazmil in its terraced landscape. The project ‘The Medieval Jerusalem Hinterland Project’, which is funded by the ‘German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development’, combines archaeological excavations of a late Mamluk and Ottoman farmstead with survey, excavation, and OSL-dating of relic terraces that historically belonged to its lands. Informed by a critical analysis of medieval Arabic and Ottoman Turkish texts (legal treatises and fatwa manuals, agricultural manuals, geographies, local chronicles, endowment documents, and tax registers), the preliminary results of this project suggest ways in which medieval Jerusalem’s agricultural hinterland were revived from the 15th century, and village communities in the vicinity thrived at a time of settlement and agricultural decline in other parts of Bilād al-Shām.
This paper presents the preliminary results of a newly launched, multi-disciplinary investigation of Khirbet Beit Mazmil in its terraced landscape. The project ‘The Medieval Jerusalem Hinterland Project’, which is funded by the ‘German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development’, combines archaeological excavations of a late Mamluk and Ottoman farmstead with survey, excavation, and OSL-dating of relic terraces that historically belonged to its lands. Informed by a critical analysis of medieval Arabic and Ottoman Turkish texts (legal treatises and fatwa manuals, agricultural manuals, geographies, local chronicles, endowment documents, and tax registers), the preliminary results of this project suggest ways in which medieval Jerusalem’s agricultural hinterland were revived from the 15th century, and village communities in the vicinity thrived at a time of settlement and agricultural decline in other parts of Bilād al-Shām.
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Here we present the first results of a new interdisciplinary research project entitled " The Formation of Terraced Landscapes in the Judean Highlands, Israel ". The research traces the socioeconomic and historical contexts in which... more
Here we present the first results of a new interdisciplinary research project entitled " The Formation of Terraced Landscapes in the Judean Highlands, Israel ". The research traces the socioeconomic and historical contexts in which terraces were constructed in the rural periphery of Jerusalem, a thriving political, economic and religious center for four millennia, by using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of terraces fill in combination with careful analyses of related geomorphological and archaeological records. The first sub-region studied is Mount Eitan, an isolated hilly spur located ca. 12 km west of the ancient city, above the Soreq Valley, the main drainage basin of the region. The results demonstrate a complex history of terrace construction and use, beginning with sporadic activity during the Hellenistic and Roman periods and reaching a zenith during the mid-second millennium CE. The results enable to put to test current paradigms regarding the relation between extensive terracing operations and settlement oscillations and the antiquity of the terrace phenomenon in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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The research traces the socio-economic and historical contexts in which terraces were constructed in the rural periphery of Jerusalem, a thriving political, economic and religious center for four millennia, by using optically stimulated... more
The research traces the socio-economic and historical contexts in which terraces were constructed in the rural periphery of Jerusalem, a thriving political, economic and religious center for four millennia, by using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of terraces fill in combination with careful analyses of related geomorphological and archaeological records.
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Archaeological terraces are a prominent feature of the agricultural sphere in hilly landscape throughout the Mediterranean, and dating of these simply built features is of utmost importance. Excavations and optically stimulated... more
Archaeological terraces are a prominent feature of the agricultural sphere in hilly landscape throughout the Mediterranean, and dating of these simply built features is of utmost importance. Excavations and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of the soil fill of terraces were previously carried out on Mt. Eitan, the Judean Highlands, Israel. Archaeological surveys showed that Mt. Eitan was almost continuously settled from the Middle Bronze Age until modern times. However, OSL dating showed that all extant terraces were constructed 500–200 years ago, during the Ottoman Period, while older ages (Hellenistic to Mamluk periods) are limited to the base of several terraces. Many samples dated to the Ottoman period contain older quartz grains, indicating partial bleaching at the time of terrace construction; these grains might preserve older episodes of terrace building. To test this, we calculated ages for all measured aliquots and used the finite mixture model on the dataset to identify age components not apparent in the OSL age spectrum. Results show that aliquot ages cluster into only a few periods, of which four distinct components fall within the 14th–19th centuries (Christ era). The Hellenistic–Roman and Early Islamic periods are also represented, even in areas where terraces with such ages were not found, while the Persian Iron and Bronze Age periods are not represented at all. The unbleached grains thus preserve episodes of terrace building no longer represented in the landscape.
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X18302839 The recent success in dating dry farming terraces by Optically stimulated Luminescence (OSL) enables scholars to evaluate for the first time construction events of... more
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X18302839
The recent success in dating dry farming terraces by Optically stimulated Luminescence (OSL) enables scholars to evaluate for the first time construction events of terraces in their true social and economic context. Presented here are 36 new ages from two study areas located along the Upper Soreq catchment, highlands of Jerusalem,
Israel. Field operations were targeted at locating Bronze Age and Iron Age agricultural activities while evaluating possible methodological limitations in using OSL for dating terraces.
The results convincingly show that in the Mediterranean highland environment, soil erosion and rebuilding activities have only a mild impact on the resulting OSL dating. When combining the new ages with the ~60 ages that were published previously in the study area, it is possible to conclude that in the more favorable ecological niches of the highlands of Jerusalem terraces began ca 2400–2200 years ago. This was followed by two or three waves of wide-scale terracing, taking place mainly in the last 800 years. Finally, we were able to recognize a unique ecological niche that preserved ancient (ca 2500 years old) pre-terracing activities as it was not densely covered by later terraces.
The recent success in dating dry farming terraces by Optically stimulated Luminescence (OSL) enables scholars to evaluate for the first time construction events of terraces in their true social and economic context. Presented here are 36 new ages from two study areas located along the Upper Soreq catchment, highlands of Jerusalem,
Israel. Field operations were targeted at locating Bronze Age and Iron Age agricultural activities while evaluating possible methodological limitations in using OSL for dating terraces.
The results convincingly show that in the Mediterranean highland environment, soil erosion and rebuilding activities have only a mild impact on the resulting OSL dating. When combining the new ages with the ~60 ages that were published previously in the study area, it is possible to conclude that in the more favorable ecological niches of the highlands of Jerusalem terraces began ca 2400–2200 years ago. This was followed by two or three waves of wide-scale terracing, taking place mainly in the last 800 years. Finally, we were able to recognize a unique ecological niche that preserved ancient (ca 2500 years old) pre-terracing activities as it was not densely covered by later terraces.
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The construction of terrace walls for dry farming in the highlands of the Levant was traditionally associated with demographic growth that caused pressure on available land for cultivation. In this paper we suggest an alternative model... more
The construction of terrace walls for dry farming in the highlands of the Levant was traditionally associated with demographic growth that caused pressure on available land for cultivation. In this paper we suggest an alternative model and claim that terraces were adopted as a subsistence strategy at periods when land ownership was centralized in the hands of either powerful landowners or managed through complex family-based cooperation like the Musha system of the Late Antiquity period. This claim is based both on the study of land use and settlement patterns within the Upper Nahal Soreq, northwest of Jerusalem, where close to 350 excavated or surveyed sites of all kinds were catalogued and mapped, and on the results of an OSL dating project that directly dated the construction of terrace walls for dry farming in the highlands of Jerusalem in general and at the Upper Nahal Soreq catchment in particular.
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This article presents the first radiocarbon (14 C) results from the Late Bronze Age levels of Tel Azekah (Israel). The results testify to the long and prosperous occupation of the site during this period, commencing at least in LB IIA and... more
This article presents the first radiocarbon (14 C) results from the Late Bronze Age levels of Tel Azekah (Israel). The results testify to the long and prosperous occupation of the site during this period, commencing at least in LB IIA and ending with a severe destruction at the close of LB III. In the extramural quarter (Area S2), a pre-monumental building phase (S2-6) dates to the 14th or early 13th century BCE. Two sub-phases of a public building constructed above this yielded dates in the second half of the 13th century and first two-thirds of the 12th century BCE, suggesting that occupation persisted through the "Crisis Years" of the eastern Mediterranean region. On the top of the mound, in Area T2, the destruction of the final LB III level (T2-3) most likely occurred near the end of the 12th century BCE. The preliminary Azekah results are in good agreement with existing data from Lachish and Megiddo, but seem at odds with results from nearby Tel es-Safi/Gath.
