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‘Atiqot 50 (2005)
ISBN 2948-040X
The Hebrew Ostraca from Site 94/21, Cave A-2, at Ramat Bet Shemesh
(pp. 19–25)
Ianir Milevski (with a contribution by Joseph Naveh)
Keywords: Shephelah, epigraphy, agriculture, Judahite monarchy, olive oil, wine production
An Iron Age C cave, probably a cellar, was excavated some 400 m southwest of Horbat Zanoah. The cave, which yielded pottery dating between the end of the seventh and the beginning of the sixth centuries BCE, included three ostraca. The letters on the inscribed sherds were poorly preserved. Most of the legible personal names are typical of Judah at the end of the First Temple period, which is corroborated by the script as well. The ostraca shed light on how issues relating to the measurement or produce of fields belonging to several persons were dealt with.