Yuval Gadot
Tel Aviv University, Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, Department Member
This study aims at establishing a historically based model of animal husbandry in urban and rural settlements, in the Southern Levant. This type of model is required in the field of zooarchaeology, to better analyze and study ancient... more
This study aims at establishing a historically based model of animal husbandry in urban and rural settlements, in the Southern Levant. This type of model is required in the field of zooarchaeology, to better analyze and study ancient faunal remains. It also applies a non-traditional method to study and differentiate between urban and rural economies. For this
aim, we used British Mandate tax files and village statistics. These are the best available historical documents for this period, that recorded herds management statistics in all settlements of Palestine. We selected only settlements inhabited by the indigenous population and divided the data into four environmental regions. We analyzed the livestock abundance
and herd demography in each region. Each urban center was considered independently, while the rural villages were classified into three groups, based on the most common livestock (cattle, sheep, or goats). Results show economic variations between urban and rural settlements as well as regional trends, such as in pastoralism and agricultural management. In
addition, meat industries were common in most urban centers, being the primary difference from rural economies. We applied this model to two large zooarchaeological case studies, dating from the Early Islamic to the Ottoman period; Mount Zion, located in the urban city of Jerusalem, and Tel Beth Shemesh (East), whose size and nature were not historically
recorded. We found that the economic variations reflected in the model were also present in the faunal assemblages.
aim, we used British Mandate tax files and village statistics. These are the best available historical documents for this period, that recorded herds management statistics in all settlements of Palestine. We selected only settlements inhabited by the indigenous population and divided the data into four environmental regions. We analyzed the livestock abundance
and herd demography in each region. Each urban center was considered independently, while the rural villages were classified into three groups, based on the most common livestock (cattle, sheep, or goats). Results show economic variations between urban and rural settlements as well as regional trends, such as in pastoralism and agricultural management. In
addition, meat industries were common in most urban centers, being the primary difference from rural economies. We applied this model to two large zooarchaeological case studies, dating from the Early Islamic to the Ottoman period; Mount Zion, located in the urban city of Jerusalem, and Tel Beth Shemesh (East), whose size and nature were not historically
recorded. We found that the economic variations reflected in the model were also present in the faunal assemblages.
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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.
ABSTRACT
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.
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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.
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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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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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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.
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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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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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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