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The recent excavation and publication of material from a number of sites in the Shephelah, Hill Country, Beersheba‒Arad Valley and Sinai have prompted a revaluation of the ceramic horizon of the Iron Age IIB (c. late ninth and eighth... more
The recent excavation and publication of material from a number of sites in the Shephelah, Hill Country, Beersheba‒Arad Valley and Sinai have prompted a revaluation of the ceramic horizon of the Iron Age IIB (c. late ninth and eighth century BCE) in Judah. In this article we report on the discovery of a ceramic assemblage situated within a short-term refuse pit at Tel Azekah, which has further contributed to this growing corpus of material. A typological assessment of these material remains suggests a new ceramic peg for the region — one that rests between the existing pegs of Tell eṣ-Ṣafi/Gath Stratum A3 (c. late ninth century BCE) and Lachish Level III (c. late eighth century BCE), and aligns with material from Tel Beth Shemesh Level 3 (c. late ninth‒early/mid-eighth century BCE). The identification of such a ceramic horizon provides the opportunity to elevate the current chronological resolution of the Iron IIB
ceramic horizon into ‘early’ and ‘late’.
ceramic horizon into ‘early’ and ‘late’.
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Tel Azekah’s regional role. Fortifications at the site include a buttress wall incorporated with watchtowers and possibly a casement structure to the west as well as a large size, protruding Bastion. The massive fortifications served as... more
Tel Azekah’s regional role. Fortifications at the site include a buttress wall incorporated with watchtowers and possibly a casement structure to the west as well as a large size, protruding Bastion. The massive fortifications served as defensive components, on the one hand, defending strategic areas in the tel and possible entry points to the site, and as a powerful landmark, ruling over the main route connecting between centers located along the coast and the Highlands. Especially the protruding bastions and forts, positioned so they will be visible to traffic along the major routes, served in deterring possible attackers, as well as for watching over the trade roads.
The fortification system was erected during the transition from the MBA I to II, or during the early stages of the MBA II, and served until the final stages of the MBA, when it went out of use, at least in part. In relative terms Tel Azekah was fortified during the third wave of fortification construction, after the erection of fortifications at major coastal sites such as Aphek and Ashqelon, contemporaneous to Tell a-Safi/Gat, and prior to Gezer, Beth-Shemesh, and Lachish. We suggest that the fortification phenomenon in the region was a socio-economic reaction to the establishment of Ashqelon as a major seaport and trading center. Azekah was one of the first inland sites to react to the regional economic growth, serving as a central trading link, connecting the fertile Highlands and Lowlands with the coast.
The fortification system was erected during the transition from the MBA I to II, or during the early stages of the MBA II, and served until the final stages of the MBA, when it went out of use, at least in part. In relative terms Tel Azekah was fortified during the third wave of fortification construction, after the erection of fortifications at major coastal sites such as Aphek and Ashqelon, contemporaneous to Tell a-Safi/Gat, and prior to Gezer, Beth-Shemesh, and Lachish. We suggest that the fortification phenomenon in the region was a socio-economic reaction to the establishment of Ashqelon as a major seaport and trading center. Azekah was one of the first inland sites to react to the regional economic growth, serving as a central trading link, connecting the fertile Highlands and Lowlands with the coast.
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The recent excavation and publication of material from a number of sites in the Shephelah, Hill Country, Beersheba‒Arad Valley and Sinai have prompted a revaluation of the ceramic horizon of the Iron Age IIB (c. late ninth and eighth... more
The recent excavation and publication of material from a number
of sites in the Shephelah, Hill Country, Beersheba‒Arad Valley and Sinai have prompted a revaluation of the ceramic horizon of the Iron Age IIB (c. late ninth and eighth century BCE) in Judah. In this article we report on the discovery of a ceramic assemblage situated within a short-term refuse pit at Tel Azekah, which has further contributed to this growing corpus of material. A typological assessment of these material remains suggests a new ceramic peg for the region — one that rests between the existing pegs of Tell eṣ-Ṣafi/Gath Stratum A3 (c. late ninth century BCE) and Lachish Level III (c. late eighth century BCE), and aligns with material from Tel Beth Shemesh Level 3 (c. late ninth‒early/ mid-eighth century BCE). The identification of such a ceramic horizon provides the opportunity to elevate the current chronological resolution of the Iron IIB
ceramic horizon into ‘early’ and ‘late’.
of sites in the Shephelah, Hill Country, Beersheba‒Arad Valley and Sinai have prompted a revaluation of the ceramic horizon of the Iron Age IIB (c. late ninth and eighth century BCE) in Judah. In this article we report on the discovery of a ceramic assemblage situated within a short-term refuse pit at Tel Azekah, which has further contributed to this growing corpus of material. A typological assessment of these material remains suggests a new ceramic peg for the region — one that rests between the existing pegs of Tell eṣ-Ṣafi/Gath Stratum A3 (c. late ninth century BCE) and Lachish Level III (c. late eighth century BCE), and aligns with material from Tel Beth Shemesh Level 3 (c. late ninth‒early/ mid-eighth century BCE). The identification of such a ceramic horizon provides the opportunity to elevate the current chronological resolution of the Iron IIB
ceramic horizon into ‘early’ and ‘late’.
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In this article, we discuss the skeletal remains of four individuals discovered trapped below destruction debris of Building T2/627 at the site of Tel Azekah, Israel, dating to the late 12th Century BCE. Osteological analysis shows that... more
In this article, we discuss the skeletal remains of four individuals discovered trapped below destruction debris of Building T2/627 at the site of Tel Azekah, Israel, dating to the late 12th Century BCE. Osteological analysis shows that these individuals suffered from anemia and other systemic illness during their lives. Patterns of musculoskeletal
stress markers show that they were likely highly active; in the context of
artifacts recovered from the building, we suggest that specific activities included grinding grain and carrying heavy objects. Heat damage to the remains shows that the bodies were extensively burned. The archaeological and osteological evidence suggest that a high temperature fire fueled by flammable goods stored in the building
caused the building to collapse on top of these individuals, preserving their burnt remains in situ. Together, these lines of evidence enhance our understanding of these individuals' ways of life and manners of death against the backdrop of the “crisis years” of the Late Bronze Age Collapse during the end of the 2nd Millennium BCE.
stress markers show that they were likely highly active; in the context of
artifacts recovered from the building, we suggest that specific activities included grinding grain and carrying heavy objects. Heat damage to the remains shows that the bodies were extensively burned. The archaeological and osteological evidence suggest that a high temperature fire fueled by flammable goods stored in the building
caused the building to collapse on top of these individuals, preserving their burnt remains in situ. Together, these lines of evidence enhance our understanding of these individuals' ways of life and manners of death against the backdrop of the “crisis years” of the Late Bronze Age Collapse during the end of the 2nd Millennium BCE.
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The first five excavation seasons of the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition (2012–2016) have revealed the long occupational history of the site – from the Early Bronze III through the Umayyad period The most prominent period in this... more
The first five excavation seasons of the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition (2012–2016) have revealed the long occupational history of the site – from the Early Bronze III through the Umayyad period The most prominent period in this sequence, and documented throughout
the site thus far, is the Late Bronze Age. A destruction layer dating to this
time period was exposed in almost every excavation area of the site, enabling various multi-disciplinary studies of a wide range of material remains. This report focuses on stratigraphic investigations, ceramic analyses, results from a radiocarbon dating project, residue analysis of pottery containers, physical anthropological studies and glyptic and figurative examinations. The results provide testimony to the character of daily life, aspects of interaction with Egyptian overlords, and observable transformations in concepts and consumption practices at Tel Azekah in the Late Bronze Age.
the site thus far, is the Late Bronze Age. A destruction layer dating to this
time period was exposed in almost every excavation area of the site, enabling various multi-disciplinary studies of a wide range of material remains. This report focuses on stratigraphic investigations, ceramic analyses, results from a radiocarbon dating project, residue analysis of pottery containers, physical anthropological studies and glyptic and figurative examinations. The results provide testimony to the character of daily life, aspects of interaction with Egyptian overlords, and observable transformations in concepts and consumption practices at Tel Azekah in the Late Bronze Age.
