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Biblical Archa Perspectiveson the AncientWorldfromMesopotamiato the Mediterranean Vol.56 No.3

DECADES OF

September1993

DISCOVERY

Hebrew University's Intfut o Acheoog

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BY AMNON BEN-TOR

Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

"The Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem" is the second article in the Biblical Archaeologist series, Profiles of Archaeological Institutes. The first, "The Ecole Biblique," appeared in BA 54:3(1991):160-167; a third article in the series will treat The Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University. The article on the Hebrew University was organized and edited by the Albright Director with the assistance of the Head of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University, Amnon BenTor, and the Institute's Administrative Director, Benny Sekay. Paul Laderman assisted in preparing the manuscript for publication. The series focuses on archaeological research institutes in the eastern Mediterranean basin. Each article describes an institute's history and development, major areas of specialization, main accomplishments and field projects, and personnel and their research and publications projects. The series aims to provide an overall understanding of past and current activities of the institutes that have had and continue to have a direct influence on the development of the archaeology of the ancient Near East. This series forms an important part of the Albright's information sharing program directed to scholars, students, and others interested in archaeological activities in Israel.

The aim of this program is to provide a comprehensive overview of all facets of archaeological research that relate to the archaeology of ancient Israel. Other components of this program include a second series in the Biblical Archaeologist, Archaeological Researchof the Israel Antiquities Authority, edited by the Albright Director (see "Ancient Agricultural Settlement and Religion in the Uvda Valley in Southern Israel" by U. Avner, BA 53:3(1990): 125-141, and "Death and Disease in Ancient Israel" by J. Zias, BA 54:3(1991):146-159). "The Archaeology of Israel" by Albright PostDoctoral Fellow S. Wolff, a review of archaeological activities in Israel, appears as an annual newsletter in the American Journal of Archaeology. The Albright's annual Program Brochure,Bibliographyof Appointees and LibraryAcquisitions List are available at the Institute in Jerusalem and the ASOR office at Johns Hopkins University. In addition, the Albright has organized two colloquia on "Recent Excavations in Israel." The first, dedicated to "Studies in Iron Age Archaeology," was published as AASOR 49(1989) and the second, "A View to the West," will appear as an Archaeological Institute of America monograph in 1993. Seymour Gitin W.F. Director, Albright Institute of Archaeological Research

History The Department of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened in 1926 and is the oldest university department of archaeology in Israel. Its first teachers and researchers were Professors E.L. Sukenik, L.A. Mayer, and M. Stekelis. Professor Sukenik specialized in the archaeology of the Biblical and Second Temple periods and gained international acclaim as the first person to recognize the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Professor Mayer was a scholar with a worldwide reputation in the field of Islamic archaeology. Professor Stekelis was one of the pioneers in the field of prehistoric archaeology in Israel. At its inception, the Department provided a significant stimulus to the advancement of archaeology among Jewish researchers-at a time when the study of the antiquities of the Land of Israel was carried out almost exclusively by foreign academic institutions. Following Israel's War of Independence in 1948, it was no longer possible to use the Hebrew University campus on Mt. Scopus. The Department of Archaeology, together with the other departments of the University, survived in makeshift quarters in West Jerusalem until the new campus at Giv'at Ram was built. The archaeology building at Giv'at Ram was donated by the Belgian Friends of the Hebrew University and named in honor of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. At that time, Benjamin Mazar, Professor in the Department of Archaeology, served as President and rector of the Hebrew University. For much of this period Professor Nahman Avigad served as head of the department. After the Six Day War in 1967, the Institute of Archaeology was founded and the Hebrew University returned to its old home on Mount Scopus. Professor Yigael Yadin was head of the Institute and Joseph Avi-

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Aerial view of the Mount Scopus campus, Hebrew University, with Judean desert in background. Photographs courtesy of Hebrew University and associated photographers.

ram its director. Thanks to a generous donation by the Carasso family, the research wing of the building was

rebuilt to accommodate its expanded research activities and the large numbers of students. With an additional

.19 -- 6'IAmnon Ben-Tor is the Yigael Yadin Professor of the Archaeology of Eretz Israel. He received his Ph.D. in 1969 at the Hebrew University. He was a staff member on the excavations at Hazor, 1958; En-Gedi, 1962; Masada, 19631965; and Hazor, 1968. He directed the excavations at Horvat Usa, 1963; Yarmouth, 1970; Azor, 1971; Athienou, Cyprus (with Trude Dothan), 19711972; Tel Qiri HaZore'a, 1975-1977; Yoqne'am, 1977-1979,1981-1985, 1987, 1988; Tel Qashish, 1978-1979, 19811985,1987; Hazor, 1990-1992. His books and articles include: The Yoqnte'anRegionalProject:TelQiri, A Village in tiheValh:llofjlereel, Archaeological of Canaan During the Third Millennium B.C. lournal of JewishStudies 33 Report(Qedem 25; 1987); and The Relations Between Egypt and the Land (1982):3-18.

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gift from the University's Belgian Friends, the teaching wing was rebuilt and named for Queen Elisabeth. This wing also contains the Institute's library, the slide and artifact collections, and the Archaeometry Laboratory, which was established by the late Professor I. Perlman. The current head of the Institute is Professor Amnon Ben-Tor, the director is Benjamin Sekay, and the Institute's secretaries are Ora Sinai and Frieda Lederman. The Hebrew University Department of Archaeology, and subsequently the Institute of Archaeology, was a pathfinder in establishing the academic discipline of archaeology in Israel. As such, it set the standards for the field. It trained a generation of professionals and students who went on to open departments in other universities, or to become curators in Israel's museums or heads of govern-

Professors and students, center-left: Trude Dothan, center-right: Amnon Ben-Tor.

approach to stratigraphic analysis, which the late I. Dunayevsky, architect and stratigrapher of the Institute, helped to formulate. The Hebrew University archeological excavation at Masada, diirected by Y. Yadin in the early 1960s, was an additional turning point that affected all subsequent archaeological work in Israel. Volunteers from all over the world, and from all walks of life, were encouraged to take part in the excavation. Work in most major digs in Israel is still carried out by volunteers. Without their invaluable help, work at many of the sites would be impossible. The close cooperation between the Institute of Archaeology and the Israel Exploration Society, whose director, Joseph Aviram, was also the first director of the Institute (1969 to 1984), has significantly advanced the Institute's excavations and scientific publications. Curriculum

The Canaanite temple discovered in the excavations at Hazor,showing the statue of a deity and a row of stelae (September 1955). Photo courtesy of the James de Rothschild Expedition-The Hebrew University.

ment agencies, such as the Department of Antiquities. Scholars of the Department and of the Institute of Archaeology played a major role in the acquisition and study of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The late Professor Sukenik bought the first scrolls and was the first to recognize their authenticity, antiquity, and importance. He inspired his students, among them Nahman Avigad and Yigael Yadin, to continue his efforts to understand these seminal

documents in the history of Judaism and Christianity. The largest archaeological endeavor undertaken by the Institute was the late Professor Yadin's excavation at Hazor in 1955-1958. The excavation served as a training school for field archaeologists. Many prominent archaeologists throughout the country received their initial training in field archaeology at Hazor. This excavation was also most prominent in developing the Israeli

The curriculum of the Department of Archaeology, which is part of the Faculty of Humanities, is the only one in Israel that offers a comprehensive course of studies ranging from prehistory to Islamic archaeology. Three academic degrees are granted: B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. Studies are divided into three main divisions. Prehistoric Archaeologydeals with various subjects relating to the physical, social, and cultural evolution of early peoples. The Archaeologyof the Landof Israeland NeighboringCountries in the BiblicalPeriodranges from Neolithic times up to the 4th century BCE,with a prominent place being given to the study of countries in both the East and the Aegean. Classicaland Byzanti?neArchaeologycovers the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Particular attention is paid to Jewish and Early Christian art and to the archaeology of the intertestamental period. Courses are also offered in Islamic and Medieval Archaeology. Courses given by the Archaeometry Laboratory open new horizons to students by presenting scientific

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methods in archaeology, techniques of the natural sciences for establishing the origin of ceramics, and methods for dating archaeological finds. Field trips and study excavations are an integral part of a student's academic work. In the annual study excavations, training in practical field archaeology is given by the excavation directors, who are teachers at the Institute, and their staffs. Advanced students serve as area supervisors and research assistants in the excavations and publication projects carried out by the Institute and by other organizations. This experience is an essential part of the student's training to become a future excavation director or a museum staff member. In 1991 the Institute, in collaboration

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with the University's School of Education, initiated a new project to create a curriculum to qualify its graduates to teach archaeology in high schools. Student Body In 1990-1991, 115 students earned B.A. degrees, and 85 students continued in the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. In addition, approximately 50 students took archaeology courses as part of the general B.A. program, and some 80 students studied archaeology as part of the one-year program of the Rothberg School for Overseas Students. The student body is extremely varied in its composition. While most of the students are Israelis, there are

considerable numbers of students from the United States, Latin America, Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Far East who take the full course of studies, in addition to overseas students studying at the Rothberg School. Outstanding students of the Institute are eligible for annual awards and grants from the University and from the Council of Higher Education. These include the P. Carasso, A. and E. Farago, R. and T. Ghirshman, A. and R. Negev, and H. and Z. Zinder awards. The Philip and Muriel Berman Awards are presented annually to two graduate students for significant research in Biblical Archaeology. A majority of those teaching

Is

Professors (left to right): N. Avigad, R. Amiran, and Y. Yadin at the excavation at Afula in 1937.

archaeology in institutions of higher learning in Israel and of the staff of research organizations in the country are graduates of the Institute. Faculty The faculty of the Institute at present numbers nineteen, including three Professors EmeritiZecharia Kallai, Benjamin Mazar, and Avraham Negev; eight ProfessorsMyriam RosenAyalon, Dan Barag, Amnon Ben-Tor, Trude Dothan, Lee I. Levine, Joseph Naveh, Ephraim and Yoram Stemrn, Tsafrir;four Associate Professors-Gideon Foerster, Na'ama Goren-Inbar, Amihai Mazar, and Joseph Yellin; one Adjunct Professor-Ya'acov Meshorer; two Senior

Dr. Moshe Stekelis, lecturer in Prehistory, exhibits Stone Age artifacts to a class (1953).

