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Ras El-‘Amud, Jerusalem: Faunal Remains From The Intermediate Bronze And Middle Bronze Age Settlement, Nimrod Marom

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

The small faunal assemblage from Ras el-‘Amud provides insights into the economic strategies of a rural settlement during a period of urban growth. A shift from a self-sufficient goat and pig economy to a specialized sheep-focused one is observed, likely driven by urban demand. Analysis of caprine skeletal remains suggests consumption patterns and potential ritualistic practices. The Middle Bronze IIA village exhibits a decrease in butchery waste, possibly due to changes in spatial organization or waste disposal practices. The assemblage offers valuable insights into the economic and social dynamics of rural settlements during the Middle Bronze Age.

Ras El-‘Amud, Jerusalem: A Hebrew Inscription Engraved On A Jar Handle, Daniel Vainstub

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

The excavations at Ras el-‘Amud yielded a partially preserved Hebrew inscription engraved on the handle of a storage jar before firing. The surviving part of the inscription reads: נחם ⸱ [ל ] ר̇̇ם—“(belongs) [to ]rm (son of) Nḥm.” All the letters of the inscription are paleographically consistent with the Hebrew script of the eighth–seventh centuries BCE. A short, semi-oblique stroke descending from upper-left to lower-right was used to divide the words. Personal names constructed on the root nḥm (“console”, “comfort”) are very common in the Hebrew onomasticon, as well as in other West Semitic languages. The suffix רם …

Ras El-‘Amud, Jerusalem: The Groundstone Tool Assemblage, Aaron Greener

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

The excavations at Ras el-‘Amud yielded 71 identified groundstone tools, 55 of which were discovered in the Intermediate Bronze Age (IBA) strata, with the remaining 16 found in the Iron Age and Roman/Byzantine strata and in unclear contexts. These tools mainly comprise hammerstones, likely associated with the production of flint tools at the site, as well as perforated stones, mortars, bowlets, rubbing stones, a grinding stone, a pestle and some other tools. The identified groundstone tools suggest activities related to the processing of cereals, grains and other agricultural produce, as well as possible animal fiber processing and various domestic tasks …

Ras El-‘Amud, Jerusalem: A Scarab And Two Pithos Handle Impressions, Baruch Brandl

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

The excavations at Ras el-‘Amud yielded a scarab and two stamped pithos handles, all recovered from Stratum III and dated to the Middle Bronze IIC. The scarab, attributed to the group of Late Middle Bronze Age Canaanite Scarabs, has only one published parallel from a Canaanite site. The two stamped pithos handles likely originated from a single pithos. Variations in the size and outline of their impressions, as well as in the location and size of the hieroglyphic signs, suggest they were made either from different plaques or from opposite faces of the same bifacial plaque. Both impressions have only …

Ras El-‘Amud, Jerusalem: Pottery From The Iron Age And The Persian Period, Liora Freud

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

This article presents Iron IIB pottery sherds, along with some Persian-period sherds, from the excavation at Ras el-‘Amud. The sherds were retrieved from accumulations around the Iron Age terrace walls and their foundations. The dating of the sherds, along with the results of previous excavations on the ridge of the site, suggests a small occupation at Ras el-‘Amud, primarily during the Iron IIB–C.

The Dw2 Shipwreck: The Tobacco Pipe Finds / ספינה טרופה: ממצא המקטרות, Ofra Barkai, Anna De Vincenz, Idit Yovel Even-Zur, Jacob Sharvit

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

The excavation of the DW2 shipwreck uncovered 13 ceramic tobacco pipes. Most of the pipes are of the cup type, with a few examples of the bowl or disk-base types. All the pipes are decorated with geometric patterns; two are also adorned with floral motifs, and one bears a maker’s stamp. The pipes date from the seventeenth century to the early twentieth century CE, with most attributed to the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. Parallels were identified at several sites, including the ‘Akko 1 and Kitten shipwrecks. Petrographic analysis of eight pipes indicates they were manufactured in the geographic …

The Dw2 Shipwreck: The Carpenters’ Work / ספינה טרופה: עבודת הנגרים, Avner Hillman, Idit Yovel Even-Zur, Ofra Barkai