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Published in Radiocarbon 2017:1-23; Please contact me via Email if you wish to receive a copy of the article
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This paper presents evidence for the function of Egyptian amulets in daily life at Late Bronze Age Tel Azekah. The finding of the remains of two individuals in a destroyed Late Bronze Age building along with clusters of Egyptian scarabs... more
This paper presents evidence for the function of Egyptian amulets in daily life at Late Bronze Age Tel Azekah. The finding of the remains of two individuals in a destroyed Late Bronze Age building along with clusters of Egyptian scarabs and figurative amulets indicates that these artifacts were their personal belongings. It is argued that these Egyptian-originated charm practices were adopted and adapted by the locals, who incorporated them into their own religion.
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Clay depictions of female anthropomorphic figures in various poses are a well known phenomenon of the Late Bronze Age and in recent years, various studies have focused on their iconography and function . In what follows, we present three... more
Clay depictions of female anthropomorphic figures in various poses are a well known phenomenon of the Late Bronze Age and in recent years, various studies have focused on their iconography and function . In what follows, we present three recently unearthed Late Bronze Age figurines from the ongoing excavations at Tel Azekah, dealing with their regional connection – two belonging to previously classified types and hence
their description is short and informative, whilst the third has no exact parallels and therefore discussed in detail with two alternative interpretations – and their provenance as inferred based on a petrographic analysis.
their description is short and informative, whilst the third has no exact parallels and therefore discussed in detail with two alternative interpretations – and their provenance as inferred based on a petrographic analysis.
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The 12th cent. B.C.E. was a period of dramatic change in the southern Levant. It was characterized by the decline of the Egyptian empire and the appearance of a new cultural entity, the so called “Sea Peoples”. In scholarly literature... more
The 12th cent. B.C.E. was a period of dramatic change in the southern Levant. It was characterized by the decline of the Egyptian empire and the appearance of a new cultural entity, the so called “Sea Peoples”. In scholarly literature these changes are heavily debated, and questions regarding the nature of the process, the role of the different agents and the precise sequence of the events, are still unresolved. As a result of these concurrent dramatic changes, the Shephelah and the southern coastal plain figure prominently when unravelling the intense political and cultural transformations that took place in the southern Levant around the 12th cent. B.C.E.
Tell Zakarīye/Azekah, a 12th cent. B.C.E. Shephelah site that fell victim to a severe destruction, has long been overlooked as a major player in the string of sites in the area. Recently excavated by the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition, the site and the finds from its destruction layer, presented below, not only provide in-depth understanding of the historical events that took place on the tell itself but also offer a new perspective of the archaeological evidence from prominent nearby sites such as Tell ed-Duwēr/Lachish, Tell es-Sāfī/Gath and Tell el-Ǧazarī/Gezer. Tell Zakarīye/Azekah’s archeological record bears witness to the significance of the Shephelah during the 12th cent. B.C.E., which was still characterized by typical Canaanite material culture and its cultural and economic connection to the Egyptian empire.
The aim of this paper is to present new data from Tell Zakarīye/Azekah that clarifies the broad picture of historical events that occurred during the first half of the 12th cent. B.C.E. in southwestern Canaan, that enhances existing information regarding the region in the 12th cent. B.C.E. and that sheds new light on some of the prevailing traditions currently accepted by the scholarly community, including those regarding the “Sea Peoples”.
Tell Zakarīye/Azekah, a 12th cent. B.C.E. Shephelah site that fell victim to a severe destruction, has long been overlooked as a major player in the string of sites in the area. Recently excavated by the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition, the site and the finds from its destruction layer, presented below, not only provide in-depth understanding of the historical events that took place on the tell itself but also offer a new perspective of the archaeological evidence from prominent nearby sites such as Tell ed-Duwēr/Lachish, Tell es-Sāfī/Gath and Tell el-Ǧazarī/Gezer. Tell Zakarīye/Azekah’s archeological record bears witness to the significance of the Shephelah during the 12th cent. B.C.E., which was still characterized by typical Canaanite material culture and its cultural and economic connection to the Egyptian empire.
The aim of this paper is to present new data from Tell Zakarīye/Azekah that clarifies the broad picture of historical events that occurred during the first half of the 12th cent. B.C.E. in southwestern Canaan, that enhances existing information regarding the region in the 12th cent. B.C.E. and that sheds new light on some of the prevailing traditions currently accepted by the scholarly community, including those regarding the “Sea Peoples”.
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This paper presents evidence for the function of Egyptian amulets in daily life at Late Bronze Age Tel Azekah. The finding of the remains of two individuals in a destroyed Late Bronze Age building along with clusters of Egyptian scarabs... more
This paper presents evidence for the function of Egyptian amulets in daily life at Late Bronze Age Tel Azekah. The finding of the remains of two individuals in a destroyed Late Bronze Age building along with clusters of Egyptian scarabs and figurative amulets indicates that these artifacts were their personal belongings. It is argued that these Egyptian-originated charm practices were adopted and adapted by the locals, who incorporated them into their own religion.
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Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast... more
Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast populations in fermented beverages could have become the dominant species in storage vessels and their descendants could be isolated and studied today. We developed a pipeline of yeast isolation from clay vessels and screened for yeast cells in beverage-related and non-beverage-related ancient vessels and sediments from several archaeological sites. We found that yeast cells could be successfully isolated specifically from clay containers of fermented beverages. The findings that genotypically the isolated yeasts are similar to those found in traditional African beverages and phenotypically they grow similar to modern beer-producing yeast strongly suggest that they are descendants of the original fermenting yeast. These results demonstrate that modern microorganisms can serve as a new tool in bio-archaeology research.
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Skeletons of ten articulated goats and additional numerous caprine remains were found in an architectural complex that was destroyed by an earthquake, dating to the 8th century CE in Tel Beth Shemesh, Israel. As this assemblage represents... more
Skeletons of ten articulated goats and additional numerous caprine remains were found in an architectural complex that was destroyed by an earthquake, dating to the 8th century CE in Tel Beth Shemesh, Israel. As this assemblage represents a unique event, of a living herd "frozen in time", we studied it in comparison to the general "consumed assemblage" of caprinae from the rest of the site. Reconstructing the herds' demographics, by examining age and sex profiles, enabled us to gain insights into the economic, cultural, and religious habits of the local human population. Based on this analysis, we suggest that the herd was managed for meat, possibly for holiday feasts.
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Organic residue analysis was conducted on various vessels from burials at Tel Yehud, Israel. The analyses led to new reliable evidence for the presence of opioid alkaloids and their decomposition products. This research revitalizes a... more
Organic residue analysis was conducted on various vessels from burials at Tel Yehud, Israel. The analyses led to new reliable evidence for the presence of opioid alkaloids and their decomposition products. This research revitalizes a decades-old discussion on the presence and function of the opium trade across a cultural region of utmost significance in the Ancient Near East and the use and role of Base-Ring juglets during the Late Bronze Age IIA (14th century BCE). Furthermore, it was found that opium storage was not limited to Base-Ring juglets. Opium was possibly diluted into storage jars and juglets, signifying the importance of opium utilization at a larger scale during this period.
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The article presents and discusses the results of Residue Analysis performed on 27 pottery vessels, placed as offerings in burials dating to the Iron I period (ca. 1050–900 BCE) at the site Ḥorvat Tevet (Israel). The results show that... more
The article presents and discusses the results of Residue Analysis performed on 27 pottery vessels, placed as offerings in burials dating to the Iron I period (ca. 1050–900 BCE) at the site Ḥorvat Tevet (Israel). The results show that heated beeswax was used during the burial ceremonies and placed in variety of vessels. These results shed new light on burial practices of South Levantine rural communities. They also contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding bee-product economy in the Southern Levant during the beginning of the Iron IIA
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X21001164?casa_token=fcSV721UhWoAAAAA:kQFM1CNhUwZs33-dVDmBuHUpvS7yTOoD5pyq2TJFbhwReVkKrrTc2q0mLGcnR6zKdurtetPA
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X21001164?casa_token=fcSV721UhWoAAAAA:kQFM1CNhUwZs33-dVDmBuHUpvS7yTOoD5pyq2TJFbhwReVkKrrTc2q0mLGcnR6zKdurtetPA
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Four small ceramic juglets that had been used as containers for offerings in an elite Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650-1550 BCE) masonry tomb uncovered at Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, Israel were tested using organic residue... more
Four small ceramic juglets that had been used as containers for offerings in an elite Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650-1550 BCE) masonry tomb uncovered at Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, Israel were tested using organic residue analysis. Notably, residues of vanillin, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and acetonvanillone were identified in three of the four juglets examined. These are the major fragrance and flavour components of natural vanilla extract. To date, it has been commonly accepted that vanilla was domesticated in the New World and subsequently spread to other parts of the globe. Our research first ruled out all possibility of sample contamination and then conducted a post-organic residue analysis investigation of various species within the plant kingdom from which these principle compounds could have been exploited. The results shed new light on the first known exploitation of vanilla in an Old World context, including local uses, the significance and employment in mortuary practices, and possible implications for understanding trade networks in the ancient Near East during the second millennium BCE.
