Ashqelon Barne'a: The Early Bronze Age Site. Volume I: The excavations 9789654067072, 9789654067089, 9654067072

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IAA Reports, No. 65

Ashqelon Barne‘a The Early Bronze Age Site Volume I The Excavations Amir Golani

With contributions by

Oren Ackermann, Avner Ayalon, Mira Bar-Matthews, Gabriela Bijovsky, Elisabetta Boaretto, Eriola Jakoel and Mechael Osband

ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY JERUSALEM 2019

IAA Reports Publications of the Israel Antiquities Authority Editors-in-Chief: Judith Ben-Michael, Zvi Greenhut Series Editors: Ann Roshwalb Hurowitz, Shelley Sadeh Volume Editor: Ayelet Hashahar Malka Production Editor: Shelley Sadeh Production Coordinator: Lori Lender Front Cover: The southern part of the site, with the developing city of Ashqelon in the distance (photographer: Jimmy Kdoshim) Back Cover: Circular mudbrick granary; a pithos sunken in a floor; a concentration of small votive pots in a pit (photographer: Amir Golani) Cover Design and Production: Ann Buchnick-Abuhav Layout and Typesetting: Ann Buchnick-Abuhav Illustrations: Natalya Zak, Elizabeth Belashov, Einav Drimer, Ira Brin Printing: Ayalon Printing, Jerusalem Copyright © 2019, The Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem POB 586, Jerusalem, 91004 ISBN 978-965-406-707-2 EISBN 978-965-406-708-9 www.antiquities.org.il

To my children, Tal and Sivan, the future is yours

Contents

ABBREVIATIONS

vi

FOREWORD

vii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Amir Golani

CHAPTER 2: THE GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING, GEOARCHAEOLOGY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY

Oren Ackermann, Mechael Osband, Mira Bar-Matthews and Avner Ayalon

17

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Amir Golani

37

CHAPTER 4: ARCHITECTURE AND SETTLEMENT PLANNING

Amir Golani

249

APPENDIX 1: RADIOCARBON DATING OF ARCHAEOBOTANICAL SAMPLES

Elisabetta Boaretto

271

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS  Introduction  Area C  The Pottery  The Coins  An Inscribed Ring APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

1

275 Amir Golani Amir Golani Amir Golani Gabriela Bijovsky Eriola Jakoel Amir Golani

275 275 278 281 282

285

vi

Abbreviations

AB II Ashkelon 1

ASOR BAR Int. S. BASOR ESI HA–ESI IEJ IJES INJ INR JAS JMA JSOT LA NEAEHL OIP PEQ QR ZDPV

A. Golani. Ashqelon Barne‘a; The Early Bronze Age Site II: The Finds and Conclusions (IAA Reports). Jerusalem. Forthcoming. L.E. Stager, J.D. Schloen and D.M. Master. Ashkelon 1: Introduction and Overview (1985–2006); Final Reports of the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon. Winona Lake 2008 American Schools of Oriental Research British Archaeological Reports (International Series) Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research Excavations and Surveys in Israel Ḥadashot Arkheologiyot––Excavations and Surveys in Israel (from 1999) Israel Exploration Journal Israel Journal of Earth Sciences Israel Numismatic Journal Israel Numismatic Research Journal of Archaeological Science Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Liber Annuus E. Stern and A. Lewinson-Gilboa eds. The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land 1–4. Jerusalem 1993 Oriental Institute Publications Palestine Exploration Quarterly Quaternary Research Zeitschrift des Deutchen Palästina-Vereins

vii

Foreword

The modern city of Ashqelon has been undergoing extensive expansion in recent decades. The Barne‘a neighborhood was constructed on the northern outskirts of Ashqelon during the 1960s. The present excavations were carried out in 2004–2005 prior to the addition of two new neighborhoods, Barne‘a B and C (map ref. 159650–622800/159900–623250). The site is located approximately 350 m east of the modern shoreline and lies on the southeastern slope of a low sandstone (kurkar) ridge that runs northeast–southwest, parallel to the coast. Portions of this ridge were still evident at the time of excavation, but today the entire area has been leveled by modern construction and remnants of the original topography can only be seen to the north, beyond the present-day city limits. Three excavation seasons were conducted at the Early Bronze Age site of Ashqelon Barne‘a during 2004 and 2005, directed by Amir Golani on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (Permit Nos. A-4177, A-4378, A-4558) and funded by the Ashkelon Economic Company Ltd. This excavation was the first to be undertaken in this vicinity and, as the entire site was destined for destruction due to modern development, it was also the last. The immense quantity of data retrieved from this excavation is an important contribution to the research and understanding of the Early Bronze Age in the southern Levant. This is the first of two volumes that comprise the final report of the three excavation seasons. The present volume focuses primarily on the stratigraphy and architecture. Chapter 1 briefly describes the siteʼs physical characteristics, paleoenvironment and subsistence strategies, previous research at the site, excavation strategy and methodology; Chapter 2 presents the geomorphology of the site and its environs, and a sedimentological analysis of the various strata; Chapter 3 details the siteʼs stratigraphy; Chapter 4 is a synthesis and comprehensive discussion of the stratigraphy, architecture and elements of settlement planning. The results of radiocarbon analyses are briefly summarized in Appendix 1. Very limited architectural remains and other finds of the Byzantine period are presented in Appendix 2. Appendix 3 contains the locus and wall lists. The second volume (AB II) will present and discuss the pottery repertoire (Amir Golani and Svetlana Talis), including a petrographic analysis (Anat Cohen-Weinberger); the flint assemblage (Mae Goder-Goldberger); the groundstone assemblage (Danny Rosenberg); the metal objects (Amir Golani); the worked-bone tools (Gaëlle Le Dosseur); the small finds (Amir Golani); human skeletal remains and mortuary practices (Yossi Nagar); the faunal assemblage (Anuar Zidane and Guy Bar-Oz); the fish remains (Omri Lernau); the mollusks (Inbar Ktalav) and the archaeobotanical remains (Ehud Weiss and Yael MahlerSlasky). A comprehensive summary of all the data from the Early Bronze Age excavations, incorporating both the architecture and the finds, will appear at the end of AB II.

viii

The scope of the excavations, the processing of the finds, and the tremendous amount of work involved in bringing the results to full scientific publication required years of toil, and was made possible by numerous individuals. The area supervisors are presented here in alphabetical order: Emil Aladjem (Areas D, K), Davida Dagan (Area A), Miki Ein Gedy (Areas I, J, L), Alexander Fraiberg (Areas D, E), Natalia Govchenko (Area H), Alexander Krokhmalnik (Areas D, E, F), Nir-Shimshon Paran (Areas A, C, G), Ilan Peretz (Areas C, M) and Svetlana Talis (Area B). General registration, ceramic processing and computerized data entry was carried out by Svetlana Talis. Logistic administration of the excavation was conducted by Emil Aladjem, Haim Lavi, Ra‘ed Abu-Halaf and Yoram Haimi. The field survey was performed by Vadim Essman and Viatcheslav Pirsky, and final plans and sections were prepared by Elizabeth Belashov, Ira Brin, Einav Drimer and Natalia Zak. Field and aerial photography was carried out by Amir Golani, Tsila Sagiv and the late Jimmy Kdoshim.1 Artifacts were drawn by Mani Goodman and photographed by Clara Amit. During excavation, Oren Ackermann studied geomorphological aspects of the site and Yossi Nagar investigated the human osteological remains in the field. Conservation, restoration and processing of the data were carried out by Yosef Bukengolts (pottery restoration), Oded Raviv (stone conservation), Lena Kupershmidt (metal conservation) and Emil Aladjem and Richard Fletcher (GIS studies). The project was assisted by Pirhiya Nahshoni and Yigal Israel (district archaeologists) and Dov Nahlieli (regional archaeologist). Liat Weinblum and Orit Aflalo helped organize the student volunteers who assisted in the third excavation season. The excavation was carried out by workers from Ashqelon and Qiryat Gat, with the assistance of Ashqelon schoolchildren and volunteers from the Nachshon pre-military program at Netiv Ha-Lamed-He. We would also like to acknowledge Yitzhak Paz, for his careful reading of the manuscript and numerous helpful comments, and the various anonymous readers. Our thanks go to all of the above and to others too numerous to mention here. Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank the many individuals in the publication department: Judith Ben-Michael, Ann Buchnick-Abuhav, Zvi Greenhut, Ayelet Hashahar Malka, Lori Lender, Hagar Maimon, Ann Roshwalb Hurowitz and Shelley Sadeh, without whom the publication of the excavation would never have become a reality.

Amir Golani Jerusalem 2019

In May of 2008, Jimmy Kdoshim was killed next to his home in Kibbutz Kefar ‘Azza in a terrorist attack. We all lament his tragic death and cherish his dedication and high-quality aerial photography. May his memory be blessed. 1

A. Golani, 2019, Ashqelon Barne a The Early Bronze Age Site I (IAA Reports 65)

Chapter 1

I ntroduction Amir Golani

The site of Ashqelon Barne‘a is part of a much larger Early Bronze Age I site that extends from the tell in the south, includes the marina and the Afridar neighborhood of the modern city of Ashqelon, and now reaches the northern neighborhood known as Barne‘a B–C (Fig. 1.1; see p. 6). The EB I site of Ashqelon is located on the southern coastal plain, which reaches c. 20 km wide in this region and is bordered on the east by the Judean Shephelah. Originally, this part of the coastal plain was characterized by two sandstone (kurkar) ridges extending northeast–southwest, parallel to the modern coastline, with a broad, shallow trough between them (see Chapter 2). These kurkar ridges are the remains of fossilized sand dunes of the Pleistocene era and represent higher ancient sea levels. The site was located on the moderate, southeastern slope of the westernmost ridge and partially within the western side of the trough, thus providing some measure of protection from the westerly winds. The system of southern coastal troughs was characterized by permanent agricultural settlements that exploited this ecological niche. The fertile red ḥamra and alluvial soils, high water table and varied flora and fauna provided a self-contained ecosystem conducive to permanent subsistence agriculture during EB I (Gophna 1997), as well as in earlier periods (Noy 1977; Liphschitz and Biger 1990). This was in contrast to contemporaneous settlements in the troughs of the Sharon coastal plain, which appear to have been more transient in nature, with a meager subsistence economy (Gophna 1974, 1977, 1997:159; Gophna and Portugali 1988). In recent millennia, these coastal troughs in the southern coastal plain were largely covered by sand dunes that deeply buried many protohistoric sites. Accelerated modern development in recent times has often led to the removal of this sand cover and the subsequent exposure of these ancient settlements.

The Local Paleoenvironment Site at Ashqelon

and

Subsistence Strategies

of the

EB I

The excavations at Ashqelon Barne‘a yielded one of the largest assemblages of archaeobotanical, faunal, fish and malacological finds recovered from an EB I site in the southern Levant. Together with the geomorphological study (Chapter 2), these enable a better understanding of the potential resources and the subsistence pattern of the ancient settlement. The following discussion presents a brief overview of the paleoenvironment of the ancient settlement.

2

161 000

160 000

159 000

624 000

158 000

156 000

157 000

AMIR GOLANI

Mediterranean Sea 623 000

623 000

Barne‘a

622 000

622 000

621 000

ya ay

t.

aS

hb

Ha

ok

-Ṭ

Afridar

r-K

621 000

Ba

sim

St.

Marina

620 000

Yitzhak Rabin Blvd.

620 000

619 000

Tel Ashqelon

Ben Gurion Blvd.

618 000

619 000

618 000

EB IA EB IB 160 000

159 000

158 000

km 157 000

1 156 000

155 000

0

617 000

Fig. 1.1. Excavated EB I sites in the vicinity of Ashqelon.

Climate The climate of this region today is typically Mediterranean with mild rainy winters and dry summers; the mean annual rainfall of 350 mm is concentrated between the months of November and February, while the mean annual temperature ranges between 19º and 21º C with extremes of 26º to 28º C in the summer and 12º to 24º in the winter (Kadmon 1956: Maps 1/IV, 2/IV; Koucky 2008). However, paleoclimatic research of the southern Levant shows that a moister climate prevailed during the Early Bronze Age (Rosen 1989). Recent research has pinpointed EB II–III as a period in which the southern Levant received a substantially greater amount of precipitation than today, creating marshlands on

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

3

the coastal plain that may have led to its abandonment at this time (see Chapter 2; Faust and Ashkenazy 2007). Only toward the end of that period did the more arid, present-day climatic conditions become prevalent (Goldberg and Bar Yosef 1982:404). Hydrology In the Ashqelon region, a high water table enabled easy access to fresh water that could have been obtained by digging wells (Gophna and Liphschitz 1996:145; Nir 2008), a technology known in the southern Levant since the Neolithic period (Galili 1993; Garfinkel 2006). Several wells are known in the vicinity, such as the Byzantine well in Area D of the present excavation (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.18: Section 8–8)1 and Bir Shuqeir, of unclear date, located 600 m north of the site (Berman and Barda 2005:21*, Site 1). The high water table in the ancient coastal troughs, which also produced seasonal ponds and wetlands (Gophna 1997:155),2 is partly due to the presence of an ancient underground river that flowed into a large salt lake 15 million years ago. Sand from the Nile River effectively buried this prehistoric river channel, located approximately 20 m below the modern surface, which still carries freshwater from the eastern Judean Shephelah to the Ashqelon region (Stager 1993:103; Stager and Schloen 2008:3). Phyto-Geography Ashqelon is situated at the southern extremity of the Mediterranean phyto-geographic zone, near the border with the Irano-Turanian and the Saharo-Arabian phyto-geographic zones (Kadmon 1956: Map 1/VI; Orni and Efrat 1976:164–177). Today’s vegetation is primarily Saharo-Arabian, and includes marram grass (Ammophila littoralis), white broom (Retama raetam) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.). The massive formation of sand dunes that covered the troughs beginning sometime in the Roman–Byzantine period (see Chapter 2), severely altered the natural vegetative cover; thus, our knowledge of the native climax vegetation in the Early Bronze Age is only partial. Excavations at EB I sites throughout the Ashqelon littoral have uncovered remains of lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus), terebinth (Pistacia palaestina), tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla), shrubby salt bush (Atriplex halimus) and acacia (Acacia raddiana; see Liphschitz 2004; Weiss and Mahler-Slasky, forthcoming). Potential Subsistence Strategies at EB I Ashqelon Archaeobotanical remains of cultivated species from the EB I site of Ashqelon include cereals and legumes such as emmer wheat, barley and lentils, as well as fruits such as grapes and figs (Weiss and Mahler-Slasky, forthcoming), indicating that local agriculture within the troughs was providing the inhabitants with a subsistence economy, perhaps

This may be the well that appears on the British Mandate map of Ascalon North, see British Mandate map, Sheet 10/12, 1: 20,000 series first printed in 1931. 1

A historical source from the first century CE mentions a large, deep, freshwater pond near Ashqelon (Diodorus Siculus 2:4[II]). Guérin also mentions a large, deep pool south of Ashqelon (Weiss and Kislev 2004:10–11), although the exact location of both of these ponds (possibly the same one?) is unknown. 2

4

AMIR GOLANI

even surpluses. This is indirectly attested throughout the EB I site of Ashqelon, as well as at other sites of this period throughout the southern Levant, by the numerous storage installations that were apparently intended for public as well as private household storage (Golani and Yannai 2016). The discovery of emmer wheat spikelet forks indicating hulling in specific places at the site (Weiss and Mahler-Slasky, forthcoming), reveals that cereal crops were locally grown and brought into the settlement for processing and redistribution. The processing of these crops is further indicated by the large number of flint sickle blades exhibiting sheen (Goder-Goldberger, forthcoming) and the stone grinding and pounding tools recovered in the excavations (Rosenberg, forthcoming). Furthermore, the presence of numerous olive pits and charred olive wood (Olea europaea), common finds in both the Ashqelon Afridar and Ashqelon Barne‘a excavations (Liphschitz 2004; Weiss and MahlerSlasky, forthcoming), alludes to the intensive cultivation of olive trees in the immediate vicinity, probably for the production of olive oil. In fact, olive wood accounts for over 90% of all the wood remains examined from EB I sites in the Ashqelon region (Gophna and Liphschitz 1996:146; Liphschitz 2004; Weiss and Mahler-Slasky, forthcoming). The discovery of grape pips (Vitis vinifera) in the present excavations (see Weiss and MahlerSlasky, forthcoming), as well as at several other EB I sites in neighboring regions, such as Niẓẓanim and Taur Ikhbeineh (Gophna 1997:160), may attest to the cultivation of grapes for wine. Wine as well as olive oil and other foodstuffs produced at Ashqelon were possibly destined for export to Egypt by overland or maritime trade (Gophna and Liphschitz 1996; Gophna 2002b; Liphschitz 2004). Alongside horticulture, animal husbandry played an important role in the subsistence economy of the local inhabitants of EB I Ashqelon and indicates the establishment of a self-sustaining, yet market-oriented production economy. The faunal assemblage is one of the largest investigated to date (Zidane and Bar-Oz, forthcoming) and joins a growing number of archaeozoological studies carried out on finds from other excavations at the EB I site (Whitcher 1999; Whitcher-Kansa 2004; Sade 2008; Pines, forthcoming; TurgemanYaffe, forthcoming). The fauna is dominated by sheep and goat that were slaughtered at maturity, demonstrating exploitation of livestock for their secondary products such as milk and wool (Zidane and Bar-Oz, forthcoming). Sheep were generally found to outnumber goats, probably reflecting environmental constraints. The assemblages also included cattle and pig, the former reflecting a growing dependence on draft power, the latter increasing meat yields for local consumption, both requiring a nearby water source. Furthermore, a significant representation of domestic donkey, which served for traction as well as for transport, reflects the growing importance of trade, one of the main characteristics of late EB I. Game animals provided a minor supplement to the economy and are present in low frequencies. The site’s location near the seashore offered the potential for exploitation of maritime resources. The excavations have produced the largest assemblages of fish bones and mollusks yet studied from stratified deposits of EB I (Lernau, forthcoming; Ktalav, forthcoming), both of which provided supplementary dietary nutrition.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

