Table of content's in Hebrew and in English

The site, located on the western fringes of the Samaria foothills, lies on the route of the Via Maris, as it winds northward from Afeq to Khirbat Yamma and Tel Jatt, and approaches Nahal ʻIron. Eight excavation squares were opened,uncovering  nine strata, from the Pottery Neolithic period (the Yarmukian and the Jericho IX and Lodite cultures); from the Wadi Rabah culture; from Early Bronze Age IB; from Early Bronze Age II; and from Early Bronze Age III. The layers from the earliest strata contained potsherds, flint artifacts and animal bones. The architectural remains of the Early Bronze Age strata conform to other contemporary structures, some were built with curved walls, some with curved and straight walls, and some with straight walls. The pottery tradition of EB IB continues into EB II.This is manifested in the production technique, the jar types and holemouth jars, and particularly in the pithoi rim forms. A substantial quantity of metallic ware, imported to Tel Magal from southern Lebanon and the Hermon foothills, was also recovered. At the end of EB III, Tell Magal was abandoned and its role as an urban center in the northern coastal plain was taken over by Tel Jatt (Gat Carmel).

A small-scale salvage excavation was carried out along the outskirts of the ancient site of Murhan in the Harod Valley. The site is located on the southeastern spur of Giv‘at Qumi, above Nahal Yosef. For the most part, Murhan is a single-period site dating to the Intermediate Bronze Age, with sporadic finds dating to the Iron Age.

Two excavation areas were opened at the foot of Tel Bira and to its west. In Area A, five strata were exposed. The earliest Stratum comprised two cavities, probably used for burial, from the Intermediate Bronze Age; natural cavities, which probably served for burial, date to Middle Bronze Age IIA; a partially constructed burial date to Middle Bronze Age IIB–C; and traces of walls and floors date to the Iron Age. In Area B, three strata were identified: a crushed limestone floor dating from MB IIA–B; three burials dated to MB IIA–B; and a patch of dark soil that yielded LB I pottery. The finds at the site consisted mainly of pottery and flint tools from the Intermediate Bronze Age. One remarkable find was an intact jug of Levantine Painted Ware deriving from the Syrian coast. The findings indicate that during the Intermediate Bronze Age and Middle Bronze Age II a cemetery existed to the west of the tell.

Khirbat el-Hashash is situated on the western border of the Jezreel Valley. The finds at the site include mainly installations, quarries and caves characteristic of the ancient rural landscape, attesting to intensive and specialized vine cultivation during the Roman and Early Byzantine periods. This report documents the finds at 40 different units, all of which yielded surface-find potsherds from domestic waste scattered by farmers to improve the soil. The potsherds date from the Early to the Late Roman periods. The region around the site provided the local inhabitants with most of their economic needs. Of special interest are three distinct features: ‘Mishmar Ha-ʻEmeq’ and ‘Midrah ‘Oz’ installations, and ‘stone bridges’. The site was probably part of the agricultural hinterland of two central towns, Geva‘ and Legio/Maximianopolis, and provided them with farm produce. 

Excavations at Legio recovered dozens of roof tiles and bricks, consisting mainly of flat roof tiles (tegulae), but also ridge tiles (imbrices), bricks and floor tiles. Eight of the roof tiles and two of the bricks are impressed with Roman legionary stamps, attesting to a Roman military presence at the site: Legio VI Ferrata and Legio II Traiana. Petrographic analysis of the fragments containing legionary stamps shows that they were produced from local raw materials, thus confirming the existence of a pottery workshop near the legion’s permanent garrison at Legio. 

Excavations at Legio recovered flat roof tiles (tegulae), ridge tiles (imbrices), bricks and floor tiles. Ten of these fragments bear Roman legionary stamps in Latin: Legio VI Ferrata and Legio II Traiana. Stamps of this kind attest to a Roman military presence at the site. Petrographic analysis of the fragments containing legionary stamps shows that they were produced from local raw materials, thus confirming the existence of a pottery workshop near the legion’s permanent garrison at Legio.

An altar made of local limestone was uncovered at Legio, about 200 m west of Megiddo Junction. This hill is identified with
the camp of the Roman Legio VI Ferrata, which was garrisoned in the region from the second decade of the second century CE onward; early in the camp’s history, the second Trajanic legion also stayed there for a brief period. The altar was found with roof tiles bearing stamps of Roman legions. Its dimensions attest to a public cult, probably practiced by Roman legionaries in a sacellum or a temple located inside the legionary garrison or in its vicinity.

A salvage excavation was conducted on the lower western slope of a high hill east of Nahal Qidron, Jerusalem. The remains were identified as a Byzantine monastery. Most of the site was highly disturbed by construction activities and was excavated as one large unit, including two courtyards, northern and southern, the rooms surrounding them on the north and south, and an underground burial complex in the east. The finds––pottery, roof tiles, glass and mosaic floors––date to the Byzantine–Early Islamic periods, up to the eighth century CE. Fragments of a few ossuaries date to the Early Roman period, but they lack a clear stratigraphic context. The monastic complex belongs to the one-story coenobium type that flourished in the Judean Desert during the Byzantine period.