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The rise of Early Israel in a special of Near Eastern Archaeology edited by Yuval Gadot and Omer Sergi
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The first five excavation seasons of the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition have revealed the long occupational history of the site. A destruction layer dating to the Late Bronze Age was exposed in almost every excavation area of the site,... more
The first five excavation seasons of the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition have revealed the long occupational history of the site. A destruction layer dating to the Late Bronze Age was exposed in almost every excavation area of the site, enabling various multi-disciplinary studies of a wide range of material remains. This paper focuses on stratigraphic investigations, ceramic analyses, results from a radiocarbon dating project, residue analysis of pottery containers, physical anthropological studies and glyptic and figurative examinations. The results provide testimony to the character of daily life, aspects of interaction with Egyptian overlords, and observable transformations in concepts and consumption practices at Tel Azekah in the Late Bronze Age.
Research Interests:
Four small ceramic juglets that had been used as containers for offerings in an elite Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650-1550 BCE) masonry tomb uncovered at Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, Israel were tested using organic residue... more
Four small ceramic juglets that had been used as containers for offerings in an elite Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650-1550 BCE) masonry tomb uncovered at Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, Israel were tested using organic residue analysis. Notably, residues of vanillin, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and acetonvanillone were identified in three of the four juglets examined. These are the major fragrance and flavour components of natural vanilla extract. To date, it has been commonly accepted that vanilla was domesticated in the New World and subsequently spread to other parts of the globe. Our research first ruled out all possibility of sample contamination and then conducted a post-organic residue analysis investigation of various species within the plant kingdom from which these principle compounds could have been exploited. The results shed new light on the first known exploitation of vanilla in an Old World context, including local uses, the significance and employment in mortuary practices, and possible implications for understanding trade networks in the ancient Near East during the second millennium BCE.
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Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast... more
Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast populations in fermented beverages could have become the dominant species in storage vessels and their descendants could be isolated and studied today. We developed a pipeline of yeast isolation from clay vessels and screened for yeast cells in beverage-related and non-beverage-related ancient vessels and sediments from several archaeological sites. We found that yeast cells could be successfully isolated specifically from clay containers of fermented beverages. The findings that genotypi-cally the isolated yeasts are similar to those found in traditional African beverages and phenotypically they grow similar to modern beer-producing yeast strongly suggest that they are descendants of the original fermenting yeast. These results demonstrate that modern microorganisms can serve as a new tool in bio-archaeology research. IMPORTANCE So far, most of the study of ancient organisms has been based mainly on the analysis of ancient DNA. Here we show that it is possible to isolate and study microorganisms-yeast in this case-from ancient pottery vessels used for fermentation. We demonstrate that it is highly likely that these cells are descendants of the original yeast strains that participated in the fermentation process and were absorbed into the clay matrix of the pottery vessels. Moreover, we characterized the isolated yeast strains, their genomes, and the beer they produced. These results open new and exciting avenues in the study of domesticated microorganisms and contribute significantly to the fields of bio-and experimental archaeology that aim to reconstruct ancient artifacts and products.
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This paper presents and discusses the results of residue analysis conducted on 78 ceramic lamps found in archaeological excavations in ancient Jerusalem, in an attempt to identify the types of oils used and the reasons for their... more
This paper presents and discusses the results of residue analysis conducted on 78 ceramic lamps found in archaeological excavations in ancient Jerusalem, in an attempt to identify the types of oils used and the reasons for their preferential choice. The oil lamps chosen for the study were taken from a variety of contexts, which represent the different periods during which Jerusalem was settled and the different sectors of the city. The results of the study show that even the most mundane activity of lighting using oil held within it social and economic choices, as mirrored in the different excavation areas.
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By-products of iron production, mainly slag and bloom fragments, unearthed at three Iron Age urban centres in Israel (Hazor, Tel Beer sheba and Rehov), were analysed in order to better understand the organization of iron production during... more
By-products of iron production, mainly slag and bloom fragments, unearthed at three Iron Age urban centres in Israel (Hazor, Tel Beer sheba and Rehov), were analysed in order to better understand the organization of iron production during the Iron Age. The production remains studied are all dated not earlier than the Iron Age IIA, and thus shed light on a period of transition from bronze to iron production. Chemical composition and microstructural analyses enable us to determine that both the smelting of iron ores and the refining of the bloom took place within the urban centres of Hazor and Beer-Sheba. We show that slag cakes are the products of smelting, possibly carried out in pit-furnaces. Hammerscales, products of primary and secondary smithing, were attached to slags. From these observations we infer that all stages of iron production were practiced in these urban centres.
The editors, “Introduction,” in O. Lipschits, Y. Gadot, and M.J. Adams, eds., Rethinking Israel: Studies in the History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel in Honor of Israel Finkelstein (Winona Lake, Indianna: Eisenbrauns, 2017): i-v.
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Modern rapidly expanding cities generate intricate patterns of species diversity owing to immense complexity in urban spatial structure and current growth trajectories. We propose to identify and uncouple the drivers that give rise to... more
Modern rapidly expanding cities generate intricate patterns of species diversity owing to immense complexity in urban spatial structure and current growth trajectories. We propose to identify and uncouple the drivers that give rise to these patterns by looking at the effect of urbanism on species diversity over a previously unexplored long temporal frame that covers early developments in urbanism. To provide this historical perspective we analyzed archaeozoological remains of small mammals from ancient urban and rural sites in the Near East from the 2nd to the 1st millennium BCE, and compared them to observations from modern urban areas. Our data show that ancient urban assemblages consistently comprised two main taxa (Mus musculus domesticus and Crocidura sp.), whereas assemblages of contemporaneous rural sites were significantly richer. Low species diversity also characterizes high-density core areas of modern cities, suggesting that similar ecological drivers have continued to operate in urban areas despite the vast growth in their size and population densities, as well as in the complexity of their technologies and social organization. Research in urban ecology has tended to emphasize the relatively high species diversity observed in low-density areas located on the outskirts of cities, where open and vegetated patches are abundant. The fact that over several millennia urban evolution did not significantly alter species diversity suggests that low diversity is an attribute of densely-populated settlements. The possibility that high diversity in peripheral urban areas arose only recently as a short-term phenomenon in urban ecology merits further research based on long-term data.
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Many scholars have discussed the cup-and-saucer vessel, its function and source. The vessel was most common during the Late Bronze Age II to the Iron Age I, although it appears earlier and later as well. This paper discusses the châine... more
Many scholars have discussed the cup-and-saucer vessel, its function and source. The vessel was most common during the Late Bronze Age II to the Iron Age I, although it appears earlier and later as well. This paper discusses the châine opératoire of C&S production, when these vessels were used, their geographic and contextual distribution, and their likely function, in an effort to gain a better understanding of this type of vessel. It is suggested here that C&S was cultic in nature, used both for light and for the spread of scents. While the vessel and the practice it was used for were common in the lowlands, C&S does not appear in the Iron I highlands. We suggest that this was due to cultural preferences—the shunning notjust of the form, but also of the cultic practice and the beliefs with which the vessels had connotations in the lowlands.