5

The Coastal Location of Ashqelon—An Entrepot for M aritime and Overland Trade Ashqelon is located on ancient and historical trade routes that probably existed as early as EB I (Gophna 2002b); for example, it lay along the southern portion of the western branch of the Via Maris,3 a major international north–south route that led from Damascus in the north and continued south along the coast to Egypt. During the Egyptian New Kingdom, Ashqelon served as a way station on this southern portion of the overland caravan route between Canaan and Egypt, known then as the ʻWay of Horusʼ (Aharoni 1967:41–45). While today the Ashqelon coastline is covered with sand dunes that hinder direct access to the seashore, in the past, a wide opening in the dunes at Ashqelon facilitated passage from inland regions to the coast (Aharoni 1967:44), thus making it a convenient location for a maritime anchorage and an entrepot for overland trade. Nilotic shells found within a typical EB I juglet off the coast of ‘Atlit have provided evidence for maritime trade with Egypt along the Mediterranean coast in this period (Sharvit et al. 2002) and such shells have been found in the present excavation as well (Ktalav, forthcoming). The discovery of Lebanon cedar and Turkish oak from the northern Levant at other sites in Ashqelon (Liphschitz 2004), as well as Egyptian ceramics and flint tools in the present excavation (Golani and Talis, forthcoming; Goder-Goldberger, forthcoming), suggest the existence of both maritime and overland trade. The latter is also expressed by the high frequency of domesticated donkey remains in the faunal assemblages of both Barne‘a and Afridar (Zidane and Bar-Oz, forthcoming; see also Milevsky and Horwitz 2019). Donkeys were most likely exploited as transport animals in the thriving trade network that was a major component in Ashqelon’s economy, and their increased role in EB I in relation to the previous Chalcolithic period can be regarded as a defining characteristic of EB I. Other items among the finds that probably arrived by overland trade include semi-processed copper, which apparently originated in Feinan, Jordan (Segal, Halicz and Kamenski 2004; Golani 2014b), and numerous groundstone vessels of non-indigenous basalt (Rosenberg and Golani 2012; Rosenberg, forthcoming). The seeming prosperity of the Ashqelon inhabitants was probably a result of its role as a trade nexus for the processing of copper into tools (see Chapter 4; Golani 2014b). In summary, the physical environment along the Ashqelon littoral enabled the inhabitants of the EB I settlement to develop a complex and broad-based subsistence strategy. Some of the inhabitants specialized in local agricultural activities, some specialized in sheep and goat pastoralism, some were fishermen, while others were involved in metallurgy and trade. The ensuing wealth from the metallurgical industry and surplus production of food crops apparently attracted a large volume of prestige products to the EB I community at Ashqelon.

For a different location of the Via Maris, see Rainey 1981:146–148.

3

6

AMIR GOLANI

The Archaeological R emains in the Ashqelon R egion and Their Exposure Research on the Early Bronze Age Settlement at Ashqelon Ashqelon is one of the largest and most extensively excavated EB I occupation sites in the southern Levant. Since 1990, intensified development of the modern city has become the impetus for rescue excavations and extensive mechanical test trenching, the majority carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). These have revealed a large and sporadic settlement spread out from Tel Ashqelon in the south to the Barne‘a neighborhood in the north, and from the seashore to approximately 1 km inland (see Fig. 1.1). The EB I occupation is composed of numerous non-nucleated patches separated by large open areas where no archaeological remains were found4 and may be seen as comprising a single settlement of long duration, wherein the foci of settlement shifted over time. Among the various excavation areas, some revealed remains of one occupational stratum, while others revealed up to six, all of which are associated by their material culture to EB I (Table 1.1). The site was first probed in 1968, when Ram Gophna exposed massive mudbrick building remains of the late EB I (EB IB) in the Afridar neighborhood (Gophna 2002a; later designated as Area A). Since then, numerous rescue projects (see Table 1.1; Fig. 1.2) have demonstrated a continuous settlement that existed throughout the entirety of EB I, from the beginning of EB IA to the very end of EB IB. Although all the excavations at Afridar are apparently to be regarded as relating to one site, each was treated as a separate excavation area that was processed, analyzed and published individually;5 in the meantime, several syntheses have been produced (e.g., Golani and Segal 2002; Golani and Nagar 2011; Rosenberg and Golani 2012; Golani 2013, 2014b, forthcoming a). During the 1980s, excavations at Tel Ashqelon, located on the coast southwest of Afridar, unearthed ceramic evidence for occupation as early as EB IA (Stager 1993:105– 106). Further excavations in 2015 in the central portion of the tell revealed pits full of EB IA ceramics (Daniel Master and Joshua Walton, pers. comm. 2015). Sherds of the Chalcolithic and/or EB I were also reported in a small trench dug with mechanical equipment south of the tell (Rosen 2008:103). In 2018, a large, multi-layered occupation site dating to the Late Chalcolithic (Ghassulian) period was revealed in excavations in the newly developing Agammim neighborhood, c. 3 km southeast of the tell (Abadi-Reiss and Varga 2019).

However, it should be noted that the ‘open spaces’ are essentially where mechanical trenching was not able to discern any ancient occupational remains. As these were often covered by a very thick overburden of sand dunes (see Chapter 2), and the maximum depth to which the mechanical backhoe could reach from the modern ground surface is c. 4 m, any remains below this depth would not be exposed. 4

Previous excavations in the immediate region of the marina were often termed ‘Ashqelon Marinaʼ, while those slightly farther to the east were termed ‘Ashqelon Afridarʼ. As these excavations are all part of the same site, the general designation of Ashqelon Afridar is now preferred. 5

7 158 800

158 600

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157 800

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Mediterranean Sea

621 600

621 600

Area L

Delilah Beach

621 400

’im h ir yo

Area G Area H

621 200

Area K

ay

ya

sim

Ye fe

St.

No

fS

t.

621 200

Ha -S

Area A Area B

S t.

Ha -Ẓ an ḥ

t.

Go lan iS

Area C

an im

St .

Marina

na

621 400

Bar-Kokhba St.

621 000

Ha

-Ṭ

621 000

Blv

d

Area E-3

Area E-2

Area P

t.

620 800

Area M

Area O Area N

620 600

Modi‘in S

th A

Area 10

Sou

Area D (E-4)

620 800

frica

Area E-1

Carmel St.

Area J

620 600

Area F

620 400

620 400

Fig. 1.2. The excavation areas at the EB I site of Ashqelon Afridar.

158 800

158 600

158 400

158 200

200 m 158 000

157 800

0

8

AMIR GOLANI

Prior to the present excavations at Ashqelon Barne‘a B–C, the existence of an Early Bronze Age occupation here was unknown. During the 1960s, roadwork in this vicinity involved large-scale earth-moving activities,6 yet no Early Bronze Age remains were noted, probably because the road system was installed directly upon the overlying sands. Archaeological surveys of the Barne‘a site prior to 2003, undertaken by the IAA (Berman and Barda 2005) and the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon (Allen 2008), revealed primarily Byzantine remains. Excavations conducted by Yoram Haimi and Ilan Peretz of the IAA between 2002 and 2015 within the Ashqelon Barne‘a neighborhood, less than 1 km to the south of the present excavations, revealed remarkably preserved remains of the Hellenistic and Persian periods (Haimi 2008; Peretz 2017). With the resumption of development at Barne‘a B–C in 2003, the old road infrastructure was dismantled and much of the sand dunes were removed. Rescue excavations on the kurkar ridge in the area immediately to the southwest of the present excavation site (Fig. 1.3; Milevski et al. 2018) revealed remains of a Byzantine occupation. Following the present excavations in the Barne‘a neighborhood, it is now evident that the EB IA non-nucleated settlement revealed at Afridar extended from Barne‘a in the north all the way to Tel Ashqelon in the south; in EB IB, the settlement expanded in size at Barne‘a but decreased at Afridar (see Fig. 1.1). Within a 10 km radius from the site of Barne‘a, archaeological surveys have revealed scatters of EB I potsherds and flints in the sand, perhaps indicating other small settlements during this period (Berman, Stark and Barda 2004:30* [Site 136], 33* [Site 51], 46*, 53*, 60* [Sites 121, 159, 198]; Berman and Barda 2005:60*, 62*–64* [Sites 118, 132, 137]); 6 km to the northeast is the well-known EB IA site near Niẓẓanim (Yekutieli and Gophna 1994). Modern Development of the Ashqelon Barne‘a Site and Formulation of Excavation Strategy As noted above, mechanical removal of the sand dunes was carried out during municipal development in 2003, which cleared away large portions of the Byzantine occupation and exposed a compact, dark brown-gray layer containing architectural remains and EB I ceramics. The earth-moving operations obliterated large portions of the southern part of the Early Bronze Age site, and some at the northern end (Fig. 1.3). At the same time, large quantities of sand were dumped to the east of the kurkar ridge and on its southeastern slope, thus effectively filling in the remainder of the trough and leveling the area. With the discovery of the Early Bronze Age site by IAA inspectors, the pace of development was restricted, yet continued under archaeological supervision. As construction at the site could not be completely halted, it was decided that a major archaeological project would be undertaken to rescue data from a large part of the area destined for destruction. Protracted negotiations with the Ashkelon Economic Company Ltd., along with budgetary and legal restraints, precluded formulation of a comprehensive excavation strategy; instead,

These roads appear on the 1:50,000 scale topographical maps of this region just to the north of modern Ashqelon. 6

9

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Table 1.2. Summary of Excavations at the Early Bronze Age Site of Ashqelon Excavation

Main Features

Afridar Area A*

Early EB I (EB IA)

Late EB I (EB IB)

References

Architectural remains

EB IB

Gophna 2002a, 2004

Afridar Area B*

Mechanical test probes

EB IB

Gophna 2002a, 2004

Afridar Area C*

Remains of large, massive mudbrick structure

EB IB

Brandl and Gophna 1994; Gophna 2002a

Afridar Area D ( E-4)

Pits

EB IA

Gophna 2002a, 2004; Wallach 2003

Afridar Area E

Area E-1—pits Area E-2—pits, architectural remains, metallurgical activity, burials Area E-3—pits

EB IA

E-1: Golani 2004, 2018 E-2: Golani 2004, Golani and Paran 2014; Golani and Paran, forthcoming E-3: Golani 2004

Afridar Area F

Stratum II—pits Stratum I—architectural remains

Stratum II: early EB IA Stratum I: late EB IA

Khalaily 2004

Afridar Area G

Stratum II—architectural remains, burials Stratum I—architectural remains

Strata II–I: early EB IA

Braun and Gophna 2004

Afridar Area H

No finds

Afridar Area I

Designation not used

Afridar Area J

Stratum VI—pits, architectural remains, metallurgical activity, pottery kiln Stratum V—pits, architectural remains, metallurgical activity, hearths Stratum IV—pits, hearths, architectural remains Stratum III—pits, metallurgical activity Stratum II—architectural remains Stratum I—architectural remains

Strata VI–IV: EB IA

Strata III–I: EB IB

Baumgarten 2004

Afridar Area K

Architectural remains

EB I

EB I

Baumgarten 2006; Haimi 2009

Afridar Area L

Pits (identified by excavators as ‘Late Chalcolithic’)

EB IA

Garfinkel 1999, 2008

Afridar Area M

Stratum II—architectural remains, metallurgical activity Stratum I—architectural remains, metallurgical activity, burial

EB IA

Golani 2008b

Afridar Area N

Stratum II—architectural remains Stratum I—architectural remains

EB IA

Golani 2014a; forthcoming b

Afridar Area O

Area O-1, Stratum III—habitational debris Area O-1, Stratum II—architectural remains Area O-2—pits, architectural remains

EB IA

Paran 2014; Golani and Pasternak, forthcoming

Afridar Area P

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Golani 2017

Afridar Area 10

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EB IA

Unpublished: Yuval Yekutieli and Nir-Shimshon Paran, BenGurion University

Barne‘a

Stratum IV—pits, architectural remains, metallurgical activity, burials Stratum III—pits, architectural remains, metallurgical activity, burials Stratum II—pits, architectural remains, metallurgical activity, burials

Stratum IV: late EB IA/EB IA–B transition

Stratum III: early EB IB; Stratum II: late EB IB

Golani 2005, 2007, 2008a

Delilah Beach*

Pits, metallurgical activity

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EB I

Toueg 2010

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Pits (central portion of tell)

EB IA

Braun and Gophna 2004

Daniel Master and Joshua Walton, pers. comm. 2015

* The locations of the excavations in Afridar Areas A, B and C, and the excavations at Delilah Beach, were not recorded in sufficient detail and are therefore approximate in Fig. 1.2.

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the project was designed according to the developer’s immediate needs and financial capabilities. The rescue excavations were thus conducted in three stages that took place over three seasons. In the first stage, a survey defined the area of the Early Bronze Age site as encompassing approximately 54 dunams, then a trial excavation was conducted during June–July 2004 within the area of the site along the path of the projected roads of the future neighborhood (Golani 2005: Fig. 1). This excavation probed the nature and depth of the finds to aid in developing a future excavation strategy. Six separate areas (A–F) were opened where ancient remains were visible on the surface. Three main EB I occupation strata (IV–II) were identified in most of the excavated areas. In the second stage, during February–May 2005, excavation concentrated on exposure of the remains in the southern third of the site (Golani 2007). Areas D and E were greatly expanded, and Area G was opened. In addition, mechanical trenching was carried out in the northern two-thirds of the site to determine the northern, eastern and western boundaries of the ancient settlement and the depth of the occupation buildup (Golani 2007: Fig. 1). The strategy for the third stage of excavations, carried out during August–December 2005, was based on the results of the first two seasons (Golani 2008a). As it was not possible to fully expose the northern two-thirds of the site (nearly 40 dunams), a viable strategy was conceived, composed of four principal elements (Fig. 1.3): 1. A north–south section, 15 m wide, through the central portion of the site (Areas H, M), which would connect Areas A and B; 2. An east–west section (Area L) connecting to the eastern side of the north–south section; 3. Expansion of either section upon exposure of any significant architectural remains (Areas I, K); 4. Limited excavation on the periphery of the EB I site (Area J) and beyond (Area C). Excavation Methodology Prior to excavation, a grid was set up on a southwest–northeast axis. For Areas A, B, H, K and M, the excavation grid shared letter/number designations as all these areas were physically linked within the context of the north–south and east–west sections excavated through the site. As Areas C, D, E, F, G, I, J and L were not physically connected to any other excavation area, each was assigned its own grid numbering (Fig. 1.3).7 After mechanical equipment removed the remainder of the upper sand layers that had already been disturbed, excavation then proceeded manually. Debris originating from habitation surfaces and surface make-ups was sifted through a 1 × 1 cm wire mesh. All the ceramics, flints, bones, metal fragments, shells and botanical samples were collected and later sorted. Locus numbers comprise three, or more often four digits, and basket numbers five digits. The first digit of the locus and basket usually indicates the area; e.g., all the

Although Area I was physically linked to Area H, it was assigned a different grid as it was opened toward the end of the excavation. 7

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

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loci and baskets of Area G begin with the number ʻ8ʼ. Each basket was treated as a threedimensional ʻmini-locusʼ, and as such, the same basket number was assigned to the pottery, flints, bones, shells and other finds. In the stratigraphic description (Chapter 3), a distinction is made between a ʻbuildingʼ and a ʻstructureʼ. A building is defined as an enclosed space with a clear plan, or one that can be reasonably reconstructed as such, while a structure is defined as a group of architectural elements of unclear plan whose reconstruction is not possible or highly conjectural. A distinction is also made between ʻfloorsʼ and ʻsurfacesʼ. A floor is defined as the accumulation directly upon a habitation level within a clearly defined and roofed area such as a room, or within an area that may be reconstructed as such. On the other hand, a surface is defined as an accumulation in an open area, or a living level associated with a wall or walls that do not form a reasonably clear plan. When the debris directly upon a floor or surface could be distinguished from the composition of the floor/surface itself (the make-up), the two locus numbers are presented together with the higher element first; for example: L128/L3016 represents Floor Accumulation 128 over Floor Make-up 3016.

R eferences Abadi-Reiss Y. and Varga D. 2019. Inter-Site Complexity in the Ghassulian Chalcolithic Site of Agamim, Ashqelon. In D. Varga, Y. Abadi-Reiss, G. Lehmann and D. Vainstub eds. Worship and Burial in the Shfela and the Negev Regions throughout the Ages (Proceedings of the 15th Annual Southern Congress). Be’er Sheva‘. Pp. 67–78 (Hebrew). Aharoni Y. 1967. The Land of the Bible: A Historical Geography. Philadelphia. Allen M. 2008. Regional Archaeological Survey. In Ashkelon 1. Pp. 21–65. Baumgarten Y.Y. 2004. An Excavation at Ashqelon, Afridar—Area J. ‘Atiqot 45:161–184. Baumgarten Y. 2006. Ashqelon. HA–ESI 118 (July 6). http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_ Detail_Eng.aspx?id=374&mag_id=111 (accessed November 26, 2009). Berman A. and Barda L. 2005. Map of Niẓẓanim–West (87), Niẓẓanim-East (88) (Archaeological Survey of Israel). Jerusalem. Berman A., Stark H. and Barda L. 2004. Map of Ziqim (91) (Archaeological Survey of Israel). Jerusalem. Brandl B. and Gophna R. 1994. Ashqelon, Afridar. ESI 12:89. Braun E. and Gophna R. 2004. Excavations at Ashqelon, Afridar—Area G. ‘Atiqot 45:185–241. Diodorus Siculus. Bibliotheca Historica. C.H. Oldfather ed. and transl. (Loeb Classical Library). Cambridge, Mass. 1993. Faust A. and Ashkenazy Y. 2007. Excess in Precipitation as a Cause for Settlement Decline along the Israeli Coastal Plain during the Third Millennium BC. QR 68:37–44. Galili E. 1993. The Submerged Pre-Pottery Neolithic Water Well of Atlit-Yam, Northern Israel, and Its Palaeoenvironmental Implications. The Holocene 3:265–270. Garfinkel Y. 1999. Neolithic Site of Ashkelon (Afridar Area L), 1997, 1998. IEJ 49:141–143.