Lecturers-Jan Gunneweg and Ehud Netzer; and one LecturerAnna Belfer-Cohen. The faculty of the Department of Archaeology included the late Nahman Avigad, Michael Avi-Yonah, Uri Ben-Horin, Immanuel Dunayevski, Leo A. Mayer, Isadore Perlman, Yigal Shiloh, Moshe Stekelis, Eleazar L. Sukenik, and Yigael Yadin. Library The Institute's library is comprised of four collections. The primary archaeological library contains 40,000 books and periodicals and a large collection of offprints. The library's catalogue is now being computerized, linking it to the general catalogue of the Jewish National and University Library. The other three collections are the libraries of the Departments of Assyriology and of Egyptology, and a library of Iranian studies (the legacy of the late Professor R. Ghirshman). The chief librarian is Nira Naveh. Slide Archive The slide archive contains nearly 50,000 slides on various subjects and serves as an aid to teaching and research. Many of the slides were photographed during excavations directed by the Institute's academic staff. The collection will be computerized in the near future. The director of the slide archive is Tsvi Schneider. Artifact Collections The Institute's artifact collection is comprised of items collected from the Institute's excavations, as well as items purchased and donated to the Museum of Jewish Antiquities from the 1920s onward. Most of the collection is available to students of the Institute for study. The artifacts include prehistoric flint tools, pottery, glass, stone, and metal objects ranging in date from the prehistoric to the medieval periods. The Institute's exhibition hall, displaying finds from the Institute's excavations, is open to the public. One of the most recent exhibitions, directed by the late Yigal

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Shiloh, dealt with the Institute's excavations in the City of David. The exhibition was subsequently shown at numerous museums in the United States with the assistance of Philip and Muriel Berman of Allentown, Pennsylvania. In 1994, the Institute will hold an exhibition of finds from the excavations at Masada, directed

by the late Professor Yigael Yadin, in conjunction with the publication of the final scientific reports on this excavation. The curator of collections and exhibitions is Gila Hurwitz. Laboratories The Institute contains a laboratory for the preservation of metal and *6 * I'

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wood, which is directed by Miriam Lavi, labs for pottery restoration, and an archaeometry laboratory for identifying the material and origin of pottery and other artifacts, directed by Professor J. Yellin. The Institute also has a photography department, directed by Gabi Laron, which provides photographic records of exca-

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Biblical Archaeologist 56:3 (1993)

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Tel Mevorakh: Ephraim Stern Caesarea: Michael Avi-Yonah,L.I Levine, EhuLdNetzer Ramat ha-Nadiv: Yizhar Hirschfeld Sartaba-Alexandrion Yoram Tsafrir Salibiyeh' Anna Belfer-Cohen Jericho (AbJ 'Alaiq): Ehud Netzer Tel Jerishe: E.L.Sukenik,Nahman Avigad Tel Qasile: Benjamin Mazar, Amihai Mazar Ramle: Myriam Rosen-Ayalon Hartuv: Amihai Mazar, P. de Miroschedji Tel Batash: Amihai Mazar, George L. Kelm Tel Miqne: Trude Dothan, S. Gitin Jerusalem: Jewish Quarter: Nahman Avigad Jerusalem: Second Temple Tombs: E.L.Sukenik, Nahman Avigad Jerusalem: City of David: Yigal Shiloh Jerusalem: Temple Mount: Benjamin Mazar, Eilat Mazar Ramat Rahel: Yohanan Aharoni Giloh: Amihai Mazar Monasteries in the Judean Desert: Yizhar Hirschfe,d Khan eI-Ahmar: Yizhar Hirschfeld Judean Desert Caves survey and excavations: Yosi Patrich Judean Desert Caves: Nabman Avigad, Yohanan Aharoni, Yigael Yadin, P. Bar Adon Herodion: Ehud Netzer En Gedi: Benjamin Mazar, Dan Barag Masada: Yigael Yadin Yarmouth: Armnon Ben-Tor, P. de Miroschedji Deir el-Balah: Trude Dothan Bet Loya Yosi Patrich, Yoram Tsafrir Susiya: Avraharn Negev Arad: Yohanan Aharoni,Ruth Amiran Manmshit:Avraham Negev Halutsa: Avraham Negev Avdat: Avraham Negev

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ProfessorE.L.Sukenikexamining a Dead Sea Scroll(1948). vations and studio photography of artifacts. The Philip and Muriel Berman Research Center for Biblical Archaeology In 1990, Philip and Muriel Berman established and endowed the Research Center for Biblical Archaeology that now bears their names. The Center is located in the Institute of Archaeology and is supervised by an academic committee and a public council. Its aims are the advancement of research in the field of Biblical Archaeology, the support of scientific publications, and the granting of awards to encourage young researchers. The current director of the Center is Professor Trude Dothan, and the chairman of the academic committee is Professor Ephraim Stem. Excavations

and Surveys Archaeological excavations and surveys are the main focus of the Institute's research activity. Each year an average of 15 field projects are conducted by the Institute's academic staff and senior students. Most of the excavations are carried out in cooper-

ation with other organizations, such as the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Israel Exploration Society, museums, and research institutions in Israel and abroad. Particular emphasis is placed on scholarly collaboration with universities in Europe and North America. The Institute of

Publications Numerous books and collections of scholarly articles have been published over the years by the Institute, many of them in collaboration with the Israel Exploration Society and other institutions. The most recent joint efforts include Hazor IV and Masada I - III. The Qedem monograph series, initiated in 1975, is the Institute's main vehicle for the publication in English of excavation reports and other studies by the Institute's staff. To date 33 volumes have appeared, among which the most recent are: volume 31, N. Goren-A MousterianSite on Inbar, Qunweitra: the Golan Heights;volume 32, A. Negev, PersonalNames in the Nabateaan Realm;and volume 33, D.T. Ariel and A. De Groot (eds.), Excavationsat the City of David Directedby Yigal Shiloh, Vol.III:Stratigraphical,Environmental, and Other Reports.The editor of the Qedem series is Sue Gorodetsky. S Illym,' m

Na'ama Goren-Inbar is Associate Pro-

fessorof Prehistory.She earnedher Ph.D. at the University in 1981. Goren's excavation, survey, and ethnoarchaeological field experience encompasses Ubeidiya, 1970-1974; Eastern Sinai and Nahal En Gev II, 1971; Gebel Maghara, Northern Sinai, 1971-1976; East Turkana, Kenya, 1972; Hayonim Cave, 1975, 1978, 1979; Southern Sinai, 1976-1979; Kfar Menachem, 1978; Berekhat Ram, 1980, 1981; Biq'at Quneitra, 1982, 1983, 1985; and Gesher Benot Ya'acov, 1989, 1990 as well as sites in France and Spain. Her publications include: editor, QuneitraA MousterianSite on the Golan Heights (Qedem 35; 1990); and The Acheulian Site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov - an Asian or an African Entity? Pp. 67-82 in The Evolutionand Dispersalof Modern Humans in Asia (1992).

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rrm*rlfirar Hominid Adaptation and at the Site Palaeoenvironments of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov BY NA'AMAGOREN-INBAR The Gesher Benot Ya'aqov Acheulian site (henceforth GBY;in Arabic lisr Banat Yaqub)and the Benot Ya'aqov (BY) Formation in which it is imbedded are located in the northern sector of the Dead Sea Rift, some four kilometers south of the Hula Valley. The site lies along the course of the Jordan River and is bordered by the Golan Heights on the east and the 'Korazim Saddle' on the west. The exposures are approximately 70 meters above Mean Sea Level and consist of terrestrial and lake sediments which form the shores of the Hula Valley basin fill (Horowitz 1973). The Yarda Basalt, which is overlain by the BY Formation, was radiometrically dated by Horowitz to 640,000?120,000 yr. Lately, eight additional samples of this basalt yielded dates between 800,000 yr. and 880,000 yr. The age of the BY Formation is therefore younger than these radiometric dates. During the years 1936-1951, Stekelis (1960) carried out a survey and excavations north and south of the bridge over the Jordan River. It became evident that the GBY site extended along the course of the Jordan River below the present water level and was identifiable on both banks. In 1967-68, Gilead conducted small-scale excavations north of the bridge and surveyed the course of the Jordan south of it. Because hominid behavioral patters in sub-Saharan Africa have been thoroughly studied and described, the comparison of African and Southwest Asian hominid adaptive strategies is of utmost interest for anthropological research. The aim of the current project is to study the various aspects of Middle Pleistocene occupations in a geographical location

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Theelephant skull in situ, the first discovered n Israel. The elephant

skull in situ, the first discovered

distant from Africa but within the African Red Sea Rift System. Excavations in 1989-1991 revealed a large surface of the Acheulian archaeological horizon. The project was carried out on the eastern bank of the Jordan River. Deposits of over 20 m thickness, belonging to the BY Formation, have been observed, described, and sampled. The layers are tilted in a 20 to 45 degrees dip due to the vigorous tectonic activity typical of this active area of the Rift. A wooden plank with the earliest known man-made polish was discovered in the northernmost trench (II). The work done in the trenches and excavated areas resulted in the identification of several archaeological horizons, illustrating the attractiveness of the shores of the paleo-Hula Lake. All of the layers contained a rarely observed preservation of wood, bark, fruits, and seeds. Some wooden pieces are longer than 1.0 m, an exceptional length in the Mediterranean climatic zone. The excavation also revealed a dense distribution of artifacts assigned to the Acheulian Industrial Complex,

in Israel.

including bifaces, cleavers, flake tools, and cores. These are made of basalt, flint, and limestone. Working the basalt, the frequency of cleavers and the technology that they reveal have not been found in any other Acheulian site in Israel. In addition, the first elephant skull to be discovered in Israel was exposed here. It rested on a centripedal basalt core and a boulder at one end, and at the other, on a long wooden stick (over 1.lm). The unique arrangement of the elephant skull and the rich assemblages of diverse bone fragments of megafauna, as well as of microfauna, molluscs, fish, and bird, all indicate the great research potential of the site. Upper Palaeolithic in Israel

Cultures

BY ANNA BELFER-COHEN Kebara Cave Excavations on Mount Carmel This multidisciplinary research project (1982 -1990) of Upper Palaeolithic assemblages was co-directed by ten scholars: 0. Bar-Yosef, Harvard,

An Acheulian hand-axe.