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Based on a comprehensive database of livestock frequencies and mortality profiles and on high-resolution relative chronologies, we examined synchronically and diachronically conventional assumptions regarding animal husbandry in the... more
Based on a comprehensive database of livestock frequencies and mortality profiles and on high-resolution relative chronologies, we examined synchronically and diachronically conventional assumptions regarding animal husbandry in the southern Levant in the Late Bronze and Iron Ages and arrived at the following conclusions: 1) A recent study suggests that animal economy in these periods was based on strategies of survival and self-sufficiency. We counter this claim and demonstrate how local self-sufficiency was replaced by specialized economies beginning in Iron Age IIB. 2) Contrary to past assumptions, we argue that changes in animal-husbandry strategies were dictated by historical factors rather than by environmental ones. The main shift in livestock husbandry reflects enhanced social complexity during a period of transformation in the territorial-political system from local kingdoms to imperial rule.
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The paper attempts to integrate the study of the manufacture, function and discard of chalices from three sites in Philistia in order to form a coherent ‘life-cycle story’ of this vessel type. The analyses include examination of the... more
The paper attempts to integrate the study of the manufacture, function
and discard of chalices from three sites in Philistia in order to form a
coherent ‘life-cycle story’ of this vessel type. The analyses include
examination of the sources of the ceramic raw material using petrography;
study of the modes of manufacture, employing visual inspection and
ethnographic data; and examination of the function of these vessels, using
organic residue analysis. By combining these analytic perspectives, the
authors shed new light on cultic practices in Iron Age Philistia and offer
an alternative view of Philistine identity.
and discard of chalices from three sites in Philistia in order to form a
coherent ‘life-cycle story’ of this vessel type. The analyses include
examination of the sources of the ceramic raw material using petrography;
study of the modes of manufacture, employing visual inspection and
ethnographic data; and examination of the function of these vessels, using
organic residue analysis. By combining these analytic perspectives, the
authors shed new light on cultic practices in Iron Age Philistia and offer
an alternative view of Philistine identity.
The potential of microvertebrate remains for reconstructing the paleoecology of urban sites remains largely untapped except for extensive research carried out at Roman and medieval sites in Britain. We apply taphonomic and ecological... more
The potential of microvertebrate remains for reconstructing the paleoecology of urban sites remains largely untapped except for extensive research carried out at Roman and medieval sites in Britain. We apply taphonomic and ecological approaches to analyzing an assemblage of microvertebrate remains from the Iron Age IIA of Tel Megiddo, Israel. Sampling in a dense
residential area including house floors and various fills produced 1,080 identifiable specimens including fish, mammal, reptile and bird remains. The mammalian remains show a number of distinct patterns pointing to accumulation from the community of small animals which lived and died on-site. These patterns include evidence for fragmentation due to trampling and presence of burned specimens. The mammalian remains also differed in their
taphonomy from an assemblage from Early Bronze Age II Megiddo which originated from predator accumulation during a period of abandonment. These analyses point to an especially low taxonomic diversity in the Iron Age residential assemblage suggesting that the urban environment of Megiddo supported a unique community of small mammalian animals. This differs markedly from ecological conditions in modern day cities which in some
cases show greater than background levels of diversity and suggests a dense, homogeneous urban environment. We suggest that reconstructing the evolution of urban fauna in greater detail will provide a sensitive tool for tracing historical processes of growth, decline and increasing complexity of urban sites in the Near East as well as other regions of the world.
residential area including house floors and various fills produced 1,080 identifiable specimens including fish, mammal, reptile and bird remains. The mammalian remains show a number of distinct patterns pointing to accumulation from the community of small animals which lived and died on-site. These patterns include evidence for fragmentation due to trampling and presence of burned specimens. The mammalian remains also differed in their
taphonomy from an assemblage from Early Bronze Age II Megiddo which originated from predator accumulation during a period of abandonment. These analyses point to an especially low taxonomic diversity in the Iron Age residential assemblage suggesting that the urban environment of Megiddo supported a unique community of small mammalian animals. This differs markedly from ecological conditions in modern day cities which in some
cases show greater than background levels of diversity and suggests a dense, homogeneous urban environment. We suggest that reconstructing the evolution of urban fauna in greater detail will provide a sensitive tool for tracing historical processes of growth, decline and increasing complexity of urban sites in the Near East as well as other regions of the world.
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Research Interests: Engineering, Ancient History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and 5 moreEgypt, Medicine, Multidisciplinary, Humans, and PLoS one
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Beck, Pirhiya, and Moshe Kochav 1983 “The Egyptian Governor's Palace at Aphek.” Qadmoniot 16, 2-3: 47-51. Gadot, Yuval 2010 “The Late Bronze Egyptian Estate at Aphek.” Tel Aviv 37: 48-66. Kochavi, Moshe 1974 Excavations at... more
Beck, Pirhiya, and Moshe Kochav 1983 “The Egyptian Governor's Palace at Aphek.” Qadmoniot 16, 2-3: 47-51. Gadot, Yuval 2010 “The Late Bronze Egyptian Estate at Aphek.” Tel Aviv 37: 48-66. Kochavi, Moshe 1974 Excavations at Aphek-Antipatris, Third Season, 1974. Tel ...
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Research Interests: Archaeology and Jerusalem
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Studies in the History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel in Honor of Israel Finkelstein
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The excavations at Ramat Raḥel, just south of Jerusalem, revealed a complex of structures that existed for hundreds of years in which the Kingdom of Judah was a vassal of diverse empires. Over some 500 years, jars bearing seals were... more
The excavations at Ramat Raḥel, just south of Jerusalem, revealed a complex of structures that existed for hundreds of years in which the Kingdom of Judah was a vassal of diverse empires. Over some 500 years, jars bearing seals were stored at the site. The findings throw new light on the late First Temple period and on most of that of the Second Temple. During these centuries, Ramat Raḥel was the administrative contact point between Judah and the ruling empires. This is what enabled independent Judean control of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the ability to maintain Jewish identity within Jerusalem almost without outside intervention and supervision. All this came to an end during the Hasmonean revolt.
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Research Interests: Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Hellenistic History, Pilgrimage, and 15 moreOttoman Archaeology, Hellenistic and Roman Fortifications, Biblical Archaeology, Greek Archaeology, Jerusalem, Greek Fortifications, Archaeology of the Hellenistic East, Second Jewish Revolt, Herodium, Hellenistic architecture, Hellenistic Palestine, detailed overview of archaeological remains and historical evidence, The Revolution of Shimon Bar Kokhba 132 135, Bar kosibah, Herodion, and Akra, Jerusalem
Research Interests: Crusades, Hellenistic History, Identity (Culture), Numismatics, Ancient Roman Numismatics, and 11 moreJerusalem, Transition, Jerusalem Archaeology, Coins, Persian Judah; Judea in Hellenistic times; Judea in Seleukid times, Haram al-Sharif, Omar, Roman Judaea, Archaeology history Israel heritage antiquities Near East, Hellenistic Palestine, detailed overview of archaeological remains and historical evidence, Shephelah, and Temple Mount
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Tel Megiddo is a major type-site for the Middle Bronze in the Levant. During this period a new burial custom appeared in which the dead were interred beneath occupied houses. This tradition is well attested in Area K at the site. Area H,... more
Tel Megiddo is a major type-site for the Middle Bronze in the Levant. During this period a new burial custom appeared in which the dead were interred beneath occupied houses. This tradition is well attested in Area K at the site. Area H, near the palatial complex, revealed a monumental masonry-constructed chamber tomb. This article presents the results of residue analysis conducted on ceramic vessels placed in these tombs as burial offerings. Hundreds of intramural Middle Bronze tombs with ceramic offerings were excavated in the Levant, but this is the first time the content of the vessels is revealed.
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Tel Megiddo is a major type-site for the Middle Bronze in the Levant. During this period a new burial custom appeared in which the dead were interred beneath occupied houses. This tradition is well attested in Area K at the site. Area H,... more
Tel Megiddo is a major type-site for the Middle Bronze in the Levant. During this period a new burial custom appeared in which the dead were interred beneath occupied houses. This tradition is well attested in Area K at the site. Area H, near the palatial complex, revealed a monumental masonry-constructed chamber tomb. This article presents the results of residue analysis conducted on ceramic vessels placed in these tombs as burial offerings. Hundreds of intramural Middle Bronze tombs with ceramic offerings were excavated in the Levant, but this is the first time the content of the vessels is revealed.
