Front Matter

Excavations at el-Munṭar el-Abyad uncovered several buildings of a one-period settlement dating to Middle Bronze Age IIB (mid-seventeenth century BCE), a burial ground dating to the Persian period (fifth century BCE) and several stone sarcophagi from the Roman period (third century CE). The rural character of the MB IIB site is attested by the architectural finds, the ṭabuns, the infant burials below the floors, and the ceramic and ground stone assemblages, as well as by the lack of luxury or prestige items. The MB II rural occupation, located in the immediate region of Tel Bet She’an, seems to have been part of a settlement floruit during this period in the Bet She’an Valley.

Excavations at Gane Ṭal uncovered sporadic pre-Roman remains; large, plastered pits dating to the Early Roman period (first–early second centuries CE); a rural settlement and cemetery from the Late Roman and Byzantine periods; and meager architectural remains from the Mamluk period. Two settlement phases were related to the Byzantine period: an earlier occupation, probably a farmstead, comprising a large assemblage of simple grinding stones, clay ovens and a domestic ceramic assemblage; and a later occupation, including a manor house and an adjacent, multi-compartment storage facility. The source of wealth at the site was probably the production of wine, as attested by the complex winepresses found at the site and the presence of numerous Gaza jars, possibly of local production. The Byzantine occupation at Gane Ṭal ended sometime in the eighth century CE, probably due to economic pressure applied by the Muslim rulers against the non-Muslim population.