U.S.A.; B. Vandermeersch, A.M. Tillier, and H. Laville, Bordeaux, France; B. Arensburg and Y. Rak, Tel Aviv University School of Medicine; Lillian Meignen, Valbonne, France; E. Tchemov, P. Goldberg, and Anna II

Belfer-Cohen, Hebrew University, Israel. Other participants included researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, and the

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Anna Belfer-Cohenis a Lecturerin PrehistoricStudiesat the HebrewUniversityInstituteof Archaeologywhere she earnedher Ph.D.in 1988.Her field experienceincludesexcavationsat 'Ubeidiya,1971-1974;Nawamis, 1972-1973;GebelMaghara,Northern Sinai,1973-1976;HayonimCave, Kebaranand NatufianLayers, 1975-1979;KadeshBamea,northern Sinai,1977-1979;KebaraCave, Mt. Carmel,1983-1990;SalibiaI, a Natufian site in the JordanValley, 1987-1990.Among her publications are:The Appearanceof Symbolic Expressionin the Upper Pleistoceneof the Levantas Comparedto Western Europe. Pp. 25-29 in L'Hommede Nean-

dertal.Vol.5: La Pense (1988);with 0. Bar-Yosef,The Originsof Sedentism and FarmingCommunitiesin the Levant. Jounwal 3 of WorldPrehistory

The Natufianin the (1989):447-498; Levant. Annual Reviezwof Anthropology

20 (1991):167-186.

Sorbonne of Paris. The Kebara cave project studied two primary issues: the transition from Middle Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic cultures, and the interchanges between the co-existing cultures in both periods. Unlike in Europe, where the Middle Palaeolithic cultures are identified with Neanderthals and Upper Palaeolithic cultures are considered as cultures of Homo Sapiens, in Israel, modem humans appear much earlier during the Middle Palaeolithic age. And yet we observe a marked difference between the Middle Palaeolithic and the Upper Palaeolithic cultures, though we are still dealing with the same human type, the same subsistence patterns, and the same environmental conditions. What brought about these differences? What caused the changes in the tools and the techniques used to produce artifacts? When and how were new raw materials added to the inventory? What is the role of local tradition in influencing the way humans create their material culture? It is expected that this study will supply information regarding these important questions and will clarify the possible continuity among the various cultures. We hope it will also explain the cultural sequence and the contemporaneous traditions in this relatively small area. The Natufian Culture: Renewal of Excavations at Hayonim Cave in Western Galilee and the Study of the Material from Salibiyeh in the Jordan Valley The Natufians were undoubtedly among the last of the traditional hunter-gatherers that roamed the Levant some 1,400,000 years ago. Apparently, they were the first sedentary communities to practice incipient agriculture and to domesticate animals (dogs). They were eventually replaced by fully sedentary agricultural societies. This change in the human way of life was the most dramatic ever observed in human history. New data obtained from the Natufian

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The Biblical era's largest site: an aerial view of Hazor,area A.

core area, Mt. Carmel, the Galilee, and the Jordan Valley, will add to our knowledge of the evolution of human society and will clarify some issues pertaining to the causes of this transformation. The Natufian project also involves the cooperation of some of the academic institutions noted above. Skeletal Material from Prehistoric and Historic Sites Fossil records reveal aspects of human society that are not detectable from other kinds of material finds. Skeletal remains reveal information concerning the well-being or stress levels of a given population, i.e., health status, life expectancy, the proportion of children to adults and females to males, and other related subjects. The genetic patterns in fossil remains help to clarify the relationships among various populations

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The 1991 excavations at Hazor unearthed pithoi in situ in a public building dated to the Late Bronze Age.

that inhabited the region during prehistoric and historic times. The present study deals in particular with Byzantine populations from En Gedi, with Middle Bronze Age burials from Tel Dan, and with Mousterian remains from various caves in northern Israel. This study is being undertaken in cooperation with Professor B. Arensburg and Dr. I. Hershkovitz from the Tel Aviv University School of Medicine, Ramat Aviv.

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Canaanite and Israelite Material Culture BY AMNONBEN-TOR

The Yigael YadinMemorial Excavation at Hazor Hazor is the largest archaeological site of the Biblical era in Israel, encompassing an area of about 200 acres. The population of the city in the second millennium BCEis estimated to have been approximately 20,000, which made it the largest city in southern Canaan. Testimony to the size and importance of Hazor is found in documents from as far away as Mari on the Euphrates, which traded with Hazor in tin, silver, gold, and precious stones. The city was burned and destroyed at the end of the 13th or beginning of the 12th century BCE, apparently during the military campaigns of the Israelites led by Joshua. The site was resettled by the Israelites and destroyed again during the Assyrian conquest of the kingdom of Israel in 732 BCE. Hazor was excavated during the 1950s and 1960s by a team led by the late Yigael Yadin. The excavations revealed a wealth of architectural remains and artifacts including temples, fortifications, domestic and public buildings, tombs, and an abundance of Canaanite, Israelite, Mycenaean, Cypriote, and Egyptian pottery and objects. Work on this latest data has made it clear that there are still many unan-

Iron Age fortification, Tel Yoqnecam.

swered questions about Hazor. What was the nature of the Assyrian settlement at Hazor? What was the nature of the settlement at Hazor during the 9th century BCE,especially in the days of the great builder Ahab and the kings that followed him? Was the city of the 10th century BCE,attributed by Yadin to the time of King Solomon, confined to the western half of the acropolis? Which buildings can definitively be attributed to

King Solomon? Who conquered and destroyed Canaanite Hazor, and when? What was the nature of the material culture of the new settlers? What was the relationship between what happened at Hazor during the 12th and 11th centuries BCEand what was happening in the rest of the country? What was the nature of the Canaanite occupation during the 15th to 13th centuries BCE?Who destroyed it? When exactly in the

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

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Middle Bronze Age was Hazor (as mentioned in the Mari correspondence) founded? A comer of a huge building, the largest structure so far encountered at Hazor, was discovered by Yadin in the 1950s. It was apparently built during the 18th century BCEand remained in use until the 14th century BCE.The building was most probably the palace of the kings of Canaanite Hazor. The present excavation plans are to uncover this building in its entirety. There is good reason to believe that the archival records of the kings of Hazor are to be found there. Two such documents have already been found in that area. Yadin had planned to return to Hazor for further excavation but was unable to do so before his untimely death. These plans are now being undertaken by a team headed by Professor A. Ben-Tor.The first season of these renewed excavations took place in the summer of 1990. Work at the site will continue for the next five to ten summers. The dig, now formally called "The Yigael Yadin Memorial Excavation at Hazor," is a joint project of the Berman Center for Biblical Archaeology of the Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology, the Complutense University of Madrid, and the Israel Exploration Society, in cooperation with Ambassador College of Big Sandy, Texas. The Rothschild Foundation also has contributed to the project. The Yoqnecam Regional Project: Archaeological Investigations in the Western Jezreel Valley The western Jezreel valley is an area of some 120 square kilometers that forms a triangle whose comers are the tels of Megiddo, Shimron, and YoqneCam.This area was investigated between the years 1975 and 1988. During that time a team under the direction of Ben-Torconducted an archaeological survey of the region, excavating at Tel YoqneCamfor ten seasons, at Tel Qashish for eight seasons, and at Tel Qiri for three seasons.

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AnthplogicalI....

coffin

urwar.d

at Deir

el-Balah,

Tomb

AnthropologiIcal coffin unearthed at Deir el-Balah, Tomb 118.

Significant data pertaining to five millennia of the history of the region were obtained. The final reports are in preparation. Mediterranean

Archaeology

BY TRUDEDOTHAN Sea Peoples and Philistines In 1971-72 the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology carried out two seasons of excavations at the site of Athienou, in Cyprus, directed by Professor T. Dothan and Professor A. Ben-Tor.This was the Institute's only study dig undertaken outside of Israel. The aim was to study the interconnections between Cyprus and Israel, mainly in the Late Bronze

Age, when Cyprus was one of the important centers of the Mycenaean maritime empire. Athienou is situated in the center of Cyprus, ca. 20 km southeast of Nicosia. It is one of the series of settlements along the routes leading from the interior of the island to the coastal region and harbor cities, such as Kition and Enkomi. During Late Cypriote II (14th13th century BCE),a large public building was erected in the center of the site. A large amount of copper nodules was found together with heaps of votive vessels, as well as some copper objects, indicating that a copper workshop existed here. Late Cypriote IIIA (late 13th-mid 12th cen-

cultic model chariot made of metal, attests to the fact that metal-working was connected with the local cult. The variety of the finds bears witness to close connections with mining areas and the important centers along the Cypriote coast, and through them, with the Aegean world and eastern Mediterranean. The Deir el-Balah Excavations The site of Deir el-Balah is located 1.5 km east of the Mediterranean shoreline in the Gaza Strip. The excavations, directed by Professor Trude Dothan, produced a picture of a settlement dating from the Late Bronze Age to the Byzantine periods. A Late Bronze cemetery was one of the excavation's significant finds. The cemetery yielded the largest and richest assemblage of anthropoid pottery coffins from Canaan known to date. Egyptian burial stelae, exquisite jewelry of gold and carnelian, scarabs bearing royal cartouches, bronze and alabaster vessels, as well as outstanding groups of Egyptian, Mycenaean, Cypriote, and Canaanite pottery were found with the coffins. This combination of artifacts is the hallmark of flourishing international trade in the Late Bronze Age. The architectural features and the material culture represented by these Late Bronze artifacts point to the predominantly Egyptian character of the settlement and provide a dramatic picture of Egyptian occupation of the coastal region of Canaan. The layout and finds of the earliest settlement verified the fact that in the mid-14th century BCE,during the el-Amarna period, the site was an important Egyptian administrative center, serving as one of the Egyptian strongholds along the Via Maris (known in antiquity as the "Ways of Horus"). The Votiveand other vessels of the LateBronzeAge, Athlenou,Cyprus.ments

tury BCE)is characterized mainly by Mycenaean IIIC pottery. Copper-working installations and about half a ton of copper ore were

discovered in different stages of processing. The fact that the copper ores were associated with the votive vessels, along with the discovery of a

during the

early Philistine, Iron, and Byzantine periods were much less substantial.

Tel Miqne-Ekron The Tel Miqne-Ekron excavation is co-directed by T. Dothan and Professor S. Gitin, director of the W.F.