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Garfinkel Y. 2006. The Domestication of Water: The Neolithic Well at Sha‘ar Hagolan, Jordan Valley, Israel. Antiquity 80:686–697. Garfinkel Y. 2008. Layer III: Late Chalcolithic Remains. In Y. Garfinkel and D. Dag. Neolithic Ashkelon (Qedem 47). Jerusalem. Pp. 310–314. Garfinkel Y. and Dag D. 2008. Neolithic Ashkelon (Qedem 47). Jerusalem. Goder-Goldberger M. Forthcoming. The Flint Assemblages. In AB II. Golani A. 2004. Salvage Excavations at the Early Bronze Age Site of Ashqelon, Afridar—Area E. ‘Atiqot 45:9–62. Golani A. 2005. Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C. HA–ESI 117 (March 28). http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/ Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=134&mag_id=110 (accessed January 27, 2008). Golani A. 2007. Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C. HA–ESI 119 (June 11). http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/ Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=533&mag_id=112 (accessed January 27, 2008). Golani A. 2008a. Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C. HA–ESI 120 (June 5). http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/ Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=805&mag_id=114 (accessed December 10, 2008). Golani A. 2008b. The Early Bronze Age Site of Ashqelon, Afridar—Area M. ‘Atiqot 60:19–51. Golani A. 2013. The Transition from the Late Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze I in Southwestern Canaan––Ashqelon as a Case for Continuity. In E. Braun and V. Roux eds. The Transition Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age in the Southern Levant (Paléorient 39/1). Paris. Pp. 95–110. Golani A. 2014a. Ashqelon, Afridar Area N: Preliminary Report. HA–ESI 126 (December 31). http:// www.hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=13680&mag_id=121 (accessed March 8, 2016). Golani A. 2014b. Ashqelon during the EB I Period––A Centre for Copper Processing and Trade. In A. Mączyńska ed. The Nile Delta as a Centre of Cultural Interactions between Upper Egypt and the Southern Levant in the 4th Millennium BC (Proceedings of the Conference Held in the Poznań Archaeological Museum, Poznań, Poland 21–22 June 2012) (Studies in African Archaeology 13). Poznań. Pp. 119–137. Golani A. 2017. Ashqelon. HA–ESI 129 (December 16). http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_ Detail_Eng.aspx?id=25352&mag_id=125 (accessed January 28, 2018). Golani A. 2018. Ashqelon. HA–ESI 130 (May 28). http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_Detail_ Eng.aspx?id=25425&mag_id=126 (accessed February 10, 2019). Golani A. Forthcoming a. The Late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze I Transition in Southwestern Canaan and the Ashqelon Occupational Sequence. In M.J. Adams, V. Roux and F. Höflmayer eds. Transitions during the Early Bronze Age in the Levant: Methodological Problems and Interpretive Perspectives (Proceedings of a Conference at the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Jerusalem, May 16–18 2018). Golani A. Forthcoming b. Rescue Excavations at the Early Bronze Site of Ashqelon Afridar––Area N. ‘Atiqot. Golani A. and Nagar Y. 2011. Newly Discovered Burials of the Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age I in Southern Canaan––Evidence of Cultural Continuity? In J.L. Lovell and Y.M. Rowan eds. Culture Chronology and the Chalcolithic: Theory and Transition (Levant Suppl. S. 9). Oxford–Oakville. Pp. 84–96.

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Golani A. and Paran N.S. 2014. Ashqelon, Afridar Area E2. HA–ESI 126 (December 21). http:// www.hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=13679&mag_id=121 (accessed March 8, 2016). Golani A. and Paran N.S. Forthcoming. Rescue Excavations at the Early EB I Site of Ashqelon Afridar––Area E-2. ‘Atiqot. Golani A. and Pasternak M.D. Forthcoming. Ashqelon Afridar––Area O. HA–ESI. Golani A. and Segal D. 2002. Redefining the Onset of the Early Bronze Age in Southern Canaan: New Evidence of 14C Dating from Ashkelon Afridar. In E.C.M. van den Brink and E. Yannai eds. In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes: Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna. Tel Aviv. Pp. 135–154. Golani A. and Talis S. Forthcoming. The Ceramic Assemblages. In AB II. Golani A. and Yannai E. 2016. Storage Structures of the Late Early Bronze I in the Southern Levant and the Urbanisation Process. PEQ 148:8–41. Goldberg P. and Bar-Yosef O. 1982. Environmental and Archaeological Evidence for Climatic Changes in the Southern Levant. In J. Bintliff and W.J. Van Zeist eds. Palaeoclimates, Palaeoenvironments and Human Communities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in Later Prehistory II (BAR Int. S. 133ii). Oxford. Pp. 399–414. Gophna R. 1974. The Settlement of the Coastal Plain of Eretz Israel during the Early Bronze Age. Ph.D. diss. Tel Aviv University. Tel Aviv (Hebrew; English summary, pp. V–XIII). Gophna R. 1977. Archaeological Survey in the Central Coastal Plain, 1977: Preliminary Report. Tel Aviv 5:136–147. Gophna R. 1997. The Southern Coastal Troughs as EB I Subsistence Areas. IEJ 47:155–161. Gophna R. 2002a. Afridar 1968: Soundings in an EB I Occupation of the “Erani C” Horizon. BeerSheva 15:129–137. Gophna R. 2002b. Elusive Anchorage Points along the Israel Littoral and the Egyptian-Canaanite Maritime Route during the Early Bronze Age I. In E.C.M. van den Brink and T.E. Levy eds. Egypt and the Levant: Interrelations from the 4th through the Early 3rd Millennium B.C.E. London–New York. Pp. 418–421. Gophna R. 2004. Excavations at Ashqelon, Afridar—Introduction. ‘Atiqot 45:1–8. Gophna R. and Liphschitz N. 1996. The Ashkelon Trough Settlements in the Early Bronze Age I: New Evidence of Maritime Trade. Tel Aviv 23:143–153. Gophna R. and Portugali Y. 1988. Settlement and Demographic Processes in Israel’s Coastal Plain from the Chalcolithic to the Middle Bronze Age. BASOR 269:11–28. Haimi Y. 2008. Ashqelon, Barne‘a. HA–ESI 120 (November 23). http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/ Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=953&mag_id=114 (accessed November 26, 2009). Haimi Y. 2009. Ashqelon. HA–ESI 121 (June 28). http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_Detail_ Eng.aspx?id=1119&mag_id=115 (accessed November 26, 2009). Kadmon N. ed.1956. Israel Atlas. Jerusalem (Hebrew). Khalaily H. 2004. An Early Bronze Age Site at Ashqelon, Afridar—Area F. ‘Atiqot 45:121–159. Koucky F.L. 2008. Physical Environment. In Ashkelon 1. Pp. 11–15.

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Ktalav I. Forthcoming. The Mollusks. In AB II. Lernau O. Forthcoming. The Fish Remains. In AB II. Liphschitz N. 2004. Archaeobotanical Remains from Ashqelon, Afridar. ‘Atiqot 45:305–310. Liphschitz N. and Biger G. 1990. Ancient Dominance of the Quercus Calliprinos–Pistacia Palaestina Association in Mediterranean Israel. Journal of Vegetation Science 1:67–70. Milevski I., Bijovsky G., Sandhaus D., Krokhmalnik A. and Gorin-Rosen Y. 2018. A Byzantine Settlement on the Northernmost Kurkar Ridge of Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C Neighborhood. ‘Atiqot 91:159–192. Milevski I. and Horwitz L.K. 2019. Domestication of the Donkey (Equus asinus) in the Southern Levant: Archaeozoology, Iconography and Economy. In R. Kowner, G. Bar-Oz, M. Biran, M. Shahar and G. Shelach-Lavi eds. Animals and Human Society in Asia—Historical, Cultural and Ethical Perspectives. London. Pp. 93–148. Nir Y. 2008. The Wells of Ashkelon. In Ashkelon 1. Pp. 105–106. Noy T. 1977. Neolithic Sites in the Western Coastal Plain. Eretz Israel 13:18–33 (Hebrew; English summary, pp. 290*–291*). Orni E. and Efrat E. 1976. Geography of Israel (3rd ed.). Jerusalem. Paran N.S. 2014. Ashqelon, Marina. HA–ESI 126 (December 31). http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/ Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=13693&mag_id=121 (accessed March 3, 2016). Peretz I. 2017. Ashqelon, Barne‘a. HA–ESI 129 (July 20) http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/report_ detail_eng.aspx?id=25253&mag_id=125 (accessed December 11, 2019). Pines M. Forthcoming. Early EB I Faunal Remains. In A. Golani, Rescue Excavations at the Early Bronze Age Site of Ashqelon, Afridar—Area N. ‘Atiqot. Rainey A.F. 1981. Toponymic Problems. Tel Aviv 8:146–151. Rosen A.M. 1989. Environmental Change at the End of Early Bronze Age Palestine. In P. de Miroschedji ed. L’urbanisation de la Palestine à l’âge du bronze ancien: Bilans et perspectives des recherches actuelles (Actes du Colloque d’Emmaüs, 20–24 octobre 1986) II (BAR Int. S. 527ii). Oxford. Pp. 247–255. Rosen A.M. 2008. Site Formation. In Ashkelon 1. Pp. 101–104. Rosenberg D. Forthcoming. The Groundstone Assemblage. In AB II. Rosenberg D. and Golani A. 2012. Groundstone Tools of a Copper Smith’s Community: Understanding Stone-Related Aspects of the Early Bronze Age Site of Ashqelon Barnea. JMA 25:27–51. Sade M. 2008. The Archaeozoological Material. In A. Golani. The Early Bronze Age Site of Ashkelon, Afridar – Area M. ‘Atiqot 60:40–45. Segal I., Halicz L. and Kamenski A. 2004. The Metallurgical Remains from Ashqelon, Afridar‒– Areas E, G and H. ‘Atiqot 45:311–330. Sharvit J., Galili E., Rosen B. and Brink E.C.M. van den. 2002. Predynastic Maritime Traffic along the Carmel Coast of Israel: A Submerged Find from North ‘Atlit Bay. In E.C.M. van den Brink and E. Yannai eds. In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes: Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna. Tel Aviv. Pp. 159–166.

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Stager L.E. 1993. Ashkelon. NEAEHL. Pp. 103–112. Stager L.E. and Schloen J.D. 2008. Introduction: Ashkelon and Its Inhabitants. In Ashkelon 1. Pp. 3–10. Toueg R. 2010. Ashqelon. HA–ESI 122 (May 26). http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_Detail_ Eng.aspx?id=1401&mag_id=117 (accessed March 3, 2016). Turgeman-Yaffe Z. Forthcoming. The Faunal Assemblage. In A. Golani and M.D. Pasternak, Ashqelon Afridar––Area O-2. HA–ESI. Wallach Z. 2003. Ashqelon (A). HA–ESI 115:58*–59*. Weiss E. and Kislev M.E. 2004. Plant Remains as Indicators for Economic Activity: A Case Study from Iron Age Ashkelon. JAS 31:1–13. Weiss E. and Mahler-Slasky Y. Forthcoming. The Archaeobotanical Remains. In AB II. Whitcher S. 1999. Animals, Environment and Society: A Zooarchaeological Approach to the Late Chalcolithic–Early Bronze I Transition in the Southern Levant. Ph.D. diss. University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh. Whitcher-Kansa S. 2004. Animal Exploitation at Early Bronze Age Ashqelon, Afridar: What Bones Tell Us—Initial Analysis of the Animal Bones from Areas E, F and G. ‘Atiqot 45:279–297. Yekutieli Y. and Gophna R. 1994. Excavations at an Early Bronze Age Site near Nizzanim. Tel Aviv 21:162–185. Zidane A. and Bar-Oz G. Forthcoming. The Faunal Assemblages. In AB II.

A. Golani, 2019, Ashqelon Barne a The Early Bronze Age Site I (IAA Reports 65)

Chapter 2

The Geographical Setting, Geoarchaeology and Sedimentology Oren Ackermann, Mechael Osband, Mira Bar-Matthews and Avner Ayalon1 Introduction The site of Ashqelon Barne‘a is located in the southern part of the Israeli coastal plain (also known as Pleshet; Fig. 2.1). The coastal plain region is comprised of a series of elongated, subparallel, aeolian sandstone (kurkar) ridges (Fig. 2.2; Tsoar 2000). The westernmost ridge forms a cliff by the sea that reaches a height of ~20 m in the study area, rising to ~50 m in the central (Sharon) coastal plain. In between the ridges are low depressions known as troughs (also termed slacks; Gvirtzman, Netser and Katsav 1998; Almagor 2005; Zilberman et al. 2006) wherein soils accumulated from the adjacent slopes of the kurkar ridges. These ridges and troughs are composed of kurkar sandstone, usually intercalated with layers of red sandy clay loam (ḥamra) and dark clayey soils (Dan, Fine and Lavee 2007; Singer 2007). The kurkar ridges are cut by a few natural channels that drain water from the hills and central mountains to the west (Fig. 2.2), depositing fine-grained alluvial sediments in their path. The archaeological site of Ashqelon is adjacent to the seashore, where the high water table likely provided favorable conditions for ancient settlement (Koucky 2008; Nir 2008). However, during periods of increased rainfall, such as at the beginning of the third millennium BCE, the high water table combined with the geomorphological structure of alternating ridges and troughs and a minimal number of natural drainage channels, would have led to poor drainage conditions, creating a swamp-like environment (Cohen-Seffer et al. 2005; Faust and Ashkenazy 2007, 2009). The general geological structure of the westernmost kurkar ridge in the Ashqelon region is comprised of four geological members or sediment units, described here from top to bottom (Gvirtzman, Netser and Katsav 1998; Porat, Wintle and Ritte 2004; Almagor 2005; Zilberman et al. 2006).

Oren Ackermann, Israel Heritage Department and the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Ariel University; Mechael Osband, University of Haifa, Zinman Institute of Archaeology, Department of Land of Israel Studies, and Ohalo College; Mira Bar-Matthews and Avner Ayalon; Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Israel. The authors would like to thank Ezra Zilberman of the Geological Survey of Israel, and Pinchas Fine of the Department of Soil Chemistry, Plant Nutrition and Microbiology at the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, for the many fruitful discussions. The authors would also like to thank Amir Golani for his encouragement in conducting this study. 1

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Sea of Galilee

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Ashqelon Barne‘a Tel Ashqelon 0

ain nt l M ou ra nt Ce

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Fig. 2.1. General map and location of sites and regions mentioned in the text.

The Ḥadera Sand Member The youngest member comprises fine, unconsolidated aeolian sand that invaded the coastal plain in an event that began ~2000 years ago (BP) and intensified ~1500 years BP, during the Byzantine period. This is evident from many archaeological sites along the coastal plain, dated from the Hellenistic period onward, which were covered by this member (e.g., at Gan Soreq, see, ‘Ad and Dagot 2006), or were found within it, such as the Byzantine occupation in the Ashqelon region. The Ḥadera Member was active into the twentieth century, when it began to stabilize. Due to intensive contemporary sand mining and construction, this member today remains visible in only a few areas (Zilberman et al. 2006). The Ta‛arukha Member This member consists of fine, unconsolidated yellow-brown aeolian sand (Gvirtzman and Wieder 2001). The sands are interspersed with undeveloped soil horizons (regosols) characterized by initial pedogenetic processes, including carbonatic sediments and

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Fig. 2.2. Map of the kurkar ridges, Holocene sand dunes and drainage system along the central and southern coastal plain of Israel (Tsoar 2000: Fig. 1; Courtesy of Israel Science Journals).

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relatively darker colored soil horizons (grumosols). Its formation began ~5500 years BP, in the middle of the Holocene. Many archaeological sites in the central and southern coastal plain lie within this member (Gvirtzman and Wieder 2001). At Ashqelon, this member comprised the basal dune upon which the EB I occupation was founded. The Dor Kurkar Member This member is comprised of fine sand cemented by carbonates and is characterized by a fine-bedded structure. Its formation began 53.1 + 4.3 ka BP and ended 50.7 + 4.2 ka BP (Porat, Wintle and Ritte 2004). This member appears along a large part of the westernmost kurkar ridge and formed most of the western cliff along the coast. The Naḥsholim Sandy Regosol Member This unit, found at the bottom of the western cliff directly below the Dor Kurkar Member, comprises fine brown sand and silt with terrestrial land snails and is rich in carbonate deposition. Its formation began 57.3 + 3 ka BP and ended 47.9 + 4.2 ka BP (Porat, Wintle and Ritte 2004). In summary, the structure of alternating kurkar, sandy soils (regosol, ḥamra) and sand dunes is a result of cyclical aeolian Nilotic sand accumulation and sedimentation. Intensive accumulation resulted in sand-dune evolution, while non-intensive accumulation resulted in stabilized sand dunes and subsequent pedogenetic processes (Gvirtzman and Wieder 2001; Porat, Wintle and Ritte 2004).