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The aim of this study was to determine if the protozoa that cause dysentery might have been present in Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, during the Iron Age. Sediments from 2 latrines pertaining to this time period were... more
The aim of this study was to determine if the protozoa that cause dysentery might have been present in Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, during the Iron Age. Sediments from 2 latrines pertaining to this time period were obtained, 1 dating from the 7th century BCE and another from the 7th to early 6th century BCE. Microscopic investigations have previously shown that the users were infected by whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Taenia sp. tapeworm and pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis). However, the protozoa that cause dysentery are fragile and do not survive well in ancient samples in a form recognizable using light microscopy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits designed to detect the antigens of Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia duodenalis were used. Results for Entamoeba and Cryptosporidium were negative, while Giardia was positive for both latrine sediments when the analysis was repeated three times. This provides our first microbiological evidence for infective diarrhoeal illnesses that would have affected the populations of the ancient near east. When we integrate descriptions from 2nd and 1st millennium BCE Mesopotamian medical texts, it seems likely that outbreaks of dysentery due to giardiasis may have caused ill health throughout early towns across the region.
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Excavations in the Giv'ati Parking Lot in Jerusalem uncovered extensive architectural remains dating from the Iron Age to the Early Islamic period, the latest dating to the Abbasid period. The remains from the Abbasid period comprise a... more
Excavations in the Giv'ati Parking Lot in Jerusalem uncovered extensive architectural remains dating from the Iron Age to the Early Islamic period, the latest dating to the Abbasid period. The remains from the Abbasid period comprise a large commercial area where a metal industry operated. This paper presents an Abbasid-period stone mold for casting metal artifacts engraved with an Arabic inscription, whose purpose and meaning are discussed by the authors based on parallels from material finds and written sources.
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In this article, we revisit the question of pig frequencies in Bronze and Iron Age sites in the southern Levant and the biblical pig taboo. We interpret the presence/absence of pigs in Iron Age sites as reflecting environmental and... more
In this article, we revisit the question of pig frequencies in Bronze and Iron Age sites in the southern Levant and the biblical pig taboo. We interpret the presence/absence of pigs in Iron Age sites as reflecting environmental and socio-economic settings of ancient groups rather than portraying ethnic boundaries of the inhabitants.
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summarized against the backdrop of social and political developments of the Iron Ages to Early Islamic periods (10th century BCE to 10th century CE). Fish remains, originating from the Nile River, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Lake... more
summarized against the backdrop of social and political developments of the Iron Ages to Early Islamic periods (10th century BCE to 10th century CE). Fish remains, originating from the Nile River, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Lake of Galilee, are regularly found in excavations of Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s nearest water source, the Gihon spring, does not allow for fish habitation, therefore the remains of fish represent trade imports. The aim of this paper is to assess the production and trade of fish through the lens of new assemblages from the City of David, in Area D3, and from the Givati Parking Lot excavations, in Area 10, dating to the 8th through 2nd centuries BCE. These finds also allowed us to explore production and consumption within ancient urban centers that engaged in long-distance commerce. These assemblages, paired with previously published assemblages, allow for an indepth diachronic perspective of fish consumption and trade. Results of this research indicate that production techniques varied by species and that trade was sustained after the destruction of the city in 586 BCE. It also attests to changes in trade and consumption as a reaction to political and cultural changes in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
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The article presents results of residue analysis, based on Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) measurements, conducted on 13 ceramic storage jars unearthed in the Babylonian destruction layer (586 BCE) in Jerusalem. Five of the... more
The article presents results of residue analysis, based on Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) measurements, conducted on 13 ceramic storage jars unearthed in the Babylonian destruction layer (586 BCE) in Jerusalem. Five of the jars bear rosette stamp impressions on their handles, indicating that their content was related to the kingdom of Judah's royal economy. The identification of the original contents remains is significant for the understanding of many aspects related to the nutrition, economy and international trade in the ancient Levant. The study shed light on the contents of the jars and the destruction process of the buildings in which they were found. The jars were used alternatively for storing wine and olive oil. The wine was flavored with vanilla. These results attest to the wine consumption habits of the Judahite elite and echo Jerusalem's involvement in the transregional South Arabian trade of spices and other lucrative commodities on the eve of its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar.
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The article presents and discusses the results of Residue Analysis performed on 27 pottery vessels, placed as offerings in burials dating to the Iron I period (ca. 1050-900 BCE) at the site Ḥorvat Tevet (Israel). The results show that... more
The article presents and discusses the results of Residue Analysis performed on 27 pottery vessels, placed as offerings in burials dating to the Iron I period (ca. 1050-900 BCE) at the site Ḥorvat Tevet (Israel). The results show that heated beeswax was used during the burial ceremonies and placed in variety of vessels. These results shed new light on burial practices of South Levantine rural communities. They also contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding bee-product economy in the Southern Levant during the beginning of the Iron IIA.
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Decorated ivory artifacts are among the most conspicuous items to be found in archaeological excavations. The rarity of the material, taken from large animals, and the highly elaborate artwork carried out in specialized workshops, make... more
Decorated ivory artifacts are among the most conspicuous items to be found in archaeological excavations. The rarity of the material, taken from large animals, and the highly elaborate artwork carried out in specialized workshops, make ivory items prestigious and expensive to this day. It should come as no surprise that in the ancient Southern Levant collections of ivory-made items were found only in prominent cities, such as Late Bronze Age Megiddo and Iron Age Samaria. Furthermore, they come from buildings recognized as part of palatial complexes. Within this context, we present a preliminary report on an assemblage of ivory items found in the City of David National Park during the 2017–2019 excavation seasons conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University. These items are the first of their kind to be found in Jerusalem. Apart from revealing the wealth of Jerusalem’s elite in the city’s heydays and on the eve of its destruction in 586 BCE, the findings also present an opportunity to discuss the cultural and economic role of the city’s elite in the global network that connected courts and their agents across the ancient Near East.
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This preliminary report presents an assemblage of ivory items found in the precincts of the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. Such prestigious ivory items have only been found in prominent cities, such as Late Bronze Age Megiddo... more
This preliminary report presents an assemblage of ivory items found in the precincts of the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. Such prestigious ivory items have only been found in prominent cities, such as Late Bronze Age Megiddo and Iron Age Samaria, where they originated in buildings recognized as part of palatial complexes. These items are the first of their kind to be found in Jerusalem, revealing the wealth of Jerusalem’s elite on the eve of the city’s destruction in 586 BCE. The findings shed light on the cultural and economic role of the city’s elite in the “global” network that connected royal courts and their agents across the ancient Near East.
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The potential of microvertebrate remains for reconstructing the paleoecology of urban sites remains largely untapped except for extensive research carried out at Roman and medieval sites in Britain. We apply taphonomic and ecological... more
The potential of microvertebrate remains for reconstructing the paleoecology of urban sites remains largely untapped except for extensive research carried out at Roman and medieval sites in Britain. We apply taphonomic and ecological approaches to analyzing an assemblage of microvertebrate remains from the Iron Age IIA of Tel Megiddo, Israel. Sampling in a dense residential area including house floors and various fills produced 1080 identifiable specimens including fish, mammal, reptile and bird remains. The mammalian remains show a number of distinct patterns pointing to accumulation from the community of small animals which lived and died on-site. These patterns include evidence for fragmentation due to trampling and presence of burned specimens. The mammalian remains also differed in their taphonomy from an assemblage from Early Bronze Age II Megiddo which originated from predator accumulation during a period of abandonment. These analyses point to an especially low taxonomic diversity in the Iron Age residential assemblage suggesting that the urban environment of Megiddo supported a unique community of small mammalian animals. This differs markedly from ecological conditions in modern day cities which in some cases show greater than background levels of diversity and suggests a dense, homogenous urban environment. We suggest that reconstructing the evolution of urban fauna in greater detail will provide a sensitive tool for tracing historical processes of growth, decline and increasing complexity of urban sites in the Near East as well as other regions of the world.
