‘Atiqot - Publications of the Israel Antiquities Authority

‘Atiqot 78 (2014) ISBN 2948-040X

Mamluk and Ottoman Remains in the al-Wata Quarter, Safed (Zefat) (pp. 113–137)
Hervé Barbé
Keywords: Galilee, Hâret al-Wata, numismatics, Baybars, medieval period
The salvage excavation in the al-Wata quarter of Safed revealed that the development of this sector of the city began as early as the early Mamluk period. This is further reinforced by the Arabic historical sources. The pottery suggests that occupation began as early as the thirteenth century, with some vessels clearly dating to the Frankish period. The numismatic study adds credence to this conclusion. The historical data and the archaeological finds, including a seventeenth-century coin, hint that the site was also occupied in the first half of the Ottoman period; however, no building remains from this period were identified.