Goals and Methodology The main goal of this study was to reconstruct the paleoenvironment of the coastal plain area during the late Holocene, specifically in the vicinity of the Ashqelon Barne‘a archaeological site during EB I. To this end, a geoarchaeological/sedimentological study was conducted in order to characterize the environmental and sedimentological conditions that were present during the Early Bronze Age. Our field survey investigated two representative sections within the environs of the study site (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3): a section located at the western edge of the trough in southern Area H (Section D16; Fig. 2.3; see Chapter 3: Plan 3.3: Section 1–1) and a section in the western kurkar ridge that was cut by a bulldozer, just east of Area J (Section WSD; Fig. 2.6; see Chapter 3: Plan 3.33). Sedimentology and soil stratigraphy of the section profiles were classified in the field according to color, general texture and structure (Tables 2.1, 2.2). Age assessment and the presence of human activity associated with the units were determined by correlation to the archaeological stratigraphy, embedded pottery sherds and 14C dating of charcoal remains (see Appendix 1). Soil/sediment texture is the physical property with the greatest influence on porosity, water infiltration rate and fertility. Texture is the relative percentage of fine material particles 10%). The presence of alternating units of sand and soil in Section WSD is evidence of periodic cycles with a high rate of aeolian sand accumulation in Units 1, 3 and 4, in contrast to stable periods that enabled soil pedogenesis in Units 2 and 5. Unit 2 was formed during the Early Bronze Age, which was apparently characterized by stable conditions and minimal aeolian processes. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and δ13C values The TOC values are highest in Unit 1 of the Byzantine period with 0.18% C. The TOC amounts decrease with depth, with Units 2, 3 and 4 containing values of 0.15%, 0.06% and 0.07% respectively. A reverse tendency is observed in Unit 5, which has a value of 0.25% (Fig. 2.8). The d13C data show a general trend of decreasing values with depth, from -28.8 ‰ in Unit 1 to -33.13‰ in Unit 5. Assuming that microbial degradation could account for only 1–2‰ variations in these values (see Appendix below), they reflect the long-term input of C3 and C4 plants (see, e.g., Kelly et al. 1991b). Therefore, we can assume that the decrease in d13C values reflects an increase in the relative amount of the C3 component in the organic matter.

100 90 80 70 60 % 50 40 30 20 10 0 1

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Unit 1, Byz

Unit 2, EB IB

Unit 4

Unit 5

Unit 3

Fig 2.7. Cumulative grain fraction-size percentages, Section WSD.

28

OREN ACKERMANN, MECHAEL OSBAND, MIRA BAR-MATTHEWS AND AVNER AYALON δ13C (0/00 VPDB) -36

34

-32

-30

TOC

Unit 1 (Byz)

-28

δ13C

Unit 2 (EB IB)

Unit 3 (EB IA–IB)

4

5

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

TOC (%)

Fig 2.8. Comparison of total organic carbon (TOC) and δ13C between EB I and Byzantine units in Section D16 and Section WSD.

Sediment Comparison: Section D16 and Section WSD Fraction Size The fraction size of the sediments from the various units of the two sections was compared by plotting the data on sand as opposed to clay (Fig. 2.9). The results identified three main clusters relating to fraction size within the sediments: 1. Section WSD, Unit 1 (Byzantine), Units 4 and 5 (both pre-settlement). As Unit 3 appears to represent the uppermost part of the basal sand dune, the small number of sherds identified in its upper portion may be intrusive from Unit 2. 2. Section D16, Unit 5 (EB IA–IB, Stratum IV); Section WSD, Unit 2 (EB IB, Stratum III). 3. Section D16, Units 2–4 (EB IB, Strata III–II); Section WSD, Unit 5 (pre-settlement). The texture of the sediments in all units is sandy in general, and a general trend of an increase in silt and clay content is evident in Section D16 (in the trough), 13–23%, from bottom to top respectively (see Fig. 2.4). Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and δ13C Comparison The Early Bronze Age units in Section D16 have higher TOC and lower d13C values (see Fig. 2.5) in comparison with the values in EB IB Unit 2 of Section WSD. The TOC results likely reflect a denser vegetation distribution in the trough than on the kurkar ridge sand

CHAPTER 2: THE GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING, GEOARCHAEOLOGY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY

29

100

Clay (%)

75

50

WSD-5 D16-2 D16-4 D16-3 D16-5

25

0

0

25

50

75

WSD-2 D16-4 WSD-1 WSD-3 100

Sand (%)

Fig 2.9. Sand content (%) vs. clay content (%) in the various units of Section D16 and Section WSD. 

dune, while the d13C results appear to indicate that the vegetation grew in wetter conditions than prevailed in the vicinity of the kurkar ridge.

Discussion and Conclusions Advanced and detailed proxy climatic records based on the isotopic composition of the Soreq Cave speleothems (cave mineral sediments; Bar-Matthews, Ayalon and Kaufman 1998) and the water-level history of the Dead Sea (Frumkin et al. 1991), indicate that during EB II–III, wetter climatic conditions and increased rainfall were prevalent in comparison to EB I. From the present field study, it is evident that the vicinity of the site underwent periodic cycles of sand accumulation and sand stabilization. During the Early Bronze Age, sand-dune stabilization and subsequent pedogenetic processes took place, as revealed from the regosol in Unit 2 of Section WSD. Concurrently, hydromorphic soil formed in the trough (Section D16), indicating the presence of wetland conditions in the lower topographic location (Section D16, Unit 2). The vegetation in the trough was denser than on the nearby kurkar ridge, as indicated by relatively higher TOC values and relatively lower d13C values. Dense vegetation acts as a dust trap that enriches the sediments with fine clay and silt (Danin et al. 1989). This may explain the higher clay content in the trough units (Units 2–5, Section D16) throughout the EB I as compared to Unit 2 in Section WSD. The absence

30

OREN ACKERMANN, MECHAEL OSBAND, MIRA BAR-MATTHEWS AND AVNER AYALON

of clayey sediments in the kurkar ridge may be due to its relatively higher topography and thus greater distance from the water table, resulting in sparser vegetation. These finds correlate with the sand-dune stabilization in the Ta‘arukha Member in the central coastal plain during the Early Bronze Age (~4.6–5 ka BP), identified by Gvirtzman and Wieder (2001). The relatively wetter conditions would have resulted in a high water table, providing the inhabitants of the site with fresh water from springs and permanent or seasonal water bodies such as freshwater ponds within the trough, or from the digging of shallow pits (Nir 2008). The availability of water could have certainly been a contributing factor in the initial settlement of the site at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. However, continued wetter conditions may have also eventually contributed to creation of marshlands, which may explain two phenomena observed at the site: (1) the area of the Stratum II settlement was smaller than that of Stratum III (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3); (2) in Stratum II, mudbrick walls were nearly always based on kurkar-stone foundations, whereas in Stratum III the mudbrick walls were usually laid directly on the sandy surface (see Chapter 3). The creation of marshlands probably caused the bases of the walls to be wet and unstable, and the ancient inhabitants may have tried to stabilize their walls by constructing them on kurkar foundations. However, despite these efforts, the site was eventually deserted at the end of EB IB. The phenomenon of marshland creation or wetland expansion during the late EB I has been identified at other sites along the coastal plain (see Fig. 2.1), such as Gane HaTa‘arukha (Tel Aviv exhibition grounds) in the central coastal plain, where a clay level likely caused by wetland formation was identified covering an EB II site (Ritter-Kaplan 1984).5 The palynological remains from that site revealed a high frequency of oak (Quercus sp.) and sedge (Cyperaceae). In the northern coastal plain, similar clayey units evidencing wetland conditions, as seen in manganese concretions, were identified at the site of ‘En Esur (‘Ein Asawir), in a transitional layer between late EB I and the Intermediate Bronze Age levels (Yannai and Ackermann, pers. comm., 2008). The observation of wetland expansion at ‘En Esur during this period is supported by palynological remains indicating an increased presence of wetland vegetation, from 47.8% during the early Chalcolithic period to 91.7% toward the very end of EB I (Horowitz 2006). Here also, the abandonment of the site at the end of EB I or the beginning of EB II is attributed to the expansion of wetlands (Yannai 2002; Horowitz 2006). In a wide-ranging study by Faust and Ashkenazy (2007, 2009), it is suggested that wetland expansion was the main cause of the dramatic reduction in settlement all along

Although a dark and compacted clayey layer was found to override strata of EB I and EB II at the site (Ritter-Kaplan 1984:3), renewed examination of the ceramics by Yitzhak Paz does not appear to indicate an EB II occupation, and the material in question is more probably to be dated to EB IB. The authors wish to thank Yitzhak Paz for this clarification. 5

CHAPTER 2: THE GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING, GEOARCHAEOLOGY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY

31

the coast during EB II–III. In contrast, a dramatic increase in settlement was noted in areas such as the northern Negev and the Shephelah (Migowski et al. 2006). It seems that the final Early Bronze Age occupation level at Ashqelon Barne‘a lay exposed until the end of the Roman–beginning of the Byzantine period, as indicated by the uppermost unit of the kurkar ridge (probably of the Ḥadera Member) that contained Byzantine sherds (Section WSD: Unit 1), as well as in the trough (Section D16: Unit 1). This correlates with our knowledge of widespread sand-dune cover along the coastal plain during the Byzantine period (see, e.g., Barzilay 2004; ‘Ad and Dagot 2006), when the landscape began to assume its current form.

Appendix: A Detailed Description of the δ13c Analysis Carbon isotopes yield paleoecological information as the carbon in the soil carbonate forms in isotopic equilibrium with local soil CO2, whose isotopic composition is determined by local plant cover. Many studies indicate that soil organic carbon inherits the isotopic signature of the plant residue (reflecting the parent C3–C4 ratio) plus the isotopic fractionation occurring during decomposition, resulting in higher (or lower) d13C values with time and depth. Thus, the relative proportions of C3 and C4 vegetation at a site reflect climatic conditions: C3 vegetation is generally associated with moister and cooler climates, resulting in soil components with higher d13C values, whereas C4 plants are generally associated with drier and warmer conditions. Thus, the relative proportions of C3 and C4 plants provide an opportunity to assess the long-term changes in an ecosystem (Dzurec et al. 1985). Differences in plant physiology (e.g., water use efficiency, depth of rooting) and environmental conditions during photosynthesis (water availability, light intensity, altitude and other factors) affect the isotopic composition (e.g., Vogel 1980; Farquhar, OʼLeary and Berry 1982; Ehleringer 1988; Farquhar, Ehleringer and Hubick 1989; O’Leary 1995; Heaton 1999). At high temperatures and/or under conditions of water stress, C4 plants are more photosynthetically efficient than C3 plants. Lower temperatures and higher soil moisture favor C3 vegetation (Ehleringer et al. 1991; Tissue et al. 1995). Plant d13C values and temperature are positively correlated, whereas a negative correlation is present between d13C values and water availability. There is a tendency in C3 plants with high water-use efficiency to be rich in 13C. Water stress results in some stomatal closure that, with irradiance still high, results in decreased discrimination against 13C and the d13C value becomes more positive (Tieszen 1991). The 13C-enrichment (or depletion) at depth is due to a preferential loss of the 12C (or 13C) during organic matter decomposition (see, e.g., Stout, Rafter and Troughton 1975; Dzurec et al. 1985; Natelhoffer and Fry 1988; Balesdent, Girardin and Mariotti 1993; Connin, Virginia and Chamberlain 1997). This diagenetic change is explained by different decay rates of components with differing d13C, a preferential microbial utilization of 12C in preference to 13C, and differential preservation of organic matter or plant litter components, leading to isotopic fractionation.

32

OREN ACKERMANN, MECHAEL OSBAND, MIRA BAR-MATTHEWS AND AVNER AYALON

However, many studies have shown that d13C fractionation is usually in the range of 1–2‰ (and no more than 2–3‰; e.g., Stout, Rafter and Troughton 1975; Natelhoffer and Fry 1988; Kelly et al. 1991a; Kelly, Yonker and Marino 1993). Therefore, it is unlikely that processes of post-depositional decomposition of organic matter have affected the carbonisotope trends observed here, and the isotopic variations can be referred to changes in the relative proportions of C3 and C4 plants. Thus, the isotopic composition of the measured d13C of the SOM should reflect the input of the parent C3 and C4 plants, and the carbon isotopic composition of the SOM can therefore be used as a tracer of the parent vegetation.

R eferences ‘Ad U. and Dagot A. 2006. Gan Soreq (South). HA–ESI 118 (March 1). http://www.hadashot-esi. org.il/Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=323&mag_id=111 (accessed February 3, 2008). Almagor G. 2005. The Mediterranean Coast of Israel (Geological Survey of Israel Report GSI/13/022). Jerusalem (Hebrew). Balesdent J., Girardin C. and Mariotti A. 1993. Site-Related δ13C of Tree Leaves and Soil Organic Matter in a Temperate Forest. Ecology 74:1713–1721. Balesdent J., Mariotti A. and Boisgontier D. 1990. Effect of Tillage on Soil Organic Carbon Mineralization Estimated from 13C Abundance in Maize Fields. Journal of Soil Science 41:587– 596. Bar-Matthews M., Ayalon A. and Kaufman A. 1998. Middle to Late Holocene (6,500 Yr. Period) Paleoclimate in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from Stable Isotopic Composition of Speleothems from Soreq Cave, Israel. In A.S. Issar and N. Brown eds. Water, Environment and Society in Times of Climate Change. Dordrecht–Boston–London. Pp. 203–214. Barzilay E. 2004. The Geological and Geomorphologial Setting of the Early Bronze Age Site at Ashqelon, Afridar. ‘Atiqot 45:331–335. Bender M.M. 1968. Mass Spectrometric Studies of Carbon 13 Variations in Corn and Other Grasses. Radiocarbon 10 (2):468–472. Cai D.-L., Tan F.C. and Edmond J.M. 1988. Sources and Transport of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Amazon River and Estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 26:1–14. Cohen-Seffer R., Greenbaum N., Sivan D., Jull T., Barmeir E., Croitoru S. and Inbar M. 2005. Late Pleistocene–Holocene Marsh Episodes along the Carmel Coast, Israel. Quaternary International 140–141:103–120. Connin S.L., Virginia R.A. and Chamberlain C.P. 1997. Carbon Isotopes Reveal Soil Organic Matter Dynamics following Arid Land Shrub Expansion. Oecologia 110:374–386. Coplen T.B. 1994. Reporting of Stable Hydrogen, Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Abundances (Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry 66:273–276. Dan J., Fine P. and Lavee H. 2007. The Soils of the Land of Israel. Tel Aviv (Hebrew). Danin A., Bar-Or Y., Dor I. and Yisraeli T. 1989. The Role of Cyanobacteria in Stabilization of Sand Dunes in Southern Israel. Ecologia Mediterranea 15:55–64.

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Deines P. 1980. The Isotopic Composition of Reduced Organic Carbon. In P. Fritz and J.C. Fontes eds. Handbook of Environmental Isotope Geochemistry 1: The Terrestrial Environment. Amsterdam. Pp. 329–406. Dzurec R.S., Boutton T.W., Caldwell M.M. and Smith B.N. 1985. Carbon Isotope Ratios of Soil Organic Matter and Their Use in Assessing Community Composition Changes in Curlew Valley, Utah. Oecologia 66:17–24. Ehleringer J.R. 1988. Carbon Isotope Ratios and Physiological Processes in Arid Land Plants. In P.W. Rundel, J.R. Ehleringer and K.A. Nagy eds. Stable Isotopes in Ecological Research (Ecological Studies 68). New York–London. Pp. 41–54. Ehleringer J.R. and Cooper T.A. 1986. Correlation between Carbon Isotope Ratio and Microhabitat in Desert Plants. Oecologia 76:562–566. Ehleringer J.R., Sage R.F., Flanagan L.B. and Pearcy R.W. 1991. Climate Change and the Evolution of C4 Photosynthesis. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 6:95–99. Farquhar G.D., Ehleringer J.R. and Hubick K.T. 1989. Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 40:503–537. Farquhar G.D., O’Leary M.H. and Berry J.A. 1982. On the Relationship between Carbon Isotope Discrimination and the Intercellular Carbon Dioxide Concentration in Leaves. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 9:121–137. Faust A. and Ashkenazy Y. 2007. Excess in Precipitation as a Cause for Settlement Decline along the Israeli Coastal Plain during the Third Millennium BC. QR 68:37–44. Faust A. and Ashkenazy Y. 2009. Settlement Fluctuations and Environmental Changes in Israel’s Coastal Plain during the Early Bronze Age. Levant 41:19–39. Feng X., Peterson J.C., Quideau S.A., Virginia R.A., Graham R.C., Sonder L.J. and Chadwick O.A. 1999. Distribution, Accumulation and Fluxes of Soil Carbon in Four Monoculture Lysimeters at San Dimas Experimental Forest, California. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 63:1319–1333. Frumkin A., Magaritz M., Carmi I. and Zak I. 1991. The Holocene Climatic Record of the Salt Caves of Mount Sedom, Israel. The Holocene 1:191–200. Goldberg P. and Macphail R. 2006. Practical and Theoretical Geoarchaeology. Oxford. Gvirtzman G., Netser M. and Katsav E. 1998. Last-Glacial to Holocene Kurkar Ridges, Hamra Soils, and Dune Fields in the Coastal Belt of Central Israel. IJES 47:29–46. Gvirtzman G. and Wieder M. 2001. Climate of the Last 53,000 Years in the Eastern Mediterranean, Based on Soil-Sequence Stratigraphy in the Coastal Plain of Israel. Quaternary Science Reviews 20:1827–1849. Heaton T.H.E. 1999. Spatial, Species, and Temporal Variations in the 13C/12C Ratios of C3 Plants: Implications for Palaeodiet Studies. JAS 26:637–649. Horowitz A. 2006. Palynology at ‘En Esur: The Advance of Marshes as a Possible Cause for Settlement Desertion. In E. Yannai. ‘En Esur (‘Ein Asawir) I: Excavations at a Protohistoric Site in the Coastal Plain of Israel (IAA Reports 31). Jerusalem. Pp. 267–268. Huckleberry G. 2001. Archaeological Sediments in Dryland Alluvial Environments. In J.K. Stein and W.R. Farrand eds. Sediments in Archaeological Context. Salt Lake City. Pp. 67–92.