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

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Albright Institute of Archaeological Research. The project is sponsored by twenty-two North American and Israeli institutions, including the Berman Center for Biblical Archaeology of the Hebrew University. Tel Miqne, one of the largest Iron Age sites in Israel, is identified with Biblical Ekron, one of the five capitals of the Philistines. Excavations have shed light on four main phases. The first is a Canaanite settlement typical of the Late Bronze Age Canaanite culture, which contains evidence of connections with Cyprus, the Aegean, and Egypt. The second phase is a large fortified city founded by the Sea Peoples/Philistines in the 12th century BCE.A mudbrick wall over 10 feet thick protected the city, indicating occupation over the entire 50 acres of the tel. The upper and lower city had industrial areas, and in the heart of the city, monumental buildings with central hearths were uncovered. The pottery and finds from the buildings demonstrate strong Aegean affinities and indicate a cultic connection. The third phase began in the 10th century BCE,when only the upper city was occupied. The fourth phase took place at the end of the 8th century, after the city was conquered by Sargon II in 712 BCE.The city then expanded to become one of the most important olive oil production centers in the ancient Near East. This city had clearly-defined occupation zones: fortification, industrial, domestic, and elite districts. The city also produced a unique assemblage of four-homed altars and inscriptions to the goddess Asherah. At the end of the 7th century, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, destroyed Ekron, and with it the last vestiges of Philistine culture. The next phase of occupation reflects a random, unfortified settlement in the lower city, dating to the early 6th century. Evidence for a settlement during the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods was found only in a small, mound-shaped area in the lower city.

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Tel Miqne, field II: Iron IICfortifications and industrial zone. '11

I

16

TrudeDothanis the EleazarL. Sukenik Professorof Biblicaland Near Eastern Archaeologyat the HebrewUniversity.She earnedher Ph.D.at the Universityin 1961.Dothanwas a staff memberon the excavationsat EnGedi, TelQasile,and Hazor.She co-directed the excavationsat EnGedi, 1961,1962; Tel'AitunCemetery,1968;and Athienou, Cyprus,1971,1972.She directed the excavationat Deirel-Balah,19721982and has co-directedthe Tel Miqne-EkronProjectsince 1981.Her books and articlesinclude:Excavations at the Cemeteryof Deir-el-Balah(Qedem 10; 1979); The Philistinesand TheirMaterial Culture(1982); with Moshe Dothan, In Searchof the Philistines (1992); and Lost Outpost of Ancient Egypt. National Geographic162 (1982):739-769.

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The Material Culture of the Phoenicians The excavationsat Tel Dor and Tel

ateriakl TelDoraerialviewcian

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culture in the eastern

Mediterraneanis consideredthe "motherculture"of the Israelitecivilization and of most its neighbors; of nevertheless, it is less well known than other culturesbecause its four andTyre) havenot yielded substantial information on the Phoenician period. clay vessels found in a 0othCenturyBCE tomb at TelMevorakh. Cypro-Phoenician

TelDor,located on the Mediterra-

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

135

Clay table ware, early Roman period, Tel Dor.

nean coastline at Tel-el-Burjnear Mount Carmel, is mentioned for the first time in the Bible in connection with the Israelite Conquest (Josh 12:23). In the account of Wen-Amon's journey to Byblos (circa 1100 BCE),the port of Dor appears as a town inhabited by the ski (one of the Sea Peoples who invaded the eastern Mediterranean area at the beginning of the Iron Age). In 732 BCE,Tiglath-pileser III conquered the city, making it the capital of the Assyrian province of Duru. During the Hellenistic period, the city became an important stronghold, but the Roman general Pompey put an end to Hasmonean rule in Dor and awarded the city autonomy and the right to mint coins. In the Byzantine period, Dor was known as a religious center, and bishops resided there from the fifth until the seventh century CE. The Tel Dor excavation project, under the direction of Professor Ephraim Stem, was initiated in 1980 and will continue through the 1990s.

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BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

Limestone plaque depicting a Phoenician nobleman, Tel Dor.

The excavation is sponsored by the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University and the Israel Explo-

ration Society, with the participation of the University of California, New York University, California State Uni-

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EphraimStem is the BernardM. LautermanProfessorof BiblicalArchaeology. He receivedhis Ph.D.fromthe Universityin 1969.Prof.Stem has participatedin exacavationsat Masadain 1955,Hazorin 1956-1958,TelMorin 1959,EnGedi in 1960-1965,and Beersheba in 1969,1970.He has directed excavationsat Gil'amin 1966,TelKedesh in 1968,TelMevorakhin 19731976,and TelDor 1980-1992.Stem's at bibliographyincludes:Excavations TelMevorakhi(1973-1976), Part I: From the IronAge to the RomanPeriod (Qedem 9; 1978); The MaterialCulture of the Landof the Biblein the Persian Period,1982; Excavationsat TelMevorakh(1973-1976), Part II: TiheBronzeAge (Qedem 18; 1984); Dor - Rulerof the Sea, TenYearsof Excavatinga PhoenicianIsraeliteHarborTownon the Carmel Coast, 1992.

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versity, Boston University, the University of Saskatchewan, McMaster University and Southern California College. This project is also sponsored by the Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Biblical Archaeology. The results of the excavation have shown that Dor was settled throughout the 600 years of the Iron Age, 1200-600 BCE.Building remains have been unearthed from Iron Age I (1150-1050 BCE),including a strong city wall belonging to the Sikils, one of the Sea Peoples' tribes that ruled the city in the 12th-llth century BCE. This was followed by a short-lived Phoenician town, 1050-1000 BCE.Of the 10th century city-the city of David and Solomon-residential buildings have been excavated, along with the city wall. The period of the Divided Monarchy produced an inner city gate of four chambers, a stone relief of a Phoenician nobleman, and the stamp of the "priest of Dor". In the Assyrian period, a gate with only two chambers appeared. The Persian city was laid out according to the Hippodomaic plan. Many residential districts, storerooms and city fortifications were I ,LE.

INI.

Amihai Mazar is Associate Professor of Biblical Archaeology. He received his Ph.D. from the University in 1977. His field projects include a survey of the Jerusalem aqueducts, 1968; excavations at Tel Qasile 1971-1974,19821991; Tel Batash, 1977-1989;Giloh (Jerusalem) 1978-1982;Hartuv (Early Bronze I site) (co-director), 1985-1988; Tel Bet Shean, 1989-1992. Among his books and articles are: Excavationsat TellQasile, Part One. The Philistine Sanctuary:Architectureand Cult Objects (Qedem 12; 1981); Excavationsat Tell Qasile, Part Two. VariousObjects,the Pottery,Conclusions(Qedem 20; 1985); The Archaeologyof the Landof the Bible (ca. 10000 - 586 BCE)(1989); Giloh - An Early Israelite Site in the Vicinity of Jerusalem. IEJ31 (1981):1-36;The Emergence of the Philistine Culture. IEJ35 (1985):95-107.

uncovered in which were found Greek pottery, stamps, coins, day figurines, and Phoenician ostraca. During the Hellenistic period, the city again flourished. It was surrounded by huge fortifications, induding strong towers built in the Greek style. The Hellenistic town also was built according to the Hippodomaic plan. The city on the tel continued to exist through the Early Roman period until the beginning of the 4th century CE,when it was abandoned. There are remains of later periods at the tel site. Tel Mevorakh is situated on the southern bank of Nahal Tanninim between the Sharon Plain and the Carmel coast. Four seasons of excavations were conducted at the site from 1973 to 1976, under the direction of E. Stem and on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The results of the excavation have shown that the first settlement, which included a rectangular fortress, occurred in the Middle Bronze Age IIA. The Middle Bronze Age IIB produced a terre pisee rampart, while the Middle Bronze Age IIC settlement contained infant burial jars hidL

den on the outer slopes of the ram-

part Hyksos seal impressionswe found on some of the js

as well as

fragmentsof importedCypriote ware. The Late Bronze Age settlement was characterized by a sanctuary which has been dated from the fifteenth to the thirteenth century. t occupied almost the entire site- This

sanctuarywas probablya wayside

cultic cente which would be the first of its kind discovered in IsraeL

During the IronAge, a four-room house typical of the period was

found, daing fom the eleventh to the tenth century

E A large build-

ing surroundedby a broadcourtyard

was also excavated. Surrounded by a

wall, the complex was apparentlyan

administrative center on the southern border of the district of Doc

The Persianperiod produceda

large building encircled by a casement wall which appears to have been an administrative center or a large estate. The structure was built using the Phoenician method of construction-alternating ashlar piers and rubble fill segments. During the Roman period, all building activity was limited to the surrounding area-mainly the two aqueducts leading to Caesarea. The surface of the site was covered with numerous graves from the Crusader and Late Arab period (Stratum 1). Canaanite and Israelite Settlement and Cultic Practice BY AMIHAIMAZAR Tel Bet Shean Tel Bet Shean is one of the most prominent biblical sites in Israel. The excavation project was initiated in the 1920s by the University of Pennsylvania. The Institute of Archaeology resumed work in 1989 with the generous support of the Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Biblical Archaeology. The project examines the history of the site and its sacred area in the second and third millennia BCE.The excavations have concentrated on the sacred enclosure and

Biblical 56:3(1993) Archaeologist

137

A mold for casting figurines, 7th century BCE,Tel Batash.

ing contained abundant finds of Egyptian culture, including a gold ram-head, scarabs, beads, and pendants. Fragments of an Egyptian painted lintel and a relief indicate that this building was part of the Egyptian governmental quarter in Bet Shean. Following heavy destruction, some of the buildings were re-used in a later phase of Iron Age I. Evidence was found of the presence of "Sea Peoples" in this phase. This later Iron Age I city was destroyed by fire, perhaps at the time of the conquest of the city by David. Tel Batash (Biblical Timnah)

the summit of the mound, where the previous excavations removed all strata until Stratum V (the 11th century BCE).

