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‘Atiqot 90 (2018)
EISSN 2948-040X
Front Matter
Atiqot 90
Keywords: Front Matter
Table of content's in Hebrew and in English
An Excavation near a Pre-Pottery Neolithic A Flint Quarry on Kaizer Hill, Modi‘in
(pp. 1–8)
Polina Spivak
Keywords: PPNA, industry, flint
A trial excavation conducted on the eastern slope of Kaizer Hill, Modi‘in, uncovered anthropogenic bedrock markings, possibly related to flint quarrying activity, and a Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) flint industry. Four natural rock steps of limestone bedrock were exposed, and flint items were systematically collected. On the surface and edges of the rock steps, dense concentrations of bedrock cupmarks were documented, probably the result of the extraction of flint nodules.
The Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age IB Site of Beqo‘a
(pp. 9–54)
Amir Golani, Benyamin Storchan and Anna Eirikh-Rose
Keywords: proto history, pottery, flint, fauna
Rescue excavations carried out near Moshav Beqo‘a revealed a proto-historic site with remains from two major occupation periods: the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age. Stratum III dates from the Ghassulian phase of the Chalcolithic period, and the two subsequent Strata II–I date from late EB I. The primary feature exposed in Stratum II is a building with rounded corners and an adjacent circular structure, perhaps a granary.
Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age IB Flint Assemblages from Beqo‘a
(pp. 55–56)
Hamoudi Khalaily
Keywords: flint, knapping, economy
A total of 5128 flint artifacts was collected from the excavation at Beqo‘a. Approximately 70% of the flint artifacts were retrieved from the Chalcolithic layer (Stratum III); the remainder were from the Early Bronze Age IB (Strata II and I). The Stratum III assemblage is homogeneous and typical of Late Chalcolithic Ghassulian assemblages. As the site is located within an environment of available raw materials, flint production was an integral part of the site’s economy.
Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age IB Fauna from Beqo‘a
(pp. 67–74)
Edward F. Maher
Keywords: proto-history, fauna, economy, offering
The Zooarchaeological finds from Beqo‘a date from the Chalcolithic period (Stratum III) and EB IB (Strata II–I). The faunal assemblage consists of 207 animal bones and tooth fragments belonging to cattle (
Bos taurus
), donkey (
Equus asinus
), gazelle (Gazella sp.), pig (
Sus scrofa
) and Sheep/Goat (
Ovis/Capra
). The fauna from both phases of occupation is dominated by domestic stock; wild species were rarely exploited. The limited mortality data suggest that animals were culled at varying stages, and therefore, utilized for both primary and secondary animal products.
Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age IB Mollusks from Beqo‘a
(pp. 75–78)
Inbar Ktalav
Keywords: malacology, shells, snail
This report discusses 26 shells from the excavations at Beqo‘a. The malacological evidence from Beqo‘a during the Chalcolithic and EB IB indicates contacts with the Nile River, as reflected by the presence of the freshwater bivalve
Chambardia rubens
, as well as with the Mediterranean, which is reflected by the presence of
Glycymeris
nummaria
.
The Magdala Archaeological Project (2010–2012): A Preliminary Report of the Excavations at Migdal
(with contributions by Dina Avshalom-Gorni, Ruth A. Jackson-Tal and Yael Gorin-Rosen, and Danny Syon)
(pp. 83–126)
Marcela Zapata-Meza, Andrea Garza Diaz Barriga and Rosaura Sanz-Rincón
Keywords: petrography, workshop, glass production, history, technology
The archaeological strata from the 2010–2012 excavations at Magdala revealed finds from four main periods: Stratum IV—Hellenistic (late second–mid-first centuries BCE); Stratum III—Early Roman (mid-first century BCE–67 CE), which is further divided into Phase IIIa, Early Roman 1 (mid–late first century BCE), and Phase IIIb, Early Roman 2 (first century–67 CE); Stratum II—Middle–Late Roman (67–350 CE); and Stratum I—after c. 350 CE. The finds included architectural remains, as well as pottery (bowls, cooking bowls, kraters, cooking pots, jugs, jars and lamps), glass vessels (bowls, beakers, jars, bottles, jugs, wineglasses, windowpanes, spindle whorls, inlays, beads and stirring rods) and coins. The excavations at Magdala confirm the dating of the main settlement in this part of the site to the Early Roman period, attesting that Magdala was one of the most important sites dating to the first century CE in the north of Israel.
The Armon Ha-Naziv Tunnel, ‘Government House’ Ridge, Jerusalem
(Hebrew, pp. 1*–53*; English summary, pp. 165–167)
Yaʻakov Billig
Keywords: technology, aqueduct, water supply, miqveh, chronology
The excavations at the Armon Ha-Naziv tunnel in Jerusalem shed light on its purpose, as well as on the dating of the lower aqueduct’s construction, its periods of use and planning. The excavations exposed the full length of the tunnel and various installations adjacent to the tunnel entrances. It is now possible for the first time to date the aqueduct to the Second Temple period on the basis of archaeological finds. Some changes were made to the aqueduct during the Byzantine period. Following the Muslim conquest and during the Umayyad period, the aqueduct was redirected to the Temple Mount, Haram esh-Sharif. During the Ottoman period, a terracotta pipe was placed in the earlier channel of the aqueduct, most likely to prevent access to the water before it reached its destination.