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Kelly E.F., Amundson R.G., Marino B.D. and De Niro M.J. 1991a. Stable Carbon Isotope Composition of Carbonate in Holocene Grassland Soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal 55:1651–1658. Kelly E.F., Amundson R.G., Marino B.D. and De Niro M.J. 1991b. Stable Isotope Ratios of Carbon in Phytoliths as a Quantitative Method of Monitoring Vegetation and Climate Change. QR 35:222–233. Kelly E.F., Yonker C.M. and Marino B.D. 1993. Stable Carbon Isotope Composition of Paleosols: An Application to Holocene. In P.K. Swart, K.C. Lohmann, J. McKenzie and S. Savin eds. Climate Change in Continental Isotopic Records (American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph 78). Washington, D.C. Pp. 233–239. Klute A. ed. 1986. Methods of Soil Analysis (American Society of Agronomy Monograph 9, Part 1) (2nd ed.). Madison, Wisc. Koucky F.L. 2008. Physical Environment. In Ashkelon 1. Pp. 11–15. Migowski C., Stein M., Prasad S., Negendank J.F.W. and Agnon A. 2006. Holocene Climate Variability and Cultural Evolution in the Near East from the Dead Sea Sedimentary Record. QR 66:421–431. Natelhoffer K.J. and Fry B. 1988. Controls on Natural Nitrogen-15 and Carbon-13 Abundances in Forest Soil Organic Matter. Soil Science Society of America Journal 52:1633–1640. Nir Y. 2008. The Wells of Ashkelon. Ashkelon 1. Pp. 105–106. O’Leary M.H. 1995. Environmental Effects on Carbon Isotope Fractionation in Terrestrial Plants. In E. Wada, T. Yoneyama, M. Minigawa, T. Ando and B.D. Fry eds. Stable Isotopes in the Biosphere. Kyoto. Pp. 78–91. Porat N., Wintle A.G. and Ritte M. 2004. Mode and Timing of Kurkar and Hamra Formation, Central Coastal Plain, Israel. IJES 53:13–25. Ravikovitch S. 1950. The Brown Red Sandy Soils of the Sharon and the Shefela. K’tavim 1:1–39 (Hebrew). Reed S., Bailey N. and Onokpise O. 2000. Soil Science for Archaeologists. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Southeast Archaeological Center, National Park Service, Washington. https://www.scribd.com/doc/3811962/Soil-Science-for-Archaeologists (accessed March 8, 2016). Ritter-Kaplan H. 1984. The Impact of Drought on Third Millennium B.C. Cultures on the Basis of Excavations in the Tel Aviv Exhibition Grounds. ZDPV 100:2–8. Singer A. 2007. The Soils of Israel. Berlin. Smith B.N. and Epstein S. 1971. Two Categories of 13C/12C Ratios for Plants. Plant Physiology 47:380–384. Stout J.D., Rafter T.A. and Troughton J.H. 1975. The Possible Significance of Isotopic Ratios in Palaeoecology. In R.P. Suggate, and M.M. Cresswell eds. Quaternary Studies (Selected Papers from IX INQUA Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2–10 December 1973) (Royal Society of New Zealand Bulletin 13). Wellington. Pp. 279–286. Tieszen L.L. 1991. Natural Variations in the Carbon Isotope Values of Plants: Implications for Archaeology, Ecology and Paleoecology. JAS 18:227–248.

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Tissue D.T., Griffin K.L., Thomas R.B. and Strain B.R. 1995. Effects of Low and Elevated CO2 on C3 and C4 Annuals. II. Photosynthesis and Leaf Biochemistry. Oecologia 101:21–28. Tsoar H. 2000. Geomorphology and Paleogeography of Sand Dunes that Have Formed the Kurkar Ridges in the Coastal Plain of Israel. IJES 49:189–196. Vogel J.C. 1980. Fractionation of the Carbon Isotopes during Photosynthesis (Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, Jahrgang 3). Berlin. Pp. 111–135. Yannai E. 2002. The Northern Sharon in the Chalcolithic Period and the Beginning of the Early Bronze Age in Light of Excavations Results at ‘Ein Assawir. In E.C.M. van den Brink and E. Yannai eds. In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes: Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna. Tel Aviv. Pp. 65–85. Zilberman E., Ilani S., Netser-Cohen H. and Calvo R. 2006. Geomorphologic-Lithologic Mapping along the Israel Coastline (Geological Survey of Israel Report GSI/22/2006). Jerusalem (Hebrew).

A. Golani, 2019, Ashqelon Barne a The Early Bronze Age Site I (IAA Reports 65)

Chapter 3

The Stratigraphy Amir Golani

I ntroduction In this chapter, a detailed stratigraphy of each area is presented, beginning with the contiguous areas in the north–south section that cuts through the site: Areas A, H, I, M, B and K, followed by Areas D and G to the southeast, then Areas L and J, and finally Areas E and F that lie outside the habitation site (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3). The distance between Areas E and F and the other excavation areas, and the near absence of diagnostic finds, made their stratigraphic association tenuous, although they are probably to be associated with the Early Bronze Age occupation at the site (see below). The remains in Area C, dated to the Byzantine period, are presented in Appendix 2. Within each area, the stratified remains are described from earliest to latest. Due to the size of the excavation and the necessity to present the most precise stratigraphy, this method was chosen over presentation of each stratum separately throughout the entire site. The first plan of each area is a composite of all the strata and phases within that area, including the sections, followed by separate plans for each stratum. Aside from the Byzantine remains in Stratum I, the bulk of the occupation falls within one general archaeological period—Early Bronze Age I (Strata V–II). As the ceramics exhibited no clear differences within the stratigraphic sequence, the strata in the various excavation areas were equated by means other than ceramic data, such as meticulous examination of the stratigraphic sections, the association of layers, surfaces and habitation levels, and the type of building materials, construction methods and architectural styles (see Chapter 4). While intra-site variation is to be expected as different types of activities were contemporaneous within the same site, characteristic features of each stratum could be perceived over most of the excavated areas. In general, five occupation strata were identified, although not all of them were necessarily discerned in each area (Table 3.1). Stratum V Dated to the late EB IA or EB IA–IB transition, this level was exposed in a limited number of deep probes below architectural features of Stratum IV in Areas B and D. No architecture was associated with this stratum. It was characterized by a small amount of ceramics and thin, poorly preserved layers that may possibly represent habitation surfaces, generally devoid of organic buildup, lying directly on and within the upper portion of the sterile basal

38

AMIR GOLANI

sand dune. These remains may represent an ephemeral campsite horizon or, more likely, a pre-construction leveling phase for the Stratum IV occupation; thus, the designation ‘Stratum V’ here is technical and used with caution. Stratum IV Also dated to late EB IA or EB IA–IB transition, this stratum comprised the first clear and permanent occupation at the site (c. 23.5 dunams; see Chapter 4: Fig. 4.1). Elements of this stratum were defined in Areas A, B, D, G, H, I, L and M. Stratum IV was distinguished by walled compounds and large, curvilinear buildings, separated by wide open spaces. Several mudbrick silos, subterranean storage facilities sunken deeply into the sands, were identified.1 The architecture of Stratum IV is characterized by the use of brown to orangebrown mudbricks with few inclusions. In Areas D and M, two localized building phases (IVB, IVA) were identified. Stratum III Dated to early–mid-EB IB, this stratum was identified in Areas A, B, D, E(?), G, H, I, J, K, L and M and represents the largest and most densely built settlement at the site (54 dunams: see Chapter 4: Fig. 4.2), consisting of walled compounds and buildings whose construction resembles that of Stratum IV. Some of the compounds included domestic structures, often alongside mudbrick storage facilities, while others appear to represent industrial compounds reserved primarily for metallurgical activities. The compounds were separated from one another by narrow alleys or open spaces. In most cases, the Stratum III structures completely replaced those of Stratum IV, although occasionally the earlier remains were reused. In contrast to Stratum IV, the Stratum III settlement was closely built up and numerous instances of architectural modifications were identified (Phases IIIB, IIIA). As Phase IIIA appears to have been a natural outgrowth and extension of Phase IIIB, both are attributed to the same stratum. The building materials of Stratum III differed from those of Stratum IV and included distinctive light brown-gray or cream-gray mudbricks made from the local sandy soil, with numerous calcite concretions. The storage facilities of Stratum III were mostly granaries, in contrast to the silos of Stratum IV. Stratum II Dated to the end of EB IB, this stratum represents a complete break in the settlement sequence. The Stratum III site was abandoned and resettled in Stratum II on a much smaller scale (c. 20 dunams; see Chapter 4: Fig. 4.3). Remains of Stratum II were identified in Areas A, D, H, I, J, K and L. This stratum produced poor architectural remains, usually found within a compacted, dark gray matrix characterized by the inclusion of numerous kurkar chips. Although infant and child burials were found within inhabited areas in Strata IV and III, a recurring feature of Stratum II was the presence of such burials within abandoned areas of the site (e.g., Areas B, J), often within walls of the Stratum III structures.

1

Above-ground facilities, even when partly subterranean, are labeled granaries.

39

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Stratum I This stratum consisted of sporadic remains, including pits and a well, from the Byzantine period that were found throughout the area of the abandoned Early Bronze Age site (Areas D, G, H), while limited architectural remains were identified atop the kurkar ridge facing the seashore in Area C (see Appendix 2). Numerous intrusions of large, artificial and natural ‘sand pockets’ containing limited quantities of Byzantine finds were also found throughout the excavated area, which often removed large segments of the EB I architecture and frequently even penetrated into the basal dune. These pockets could have been the remains of Byzantine pits or natural hollows, such as animal burrows, cutting into the Early Bronze Age strata, that were subsequently filled with sand including Byzantine remains. Table 3.1. General Stratigraphic Correlation, Areas A–M Stratum

Period

Area A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

I

Byzantine

-

-

+

+

?

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

II

EB IB

+

+*

-

+

?

?

-

+

+

+

+

+

-

III

EB IB

+

+

-

+

?

?

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

IV

EB IA–IB

+

+

-

+

?

?

+

+

+

?

+?

+

+

V

EB IA–IB

-

+

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

*Only burials

Area A (Plans 3.1, 3.2) Area A, at the northern end of the main north–south section that traverses the site, is situated on a moderate slope that descends toward the east, and as a result, the western squares are about 0.8 m higher than the eastern ones. The area was subdivided into two parts, north (Sqs E32–35) and south (Sqs B–E/27–31). The remains in the south were better preserved than those in the north, as modern leveling operations had not shaved away the archaeological strata to the same extent.2 Three archaeological strata (IV–II) were identified; Stratum III contains the majority of the extant architectural remains in this area. Stratum IV (Plan 3.1) Evidence of the earliest occupation, identified only in the southern portion of Area A, consisted of two silos built of orange-brown mudbricks dug into the top of the basal dune. These facilities were overlaid by Stratum III elements (Fig. 3.1).

During excavation, the work in southern Area A originally included seven more squares that are ascribed here to northern Area H (Sqs B–E26, B–D25). During the processing of data after the excavation, these squares were transferred to northern Area H as they were situated to the south and outside of the large building that comprised most of southern Area A. The remains in these squares are described in northern Area H, although the loci and wall designations used in their excavation are listed under those of Area A as they were a part of the consecutive locus and wall registers used in the recording of that field. 2

C

B

E

D

F

35

35

34

34 W5

Northern Area A

Structure A1 W1

33

33

32

32

31

31 W318

Southern Area A

Building A2

L3083 28.04

30

W316

W304

30

27.92

Burial

7

30

W

W301

28.01 27.98

W30

9

29

W305

W317

29

W303 27.89 L3022 27.76

27.60 27.10

W310

28.00 27.92 27.74 27.48 27.36

W7

W

5

W8 W7

W

2

11

27.57

1

2

27.38

27.56 27.55

27.74 27.67

27.82 27.77 27.65 27.60

W306

2

27

27.70 27.56

W6

W302

C

D

Stratum II

L3040 27.64

B

28

W310

L156

27.50

L3036

27.53

L3107

27.39

W310

W

27.40

L3101

27.48 27.14 27.42

27.57 25.80

L3095 27.19

31

28

1

27.02

27.64 27.60

Stratum III 5 m

0

E

Plan 3.1. Area A, composite plan, Strata IV–II and Sections 1-1, 2-2.

27

Stratum IV

F

41

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY 29 00

B27 W7

C27 W2

L116 L132

28 00

L115

L122

L133

W2

L110 L139 W11 L146

W11 L148 Basal dune

27 00

L156

L155

Fill 26 00

1-1

29 00

C27 W2

28 00

L154

L133

L122

L128

L152A

W11

L115

W2 W7

L141

W11 L151

L152B

L148

Fill

27 00

L150 Basal dune

Mud bricks 26 00

B27

Blocked entrance

Stones

2-2

Plan 3.1 (cont.). Area A, composite plan, Strata IV–II and Sections 1-1, 2-2.

W2

W11

Fig. 3.1. Stratum IV Silo 156 underlying Stratum III Granary 141, looking southwest.

L100 L107 L116 L132

42

AMIR GOLANI

Silo 156 The silo was circular (outer diam. 3 m, inner diam. 2.1 m), bounded by W11. It was constructed as a pit dug 1.77 m deep into the loose orange-yellow sand of the dune, after which a sloping mudbrick wall was built within, laid in two rows, often with mudbrick stretchers in between (see Plan 3.1: Section 1-1). A dark fill (L155) was then inserted into the space between the mudbrick wall and the sides of the pit, while the inner face of the wall was coated with a light gray plaster preserved only in the lower portion (Fig. 3.2). The silo, partially exposed, contained a fill of uniform, medium-brown debris (L156). Silo 3095 This silo, c. 5 m northeast of Silo 156, was also constructed as a pit, 0.58 m deep, dug into the sand dune, after which a mudbrick wall (W315) was constructed within the pit. The silo, apparently oval, was partially preserved (reconstructed with outer dimensions of 3.6 × 4.3 m, inner dimensions of 2.5 × 3.2 m; Fig. 3.3). In its northern portion, most of

2

W

W1 1

Fig. 3.2. Stratum IV Silo 156 with light gray plaster visible near the bottom.

W315

Fig. 3.3. Stratum IV Silo 3095, looking north.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

43

W315 was badly damaged by an intrusion filled with modern sand that had descended to the basal dune. However, cleaning of the section adjacent to the intrusion revealed that this wall descended at least six courses. In the silo, traces of a beaten-earth floor (L3095) with some paving stones appears to have sloped down toward the center, where another concentration of paving stones was exposed. To the south of the silo, a beaten-earth surface (L3036) that incorporated some small stones lay adjacent to the top of W315. East of the silo, another beaten-earth surface (L3101) may also be attributed to this occupation.

Stratum III (Plan 3.2) Northern Area A In the northern part of Area A, stone-built walls were visible on the modern surface prior to excavation. Excavation in and around these remains uncovered poorly preserved walls founded directly on the light yellow sand of the basal dune. These walls had been severely damaged by later artificial and natural sand pockets (Fig. 3.4). Structure A1 Fragmentary stone foundations (W1, W5) of a structure with at least one outer rounded corner were exposed. Only one course of these two walls was preserved, built of small to medium-sized kurkar stones arranged in two rows with smaller chinking stones in between. No associated floors were identified, yet a small amount of EB I pottery was found in the immediate vicinity. Due to their method of construction, these remains are probably to be associated with Stratum III.

Fig. 3.4. Northern Area A at the end of the excavations, looking west. Note the wall remains, disturbed by extensive later intrusions.

C

B

E

D

F

35

35

34

34 W5 28.22 28.01

28.11 27.90

28.17 28.00

Northern Area A

Structure A1 W1

33

33

28.07 27.86

27.98 27.88

32

32

31

31

27.90 27.96

Southern Area A

28.01

W318

L3045

Building A2

W304

30

L3035

28.09 27.90

27.95 27.90

28.02

28.06 27.89

L3014 28.18

27.98

W301

27.83 27.72

L3029

27.62 27.74 27.69

27.68

W8

28.31 27.81

27.95 28.02 27.91

W7

28.03 28 04

B

27.48

W6 27.90 27.97

C

27.79

L3018 W302 27.77

D

L3078

27.69

27.95 27.91

28

27.64

27.50 27.30

L3027

27.85 27.79

27.83

27.88 27.84

27.55 27.45

27.82 27.67

W310

L128 L154

W6 L130 28.25 L157 28.24 28.04

28.30 28.01

1 2

28.04

27.41 27.29

L3016

27.94

L116 L132

28.17 28.02

27.93 27.88

28.17 27.63

27.60

2

L3068

27.56

L139

W306

W

L141 L148

27.68 27.39

L3081

27.69

2

28.15 27.94

27.71 27.32

L3015 L3026

29

W310

W7

28.11 28.00

W2

28.32 27.85

1

27

28.06

27.57

27.72 27.59

W310

28.21 28.01

27.95 27.90

L139

28.04

28.09 28.02

28

28.08

L108 L117

L3041

27.64 27.61

L3043

27.90

28.12 28.04

W305

L3062

27.80

27.69 27.60

7

L3010

W317

W317

28.16 28.13

27.95 27.85

27.79

27.74 27.60

30

29

L3085

28.16 28.13

28.28 28.17

27.65 27.63

W

27.94 27.75

28.22 28.12

28.20 28.09

30

27.66

W316

27.95

L3057 L3089 27.51

Plan 3.2. Area A, Stratum III.