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The dramatic growth of Jerusalem in the Iron Age IIB–C raises questions regarding subsistence and relations with the city’s rural hinterland. Studies of animal economy can shed light on these questions. Here, we present results from the... more
The dramatic growth of Jerusalem in the Iron Age IIB–C raises questions regarding subsistence and relations with the city’s rural hinterland. Studies of animal economy can shed light on these questions. Here, we present results from the zooarchaeological investigation of two sites: the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem and Tel Moza, located a few kilometers to the west of the capital. We also compare our finds to previous results from several locations within Jerusalem. We find that while the Western Wall Plaza’s inhabitants focused on meat consumption and did not engage in actual herding, the inhabitants of Tel Moza focused on agriculture and producing caprines’ secondary products, probably supplying sheep and cattle to Jerusalem. Within Jerusalem, people living close to the Temple Mount showed a higher economic standing than those in a neighborhood on the southeastern slope of the “City of David” ridge. The higher-status neighborhoods seem to have received meat through a redistribut...
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The article deals with three related issues. We first revisit the question of identification of biblical Mozah and assert that it cannot be placed at Tel Moza (Qaluniya); rather, it should be located in one of the Iron Age sites further... more
The article deals with three related issues. We first revisit the question of identification of biblical Mozah and assert that it cannot be placed at Tel Moza (Qaluniya); rather, it should be located in one of the Iron Age sites further to the north, which are related to the Gibeon plateau. We then suggest identifying Tel Moza (Qaluniya) with biblical Nephtoah. Finally we discuss the long-term phenomenon of royal estates in the Jerusalem highlands.
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An archaeomagnetic study that provides (1) full vector of the geomagnetic field in August 586BCE; (2) reconstruction of a destruction process of a monumental building in the City of David. (Hebrew)
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ABSTRACT Based on a comprehensive database of livestock frequencies and mortality profiles and on high-resolution relative chronologies, we examined synchronically and diachronically conventional assumptions regarding animal husbandry in... more
ABSTRACT Based on a comprehensive database of livestock frequencies and mortality profiles and on high-resolution relative chronologies, we examined synchronically and diachronically conventional assumptions regarding animal husbandry in the southern Levant in the Late Bronze and Iron Ages and arrived at the following conclusions: 1) A recent study suggests that animal economy in these periods was based on strategies of survival and self-sufficiency. We counter this claim and demonstrate how local self-sufficiency was replaced by specialized economies beginning in Iron Age iib. 2) Contrary to past assumptions, we argue that changes in animal-husbandry strategies were dictated by historical factors rather than by environmental ones. The main shift in livestock husbandry reflects enhanced social complexity during a period of transformation in the territorial-political system from local kingdoms to imperial rule.
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This is the Supplementary Materials of the paper.
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The following paper presents the results of radiocarbon (14C) dating of Middle Bronze Age (MB) contexts in Jerusalem. The dates, sampled with microarchaeology methods from three different locations along the eastern slopes of the city’s... more
The following paper presents the results of radiocarbon (14C) dating of Middle Bronze Age (MB) contexts in Jerusalem. The dates, sampled with microarchaeology methods from three different locations along the
eastern slopes of the city’s ancient core, reveal that Jerusalem was initially settled in the early phases of the period, with public architecture first appearing in the beginning of the 19th century BC and continued to develop until the 17th century BC. At that time, a curious gap in settlement is noted until the 16th century BC, when the site is resettled. The construction of this phase continued into the early 15th century BC. The dates presented are discussed at both the site-level, as well as their far-reaching implications regarding MB regional chronology. It is
suggested here that the high chronology, dating the Middle Bronze Age between 2000 and 1600 BC is difficult to reconcile with dates from many sites. In contrast, a more localized chronology should be adopted, with the Middle Bronze Age continuing into the early 15th century BC in certain parts of the southern Levant, such as the region of Jerusalem.
eastern slopes of the city’s ancient core, reveal that Jerusalem was initially settled in the early phases of the period, with public architecture first appearing in the beginning of the 19th century BC and continued to develop until the 17th century BC. At that time, a curious gap in settlement is noted until the 16th century BC, when the site is resettled. The construction of this phase continued into the early 15th century BC. The dates presented are discussed at both the site-level, as well as their far-reaching implications regarding MB regional chronology. It is
suggested here that the high chronology, dating the Middle Bronze Age between 2000 and 1600 BC is difficult to reconcile with dates from many sites. In contrast, a more localized chronology should be adopted, with the Middle Bronze Age continuing into the early 15th century BC in certain parts of the southern Levant, such as the region of Jerusalem.
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Salvage excavations conducted prior to several major development projects on the western outskirts of Jerusalem have provided information on human settlement from several periods, the latest of which is the Arab village of Qālūnyā up... more
Salvage excavations conducted prior to several major development projects on the western outskirts of Jerusalem have provided information on human settlement from several periods, the latest of which is the Arab village of Qālūnyā up until 1948. This article reviews the findings from this village, and analyzes them in conjunction with a wide range of additional sources such as maps, aerial photography, testimonials by villagers of Qālūnyā and the neighboring Jewish settlement of Motza, together with qualitative and quantitative data from various archives and manuscripts. Since most of the findings and sources are related to the 20th century, this essay focuses on that period. 1 The combination of a wide range of sources, with interdisciplinary analyses, enables us to offer a reconstruction of the physical and social fabric of the village: streets, quarters, residential complexes, as well as the social organization of the residents themselves in various associations such as clans, and their residence patterns. We were also able to identify transformations over time. We hope that the findings in this paper will enable further research on this specific village, covering aspects such as economic cooperation vis-à-vis proximity of dwellings, and activities and ceremonies in the village's public space (aspects that some of the present authors are currently researching). We also hope that this paper demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary research that combines attention to material culture with written sources in the study of this country's society in the recent past. The Arab village of Qālūnyā ,)قالونيا( also known as Qaluniya, Colonia and Kolonia (ITM 21560/63375; UTM 70485/31599), was destroyed during and subsequent to the 1948 War. The village was situated near Wadi Tulma, in the upper reaches of Naḥal Soreq (as it is named today in Hebrew), about 6 km west of Jerusalem's Old City. The Roman bridge that spans the wadi was a noticeable feature of the village (Fisher, Isaac and Roll 1996: 93-96). The location of the village, close to Jerusalem and next to an important thoroughfare, combined with a concentration of several Moza-Qalunya-TNR.indd 381 Moza-Qalunya-TNR.indd 381
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Paleomagnetic analysis of archaeological materials is crucial for understanding the behavior of the geomagnetic field in the past. As it is often difficult to accurately date the acquisition of magnetic information recorded in... more
Paleomagnetic analysis of archaeological materials is crucial for understanding the behavior of the geomagnetic field in the past. As it is often difficult to accurately date the acquisition of magnetic information recorded in archaeological materials, large age uncertainties and discrepancies are common in archaeomagnetic datasets, limiting the ability to use these data for geomagnetic modeling and archaeomagnetic dating. Here we present an accurately dated reconstruction of the intensity and direction of the field in Jerusalem in August, 586 BCE, the date of the city's destruction by fire by the Babylonian army, which marks the end of the Iron Age in the Levant. We analyzed 54 floor segments, of unprecedented construction quality, unearthed within a large monumental structure that had served as an elite or public building and collapsed during the conflagration. From the reconstructed paleo-magnetic directions, we conclude that the tilted floor segments had originally been part of the floor of the second story of the building and cooled after they had collapsed. This firmly connects the time of the magnetic acquisition to the date of the destruction. The relatively high field intensity, corresponding to virtual axial dipole moment (VADM) of 148.9 ± 3.9 ZAm 2 , accompanied by a geocentric axial dipole (GAD) inclination and a positive declination of 8.3˚, suggests instability of the field during the 6 th century BCE and redefines the duration of the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly. The narrow dating of the geomagnetic reconstruction enabled us to constrain the age of other Iron Age finds and resolve a long archaeological and historical discussion regarding the role and dating of royal Judean stamped jar handles. This demonstrates how archaeomagnetic data derived from historically-dated destructions can serve as an anchor for archaeomagnetic dating and its particular potency for periods in which radiocarbon is not adequate for high resolution dating.