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

The excavation of the DW2 shipwreck revealed that the vessel was primarily constructed from Cypriot pine (Pinus brutia), with wooden nails made from Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) and Turkey oak (Quercus cerris). Analysis of the heartwood, knots and annual rings in the ship’s wooden components indicates that the pines were old and of low quality. The ship’s construction demonstrates efficient utilization of the trees, including small wood pieces and branches. The carpenters sawed the wood in a pre-planned manner, prioritizing function over aesthetics. Tool marks on the wood suggest the use of a saw, …

The Dw2 Shipwreck: Evidence Of Trade With Small Vessels (Coasters) In Southern Syria And The Land Of Israel During The Late Ottoman Period /ספינה טרופה: עדות לסחר בכלי שיט קטנים בדרום סוריה ובארץ ישראל בשלהי התקופה העות'מאנית, Idit Yovel Even-Zur, Jacob Sharvit, Ofra Barkai

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

Three excavation seasons conducted in the southern lagoon of Dor uncovered the remains of the Dor Wreck 2 (DW2) shipwreck—a 15.5 m-long trading coaster built from poor-quality but well-preserved wood. The ship was constructed using techniques characteristic of the Mediterranean shipbuilding tradition. The hull of the ship was well-preserved, indicating it could carry up to 20 tons of cargo. However, due to the scarcity of finds, it is not possible to determine the ship’s cargo. The identified wood species suggest that the ship was constructed in western Turkey or southwestern Syria. Carbon-14 dating, combined with electrochemical analysis of the corrosion …

Of Cordial Ladies And Independent Women: An Analysis Of The Ceramic Assemblage Of The 19th Century Cooper-Frost-Austin House, Mikayla Roderick

Graduate Masters Theses

This thesis explores the transformation of Susan Austin’s (1807-1885) household in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from a private family home into a boardinghouse, challenging traditional distinctions between domestic and economic spaces. Using feminist and queer theoretical frameworks, it examines how Austin’s decisions blurred public and private boundaries, creating an intimate boardinghouse. Through ceramic analysis of two occupational phases and a documentary examination of the household members over time, this study identifies shifts in material culture that reflect changing household practices, social relationships, and status negotiation. Austin intentionally created an environment where commercial spaces took on a domestic appearance, integrating elements of familiarity …

Naḥal Tut (Site Viii): A Fortified Storage Depot From The Late Fourth Century Bce (Pp. 131–189), Yardenna Alexandre

'Atiqot

Excavations at the site revealed a large building complex, comprising casemate walls built on bedrock around a large central courtyard with corner towers. It was a well-planned and well-fortified complex, located at a strategic point. The complex was occupied for a brief period of time, at the very end of the Persian (Achaemenid) period and the very beginning of the Hellenistic period (c. 350–325 BCE). It was destroyed by a violent destruction, which claimed human victims. The destruction was dated by a single bronze coin of Alexander III to 336–323 BCE. The pottery finds at the site were homogenous, including …

Usa Archaeology Museum Newsletter - February 2025, Archaeology Museum

Archaeology Museum Newsletters

In this edition of the museum's newsletter;

• USA Archaeology Museum Spring Semester Exhibition: INTO LIGHT Project Alabama
• Alabama Archaeological Society, Southwest Chapter: The Archaeology of France on the Gulf Coast Lecture Series
• Upcoming Free and Mostly Online Talks
• Legacies of Slavery & the Shared History of the South
• Laissez Les Bons Temp Rouler
• Museum Spring Break Closure
• Giving to the Archaeology Museum

A Litany For Blessed Diversity, Emma De Ramón Acevedo, Marco Enríquez, Jordi Padilla-Delgado, Ammel Sharon

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

The Molluscs From The French School On Yefet Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 529–532), Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

An assemblage of 76 malacological remains was retrieved from the French School in Yafo. It includes 11 species of local Mediterranean seashells and land snails, one indo-pacific bivalve, one bivalve from the Nile River and two fragments of freshwater bivalves. A cross made of mother of pearl was found in a soil accumulation of the late Ottoman period. The shells were used as construction material and as objects of aesthetic or symbolic value, possibly amulets.

Remains From The Crusader And Late Ottoman Periods At The French School On Yefet Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (With Contributions By Edna J. Stern, Brigitte Ouahnouna, Alexander Glick And Polina Spivak) (Pp. 469–496), Yoav Arbel, Limor Talmi

'Atiqot

The French School excavation encompassed three areas (A, B, C): Area A yielded a substantial volume of Crusader-period pottery, perhaps alluding to the existence of a Crusader-period moat, and late Ottoman-period building remains and a water reservoir; in Area B, a Crusader-period pedestal, as well as a late Ottoman-period well, channels and wall foundations, were exposed; and in Area C were found the remains of Crusader-period pedestals, late Ottoman-period wall remains and two pit graves of uncertain date. The remains from the late Ottoman period point to Yafo’s orderly spatial organization during the nineteenth century.