27

L3063 L3070

W302

27.65

27.56 27.39

27.72 27.53

E

27.48

5 m

0 F

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

45

Southern Area A The southern part of Area A in Stratum III was intensively utilized for dwelling in contrast to Stratum IV, when it was used only for storage. Prior to excavation, the outlines of several mudbrick walls were apparent on the surface, and thus work began with exposure of these elements and their immediate surroundings. Due to extensive disturbances, no physical connection was established between the northern and southern parts of Area A. The Compound The Stratum III remains consisted of a walled courtyard featuring a circular mudbrick structure apparently used for storage and a few partition walls, along with an adjoining domestic building (A2). These elements comprised a compound probably to be associated with a family whose domicile was next to a walled courtyard within which they stored and processed their foodstuffs. The compound opened to the south onto a wide, open space with another two compounds (Area H). The Courtyard. The largest element of the Stratum III compound was a walled courtyard (c. 165 sq m). The southern and eastern walls of the courtyard were relatively well preserved, while the western wall and large portions of the northern wall were missing. The walls were mostly built of mudbrick preserved up to one–three courses. The mudbrick walls were occasionally sided by small stones on both sides of the wall to provide more stability. Different techniques were used in various parts of the walls, and significant variations were observed in the width of each wall. These variables suggest different building stages or perhaps different builders, yet all four walls appear to have been part of one homogenous complex. The southern wall (W6–W302) included two entranceways and was relatively well preserved (Fig. 3.5). This wall appears to adjoin the western wall of the courtyard, W7, near one of the entrances. This latter wall was poorly preserved; nearly all its mudbrick superstructure was missing and the only remnants of the wall were a few intermittent stone lines with traces of a few mudbricks noted between the stones. The northern wall, W317, was built of three parallel rows of mudbrick and was traced for 2.5 m. Its western continuation, along with substantial portions of the architecture and associated surfaces, was completely missing. On the east, this wall abutted W301, the southern wall of the domestic building. Farther east, W301 appears to have adjoined W310, the eastern wall of the courtyard, in a rounded corner. Wall 310 joined W302 to the south in a rounded corner (Fig. 3.6). The main entranceway to the courtyard, in the center of the southern wall (W6– W302), opened onto an open space. Just inside this entrance was an area of about 18 sq m that was paved with long, narrow mudbricks (L128/154, L3016; see Plans 3.1: Section 2-2; 3.2). This pavement functioned as a small piazza, stretching from Granary 141 in the west (see below) to approximately 3 m north of the entrance. On the east it was delineated by W306, an inner partition wall perpendicular to W302, built of gray-brown mudbricks and preserved to one course high. A large concentration of crushed ceramics lay on the pavement (Fig. 3.7). West of W306 was a beaten-earth surface (L3027) that connected

46

AMIR GOLANI

W2 W11

W6

W302

W

30

2

Fig. 3.5. The southern part of the courtyard, looking north.

W310

Fig. 3.6. The eastern part of the courtyard, looking west.

W302

Fig. 3.7. Crushed ceramics on Pavement 128/154, looking east.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

47

to the pavement, which was identified in several places in the courtyard (L139, L3014, L3015/3026, L3029, L3043, L3057, L3081). Another entrance, at the western end of W6, led into a corridor flanked by W7 to the west and by Granary 141 and an inner mudbrick partition wall (W8) to the east. Within this corridor was a beaten-earth surface (L116/132, L108/117). Outside the walls of the courtyard were several associated beaten-earth surfaces (L130/157, L3018, L3062, L3063/3070, L3068, L3085). On the surface to the south of the compound (L130/157) lay a complete, overturned basalt bowl (Fig. 3.8). The surface north of the courtyard and adjacent to W317 (L3085) is the continuation of the surface adjacent to Building A2 (L3035). East of the compound were two badly damaged mudbrick walls (W305, W307) of unclear plan. East of W305, a small segment of a beaten-earth surface (L3041) was discerned.

Fig. 3.8. Overturned basalt bowl on Surface 130/157, looking northwest.

Granary 141. In the southwestern corner of the courtyard was a large circular structure. It was built over Stratum IV Silo 156, from which it was slightly offset and somewhat larger (outer diam. 4.4 m, inner diam. 2.8 m, depth 0.72 m), and appears to have replaced it (see Fig. 3.1). Its wall (W2) was preserved up to seven courses, partially set into the ground below the floor level. The mudbricks were of various shapes and sizes, usually arranged in two rows. The structure’s floor (L141/148) was constructed of mudbrick fragments and flat kurkar stones, the latter also partially lining the sides of the structure (Fig. 3.9). Two construction phases were discerned in the granary. In the earlier phase, the structure was erected and its mudbrick floor installed, sealing the Stratum IV remains below (Plan 3.1: Sections 1-1, 2-2). A 0.75 m gap in the mudbrick wall on the southern side appears to indicate an entrance into the granary (Plan 3.1: Section 2-2). In the later phase, this entranceway was blocked with small to medium-sized kurkar stones, and W6 appears to have been added, abutting the blocked entrance; thus, in the earlier phase, access to the courtyard was through a wider entrance.

48

AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.9. Stratum III Granary 141, looking west. Note the floor of mudbrick fragments that covered the entire area of the granary.

Building A2. This building adjoined the courtyard on the north, its southern wall (W301) comprising part of the courtyardʼs northern perimeter. The general form of the building was rectangular with rounded outer corners. The mudbrick walls were founded directly on the basal dune and preserved to only one course (Fig. 3.10). The western wall (W304) formed

W301

W304

L3083

W318

Fig. 3.10. Building A2, looking south. Burial 3083 (Stratum II) to the right of the building.

49

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

a rounded corner with W318 to its north. The eastern extension of W318 was completely missing, yet probably met W316, the eastern wall, in a rounded corner. The southern wall of this structure (W301) differed from the other walls in that it was narrower, built of two rows of small to medium-sized stones. The extant remains of Building A2 indicate that it had an inner floor space of 28 sq m. No clear evidence of an entrance was identified, although it may be assumed that it was located in the buildingʼs southern wall, providing direct access to the courtyard. Inside the building was a segment of a beaten-earth floor (L3010). Stratum II (Plan 3.1) Remains of this stratum in southern Area A were few and disjointed, yet all appear to indicate a total discontinuity from Stratum III. A fragment of a stone-built structure was exposed, consisting of two walls (W303, W309) preserved up to two courses and constructed of two rows of small to medium-sized kurkar stones chinked with smaller stones, which join in a rounded corner. Wall 303 was parallel and adjacent to Stratum III W301; however, although these walls appear to relate to one another, there is little architectural logic in the placement of a large structure within the Stratum III courtyard. To the southeast of W303 and W309, and associated with them, was a rough pavement (L3022) of medium-sized stones that sloped down toward the south (Fig. 3.11). Additional Stratum II elements were uncovered in the southeastern corner of Area A (Sq E27). After Stratum III W310 and W302 had gone out of use, a new beaten-earth surface (L3040), a circular stone installation and several other stone concentrations were laid on top of these walls. In the adjoining square to the north, several stones, one of them perforated and possibly to be interpreted as an anchor (Fig. 3.12), were found adjacent to the top of W310 and may indicate the continuation of Surface 3040 to the north. West of Stratum III W304, an infant burial (L3083) was found above the Stratum III surface (L3035; Fig. 3.13) and was apparently interred from the Stratum II level, cutting down into the earlier surface.

W303

W301

L3022

Fig. 3.11. Remains of Stratum II stone structure next to Stratum III W301, looking west.

50

AMIR GOLANI

10 W3

Fig. 3.12. Stratum II stone remains in Sq E28, looking north. At upper left, an anchor(?).

Fig. 3.13. Burial 3083.

Area H (Plans 3.3–3.6) Area H comprised one of the largest excavated areas and included 38 excavation squares (Fig. 3.14).3 The area was divided into northern (Sqs 21–26) and southern (Sqs 15–20) parts. The northern portion of Area H is adjacent to southern Area A, the two being separated by a balk. In Stratum III, the stratigraphic linkage between these two areas is firmly established

Fig. 3.14. General view of Area H, looking north. At upper left, Area I.

See n. 2 above.

3

51

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

by the presence of several beaten-earth surfaces that continued from one area to the next, for example, Surfaces 130/157, 3018 and 3063/3070 in Area A (Sqs B–E27), observed in the northern extremity of Area H (Sqs B–C26, E26; see below). Although no beaten-earth surfaces connected Areas A and H in Stratum II, the remains in southern Area A were found within a dark brown matrix that overlay the Stratum III remains, and the same sequence was observed in northern Area H. Within Area H, three main strata (IV–II; Plan 3.3) and a few pits of Stratum I were identified. Stratum IV (Plan 3.4) The earliest occupation included a few surfaces and limited architectural remains founded on the basal dune. These were exposed only when the more prominent features of Stratum III were removed or in probes below the Stratum III layer; thus, only a very limited understanding of Stratum IV was achieved. In northern Area H, Stratum IV included part of a building (H1) and several surfaces. Stratum IV remains were generally lacking in central and southern Area H, probably due to the limited exposure. Even so, the Stratum IV occupation in Area H appears to have been sparse, characterized by a few architectural elements separated by broad open spaces. Northern Area H Building H1 The exposed remains appear to indicate part of an elliptical or horseshoe-shaped structure (W323, W401) oriented on an east–west axis, to which a wall was attached (W421; Fig. 3.15). Both walls were made of light brown mudbricks preserved up to one course high,

L3123

W4

01

W421

3

32

W

Fig. 3.15. Building H1, looking west. Note Stratum II Pit 3123 cutting W323.

52

AMIR GOLANI

C

3

D

E

F

3

1

B

2

A

26

26

4

1

4

2

25

25

Northern Area H

24 1

24

5

Building H1

23

22

22

W

1

23

21

21

Plan 3.3. Area H (north), composite plan, Strata IV–I and Sections 1-1–6-6.

53

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

20

20

42

19

1

19

6

W

18

18

6

Southern Area H 2

W4 1

17

1

W

W

17

16

16 Stratum I Stratum II Stratum III Stratum III, Phase A Stratum III, Phase B

15

Stratum IV 5 m

B

C

5

A

1

0 D

E

Plan 3.3 (cont.). Area H (south), composite plan, Strata IV–I and Sections 1-1–6-6.

F

15

27 00

28 00

29 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

b

b

a

a

L3091

L3048

L4044

L4135

D21

2-2

Sand

B26

L4081

L4153

L3091

Basal dune

W422

L3112

L4153

D15

D17

L4184

L4162

W402

W412

L4134

27 00

28 00

29 00

L125

Basal dune

L4140 L4171 L4179

1-1'

L153

L143

3-3

Basal dune

L3059

C26

W10

W408

1'-1''

L4060

L4055 L4 3

D23

Basal dune

27 00

28 00

29 00

L3093

L3073

L4046A L4046B

L4087

L4089A

L4066

D19

L4089B

L4028

a

a

1''-1'''

W409

L4192

L4188

L140

L4147

L4144

W414

D16

W311

4 62

D22

L4088

D18

L4168

L4137

4-4

C26

D24 L4033

Basal dune

L3079

Basal dune

L4045

Basal dune

L4072

D20

sand

L4053

L3098

Basal dune

b

b

L3056 L3110

D25

54

26 00

27 00

27 50

26 00

27 00

28 00

29 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

29 00

a

a

W408

L4098

15 L401 Basal dune 6

L4016 23

L4071B

C19

L4002

C24

6-6

L4138

D18

L4021

L4071A

L4030

L4084

L4025

L4017

Basal dune 45

W403 5

4038 Ba al dune

L4022

05'-5''

L4141

5-5' 40

L4008

C22 asa

C17 L4094

L4104 L4036 4L4107 4

L4023 4

L4182

4142 L145

L4105

L4048

L149

L4189

Smelting C installation

L4038

Plan 3.3 (cont.). Area H, composite plan, Strata IV–I (north) and Sections 1-1–6-6.

L4144

L4134

W403

C18

L4008 Basal dune

L4015

3

C23

W410

C16 L4166

L4062 L4067

5-5(4)

L4182

L4164

Basal dune

L4041

L4189

L4052

L4051

C21

L4186

C20

L4142 L4177

C15

a

a

55

B

C

2

A

D

3

3 L3114

26

27.63

27.73 27.66

27.27

27.55

4 1

4

26

L3096 L3100

L3076 L3087

27.57 27.63

27.55

Northern Area H

L3099

L3093 27.74

L3098

F

27.51 27.35

27.62 27.54

27.75

E

2

25

Building H1

W

3

L3121 L4014 L4049

27.98

L4018 27.84

27.80

W401

W421

24

28.04 27.78

27.73

L4019

L3103

27.28

27.22

5

27.80

L3110

27.56

32

Smelting installation

25

L3108 L3115

L3122

Smelting installation 27.86 27.81

27.13

24

L4046B 26.99

27.82

27.89 27.84

L4089B

19

19

6

18

L4147

18

26.26

L4179

Southern Area H

6

25.96

L4141

17

17 L4156 L4160 26.60

L4192 26.39

L4182 L4189

16

16

26.35

15

15

Stratum IV 5 m

B

C

5

A

1

0 D

Plan 3.4. Area H, Stratum IV.

E

F

57

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

and founded directly on the basal dune with no stone foundations. Wall 401 appears to mirror W323, yet no actual connection between the two was found. The western end of W323 was cut by a Stratum II pit (L3123), and no continuation of W401 was revealed in the square to the west (Sq J4, Area I). Within the apse was a beaten-earth floor (L3121, L4014/4049) with remains of a smelting installation embedded in it. North of W323 was a thin layer of debris (L3122) that may be associated with this building, yet no actual surface was encountered. South of W401 was a beaten-earth surface (L4019) that incorporated another smelting installation. In this area, W421, also built of light brown mudbricks and preserved up to one course, abutted W401. West of W421 was a beaten-earth surface (L4018) associated with its base. Other Stratum IV Remains To the northeast of Building H1, various beaten-earth surfaces were revealed in limited probes (Sqs B–D26, C25, D24), all founded on the basal dune below elements of Stratum III, and may be associated with Stratum IV (L3076/3087, L3093, L3096/3100, L3098, L3103, L3108/3115, L3110, L3114, L4046B; Plans 3.3: Sections 1-1, 2-2, 4-4; 3.4). These surfaces slope down slightly from northwest to southeast and apparently reflect the local topography of the basal dune. In Sq C26, several paving stones and remnants of ash, charcoal and burnt clay were found on one of these surfaces (L3093, L3098). Southern Area H

W4 08

In southern Area H, limited exposures (Sqs C16–17, D16–18) below Stratum III levels also revealed beaten-earth surfaces that were founded on the basal dune and may be associated with Stratum IV (L4141, L4147, L4156/4160, L4179, L4182/4189, L4192; Plans 3.3: Sections 1-1, 5-5; 3.4; Figs. 3.16, 3.17). No clear architectural remains related to any of these surfaces.

L4144

L4134

L4147 W412

Fig. 3.16. Stratum IV Surface 4147, and above it Phase IIIB Surface 4144, looking east.

58

AMIR GOLANI

W4 09

W414

L4192

Fig. 3.17. Square D16 at the end of excavation, looking west. Stratum III W414 atop Stratum IV Surface 4192.

Stratum III (Plan 3.5) Most of the remains in Area H are associated with Stratum III, which were identified on or just below the top of the basal dune, suggesting that the intensity of Stratum III building activities may have led to the removal of Stratum IV features. In Stratum III, northern Area H (Sqs A–E/19–26) comprised a large open space characterized by a few habitation surfaces, yet little or no architecture. In contrast, the southern part of Area H (Sqs B–E/15– 18) featured numerous building remains, comprising two compounds that were partially exposed, in which two phases were identified. Northern Area H In the northernmost squares of Area H (Sqs B–E/25–26), only one phase of Stratum III was revealed, lying directly atop Stratum IV, and it comprises a continuation of Stratum III in southern Area A (see above). A portion of a mudbrick wall (W311), preserved up to two courses, was associated with a beaten-earth surface that included several medium-sized paving stones (L3059, L3073/3079; Plans 3.3: Section 3-3; 3.5). The surface sloped down to the southeast and was also found to the west as L3091/3112 (Plan 3.3: Section 2-2). It is 0.19–0.29 m lower than a similar surface in Area I (L2079, L2063/2106; see Plan 3.7), 1 m to the west, and may provide a stratigraphic link between the Stratum III remains in northern Area H and Area I (see below). Farther east in northern Area H, the Stratum III remains consisted of a mudbrick wall preserved to one course (W313) with associated beaten-earth surfaces (L3065, L3071). To the southwest, a mudbrick wall oriented on a north–south axis (W320) was traced for nearly 3 m. In the south, the wall was cut by a Stratum II pit, revealing that it was preserved up to three courses and apparently turned westward to form a corner (Fig. 3.18). The continuation of this wall to the west and north was not revealed. To the east was a beaten-earth surface (L3092).

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

59

W320

Fig. 3.18. Stratum II pit cutting Stratum III W320, looking north.