In the sacred area, seven occupation levels have been explored, covering the period from Early Bronze III to Late Bronze IIA . The main discovery was a temple of the Late Bronze IA period, built upon thick fills and occupation debris of the Middle Bronze IIB period. The temple is a modest structure with a tri-partite, irregular plan and is constructed of thin mud-brick walls with stone foundations. It was apparently abandoned, perhaps due to gradual decay over the course of time. In the fol3 lowing phase (Late Bronze the IB, 15th century BCE) large sacred enclosure of Stratum IX was constructed in the same area. The structure consists of rooms containing numerous offering bowls and kraters, Egyptian pottery (the earliest of its kind found in Canaan), and two bronze daggers. Additional parts of Stratum VI which belong to the last phase of Egyptian conL trol in Bet Shean (early 12th century BCE)were uncovered on the summit. A section of a large public build-

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The field work at Tel Batash (biblical Timnah) ended in 1989 after 12 seasons. The expedition, with G.L. Kelm as project director and Professor A. Mazar as field director, was sponsored by the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Fort Worth, Texas. The project achieved its goal of establishing the occupation history of this site in the northern Shephelah. The last seasons revealed a massive Middle Bronze Age rampart and citadel; a series of Canaanite patrician houses (Late Bronze Age); occu-

A coin of Bar Kochba-silver half-selastruck in 135 CEshowing the stepped enhance to the Temple and the Showbread Table.

pation levels and fortification systems of the Philistine town (Iron Age I); and a large section of an Iron Age II city-including a huge city gate and a public building near the gate area. Research and preparation for publication have been partly supported by the Philip and Muriel Berman Center for Biblical Archaeology of the Hebrew University. Tel Qasile Excavations at Tel Qasile, on the

The town gate from Iron Age II period, Tel Batash, view to the north.

tury, and a new mosaic pavement was constructed that includes very interesting inscriptions in Hebrew and Aramaic, among them the first passage from the Book of Chronicles (Chron 1:1-5). Valuable finds included a large menorah, cast in bronze. Ancient Glass and Numismatics Ancient Jewish art is also an important factor in research on ancient glass and numismatics. Studies on the history of glass in the ancient Near East have shown that glass vessel-making was invented in the Mitannian regions of Mesopotamia ca. 1500 BCE.Barag's studies trace the history of glassmaking in Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, and the Aegean Islands in the 2nd and 1st millennia BCE.Other studies have established the classification and chronology of glass vessels in Palestine during the Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as the identification of Jewish and Christian glass vessels produced in Jerusalem for pilgrims between 578 and 636 CE. Numismatic studies have led to a new reconstruction of the list of the Jewish High Priests between the return from the exile in Babylon and the conquest of Alexander the Great

Cast bronze menorah from the decorations of the Ark of the Torah in the En Gedi synagogue, 5th-early 6th Century CE.

northern bank of the Yarkon River, were conducted from 1982-1991 as a joint project of the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology and the Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv. Semadar Harpazi of the museum staff has served as the field director since 1989. The excavation revealed a large residential complex of the late 11th century BCE(Stratum X) and an early Islamic caravanserai.

towA.I,COA.w *aio iw The Synagogue and Jewish Art BY DAN BARAG

The En Gedi Excavations The excavations at En Gedi have unearthed the remains of an early 3rd century CE synagogue, built when the Jewish community re-settled the site that had been abandoned after the Bar Kochba revolt (132-135 CE). The synagogue was a simple hall of prayer oriented toward Jerusalem and was paved with a mosaic floor decorated with a swastika. It was expanded and rebuilt numerous times, until the flourishing Jewish town was destroyed early in the

reign of Justinian (about 531 CE).The changes made to the synagogue's structure during that period are of considerable importance for the study of synagogue architecture in the Roman and Byzantine periods. In the 4th century, a niche for the Ark of the Torah was constructed in the wall that faced Jerusalem. The synagogue was rebuilt in the 5th cenI-'v I-

-

Dan Baragis Professorof Archaeology. He earnedhis Ph.D.in 1970at the HebrewUniversity.He conducteda survey of ancientpotteryrecovered fromthe sea off the coast of Israelin 1958,1959and directedexcavationsof a Roman/Byzantinecemeteryat Nahariya(1963,1968-70,1977);the late Romanperiod tomb XVat Hanita (1964);Romanperiod tombsat TelHai (1967)and the ancientsynagogue at EnGedi (1970-73).He is currentlythe editor of the IsraelNumismaticJournal.

Among his publicationsare:Catalogue of WesternAsiatic Glass in the British

Museum,I. London,1985;A Silver

Coin of Yohanan the High Priest and

the Coinageof Judeain the Fourth Century B.C.IsraelNumismaticJournal9

(1986-7):4-21.

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in 333 BCE.Other studies have revealed that the first Hasmonean ruler who issued coins was Johanan Hyrcanus I (135-104 BCE),and that Agrippa II was still reigning in 96 CE. Studies on the coinage of Bar Kochba have produced valuable findings: they have traced the geographical area controlled by Bar Kochba, identified the Showbread Table on some of his silver coins, and have assisted in a new reconstruction of the facade of Herod's Temple in Jerusalem. Archaeology

and Jewish Sources

BY LEEI. LEVINE Onomasticon of the Land of Israel in the Second Temple, Mishnaic and Talmudic Periods According to Hebrew and Aramaic Sources This project aims to collect in a comprehensive anthology all known Hebrew and Aramaic references to geographic locations in the Land of Israel-from rabbinic literature, Aramaic translations of the Bible, early piyyutim (hymns), and inscriptions. The Onomasticon will potentially have a wide use. The Talmudist, historian, geographer, archaeologistand even high school students and laypeople-will benefit from the anthology. It will serve as a reference for further study in these interrelated disciplines. The Onomasticon is organized alphabetically by place-names; and under each place name, the sources are listed in chronological order. Each reference contains the following information: 1) Translation of Aramaic sources to Hebrew; 2) Significant variants of names of people and places in manuscripts; 3) Identification of the site (with map), and a summary of the history of the site; 4) Survey of the archaeological finds at the site, if any; and 5) Discussion and comprehensive bibliography of the site. The manuscript for the first volume, which contains entries for the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet ("aleph" with 45 entries and "bet" with over 100 entries), has been completed and is currently in press.

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Development of the Ancient Synagogue The Onomasticon project is part of the ongoing study of B the ancient synai gogue in late antiquity, i.e., from the 3rd through 7th centuries CE.Most of the archaeological and literary data available to us come Fourthcenturymosaic floor from Hammat Tiberias synagogue. from this period. The aim of this multidisciplinary study is to integrate the data into a meanand its development during late ingful account of the ancient synaantiquity. Study of the Pharisees and Sadducees of the Talmudic era, for gogue. It attempts to analyze the growth and development of this example, may reveal the ideologies institution from a wide variety of and social status of these religious perspectives, in light of the forces at elites, as well as determine their play both within the Jewish commuimpact on Jewish society. Special attention has been paid to the rabbis nity and those impinging upon it from without. of the 3rd and 4th centuries, their self-definition and self-perception, Jewish Society in the and also the unity and diversity Greco-Roman Period within this particular elite. Research designed to illuminate three A second area emphasizes the areas of Jewish history during the major institutions of ancient Judaism, Greco-Roman period focuses on three such as the Patriarchate and the synaareas. The first deals with Judaism gogue. How much authority and IMMNDLTJILIli

Lee I. Levineis Professorof Archaeology and Historyof the JewishPeople and holds a jointappointmentat the Instituteof Archaeologyand the Departmentof JewishHistory.He earned his Ph.D.in 1970at ColumbiaUniversity.He has participatedin excavations at Caesareain 1975-1976and at the Horvat'Ammudimsynagogue in 1979. Among his books and articlesare: RomanCaesarea:An Archaeological-Topo-

logicalStudy(1975);editor,AncientSyn(1981);editor,TheSynagoguesRevealed agogue in LateAntiquity (1987); The RabbinicalClass of RomanPalestine in LateAntiquity (1989); Geographical Place-Namesin EretzIsraelduring the SecondTemple- TalmudicPeriodsaccording to Hebrewand AramaicSources,vol.

1 (in press);The Interiorof the Ancient Synagogueand Its Furnishings:From

CommunalCenterto 'LesserSanctu60 (1991):36-84(Hebrew). ary'.Cathedra

prominence did the Patriarchate possess? How central to ancient Judaism was the synagogue? A third focus is the integration of archaeological evidence and literary sources in drawing a comprehensive and accurate picture of Jewish society in late antiquity. Literary evidence is coordinated with the finds at the ancient synagogues of Bet She'arim, Hammath Tiberias, Dura Europos, and others, to address an array of social, cultural, and religious issues in Jewish society at the time.

Nabatean Culture of the Negev: Avdat, Mampsis, and Elusa BY AVRAHAMNEGEV The excavations in the Nabatean Negev began in 1958 at Oboda (Avdat) and continued annually until 1961. The work resumed in 1975 and was completed in 1989. Further excavations at Mampsis (Mamshit, Kurnub) in 1965-1967, 1972, 1989, and 1990 and Elusa (Haluza) in 1973, 1979 and 1980 contributed to the research, each site revealing a different facet of Nabatean culture. Oboda Oboda, named after the Nabatean king Obodas, was the cradle of his cult. His burial place is the best known location of Nabatean culture. The first workshop for the production of Nabatean pottery was discovered at Oboda, along with pottery imported from all over the Roman world. The chronology of the Nabatean pottery was a key to understanding the historical development of Nabatean culture. Excavations of the acropolis at Oboda revealed cultic and military institutions from Semitic (pagan) to Christian times. Scores of inscriptions, bearing discernible dates, were found in a variety of languages-NabateanAramaic, Graeco-Nabatean, and Greek Byzantine. These inscriptions furnished the basis for the chronology of Nabatean history in the central Negev and the history of the region for about a millennium.

Oboda: the southern church, tower, and Nabatean temple of Obodas (?).

An additional area of research at Oboda involves the study of Nabatean and Byzantine sacred architecture. The 1989 discovery of a Nabatean temple of the old Semitic tri-partite type, possibly the Temple of Obodas, began a new chapter in this research. Aerial surveys were made in 1989 and 1990, providing new dimensions for the research. The

discovery of numerous pens for camels, sheep, and goats shed light on the economy of early Oboda and corroborated the testimony of ancient authors, who described the Nabateans as being herdsmen in addition to caravan traders. Inscribed libation altars, found in the hinterland of Oboda, attested to early Nabatean agriculture.