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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... 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.
Research Interests:
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... 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.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The article reviews the chrono-stratigraphy of the City of David ridge—the site traditionally considered as the location of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem. Several scholars have recently challenged this conventional view, arguing that the... more
The article reviews the chrono-stratigraphy of the City of David ridge—the
site traditionally considered as the location of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem.
Several scholars have recently challenged this conventional view, arguing
that the southeastern hill became part of the city only in the 8th century
BCE. Five stratigraphic anchors are discussed in detail, including the finds
from Kenyon’s Section A, remains surrounding the Gihon Spring and the
stratigraphic sequence in Area E. These, as well as remains excavated in
Area G and the ‘Ophel’, show that at least three Iron II construction phases
need to be taken into account, the earliest probably dating to before the
middle of the 8th century BCE.
site traditionally considered as the location of Bronze and Iron Age Jerusalem.
Several scholars have recently challenged this conventional view, arguing
that the southeastern hill became part of the city only in the 8th century
BCE. Five stratigraphic anchors are discussed in detail, including the finds
from Kenyon’s Section A, remains surrounding the Gihon Spring and the
stratigraphic sequence in Area E. These, as well as remains excavated in
Area G and the ‘Ophel’, show that at least three Iron II construction phases
need to be taken into account, the earliest probably dating to before the
middle of the 8th century BCE.
Research Interests:
In this study we present the identification of several Early Roman (63 b.c.e.–70 c.e.) charred wood assemblages, collected from the “Lower City” of Jerusalem. The results outline elements in Jerusalem’s nearby woody vegetation,... more
In this study we present the identification of several Early Roman (63 b.c.e.–70 c.e.) charred wood assemblages, collected from the “Lower City” of Jerusalem. The results outline elements in Jerusalem’s nearby woody vegetation, characterized by a mosaic of native Mediterranean maquis forest species and olive orchards, and possibly pine and cypress stands. The arboreal surrounding of Jerusalem supplied the city with pruned olive branches and other types of agricultural refuse to serve as firewood. Local conifers (pines and cypress) as well as imported conifers (cedar of Lebanon), were used for construction purposes. The results further highlight important issues such as social status and importation of wood. The occurrence of prestigious imported tree species within the charcoal assemblage of the Lower City (e.g., cedar, boxwood) indicates the presence of wealthy residences, standing in contrast to prior assumptions that suggest a low social status for the inhabitants within this area.
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Research Interests:
For a copy of the article please contact me VIA email.
Full citation: Sergi, O. and Gadot, Y. The Rise of Ancient Israel in the Iron I-IIA: The Need for a Closer Look. Near Eastern Archaeology 82: 5-7.
Full citation: Sergi, O. and Gadot, Y. The Rise of Ancient Israel in the Iron I-IIA: The Need for a Closer Look. Near Eastern Archaeology 82: 5-7.
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The first five excavation seasons of the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition have revealed the long occupational history of the site. A destruction layer dating to the Late Bronze Age was exposed in almost every excavation area of the site,... more
The first five excavation seasons of the Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition have revealed the long occupational history of the site. A destruction layer dating to the Late Bronze Age was exposed in almost every excavation area of the site, enabling various multi-disciplinary studies of a wide range of material remains. This paper focuses on stratigraphic investigations, ceramic analyses, results from a radiocarbon dating project, residue analysis of pottery containers, physical anthropological studies and glyptic and figurative examinations. The results provide testimony to the character of daily life, aspects of interaction with Egyptian overlords, and observable transformations in concepts and consumption practices at Tel Azekah in the Late Bronze Age.
https://www.degruyter.com/view/books/9783110628371/9783110628371-003/9783110628371-003.xml
https://www.degruyter.com/view/books/9783110628371/9783110628371-003/9783110628371-003.xml
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Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast... more
Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast populations in fermented beverages could have become the dominant species in storage vessels and their descendants could be isolated and studied today. We developed a pipeline of yeast isolation from clay vessels and screened for yeast cells in beverage-related and non-beverage-related ancient vessels and sediments from several archaeological sites. We found that yeast cells could be successfully isolated specifically from clay containers of fermented beverages. The findings that genotypi-cally the isolated yeasts are similar to those found in traditional African beverages and phenotypically they grow similar to modern beer-producing yeast strongly suggest that they are descendants of the original fermenting yeast. These results demonstrate that modern microorganisms can serve as a new tool in bio-archaeology research. IMPORTANCE So far, most of the study of ancient organisms has been based mainly on the analysis of ancient DNA. Here we show that it is possible to isolate and study microorganisms-yeast in this case-from ancient pottery vessels used for fermentation. We demonstrate that it is highly likely that these cells are descendants of the original yeast strains that participated in the fermentation process and were absorbed into the clay matrix of the pottery vessels. Moreover, we characterized the isolated yeast strains, their genomes, and the beer they produced. These results open new and exciting avenues in the study of domesticated microorganisms and contribute significantly to the fields of bio-and experimental archaeology that aim to reconstruct ancient artifacts and products.
Research Interests:
Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast... more
Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast populations in fermented beverages could have become the dominant species in storage vessels and their descendants could be isolated and studied today. We developed a pipeline of yeast isolation from clay vessels and screened for yeast cells in beverage-related and non-beverage-related ancient vessels and sediments from several archaeological sites. We found that yeast cells could be successfully isolated specifically from clay containers of fermented beverages. The findings that genotypically the isolated yeasts are similar to those found in traditional African beverages and phenotypically they grow similar to modern beer-producing yeast strongly suggest that they are descendants of the original fermenting yeast. These results demonstrate that modern microorganisms can serve as a new tool in bio-archaeology research.
Research Interests:
Four small ceramic juglets that had been used as containers for offerings in an elite Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650–1550 BCE) masonry tomb uncovered at Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, Israel were tested using organic residue... more
Four small ceramic juglets that had been used as containers for offerings in an elite Middle Bronze Age III (ca. 1650–1550 BCE) masonry tomb uncovered at Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, Israel were tested using organic residue analysis. Notably, residues of vanillin, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and acetonvanillone were identified in three of the four juglets examined. These are the major fragrance and flavour components of natural vanilla extract. To date, it has been commonly accepted that vanilla was domesticated in the New World and subsequently spread to other parts of the globe. Our research first ruled out all possibility of sample contamination and then conducted a post-organic residue analysis investigation of various species within the plant kingdom from which these principle compounds could have been exploited. The results shed new light on the first known exploitation of vanilla in an Old World context, including local uses, the significance and employment in mortuary practices, and possible implications for understanding trade networks in the ancient Near East during the second millennium BCE.
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Full citation: 12.
Sergi, O. and Gadot, Y. 2017. The Omride Palatial Architecture as Symbols in Action: Between State Formation, Obliteration and Heritage. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 76:1–9.
Sergi, O. and Gadot, Y. 2017. The Omride Palatial Architecture as Symbols in Action: Between State Formation, Obliteration and Heritage. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 76:1–9.
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Front Matter of New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region 12
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Research Interests:
Official garbage disposal areas (landfill) from the past, have rarely been studied by archaeological methods. In this article, we wish to present a unique pottery assemblage that originates from what was minimally a 7 m thick... more
Official garbage disposal areas (landfill) from the past, have rarely been studied by archaeological methods. In this article, we wish to present a unique pottery assemblage that originates from what was minimally a 7 m thick accumulation of alternating soil layers that we interpret as Jerusalem’s official landfill during the Early Roman period.
Study of the pottery sherds found in the landfill can help frame the time the landfill was
operational and facilitate the understanding of how it was formed. Furthermore, the landfill assemblage reflects the pottery usage, trade relations and social status and values of the people living in Jerusalem at a most dramatic moment in its history—the 1st century CE
Study of the pottery sherds found in the landfill can help frame the time the landfill was
operational and facilitate the understanding of how it was formed. Furthermore, the landfill assemblage reflects the pottery usage, trade relations and social status and values of the people living in Jerusalem at a most dramatic moment in its history—the 1st century CE
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The 13th New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem conference will be taking place in Jerusalem, on October 23-24.
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The New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem conference will be taking place in Jerusalem, on October 10-11.