Phase IIIB Granary 143 Part of a round granary was attributed to Phase IIIB. Only its eastern wall (W10), built of two rows of mudbricks and preserved to five courses, was exposed (Fig. 3.19). It appears to have been a freestanding structure (reconstructed outer diam. 5 m, inner diam. 4 m), founded on the basal dune. Within the granary, at the base of W10, was a beaten-earth floor (L143/153). The southern end of W10 was squared off 0.9 m from the balk, possibly indicating an entrance into this granary. The western part of the structure was not uncovered and may have been located underneath the Phase IIIA surface (L4036; see below). A small probe (L4104) in the northeastern corner of Sq C22 revealed no continuation of this wall (Plan 3.3: Section 5-5). Rather, a sandy matrix rich with ceramics and charred debris was encountered down to the top of the basal dune, indicating that the wall here was largely removed by the Phase IIIA surface.

W10

10

W

Fig. 3.19. Remnants of Granary 143, looking east.

60

AMIR GOLANI

B

C

2 3 28.09

28.00 27.96 27.91

L3091 L3112 28.00

L3059

D

E

28.00 27.89

27.48 27.36

28.03

L3073 27.93

W313

26

L3071 27.49

L3073 L3079

L3065

27.92

4

F

3

27.50

4

27.58 27.48

1

26

28.23 28.00

W311

A

W320

2

28.26 28.08

L3092

25

25

28.08

5 L4046A 27.20

24

L4021

L4045 27.30

27.28 27.04

27.30

27.65

23

24

L4030

Northern Area H

L4027 L4031

27.30

23

L4039

L4022 L4025

27.67

27.61

L4055 27.24

27.20

26.72 27.53

22

L4040

L4104

L4036 27.22

27.23

L4035

26.85 26.54

27.19

2 48

L4104

27.42

27.08

L140

L143 L153

27 00

W402 L4069

Smelting L4050 26.84 27.33 installation 27.44

21

27.14

L4047 L4075 27.45

L4054 26.99

27.27 26.36

27.46 27.29 27.20

L4048 L4051 27.22

26.91

22

10

W

27.06 26.52

27.36 27.00

L4070

26.99 26.51

26.50

27.00 26.50

L4081

27.04

27.14

L4052 26.70

Plan 3.5. Area H, Stratum III (north).

21

61

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

L4061 L4073

26.62

27.05 27.00

L4092

L4097

27.24

W406

L4129

27.23 27.06

W40

W411

9

26.89 26.62

L4193 26.42 L4167 L4173

26.90

27.19 26.90

27.15 26.95 26.95 26.77

26.78 26.73

26.80

L4140

26.45 27.27 26.87 26.85 26.63

W422 27.08 27.19 26.68

27.17 26.82 26.81 26.43

3

L4170 26.76 26.61

26.68

26.54

27.01 26.68

26.87 26.66

L4171 L4179

L4153 26.70

Eastern Compound

26.50

17

26.87

L4188 27.01 26.70

26.76

26.60

W41

0 26.93 26.76

16

26.80 26.60

26.68 26.49

Stratum III

26.96 26.80

Stratum III, Phase A

L4186

Stratum III, Phase B

26.79

13

L4194

W4

26.38

C

1

B

5 m

0

5

A

18

26.96 26.69

W409 27.40

L145 L149

L4172 L4175 26.79 L4197 L4196 26.70

26.96 26.72

L6223

26.50

W412

26.62

W41

27.08 27.21 27.09

L4133

L4164 L4166

26.82

Smelting installation

27.16

15

26.80

27.14 27.06

27.18 27.31

27.05

27.19 26.90

27.16

W415

L4146A

L4113

26.80

6

27.03 26.99

26.93

27.10

27.34

27.57 26.72

26.83 26.75

L4146B L4169 L4157 L4176

16

L4148

26.85 26.77

26.91

Smelting installation

27.29 27.16

L4134 L4138 26.75 L4144

27.13

L4143 27.02 26.77

25.66

26.93

27.01

26.10 27.10

L4124 L4128 L4151

26 59

L6217

27.06 27.03

W408

26.99 26.82

L4106

L4132

27.12

26.74

4

Western Compound

27.0

27.11 26.82

L4115

40

27.17

Southern Area H

17

26.96 25.65

27.12

L4108 L4125

W

26.91

27.15 27.03

27.11 27.08

27.14

L4120

18

19

6

27.24 27.18

L4109 L4114

26.45

L4119

W416 L4102 27.03

L4089A

26.92 26.04

26.90

L4091

27.30 27.25

27.02

27.00

27.37

W41

27.28 27.10 7 1 27.25 W4

L4087

L4098

27.08

27.40 27.35

W403

18 L4096

27.50

27.30

W420

W4

27.55 27.48

L4095

27.42 27.31

7

W403

40

5

W

19

20

L4072

27.46 27.57 27.47

W414

20

D

Plan 3.5 (cont.). Area H, Stratum III (south).

E

F

15

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AMIR GOLANI

Open Area Surfaces and other features to the north and south of Granary 143 were founded on or within the upper portion of the basal dune. A shallow rounded pit (L4030) dug into the basal dune (Sq C24; Plan 3.3: Section 5-5) and overlaid by a Phase IIIA beaten-earth surface (L4021), contained numerous articulated donkey bones (Fig. 3.20; see Zidane and Bar-Oz, Fig. 3.20. Phase IIIB Pit 4030 with forthcoming). To the east, a beaten-earth concentration of donkey bones. surface (L4046A) was exposed above a Stratum IV surface (L4046B) and below a Phase IIIA surface (L4045; Plan 3.3: Section 1-1). To the south (Sq B19), Phase IIIB beaten-earth surfaces (L4096, L4097, L4102) were found under architectural remains of Phase IIIA (see below; Plan 3.5). Surface 4097 encompassed a circular pavement of sherds and flat stones and Surface 4102 incorporated a concentration of small stones. In the southeastern corner of the square, the Phase IIIB surface ran up to the edges of a pit (L4119) that descended into the sand layer. A deep probe (Sq D19) revealed a beaten-earth surface (4089A) founded on debris associated with Stratum IV (L4089B) and below a Phase IIIA surface (L4087; Plan 3.3: Section 1-1). Phase IIIA Open Area At a later stage, Granary 143 appears to have gone out of use. Wall 10 was covered by a beaten-earth surface (L140) and a new wall (W402) was built directly over the southern entranceway into the Phase IIIB granary. No continuation of this wall was found. However, to the west, one large Phase IIIA surface characterized by a packed light gray-brown mudbrick material with many white chips was exposed (L4035; Fig. 3.21). This surface was recognized in patches in many of the surrounding squares (B–C/24–21; L4021, L4022/4025, L4027, L4035, L4036/4104, L4045, L4047/4058, L4048/4051, L4055, L4081; Plans 3.3: Sections 1-1, 5-5; 3.5) and appears to define the Phase IIIA level in this area. Identification of this surface and its association with Phase IIIA was also instrumental in determining the stratigraphic sequence in southern Area H (see below). Several probes into and below this surface (Sqs B–C22, B23; L4031, L4040, L4104) revealed that it was founded on a light gray sandy matrix containing ceramics and charred debris laid over the basal dune. More probes to the south (Sqs B–C21; L4050, L4052, L4054; Plan 3.3: Section 5-5) exposed a thicker accumulation of debris (c. 0.5 m) down to the sand; time constraints precluded further excavation in these squares. Two installations were embedded in the Phase IIIA surface. In the northwestern part of Sq B21, a rounded installation (L4069) was sunken into Surface 4047/4075. From the surface, this installation appeared as a ring of mudbrick material (inner diam. 0.8 m), while

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

63

excavation revealed a rounded construction of large potsherds and mudbrick material, 0.2 m deep (Fig. 3.22). The other installation (L4070) was found in Sq C21, sunken into Surface 4048/4051. It consisted of a complete ceramic pithos, nearly 1 m in height, its rim flush with the surface (Figs. 3.23, 3.24; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming). The pithos was full of soil and stones and may have originally been used as a small storage installation. The base of this jar was embedded in the basal dune, suggesting that a large pit had been dug in this area in order to accommodate the vessel.

L4040

L4035

L4010

L4011

Fig. 3.21. Square B22, looking east. Strata III and II surfaces (L4035 and L4010, L4011, respectively). Note Probe 4040 showing the makeup of the Stratum III surface as a distinct layer of mudbrick material.

Fig. 3.22. Installation 4069 after excavation. Note the construction of mudbricks and potsherds lined at the top with small stones.

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AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.23. The top of Pithos 4070 after removal of the surface around it.

Fig. 3.24. The pithos fully exposed.

L4119

Farther south, additional Phase IIIA beaten-earth surfaces were encountered. In Sq D20, the surface (L4072) appears to have incorporated a wide, sloping pit of unclear size and form. As the pit was full of dark ash and burnt mudbricks, it was apparently a smelting installation associated with the eastern compound located nearby to the south (Plan 3.3: Section 1-1). In Sq D19, Surface 4087 overlay the Phase IIIB surface (L4089A) and continued to the west, where it was identified as L4092 and L4098 )Plan 3.5). In Sq B19, a concentration of architectural remains of unclear plan was found above Phase IIIB surfaces (L4096, L4097, L4102), comprising several mudbrick walls (W416, W417, W418, W420) preserved up to two courses. Limited remains of a beaten-earth surface (L4091) were detected between W416 and W417, and another beaten-earth surface with a concentration of stones (L4095) was uncovered to the north of W420 (Fig. 3.25).

41 W

L4097

7

W416

W4

18

W420

L4095

Fig. 3.25. The Phase IIIA walls in Sq B19, looking south. Note Phase IIIB circular sherd-and-stone pavement (L4097), overlaid by W416.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

65

A portion of another mudbrick wall (W407) was found in the corner of Sq B20, and its relationship to the architectural remains described above was unclear; it may represent the continuation of W404 of the western compound (see below). It was preserved up to two courses and associated with a beaten-earth surface (L4061/4073). These latter features are all attributed to Phase IIIA on the basis of their heights in relation to the known Phase IIIA elements in the adjoining Sq B19. Southern Area H Southern Area H differed from the northern part and was characterized by extensive building remains consisting of two large compounds separated by a narrow, north–south alley (Fig. 3.26). To the north, this alley opened onto the broad open area in northern Area H, and to the south, onto another large open area that continued into Area M (see below). Both compounds were founded in Phase IIIB and continued to function in Phase IIIA. Phase IIIB The Eastern Compound Three walls of the eastern compound’s perimeter were exposed (W403, W408, W409), all built of mudbricks without stone foundations and preserved up to five courses. These walls were often partially faced with small to medium-sized kurkar stones; occasionally, such stones were incorporated in the wall itself (Plan 3.3: Section 5-5). The outer corners of the

Fig. 3.26. General view of southern Area H, looking west.

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AMIR GOLANI

W4 03

compound appear to have been rounded, although only one corner was fully exposed (Fig. 3.27). One of the compound’s walls (W403) was fully excavated and two others (W408, W409) partially, so the shape of the compound may plausibly be reconstructed as rectangular (10 × 11–14 m; inner area 85–100 sq m). The large area of this structure suggests that it was not W40 roofed, and no pillar bases were found 9 during excavation. A sizeable part of the northwestern portion of this structure was fully excavated down to and beneath its earliest floors. Two inner partition walls (W412, W422) preserved up to three courses were apparently attached to W403. They divided W41 0 the western part of the compound into three roughly equal cell-like spaces. In the northernmost cell, the earliest beaten-earth surface (L4144) was largely removed by Fig. 3.27. The southwestern corner of the Phase IIIA activities. It was associated with eastern compound, looking north. the base of W412, and to the north it sloped up to the base of W408, where it appears to have included a partial stone pavement (Fig. 3.28). South of W412 was an additional beaten-earth surface (L4140; Plan 3.3: Section 1-1).

8

40

W

W412

L4147

L4134

L4144

Fig. 3.28. Square D18, looking northwest. Phase IIIB W412 and W408 with associated Surface 4144. At upper right, a Phase IIIA installation adjacent to W408.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

67

East of W422, large accumulations of burnt debris were observed on a beaten-earth surface (L4171/4179; Plan 3.3: Section 1-1; Fig. 3.29). The debris included large ceramic fragments. Northeast and outside the compound, adjacent to W408 in Sq E18,4 a beatenearth surface (L6223) was detected at the base of the wall, and south of the compound, a small annex may be reconstructed, appended to the western end of W409. A segment of a heavily eroded mudbrick wall (W414) ran north–south, apparently connecting with W409 (Sq D16). Examination of the balk in this area showed that W414 extended toward but did not connect with W409, with a beaten-earth surface (L4188) at its base (Plan 3.3: Section 1-1). This surface was also found in the adjoining square to the west (L145/149), associated with east–west W410, which may have joined with W414, although the corner of these two walls was not reached. Wall 410 was preserved up to two courses. On the floor at the western end of this wall were the remains of a ceramic vessel, and adjoining W410 to the south was what appears to have been a mudbrick bin. The Western Compound To the west, another compound was partially exposed, consisting of an enclosure wall encompassing a silo and several architectural fragments of unclear plan. The bulk of the compound appeared to lie outside the excavated area. The western compound, like the eastern one, was founded in Phase IIIB. The mudbrick enclosure wall (W405, W413) was traced in a wide arc for at least 20 m, preserved up to five courses with no apparent stone foundation. The southern extremity of this wall was found in Sq B15 (W413; Fig. 3.30). The northern end of the wall (W405) ended abruptly

Fig. 3.29. Phase IIIB burnt debris deposits in the eastern compound.

At the western end of Area L, Sq E18 was later understood to contain portions of the eastern compound exposed in Area H (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3). For this reason, the finds in this square are described here within Area H, although they were originally excavated as part of Area L. Thus, the loci and baskets were registered in the context of Area L, while the architectural remains (W408) were registered in Area H. 4

68

AMIR GOLANI

L4193

13

W4

L4194

Fig. 3.30. Phase IIIB W413 and the adjoining surfaces in Sq B15, looking north. Note the thin white strip in the upper left corner (arrow) representing Phase IIIA Surface 4173 that overlay this wall.

(Fig. 3.31), with no clear continuation northward associated with Phase IIIB, suggesting the existence of a wide opening into the compound. Wall 405 ran parallel to W403 of the eastern compound, creating a narrow alley, 0.9–1.5 m wide, that ran for 10 m on a north– south axis. A beaten-earth surface (L4115, L4133) extended between these walls. Outside the compound to the southeast, another beaten-earth surface (L4164/4166, L4194) was associated with the base of the wall.

W403

4

W405

40

W

Fig. 3.31. Wall 405 of the western compound and its continuation in Phase IIIA as W404; W403 of the eastern compound above, looking east.

69

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Within the compound, a beaten-earth surface (L4129, L4169/4176, L4193) was associated with the base of the enclosure wall. Very few Phase IIIB architectural remains were found, consisting of a mudbrick silo and a north–south mudbrick wall (W411; Sq B17) of which one course was preserved, and to the west, a beaten-earth surface with many white inclusions and a smelting installation (L4128/4151). Silo 4124. This silo (outer diam. 2.8 m, inner diam. 2.0 m), just inside the enclosure wall, was constructed of a large, deep pit dug 1.3 m into the basal dune, in which a circular mudbrick wall (W406) was built, preserved up to twelve courses (Fig. 3.32). A later pit had removed most of the eastern half of the silo; a deep probe in Sq C18 exposed the base of the silo wall (Fig. 3.33). Within the silo was an accumulation of loose, dark gray debris

L4109

W404

6

40

W

Fig. 3.32. Phase IIIB Silo 4124, Phase IIIA Surface 4109/4114 above it, and W404.

L4108

W

40 6

W404

W403

W405

Fig. 3.33. Square C18, looking north. Phase IIIB Silo 4124, and Phase IIIA W404 and Surface 4108/4125.

70

AMIR GOLANI

(L4124, 4132), excavated in the western half down to its base. Outside the silo, a beatenearth surface (L4120) was associated with its upper course. Open Area to the South This area was investigated toward the end of the final season; therefore, a complete stratigraphic profile of the area was obtained in only a few squares. During excavation of a Phase IIIB surface (L4164/4166) east of W413, several infant and child burials were exposed just below the surface. Two burials, an infant (L4175) and a child (L4196), were uncovered partly below the base of W413 (Sq. C16, Fig. 3.34). They each contained an articulated burial (Fig. 3.35) covered with large ceramic fragments. Two burials farther east (Sq. C16) consisted of an infant in a holemouth jar (L4172; Fig. 3.36), and a small child covered with a few ceramic sherds (4170; Fig. 3.37). The Phase IIIB surface in the open area apparently continued to the south. In Sq C15, a surface (L4186) with large amounts of ash and burnt mudbrick fragments was exposed (Plan 3.3: Section 5-5).

W413

L4196

L4175

Fig. 3.34. Burials 4175 and 4196 adjacent to and beneath W413.

Fig. 3.35. Burial 4196 after removal of the ceramic cover.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Fig. 3.36. Burial 4172 after removal of the upper half of the ceramic vessel.

71

Fig. 3.37. Burial 4170 after removal of the ceramic cover.