.1s IIl I LI a,

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AvrahamNegev is Professorof Classical Archaeologyat the HebrewUniversitywhere he earnedhis Ph.D.in 1964,writingon NabateanPainted Ceramicsof Avdatand the Chronology of PaintedNabateanCeramics. Negev's bibliographyincludes:The NabateanPotter'sWorkshopat Oboda

of the (1974);TheGreekInscriptions Negev(1981);LateHellenisticandEarly RomanPotteryof NabateanOboda

(Qedem22; 1986);NabateanArchaeolof ogy Today(1986);TheArchitecture Mampsis.FinalReport.Vol.I:The Middle and LateNabateanPeriods (Qedem26; 1988);TheArchitecture of Mampsis. FinalReport.Vol.H:The Late Romanand ByzantinePeriods(1990).

Biblical 56:3(1993) Archaeologist

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of a century. This study developed into a detailed dictionary and analytical tables. It was also the key to the understanding of Nabatean astronomy, zoology, botany, and economics. The Nabatean onomasticon is related to the name patterns of early Arab tribes and points to the necessity of a combined study.

Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Studies BY YORAMTSAFRIR

in foreground. Mampsis, general view with buildings XXII-XXIII

Mampsis Mampsis represents the second stage in the Nabateans' occupation of the Negev. From a small caravan station in the 1st century BCE,Mampsis grew into a large center for the breeding of race horses, possibly the forebearers of the famous Arabian horse. A hoard of 10,500 Roman silver coins found in one of the stables may have been income from horse breeding. Nabatean architects at Mampsis successfully coped with problems arising from extremes in temperature. They efficiently employed access towers and exedrae, giving their creations properties unique to the architecture of the Holy Land. Two spacious buildings, one from the 1st century and the other from the 2nd to 3rd centuries CE,were probably schools in which Nabatean architects and master builders learned their trade. Research into the history of Mampsis from the late 3rd century CE onward raises the possibility that the whole population of military age was organized into a paramilitary militia, funded by the provincial authorities. This may have provided the eco-

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nomic base of this town, which was extremely poor in arable soil. Two Nabatean cemeteries were also discovered at Mampsis, one dating from the beginning of the 1st century, and the other a military cremation ground of the early 2nd century CE.These finds provided the first opportunity ever to study in detail the burial practices of a Nabatean town. Elusa Elusa, the provincial capital, was studied by means of ground surveys, trial excavations, and aerial survey. The study identified the various sections of this large city. A Nabatean theater, unique in the whole region, was discovered and, near it, the town cathedral. Evidence of the transformation from a mono-apsidal to a tri-apsidal style is evident in the cathedral, reflecting changes in Christian religious practice, and especially in the cult of martyrs. Three or four additional churches were also located, along with a fortified palace, attesting to the city's means of defense. Personal names in the Nabatean realm have been studied for a quarter

Rehovot-in-the-Negev The Byzantine desert city at Rehovot in the Negev (Arabic: Kh. Ruheibeh), approximately 35 km southwest of Beer-Sheba, was originally founded as a Nabatean road station. At its peak in the 4th to 7th centuries CE,it covered an area of 120 dunams (30 acres), second in size to Halutza among the Byzantine cities of the Negev. Four major areas of Rehovot have been uncovered since 1975: Area B, at the southern edge of the town, consisting of residential houses, built of rooms around a central courtyard; Area C, which contained a large building with a stable dating from the 2nd to 3rd centuries; Area D, which included the community's central and oldest church; and Area E, containing a second large church from the second half of the 5th century. This latter church, abandoned at the end of the 7th century, contained a unique underground crypt. Eighty skeletons were found in the Byzantine cemetery, thus providing a solid statistical baseline for physicalanthropological research into the population of the Negev. The project was directed by I. Hershkowitz of Tel Aviv University. The University of Maryland, College Park, joined the expedition in 1986 with Professor K. G. Holum of Maryland as co-director. Bet Shean The large scale excavations at Bet Shean (Roman Nysa-Scythopolis) have unearthed a Byzantine civic center and, in a southern suburb of the

Professor Yoram Tsafrir.(For more details, see Professor Foerster's report.) The Onomasticon of Eretz Israel in the Greek and Roman Sources This project, initiated by the late Professor Michael Avi-Yonah and, since 1974, directed by Tsafrir,is being carried out on behalf of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and is supervised by a committee of the Academy. The Onomasticon is a complete collection of all sources in Greek and Roman (including inscriptions) from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods that mention a settlement or geographical site by name in the provinces of Judea, the three Palestines, or Arabia.

A statue of Dionysus,Romanperiod,foundI in Bet Shean.

city, an amphitheater and residential area. The Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology team is directed by Professor Gideon Foerster and SI

N~X

Yoram Tsafrir is Professor of Classical and Byzantine Studies. He received his Ph.D. from the University in 1975. His field work encompasses survey in the Negev and excavation at En 'Arub, 1973; Zion Gate, Jerusalem, 1974; Rehovot, 1975-1991;Horvat Berachot, 1976; Bet Shean, 1980-1991;SartabaAlexandrion,1981-1983; and Horvat Bet Loya, 1983-1984. Among his books and articles are: EretzIsraelfromthe Destructionof the SecondTe,mpleto tile Muslim Conquest.Vol. 2, Archaeology and Art (1984); Excavationsat Rehovotin-the-Negez.Vol. 1, The Northern Church (Qedem 25; 1988); Tabulalinperii Romani(Maps of ProvinciaeJudea and Palaestina),in press; editor, Ancient ChurchesRevealed,1993; and The Church and Mosaics at Horvat Bera-

I

A great abundance of material, culled from over a thousand compositions from more than six hundred authors, has been translated and annotated. The material has been arranged alphabetically, and each article has been structured chronologically. The collection of the material has been completed, and the first volume is now in,preparation. The other members of the team are L. Di Segni and J. Green. The same team is also preparing the Map of the Provincesof Judeaand Palaestinafor the international project of the TabulaImperiiRomani,sponsored by the Israeli Academy for the Union academiqueinternationale.The map is based on the Onomasticon, additional Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac material, and the archaeological sites known from surveys and excavations. The sites are located on colored maps in the scale of 1:250,000 and 1:1,000,000. The maps are accompanied by an index of geographical names and source references, and by modern bibliographies. The section on Roman roads is edited by I. Roll, and the section on aqueducts is edited by T. Tsuk. The project is now in press. Classical Art and Archaeology BY GIDEONFOERSTER

II

chot, Israel. DumbartonOaks Papers33 (1979): 291-323.

Bet Shean Bet Shean was re-named Nysa-Scythopolis in the 3rd century BCE,when the Ptolemies founded this the classical period city. The name NysaScythopolis, which is not found in the Bible, was apparently related to Dionysus, the founder and patron god of the city. This name for the city was used until the Arab conquest in the 7th century CE,when the original name was restored to its Arabic form: Beysan. The excavations, which began in 1980 and will continue through 1994, are co-directed by Professor Yoram Tsafrirand Professor Gideon Foerster on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology. The excavation is part of an extensive project sponsored by the Tourist Develop-

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

143

mert Authorityof Bet

ea.

Duing thedasical period.,

was one of the Nysa-Scytpf of PesGeek-culed great a fri ked t agricu by Sup

a

hinterlad, it lay atantio rt here the intnfatical css Jezeel valleys meet and the routes Coreding te oast and Syria co verge Iinthe Early Roman period, it t Caeek autoinomos was (w Of e cities c prisng the Decapolis, a

the ony one west of the Jordan.In

the 5th century E,,it became hecapital of No~Them Pdes (Palestina secunda). The populaiQn of NysaScy$hpois was always diverse In addition to is Jewish esdents, it had

Herodian-period

store jars from Lower Herodian.

tialnumberof

at first a sb

pagans,andlatera sizablecommuhty of ClMhans ayd Samatan In te fir few years of excavati, the civ center of N ana-Scy ps was patiay unxwoeed. A Roman amphtheaker was also

centuryCEFromthe time of the Arab conquestin the 7th century,the city was in continuousdedcline,until it was abandonedin the 15thcentury.

Mad The art and arditecture of Masadais curretly being studied as part of a

end of the town.

the soute

ThedvCconteris southandwet a ta whic of the ncettelt a cdnnaded street with monuments,

the tais

of a temple,,abaslfca,,

and a nymphaeum. These ema rebuilt after the4th were sifianl s i I'111MOI

publicationprojecton the Masada excavations(1%3-1%5).This includes an extensive study of palaces, ste roms, and fortificatins of the Herodianperiod. The abundant

numbersof stuccosandfrescos,as well as meosas and pu st,

are

N-%M;C

eofCls&Sltuiehis

PhLD.ina1t2 at the Hebew Iniersity.Fra 1%3-1L4he was the ardc-

ais He dedtd Iheexvav

at

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fortat

Tel haem (1976,197),, at Hammt

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Palestine.

Haemonean, Herodian, and Roman Architecture BYEUD NEZER The WinterPalaces at Jericho (2nd CenturyBCEto 1st Century CE) The Jerichosite consists of a large complex of Hasmoneanwinter palaces (the late Hellenisticperiod), and threepalacesbuilt by Herod the Great(the early Romanperiod).Part of the study was the explorationof the nearbyagriculturalroyal estate built by the Hasmoneansthat included an elaboratesystem of very long water canals (Thissystem was examinedin conjunctionwith a German team of water engineersfrom the TechnicalUniversityat Braunschweig.) At the site are several

isCis.

Lab P inP - ints Rie o .d Sp Ronan Seltog Pp, 139147 inl%@Sp>S Qog inLek A*Wy

being studied in the light of contemporaryHellenisticand Romanart. Some dear affinitieshave been detected with the artisticstyles of Hellenistic-Romancentersin Egypt, Asia Minor,Greece,and Rome. Masadahas proved to be a rich and inexhaustiblesource for studying the art and architectureof this period in

gogae Sdim Meltog and ExcavaZDPV105 (1%9):1z2135. ftimaa.

structuresapparentlyused to process various agriculturalproducts,including the famous Opablsemum bushes, which are a sourceof raw materialsfor the perfumeindustry. The Hasmoneancomplex

Bathinstallationsfrom the Hasmoneanperiod in Jericho.

Wo large swimm

os

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Jero.