Molluscs From The Magen Avraham Compound, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 385–388), Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

A total of 209 malacological remains were retrieved from the Magen Avraham Compound. The assemblage includes mostly local Mediterranean shells, as well as Indo-Pacific bivalves. Some imported specimens were brought from Europe as raw material for local crafts manufacture; one worked gastropod shell may have been used as an ornament.

Human Skeletal Remains From The Magen Avraham Compound, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 375–378), Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

Human skeletal remains of at least ten adult individuals were found in the Magen Avraham Compound. Some of the bones were found scattered, while others were anatomically articulated, indicating primary burials, possibly in simple pit graves. The graves’ layout could not be traced, and no burial goods were retrieved; therefore, the dating of the finds is problematic.

The Persian-Period Necropolis In The French Hospital Compound, Yafo (Jaffa): Case Study And Overview (Pp. 225–242), Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

The human skeletal remains retrieved from the Persian-period (fifth–fourth centuries BCE) burial caves in the French Hospital Compound represent at least 37 individuals. The anthropological examination yielded important data concerning the demographic profile of the interred, comprising infants, children and adults of a wide age range and of both sexes, which is typical of a civilian population. Some of the tombs were used for a single burial, while others housed 2–8 individuals. All the individuals were placed on their backs, in an east–west orientation, as customary in other Persian-period cemeteries along the Israeli coastline and northern valleys. These burial practices …

The Molluscs From Rabbi Yehuda Me-Raguza Street, Yafo (Jaffa) (Pp. 153–155), Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

This report discusses the 232 malacological remains from the excavations on Me-Raguza Street, including Mediterranean shells, land snails and a fragment of Chambardia rubens from the Nile River, as well as three mother-of-pearl buttons.

An Introduction To 'Atiqot 100: Excavations On The Outskirts Of Tel Yafo (Pp. 1–2), Zvi Greenhut

'Atiqot

Excavations on the Outskirts of Tel Yafo

A Late Bronze Age Ii Cist Grave At Tel Qana In The Sharon Coastal Plain (With Contributions By Sariel Shalev And Sana Shilstein; Alexander Tsatskin) (Pp. 67–84), Edwin C.M. Van Den Brink

'Atiqot

Excavations at Tel Qana, situated in the Naḥal Ha-Yarqon basin, revealed a Middle Bronze Age II occupation horizon, a cist grave dating to Late Bronze Age II and two winepresses dating from Iron Age II. The present report focuses on the large LB II cist grave, which contained the remains of a primary burial of a single individual, probably male, who was interred with several ceramic vessels and three metal weapons. The cist’s walls and floor were uniquely plastered with thick layers of high quality, waterproof white lime plaster. This burial seems to indicate a shift from multiple cave burials …

Remains From The Chalcolithic To The Ottoman Periods On The Western Fringes Of Tel Yehud (With Contributions By Jacob Vardi; Vered Eshed) (Hebrew, Pp. 1*–24*; English Summary, Pp. 179–180), Eriola Jakoel

'Atiqot

Seventeen squares were opened on the western fringes of Tel Yehud, revealing finds from six periods. From the Chalcolithic period, three refuse pits were exposed, containing typical household waste: pottery vessels, flint items and animal bones. Two tombs dating from the Intermediate Bronze Age were discovered; they were probably part of a nearby, contemporary cemetery, whose boundaries are yet unknown. Also discovered were seven tombs dating from the Persian period--these are the only Persian-period remains unearthed in the city to date. During the Late Roman period, a unique tomb (mausoleum?) was unearthed, comprising three troughs with primary burials, and an …

Glass Vessels, Metal Artifacts And Beads From The Burial Cave At ‘En Lavan, Naḥal Refa’Im (Pp. 123–133), Tamar Winter

'Atiqot

The sealed burial cave at ‘En Lavan yielded about 50 glass fragments, metal objects and beads of various materials. The glass vessels are typical of the Syria-Palestine region, and are dated to the Byzantine and Umayyad periods (sixth–eighth centuries CE); the metal artifacts and the beads are characteristic of the Late Roman and Byzantine periods.