Coins from the Armon Ha-Naziv Tunnel, ‘Government House’ Ridge, Jerusalem
(pp. 79–82)
Gabriela Bijovsky
Keywords: Jerusalem, numismatics
During the excavations at the Armon Ha-Naziv Tunnel, 61 coins were discovered, 33 of them unidentifiable. All the coins are bronze except for one silver Crusader
obole
. The coins uncovered within the foundation trench of the tunnel date its construction to the first century BCE, from the days of Alexander Jannaeus to Herod. The remainder of the coins is related to the later periods of use of the aqueduct and adjacent installations, during the Byzantine and Islamic periods.
A Byzantine-Period Funerary Chapel in the Newe Yam Dalet Neighborhood in Ashqelon
(pp. 147–158)
Yulia Ustinova and Gregory Seriy
Keywords: Byzantine period, Christianity, epigraphy, art, religion, cult
Excavations in Ashqelon’s Newe Yam Dalet neighborhood revealed a remarkable funerary chapel. The funerary complex comprises a courtyard, a tomb and a roofed chamber. The chamber floor was paved with mosaics, containing three Greek inscription; a fourth inscription was found on a marble slab in secondary use. The epigraphic evidence endorses the
interpretation of the site as a cultic complex, perhaps a private memorial site of an individual venerated by the community.
A Church from the Byzantine, Umayyad and Abbasid Periods and Remains from Iron Age I at Tamra (ez-Zuʻab iyya ) in Ramat Issakhar
(Hebrew, pp. 55*–106*; English summary, pp. 168–171)
Yotam Tepper
Keywords: Byzantine period, Early Islamic period, Christianity, epigraphy, iconography, art
Excavations at the village of Tamra ez-Zuʻabiyya exposed well-preserved basalt architectural remains of a rural settlement, dating from the Byzantine to the Early Islamic periods. Remains were also uncovered from the Iron Age and the Persian and Roman periods, as well as from the Fatimid, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. In the Byzantine period, a church was erected at the site, decorated with a colorful mosaic pavement, depicting doves and peacocks. During the Umayyad period, the church included a nave, a
bema
and a northern aisle. The nave was adorned with a colorful mosaic pavement, containing a four-line dedicatory inscription in Greek. According to the date mentioned in the inscription, the mosaic dates to year 107 AH (725 CE). This is the first encountering of a date based on the Islamic Hijri calendar, written in Greek, in an ecclesial building. The church continued to be used during the Abbasid period, although with a few alterations. The finds indicate that a Christian rural community flourished at Tamra during the Byzantine period and that a church was erected there during the sixth century CE. The Christian community continued to exist when the Early Islamic period superseded the Byzantine one.
The Coins from Tamra (ez-Zu‘abiyya)
(Hebrew, pp. 107*–108*; English summary, p. 172)
Danny Syon
Keywords: numismatics
Excavations at Tamra yielded seven coins, six of which were identified. For the most part, the coins are frequently found at sites throughout the country. One exceptional coin is a Roman silver denar of Faustina the Younger, minted in Rome between 161 and 176 CE.
A Middle Bronze Age Scarab from Tamra (ez-Zu‘abiyya)
(pp. 159–162)
Daphna Ben-Tor
Keywords: glyptics, art, iconography
The scarab was found in the earth that was dug out of an Iron Age building, with which it was most likely associated. The scarab’s features and base design argue, however, for a date in the Middle Bronze Age, and thus, it is probably a heirloom.
Textile Impressions on Mamluk Pott ery from Tamra (ez-Zu‘abiyya)
(pp. 163–164)
Orit Shamir
Keywords: textiles, thread, weave, industry
Textile impressions on the inner surface of two body fragments of a Mamluk-period bowl were discovered at Tamra. These were identified as the remains linen a cloth, probably used to cover the vessel during its production to prevent it from
drying quickly and causing the vessel to crack. These impressions resemble other linen textiles from the medieval period.
Remains from the Late Roman to the Mamluk Periods on Djabsha Street, Old City, Jerusalem: An Early Islamic-Period Fuller’s Workshop?
(pp. 127–146)
Hervé Barbé
Keywords: industry, channels, pottery
A limited salvage excavation on Djabsha Street in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem provided evidence for the occupation of the site from the end of the Roman through the Mamluk period. A small workshop was established at the site toward the end the Byzantine, or perhaps at the beginning of the Early Islamic period. It is assumed that this installation was linked with the processing of skins or cloth (tannery, laundry, dyer, etc.).
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