Two large swimming pools at the site of the Hamonean palace in Jeridm.

includes several palatial buildings built in seven stages (including the unique "twin palaces"), eight swimming pools (the largest one 20x12.5m in size), and bath and ritual-bath installations. It also contains a fortified palace, surrounded by a moat, integrated into the complex approximately in the year 85 BCE. The first Herodian palace at the site had been excavated in 1951. In 1976-80 the second was exposed on top of the ruins of the Hasmonean palace. The third and largest palace (partially excavated in 1950 and then completed later) is an outstanding example of elaborate Roman architecture, where Roman and local builders worked hand in hand. During the same years, excavations were conducted at three nearby sites of the same period. Two of them, Cypros and Nuseib-Uweishira, were royal fortresses. The third one, Tel el-Samarat, was a combination hippodrome, theater, and gymnasium. Comparing these three sites with the findings at Jericho, Dr. Netzer and his staff were able to gain a greater understanding of the extent of royal activity in the region at the end of the second Temple period. The research of the sites at Jericho is now in the stages of synthesis and preparation of final reports. This final stage is being conducted by a team of archaeologists, art historians, and architects who are studying the building structures and the material culture that were found there, such as ceramic, stone, and glass ware and the rich decorative art objects such as fresco and stucco decorations. Zippori (Sepphoris) The "JointSepphoris Project," directed by E.M. Meyers, C.L. Meyers, and Ehud Netzer, began in 1985. It is a collaborative effort of the Institute of Archaeology and Duke University to excavate Sepphoris (the ancient capital of the Galilee). Between 1985 and 1989, large areas of the western and eastern sides of the hill were exposed. The western side contained a large residential quarter

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

145

with numerous water cisterns, ritual baths, and artifacts. This quarter was in continuous use from the Late Hellenistic through the Early Roman periods, i.e. from the Second Temple through the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. A luxurious mansion, with splendid mosaics, was revealed on the eastern side of the hill, adjacent to the Roman theater. Its triclinium included a Dionysiac floor, with the portrait of a beautiful woman, the first of its kind ever exposed in this

medium. From 1990 to the present, an independent expedition of the Hebrew University (directed by E. Netzer and Z. Weiss) has been excavating a large area southeast of the hill. The infrastructure of streets (some of them colonnaded) dating from the Middle Roman period was exposed, in addition to a large edifice of the Byzantine period. The latter contains several outstanding mosaics, including a remarkable depiction of the Nile Festival.

Portion of a Byzantine-period chandelier fom Spphoris. IISl

VIRM

EhudNetzer is SeniorLecturerin Romanand HerodianArchitectureat the HebrewUniversityInstituteof Archaeologywhere he earnedhis Ph.D. in 1978.He served as an architectat the excavationof Masada,1963-65and directedthe excavationat Jericho,19731987;at Herodium,1972-1986;Caesarea Maritima,1975-1976,1979,1990;and the Opus Reticulatumbuildingsat Banias and Jerusalem1977-1978.Since 1985he has served as codirectorof the excavation at Sepphoris.His books and articles include:GreaterHerodium (Qedem 13; at 1981);with L.I.Levine,Excavations andArchitecture, 1991;and The Winter Maritima(Qedem21;1988); Caesarea Palacesof the JudeanKingsat Jericho MasadaIII,YigaelYadinExcavations at the Endof the SecondTemplePer1963-1965. The Buildings:Stratigraphy iod. BASOR228 (1977):1-13.

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Islamic Art and Archaeology BY MYRIAMROSEN-AYALON Ramle The city of Ramle was founded in the early 8th century CEand was uncovered in a dig in 1965. The site of the original dig was a potter's workshop that yielded a large amount of pottery vessels and sherds of 8th century Islamic pottery. A ceramic lantern that protects an oil lamp is one of the many interesting finds from the dig in Ramle. Susa (Iran) The excavation at Susa, which started in the 19th century, is one of the most famous digs in Iran. The site is known primarily for its prehistory, protohistory, Elamite, Achemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods. The excavation has been directed by the French Archaeological Delegation since its inception. The late Professor R. Ghirshman invited Professor M. Rosen-Ayalon to explore the medieval period, an invitation that was subsequently extended to Professor Jean Perrot. The purpose was to explore the transition from the Sasanian period, in the first half of the 7th century, to the Islamic period that followed. This study, never attempted before, established the boundaries of two periods and facilitated the tracing of pottery from one period to the other. The excavated area includes levels of the Sasanian pre-Islamic period and the early Islamic period. Surveying the Temple Mount in Jerusalem During the 1970s, a major survey of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem was undertaken. Except for the two major monuments-the al Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock-the history of this compound had never been studied systematically. On the Temple Mount are some 200 edifices of all kinds, simple and elaborate, religious and domestic, that were

The Tankiziya:a Mamluk madrasa of the 14th Centuy. I

I SM

I MIL, ."I r

MyriamRosen-Ayalonis the L.A. MayerProfessorof IslamicArchaeology and holds a jointappointmentat the Instituteof Archaeologyand the Instituteof Asian and AfricanStudies. She earnedher Ph.D.at the Sorbonne in 1970.She has conductedexcavations and surveys at Khirbatal-Minya in 1959;Ramlain 1965;Susa (Iran) from1965-1970;Ashkelonfrom 1985-1991;and on the TempleMount, Jerusalem,from1972- 1982.Among her books and articlesare:RamlaExcavations - Findsfrom the 8th Century C.E.(1969;with A. Eitan); The Early IslamicMonumentsof al-Haramal Sharif:AnIconographicStudy (Qedem

Ashkelon

28; 1989);and The IslamicJewelry fromAshkelon.Pp. 9-19 in Jewelryand Goldsmithingin the Islamic World(1991). I

studied for their archaeological, historical, and artistic significance. They reflect the major features and styles of Islamic art from the 7th century CE onward. They are significant for understanding the history of Jerusalem and the history of Islamic architecture. The first chapter of the history of the Islamic monuments on the Temple Mount was published recently and included a schematic reconstruction of the layout of the earliest Islamic monuments. This plan retraces the archaeological history of the 7th-8th centuries of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Subsequent studies will deal with later centuries. The Dome of the Rock expresses the very essence of the Umayyid period (661-749 CE).It was erected under the Caliph 'Abd al-Malik and is dated to 72 (691-2 CE).Various restorations over the years have attempted to preserve the initial 7th century style, but changes have invariably crept in. For example, in the large register of the wall mosaic on the drum of the building is a section of the repeated series of bejewelled amphorae with sprawling scrolls. At the top of the drum is an inscription stating that a restoration of the mosaic was made in the 11th century. At the bottom is a long inscription from a different period. The latter inscription is part of the Qur'anic Surat Taha and was introduced late in the 12th century. Systematic study of the Islamic monuments of Jerusalem has rendered occasional archaeological information. One of the better known buildings, the Tankiziya-the Mamluk madrasa-of the first half of the 14th century, contains several important elements which have only recently been disclosed.

-u

Recent research involves artifacts from the Islamic period discovered in the recent excavations of Ashkelon (directed by Professor L. Stager of Harvard). The most exciting find was a set of four exquisite pieces of jew-

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

147

--' '..-~-. t/mmdliIBmm.

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Susa excavation of two levels, Islamic and pre-lslamic.

elry. They appeared separately-two in 1986 and two in 1987. Manufactured as a set, they exhibit the same technique of granulations and filigree in 22 carat gold. They belong to the Fatimid period of the 12th century.

Ancient Coinage BY YAAKOVMESHORER Research and teaching focus on ancient Jewish coinage, its chronology,

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Silver dracham of Gaza 400 BCE.This side depicts a male head, possibly Mamas, chief deity of Gaza.

Silver tetradracham of Caracalia 215 CE. This coin of Shechem-Neapolis depicts Mount Gerizim.

history, and symbols. Special attention is devoted to the coinage of the cities of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Decapolis, and Arabia, and the significance of the culture and religion of these cities. Research into the monetary history of the region and coins struck or circulated in the Holy Land during the Persian, Ptolemaic, Seleucid, Roman, and Byzantine periods is also emphasized. In addition, considerable attention is given to numismatic exhibitions of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and at museums abroad.

-

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U~~~~~~~~~~

Aramaic, Phoenician, and Hebrew Inscriptions BY JOSEPH NAVEH

Epigraphic and palaeographic study makes possible the decipherment and interpretation of Aramaic, Phoenician, and early Hebrew inscriptions and texts. Research has concentrated mainly on the comparative study of inscriptions and scripts, and on the light they shed on peoples with different geo-political backgrounds. Just as archaeology supplements the study of ancient history, so do epigraphy and palaeography. J. Naveh's contributions include establishing the main lines of the development of the Aramaic script as well East Greek pottery of Middle Wild Goat Styl e (630-600 BCE). as understanding S

6''AENIII

YaakovMeshoreris AdjunctProfessor at the HebrewUniversitywhere he earnedhis Ph.D.in 1970.His books and articlesinclude:NabateanCoins (Qedem 3; 1975);Ancient JewishCoin-

age.Vol.I, PersianPeriodThrough Hasmoneans;Vol.II.Herod the Great ThroughBar-Cochba(1982);TheCity Coins of EretzIsraeland the Decapolisin the RomanPeriod(1985); with S. Qedar, TheCoinageof Samariain the Fourth Century B.C.E.(1991); The Beginning of the Hasmonean Coinage. IsraelExplorationJournal24 (1974): 59-61; The En Gedi Hoard. Proceedingsof the 8th InternationalCongressof Numismatics (1976):111-112;Sepphoris and Rome,

MeFad Hashavyahu Archaeological excavation at a formerly unknown site-later called "Me$ad H.ashavyahu"-on the sea shore between Jaffa and Ashdod took place in 1960. Here were unearthed the remains of a Judahite fortress, east Greek pottery of Middle Wild Goat Style (630-600 BCE)used by Greek mercenaries, and Hebrew ostraca from the time of Josiah king of Judah. The ostraca included the valuable 14-line farm worker's letter published by Naveh in 1960.

to Palestine-Biblical Periods Byzantine BY ZECHARIAKALLAI Historical geography is an interdisciplinary field of study with far-reaching ramifications. Simply stated, it is the study of history founded on geographical considerations. Its focus is primarily human geography, including such factors as topographical conditions, economic circumstances, communication, and settlement history. This broad range of study provides the foundation for territorial histories dealing with geopolitical implications on varying scales. The availability of data often determines the scope and the tools of the research. Archaeology is one of the important tools, because it determines the habitational reality. Historical documents or literary sources, if systematically analyzed, may also provide useful information. The Application of Historical Geography to Historiography and Scribal Traditions

GreekNumismaticsand Archaeology. Pp. 159-171 in Essays in Honorof Margaret Thompson.(1979); The "Black Silver" Coins of Banatha Papyri: A

the spread of the alphabet westward to the Aegean world.