A Burial Cave From The Byzantine–Early Islamic Periods At ‘En Lavan, Naḥal Refa’Im (With A Contribution By Yossi Nagar) (Hebrew, Pp. 1*–8*; English Summary, Pp. 171–172), Gideon Solimany

'Atiqot

A rock-hewn burial cave was exposed below ‘En Lavan in Naḥal Refa’im. It comprised a burial chamber with three arcosolia, in which burial troughs were carved; some of them had raised rock-hewn headrests. The cave was found sealed. In situ finds included pottery, glassware, metal artifacts and beads. The bone remains represent at least ten individuals—probably local residents. The cave was in use from the Byzantine period to the beginning of the Early Islamic period.

A Late Iron Age Rock-Cut Tomb On The Western Slope Of Mount Zion, Jerusalem (Pp. 1–24), Amos Kloner, Irit Yezerski

'Atiqot

On the western slope of Mount Zion, Jerusalem, below the southwestern corner of the Old City walls, a First Temple period burial ground was revealed. Five rock-cut tombs (A–E) were exposed, one of which (Tomb A) was found sealed with its original blocking stone, and hence its great importance for reconstructing First Temple period burial practices. Tomb A is of the prevalent “bench-tomb” type and it served for multiple and simultaneous burials. The tomb yielded finds that are of special importance, illuminating the burial practices of the people of Jerusalem and Judah in the seventh century BCE until the Babylonian …

Anthropological Remains From The Middle Bronze Age Burial Pits In Ashqelon (Pp. 97–99), Yossi Nagar, Lilly Gershuny

'Atiqot

The anthropological finds retrieved from the burial pits exposed at Ashqelon were poorly preserved, mainly due to the brittle kurkar sandstone and the high salt content in the area. The human remains included bones of adult individuals, men and women, as well as children. Distribution of individuals varied: some pits contained a single individual and some, multiple interments. Human skulls were generally associated with platter or carinated bowls.

Middle Bronze Age Burial Pits In Ashqelon (Pp. 1–83), Lilly Gershuny

'Atiqot

The excavations at Ashqelon unearthed 76 Middle Bronze Age burial pits, cut in the kurkar sandstone ridge. The burial pits are irregular in shape and vary in size. They contained skeletal remains of one individual or more, and a burial kit comprising pottery vessels: a store jar, a dipper juglet and a platter or carinated bowl. Additions to the burial kit included other pottery vessels and various artifacts such as a scarab, toggle pins, daggers, an alabaster pommel, a bone comb and beads. This cemetery is an important addition to the study of Middle Bronze Age burial customs and sites.

Front Matter, Editorial Board

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

The Faunal Remains From Kefar Gabirol, El-Qubeibe (Pp. 209–223), Nimrod Marom

'Atiqot

The salvage excavation in Kefar Gvirol, el-Qubeibe, yielded a small faunal assemblage from late Ottoman-period domestic contexts. The faunal remains from the site were studied in terms of taxonomic composition, livestock demography and butchery practices, with reference to assemblage formation processes. The bones from the site provide a rare glimpse into livestock economy and consumption practices at a rural site of the period.

Analysis Of The Late Chalcolithic-Period Flint Assemblage From Kafr ‘Ana, Or Yehuda (Pp. 235–245), Alla Yaroshevich

'Atiqot

The excavations in Or Yehuda yielded 107 flint artifacts reflecting several industries characteristic of the Late Chalcolithic period. Worth of mention is the presence of Canaanean blades, which appear to be an integral part of the Late Chalcolithic-period toolkit at the site. In addition, the results of an analysis of a stain observed on one of the sickle blades, plausibly the remains of an adhesive, are discussed.

Animal Bones From Iron Age And Mamluk-Period Contexts In Ḥorbat ‘Ofrat (Pp. 129–144), Nimrod Marom

'Atiqot

The excavations at Ḥorbat ‘Ofrat yielded a small assemblage of animal bones from Iron II contexts and a medium-sized sample of bones from a Mamluk building. The Iron II sample indicates a non-specialized economy, probably practiced by town-dwellers, alongside sporadic hunting. The Mamluk-period faunal remains attest to a husbandry regime, as well as hunting. The zooarchaeological finds from the Mamluk period suggest the presence of high-status individuals, either Christian pilgrims on their way to Nazareth or itinerant Muslim elites on a hunting foray.