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‘Atiqot 83 (2015)
ISBN 2948-040X
Two Seasons of Rescue and Exploratory Excavations at Horbat ‘Avot, Upper Galilee
(with a contribution by Orit Shamir)
(pp. 1–66)
Eliot Braun
Keywords: Upper Galilee, Horvat Avot, Iron Age, Neolithic period, Early Bronze Age, Middle Bronze Age burials, Persian period, Wavy-Band pithoi, Galilean pithoi, incisions, potter’s marks, trade, economy, hill country, typology, ethnicity
Two superimposed strata were uncovered at the site—Strata 1 and 2—as well as earlier remains (Stratum
-1) and later graves (Stratum 2+). Stratum 1 comprised the corner of a rectangular building, dated to the Persian period. In Stratum 2, dated to Iron Age I, several rectilinear buildings were uncovered. At least one of the buildings had a semisubterranean basement, indicating the existence of an upper story. Based on the considerable storage potential of the pithoi found within some of the structures, it seems that they were used for storage, thereby suggesting an agriculturally based community with a sound economic basis. The bulk of the pottery recovered from the excavation dates from Iron Age I. Best represented in the assemblage are pithoi, several of which bear incised or punctuate decorations. The pithoi from Horbat Avot confirm the basic division into “Galilean” and “Wavy-Band” pithoi, but suggest further subdivisions and a localized typology that may have relevance for sites beyond the region of Upper Galilee. Other finds worthy of mention are a bone knife handle that was carved to resemble a circumcised phallus, two spindle whorls and one loomweight, stone objects and flint tools.