JourReevaluation,TheIsraelMusenum nal 10 (1992):67-74.

The historical geography of Palestine poses a number of problems that demonstrate the heterogenous character of this discipline. The available archaeological data and written records vary in coverage and applicability. At the present state of knowl-

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

149

edge, written sources from this period begin to appear towards the beginning of the second millennium BCE,with some early references dating from the end of the third millennium. From that period on, the archaeological evidence, i.e., other types of records and auxiliary data, is rather meager. Nevertheless, these documents and references are helpful in producing an intelligible picture of Palestine's territorial history. Territorialhistory provides tangible data for ancient Israelite historiography. The Israelite scribal tradition made prolific use of these data in the form of normative patterns-formalized concepts in stylized representation. Epics, narratives, and genealogical records that represent historical concepts and events are subjected to historical-philological investigation with these observations in mind. This research shows that historical concepts govern the arrangement and selective use of data, and it reveals a sophisticated literary activity that culls its material from sources in diverse stages of literary transformation. Thus elucidated, the scribal tradition becomes an independent tool for historical and textual criticism. It may also be a useful control for archaeological data.

logical artifact. The chemical composition is then used to determine the place of origin of an artifact. The process involves subjecting the artifact to neutron irradiations, and then carrying out measurements with gamma-ray spectrometers. The facilities of the Archaeometry Laboratory include two gamma-ray spectrometer systems, as well as support facilities S

Laboratory

BY JOSEPHYELLIN The Archaeometry Laboratory of the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology studies the origin of archaeological artifacts using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), thus yielding crucial information for archaeologists. The laboratory was created by the late Professor I. Perlman. Dr. Joseph Yellin worked with Professor Perlman from the lab's inception in 1973. The laboratory also supervises graduate research in scientific methods used in archaeology. NAA is a method adopted from nuclear science for analyzing the chemical composition of an archaeo-

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'in

JosephNaveh is Professorof WestSemitic Epigraphyand Palaeography,a joint appointmentat the Instituteand the Departmentof AncientSemiticLanguages. He earnedhis Ph.D.fromthe Universityin 1967.As a staffmemberof the IsraelDepartmentof Antiquities 1955-1971,he conductedarchaeological surveys at EnGedi and at Kh.al-Muqanna(Ekron)and excavatedan unknownsite, latercalled MesadHashavyahu. Naveh's publicationsinclude:

.9

I-I~

The Developmentof the AramaicScript (1970); On Stone and Mosaic - TheAra-

maicandHebrewInscriptions fromAncient Synagogues (1978);EarlyHistoryof the to WestSemitic Alphabet- An Introduction andPalaeography Epigraphy (1982);and On SherdsandPapyrus-Aramaicand HebrewInscriptions fromtheSecondTemPeriods(1992). ple,MishnaicandTalmudic

I

The Archaeometry

for sample preparation, electronics, and computing. NAA is used in archaeology to determine (1) the chemical composition of ceramics from the Neolithic to the Islamic periods; (2) the characterization of cherts; (3) the characterization of obsidian; (4) the provenience of ancient ceramics, flint, obsidian, and basalt artifacts and their impact

?r

ms "II.,6 'T." .,I

ZechariaKallaiis Professorof Historical Geographyat the Universitywhere he earnedhis Ph.D.in 1963.His books and articlesinclude:TheTribesof Israel, (1967);HistoricalGeography of theBible, (1986);The WanderingTraditionsfrom Kadesh-Bameato Canaan- a Study in BiblicalHistoriography.Journaloflewish Studies33 (1982):175-184; Conquest - a Hisand Settlementof TransJordan des toriographicStudy.Zeitschrift DeutschenPalastinaVereins99 (1983): 110-118;The Reality of the Land and the Bible. Pp. 76-90 in Das LandIsraelin BiblischerZeit (1983); Studies in Solo-

mon's Districts.Pp. 196-209in Studies in Bible(CassutoMemorialVolume) (1987);and The SouthernBorderof the Landof Israel- Patternand Application.VetusTestamenturn 37 (1987):438-445. I

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Inspectingpottery spectrumon the spectrumanalyzerin the ArchaeometryLab. on exchange, commercial networks, and other features of the ancient world. The results of NAA are commonly integrated with typological and petrographical analyses. A recent case study illustrates the importance of this multidisciplinary approach.

In the early part of this century, Parker excavated in Jerusalem. Among his finds from Tomb 3 was a small black and red burnished bowl, which was reported in 1911 as an import. The dating and provenience of this anomalous bowl have been debated for the past 80 years. One

1-I 1L3 1111111 JosephYellinis AssociateProfessor and Directorof University's He earned ArchaeometryLaboratory. his Ph.D.in1965at the Universityof Californiaat Berkeley.His publications include:with J.Gunneweg,Instrumental NeutronActivationAnalysisand the Originof IronAge I Collared-Rim Jarsand PithoifromTelDan.Annualof the AmericanSchoolsof OrientalResearch

49 (1989):133-141; with Naomi Porat, LisaHeller-Kallai,and Ludwig Halitz, CorrelationBetweenPetrography, NAA and ICPAnalyses:Application to EarlyBronzeEgyptianPotteryfrom

Studies in Philistine Pottery Late Iron Age Philistine pottery from Tel Batash, Tel Miqne, Ashkelon, and other sites is being examined as part of a program to distinguish Philistine pottery from that of other cultures and to comprehend its significance in commerce and exchange. This is expected to illuminate the commercial interaction among Philistine centers, as well as the commercial interaction between Philistine and Israelite centers. Studies in Phoenician Pottery Researchers are using NAA to examine pottery from Phoenician sites and Phoenician-style pottery from other sites in order to develop objective criteria for distinguishing between Phoenician and Phoenician-like pottery. This study is expected to provide some additional illumination of the interaction of the Phoenicians with ancient Israel. Studies in Flint

Canaan. Geoarchaeology6 (1991):

133-149;and with A.M. Maeirand Y. Goren,A Re-evaluationof the Red and BlackBowl fromParker'sExcavations in Jerusalem:A Multidisciplinary

school of thought held that the bowl was of Cypriote origin from the late third or early second millennium BCE, even though the majority of the pottery from the tomb was dated to the late fourth millennium BCE.A re-examination of the bowl and some of Parker's other finds, using stylistic, petrographic, and NAA analysis, has now shown conclusively that the bowl is of local manufacture. Stylistic analysis alone was insufficient. Petrographic analysis provided strong, but not incontrovertible proof. It was only Neutron Activation Analysis which, through its very precise method of chemical "fingerprinting," rendered the ultimate and indisputable evidence of its local origin.

Approach, OxfordJournalof Archaeology 11 (1992):39-53.

Trace element distributions in specific flint sources in Israel are under investigation as part of research into the provenience of flint artifacts and their impact on exchange networks in Neolithic times. At present, techniques are being developed for the analysis of flints and the interpretation of trace element distributions in

BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

151

w,;

-

4.

,? l

.

the flints. Similarly, studies are underway to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the >? distribution of the -" lsources of obsidian .-" artifacts found in : Israel. ,.'

J

IV

-

Pottery technology project reproduced the firing chamber of a kiln at Emmaus. I

FNo,?lI?m

LO-

JanGunneweg is SeniorLecturerin the Instituteof Archaeologyand a staff member of the Archaeometry Labora-

Ware. The goal of this study is to shed light on the origin of the Philistines (and perhaps other Sea Peoples) who settled in Canaan in the 12th century BCE.The origins of the Philistines has so far eluded detection. A second goal of the study is to establish standards for the classification of pottery according to chemical composition. This will eliminate An Archaeometambiguities in style and perhaps in ric Approach chronological assignments. The chemical compositions of BY JAN GUNNEWEG Mycenaean IIIC:1pottery from Sea Peoples Greece, Cyprus, and Israel and that of Philistine Bichrome Ware have A comparative been distinguished from one another study has begun on neutron activation analysis. Both by the origins of some have been chemipottery repertories 620 pottery samples identified with cally specific referfrom 30 sites in the ence that reflect traces of Sea groups eastern Mediterraand Philistines of the 12-11th Peoples nean. The samples, BCE. These traces serve century may which were anaas evidence of contacts interregional lyzed at the Lawand uni-directional socio-economic rence Berkeley Labtrade. oratory by F. Asaro, Directly related to the work M. Artzi, and I. above is a second provenience study, Perlman, fall into that of the Middle Bronze II namely, three types: Myceto Late Bronze pottery from naean IIIC:1,Philiswhich was anaAthienou, Cyprus, tine Bichrome, and at the Laboralyzed Archaeometry Red-and-Black tory. The study focuses on imported Mycenaean IIIB-Cpottery and local wares at Athienou, in an attempt to establish a link between the Late Bronze forerunners of the Sea Peoples in Cyprus and the Philistines in Israel.

tory.He receivedhis Ph.D.fromthe Universityin 1981.His publications include:with I. Perlmanand J. Yellin, The Provenience,Typologyand Chronology of EasternTerraSigillata. (Qedem 17; 1983); with I. Perlman, T. Dothan

J*4

,t

and S. Gitin,On the Originof Pottery from Tel Miqne-Ekron, BASOR 264 (1986):3-16;with I. Perlman and F. Asaro, The Origin, Classification and Chronology of Nabataean Painted Fine Ware, Jahrbuchdes Romisches-GermanischenZentralmuseumns Mainz 35h (1988):315-345;with Th. Beier, U. Diehl, D. Lambrecht and H. Mommsen, "Edomite", "Negbite" and "Midianite" Pottery from the Negev Desert and Jordan: Instrumental Neutron

Activation Analysis Results. Archaeometry 33 (1991):239-253.

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BiblicalArchaeologist56:3 (1993)

Negev Desert Project A six-year study of the various pottery styles from the Negev-such as Edomite, Negebite, Midianite, and early Arabic pottery-is underway at the University of Bonn in Germany (with H. Mommsen). The differences and similarities among these pottery styles will attest to the importance of the Negev desert through the ages. Edomite and Painted Nabataean Fine Ware found in the Negev have already been traced, and the results have been helpful in understanding the history of the Negev during the Iron Age II and early Roman periods.