Phase IIIA The Eastern Compound This compound continued in use with some modifications. Small to medium-sized kurkar stones were inserted to lend support and stability to its mudbrick walls. Outside the compound, to the northeast and adjacent to W408, a Phase IIIA surface (L6217) that included a large patch of whitish-colored material was laid above Phase IIIB Surface 6223. Within the compound, a new beaten-earth surface was laid. In the northernmost cell, a rounded, roughly built stone installation was constructed adjacent to W408 at a slightly higher level than the Phase IIIB surface (see Fig. 3.28). The stones of this feature bore clear signs of intense heat and burning, and adjacent to this installation were large amounts of ash and burnt mudbrick fragments. In addition, large amounts of ash and burnt debris were found in a large pit (L4138) that was cut from the Phase IIIA surface (L4134) down to the Phase IIIB surface (L4144; Fig. 3.38; Plan 3.3: Section 6-6). This pit appears to have served as a convenient dumping area within the compound for the large amounts of debris produced by the smelting installation. Similar debris accumulations were also observed in the other cells on the western side of the compound, as well as outside of it. East of W422, a beaten-earth surface (L4153) covered the Phase IIIB burnt debris buildup (Sq D17; Plan 3.3: Section 1-1). The top of this burnt layer was also exposed to the south, next to W409, where a small part of a large smelting installation was uncovered. The smelting installations and the large amounts of burnt debris found within this compound attest to intensive metallurgical industry, most probably the processing of copper (see Chapter 4: Industrial Compounds for Metallurgical Activities). The Western Compound This compound also continued to function with several alterations. The southern part of enclosure W413 (Sq B15) appears to have gone out of use, as a beaten-earth surface with several small to medium-sized stones (L4167/4173) apparently overlay it; however, in the continuation of W413 to the north (W405), a number of stones on this wall (W419) may represent poorly preserved Phase IIIA rebuilding. Wall 405 abruptly ended in Sq C18, and a

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AMIR GOLANI

L4138

L4144

Fig. 3.38. The burnt fill in Phase IIIA Pit 4138, cutting down to Phase IIIB Surface 4144. Note the boundary of the pit at upper left, where the burnt fill ends.

later wall of mudbricks, preserved up to one course only and incorporating a line of stones (W404), appears to continue the line of W405 (see Fig. 3.33). This suggests that the wide entrance postulated in Phase IIIB was restricted; W404 may have continued northward to connect with the fragmentary walls in northern Area H. Additional elements identified with Phase IIIA include a segment of a wide, east– west wall (W415) built of two rows of medium-sized kurkar stones with smaller chinking stones, preserved up to one course. The wall may have been squared off at its eastern end, next to which was a smelting installation ringed with small stones. South of this wall was a beaten-earth surface (L4146A), which is the continuation of Surface 4167/4173; north of the wall was a similar surface (L4146B/4157). Farther north, a thick surface of packed, light gray-brown mudbrick material with many white chips (L4108/4125, L4109/4114), adjoined W404 and covered and sealed Phase IIIB Silo 4124 (see Figs. 3.32, 3.33). An identical Phase IIIA surface was revealed in northern Area H (see above, L4035) and therefore provides a stratigraphic marker characterizing Phase IIIA and differentiating it from Phase IIIB in both northern and southern Area H. The alley between the eastern and the western compounds was resurfaced (L4106, L4113), although in Sq C17 it could not be established with certainty if the surface also covered W405. Stratum II (Plan 3.6) In this stratum, Area H was characterized by a small number of surfaces and disjointed building remains. These were all found in proximity to, or at the level of the modern-day surface, within a dark brown, heavy and compacted matrix (Chapter 2: Section D16: Unit 2) that was quite different from the brown sandy matrix characteristic of Stratum III. It is unclear what, if any, of the Stratum II remains were removed by modern earth-moving equipment. In any case, their poor nature is more probably due to post-habitation erosion of the site.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

73

In northern Area H, the Stratum II remains in Sq B26 consisted of a beaten-earth surface with small stones incorporated in it (L3048). In the adjoining square to the south was a pit full of small stones (L3123) that cut into Stratum III W320 (see Fig. 3.18). Farther south (Sqs B–D23, C–D24), the remains of habitation horizons consisted of patchy, ash-bearing layers at the bottom of the dark brown and compacted matrix typical of this stratum (L4003, L4015/4017, L4016/4020, L4028, 4033; Plans 3.3: Sections 1-1, 5-5; 3.6). In Sq B22, a portion of a pavement (L4010, L4011), or possibly a wall of unclear plan, was comprised of closely fitted, medium-sized stones (see Fig. 3.21). In the adjoining square, a small portion of a mudbrick wall (W400), preserved up to two courses, may be associated with Stratum II, although mudbrick construction in this stratum throughout the site seems to have been extremely rare. North and south of this wall were beaten-earth surfaces (L4007, L4008, L4013), while to the east and northwest the remains of smelting installations were embedded in the surface. Farther east and south, additional Stratum II habitation horizons often featured concentrations of small to medium-sized stones upon them, in no discernable order (L125, L4024, L4038/4041, L4044, L4053, L4071A). In Sq C20, a large, wide pit full of the typical dark brown, compacted Stratum II matrix was found (L4067), covered by a layer of debris (L4062; Plan 3.3: Section 5-5). Farther south, the Stratum II deposits were of similar nature, although the dark brown compacted matrix was thicker, at times reaching a depth of over 1.2 m (Plan 3.3: Section 5-5). Despite this buildup, the nature of the finds was as meager as that in the rest of Area H. Habitation horizons were identified in a few squares (C17, E18), usually interspersed with concentrations of small to medium-sized stones in no apparent order (L4094, L6215). Stratum I (Plan 3.6) Stratum I of the Byzantine period includes a few shallow pits and ceramic material in the sandy topsoil. In two locales in the northern part of the area, pits full of loose, light sand with Byzantine ceramic remains were found (L3120, L4000); Pit 3120 contained numerous crushed Gaza storage jars (Fig. 3.39; see Appendix 2: Fig. App. 2.4:1).

Fig. 3.39. Byzantine Pit 3120 with crushed Gaza storage jars.

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AMIR GOLANI

A

C

2

B

D

F

3

3

28.33 28.25

E

L3048

28.25

26

26 28.13

4

4

1

L3120

2

25

L3123 27.78

25 28.30

5 27.59

24

L4033 27.57

Northern Area H

27.88 27.86

L4016 L4020

27.57

L4000 27.83

23

27.47

27.39

27.48

L4003 27.80

27.45

27.55

27.54 27.44

27.84

22 27.90 27.83

L4028

L4015 L4017

27.80

L4010

27.85

27.64 27.50

L4011

27.47

L4007 27.51

W4 L4013 00

27.75

L4008 27.35

27.63 27.50

22

27.30

L125

Smelting installation

27.59 27.55

27.93 27.82 27.88

L4024 27.97

23

27.47

Smelting installation

27.48

21

24

27.60 27.56

27.97 27.83 27.84

27.47 27.40

L4038 L4041 27.45 27.40

27.48

27.43 27.40

27.50 27.25

L4044 27.30

27.46 27.43

27.29 27.24

27.40 27.31

Fig. 3.6. Area H (north), Strata II–I.

21

75

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

27.42

L4053 27.38

L4067

20

20

L4062 27.17

Smelting installation 27.40 27.38

19

19

L4071A

6

27.14

L6215

Smelting installation

27.02

27.18 27.03

18

18

Southern Area H

6

27.26 27.17

L4191 27.31 27.21

17

27.28

27.26 27.16

L4094

17

16

16

Stratum I

15

15

Stratum II

B

C

5

A

1

0 D

Fig. 3.6 (cont). Area H (south), Strata II–I.

E

5 m F

76

AMIR GOLANI

Area I (Plan 3.7) Area I is positioned slightly higher than Area H on the eastern slope of the kurkar ridge (Fig. 3.40; see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3).5 The easternmost squares of Area I (Sqs J3–4) share a balk with Sqs B25–26 of northern Area H, and Stratum III beaten-earth surfaces in Area H Sqs B25–26 (L3091/3112, L3092) are directly linked to identical surfaces in Sqs J3–4 (see below). The excavations in Area I revealed remains attributed to Strata IV–II. Stratum IV (Plan 3.7) The Stratum IV remains in this area were reached in only a few places below Stratum III. They consisted of a few walls and associated surfaces founded on the basal dune, comprising the first occupation in this area. A mudbrick wall (W215) preserved up to one course, ran south to north, then curved westward, where the Stratum IV remains were at a slightly higher level due to the natural slope (Plan 3.7: Section 3-3). East of W215 were associated beaten-earth surfaces (L2067/2088, L2074/2080). Surface 2067/2088 (Sq H5) incorporated some small stones found adjacent to W215. A north–south line of small to

Fig. 3.40. General view of Area I at the end of excavations, looking north. At right, the northern portion of Area H.

This area was initially opened as a southern extension of Area J, when a few crumbling stone and mudbrick walls were noted on the modern surface. However, once evaluation of the architectural remains indicated the presence of a large building complex, the squares in this area were designated as a separate excavation area, Area I; however, the consecutive basket, locus and wall numbers used in the field recording continued to be taken from the same number bank as Area J. 5

77

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

medium-sized stones (W221), observed on the modern-day surface in this square, may indicate the presence of a wall that was dismantled during Stratum III (Fig. 3.41). In the central part of the excavated area (Sq I4), a probe below Stratum III W208 (Plan 3.7: Section 2-2) exposed several paving stones on a beaten-earth surface (L2108/2115) that may be attributed to Stratum IV, as they appear to predate the Stratum III structure (see below). Another probe (Sq J4), below Stratum III W216, exposed debris that included numerous burnt clay and mudbrick fragments (L2094; Plan 3.7: Section 4-4). In the southern part of the excavated area (Sq J2), a similar probe below Stratum III exposed habitation buildup (L2110) on the basal dune (Plan 3.7: Section 1-1). The limited exposure of Stratum IV in Area I suggests the existence of a boundary or compound wall (W215) on the western edge of the area; other remains are too disjointed to enable any conclusions. Stratum III (Plan 3.7) The predominant feature in Area I is a compound consisting of a large courtyard bounded by a stone wall with at least two entrances, and the fragmentary remains of a smaller, adjoining building to its north (Structure I1). The entire compound was constructed on the moderate southeast-facing slope, thus surfaces in the northwest were significantly higher than those to the south and east. Several architectural modifications were observed within this complex, but only one clear habitation level was identified, therefore there was no definition of stratigraphic Phases IIIB and IIIA, as in other areas.

4

W

21 3

10

W20

W215

21

W

8

2

21 1

5 21 W

W

22 1

W

W

Fig. 3.41. Area I at the end of excavations, looking south. At right, the Stratum IV remains. Note one of the pillar bases of Stratum III Structure I1 (arrow), north of W208.

78

AMIR GOLANI

H

I L2087

6

6

28.60

W 221

28.67

L2051

W211

28.70

28.68 28.79 28.66 28.99 28.64 28.85 28.61

W215

29.00 28.95

28.64

L2048 28.59

L2027

28.61 4 28.50

L2074 L2080

28.30

28.53

28.43 28.31

W213

L2072 L2085 28.29 28.12

W21

28.23

Courtyard

7

L2063 L2106

3

28.19

28.34 28.17

28.20 28.13 28.37 27.93

27.97

L2100

L2109 L2118

28.35 27.16

2

4

28.44 28.25

28.20

28.20

28.19 28.09

3

28.29

28.25

Smelting installation

22

28.47 28.26

28.49 28.27

28.50 28.25

L2107 L2120

28.26

28.62 28.42

28.37 28.27

28.24

L2129

3

L2079

L2061 L2114

28.21

28.43 28.27

28.62 28.52

4 L2094

L2105 L2112 W218 28.29

28.35 28.21

28.80 28.60

28.51 28.40

W216

28.53 29.09 28.36 28.48

28.93 28.59

28.51

28.96 28.58

28.80 28.57

L2108 L2115

L2044 L2098

28.40

28.99 28.58

5

W2

4

28.72 28.57

W208

28.83 28.75

L2059 L2068

L2087

28.71 28.64

L2086

1

L2067 L2088

Structure I1

W214

29.07 29.02

W210

L2090

29.97 28.80

2

28.92 28.76

W2

19

3

29.03 28.98

L2095

5

J

28.05 28.28 27.89

28.04

28.14 28.01

2

1

L2110

2

Stratum II Stratum III

1

1

Stratum IV 5 m

0 H

I

J

Plan 3.7. Area I, composite plan, Strata IV–II and Sections 1-1–4-4.

The Courtyard The western, northern and eastern walls of the courtyard (8 × 14 m) were uncovered. To the west, the courtyard was bounded by W213, built of medium-sized to large kurkar stones arranged in two rows with smaller chinking stones, preserved up to three courses and traced for 10 m. Large amounts of stone rubble (Sq H3) were found adjacent to the eastern face of this wall, apparently from its collapse. At its northern end, W213 bonded with W208, of similar construction and preserved up to four courses. This wall was heavily damaged

79

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

29 00

J2

J4

L2061

W214

W217

72 L2114

L2085

L2110

L2105

J Pit

L2072 4

28 00

27 00 W214

J3

Pit 2

W218

L2112

1-1

29 00

28 00 W

L2039 3 L2044

I5

W210

I3

I4

W208 L2098

L2120

L2108 L2 L2115

I2

L2107

W217

L2109 L2118

27 00

2-2

H3

H4

9L2054

29 00

L2059

L2051

L205 L2068

Pit W213

W213 28 00

W215

W215 L2080

H5

Pit L2067 L2095

L2074

27 00

3-3

29 00

28 00

W208

J4

I4

L2018

L2108 L2115

Pit

W216

L2079 L2094

27 00

4-4

Plan 3.7 (cont.). Area I, composite plan, Strata IV–II and Sections 1-1–4-4.

by intrusions of Stratum I sand pockets. At its eastern end, W208 bonded with W210 of the adjacent building. The eastern continuation of the northern courtyard wall (W216) was separated from W208 by a gap nearly 2 m wide. This gap was filled by a Stratum I intrusion (Plan 3.7: Section 4-4). As the western end of W216 was squared off, a wide entrance into the courtyard from the north may have existed here. Wall 216 bonded with the eastern wall of the courtyard (W214) in what may have been a rounded corner. Wall 214, also of similar construction to W213, was preserved up to four courses and traced for nearly 14 m. In the

L2088

80

AMIR GOLANI

center of this wall was a blocked entrance (Fig. 3.42), indicating that during its original stage, the courtyard was also accessed from the east. Two partition walls (W218, W217) abutted W214. In the north, W218, built of one row of medium-sized to large stones preserved up to three courses, was constructed opposite the northern entrance to the courtyard, creating a small vestibule with a beaten-earth surface (L2105/2112; Plan 3.7: Section 1-1). South of the blocked entrance in W214 was W217, built of light cream-gray mudbricks on its southern side and brown mudbricks on its northern side (Fig. 3.43). A line of stones preserved up to two courses was revealed along the northern face of this wall and was probably incorporated into its construction. A northeast–southwest line of stones (W222) appears to join W217 at a right angle (Fig. 3.44).

W21

4

Fig. 3.42. The blocked-up eastern entrance into the courtyard in upper center, looking east.

W214

W217

Fig. 3.43. Wall 217, looking east. At far left, the brown mudbricks incorporating stones; at center, the light cream-gray mudbricks.

81

W2

17

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W222

L2120

Fig. 3.44. Wall 222 and W217, looking east. Note the three-legged basalt vessel adjacent to W222 (arrow).

Within the courtyard, a beaten-earth surface was associated with W213 and W214 (L2044/2098, L2129 and L2061/2114, L2072/2085, respectively; Plan 3.7: Sections 1-1, 2-2). A crushed storage jar lay on this surface (L2129) next to W213 (Fig. 3.45). The surface was also identified in the center of the courtyard, with a large fragment of a three-legged basalt bowl on it (L2107/2120; Figs. 3.44, 3.46; see Rosenberg, forthcoming). The outline of a smelting installation surrounded by numerous fragments of burnt clay and mudbrick was discerned in this part of the courtyard, although it was not fully excavated. In the southern portion of the courtyard, the same surface (L2109/2118) and part of a pavement constructed of compacted small stones were exposed. Several beaten-earth surfaces outside the courtyard were also associated with the walls. To the west, adjacent to W213, Surface 2059/2068 incorporated Stratum IV W215 W213

L2129

Fig. 3.45. Crushed storage jar next to W213.

82

AMIR GOLANI

2

22

W

W217

Fig. 3.46. Surface 2107 in the center of the courtyard, looking northeast.

within its make-up, and the top of the wall functioned as part of the surface itself (Sq H4; Plan 3.7: Section 3-3). As noted above, the surfaces east of the courtyard, adjacent to W214 (L2100, L2063/2106, L2079), may be linked to the surfaces in northern Area H (L3091/3112, L3092). Structure I1 The eastern wall (W210) of the adjoining structure was built of medium-sized kurkar stones arranged in two rows with smaller chinking stones and preserved up to four courses. Only a few stones remained of its northern continuation; most of this wall appears to have been robbed or eroded away. The western wall may have been W211, built of light cream-gray mudbricks preserved up to three courses atop a partial foundation of small kurkar stones (Fig. 3.47), although this wall was constructed in a different manner than the other walls associated with the Stratum III complex. The southern continuation of W211 does not seem

15

W2

W219 W221 W211

L2086

Fig. 3.47. Strata IV–III remains in Sq H5, looking west.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

83

to bond with or abut W208; rather, it appears to continue adjacent to W213. The northern continuation of W211 was not excavated. Excavations in Sq I6 revealed no remnants of this structure’s northern wall. Within the building, a beaten-earth floor (L2048, L2086, L2087) was associated with the base of the walls. Two stone-built circular installations found parallel to W210 are interpreted as pillar bases (see Fig. 3.41). Outside and to the west of this structure, traces of a beaten-earth surface (L2051) were exposed. A short protrusion in the western face of W211 and a short mudbrick wall (W219) observed in the northern balk of Sq H5 (Fig. 3.47), appear to have been later additions to this complex; no surfaces were associated with these two features. Stratum II (Plan 3.7) The meager remains of this stratum all appeared on the modern surface or just below it. They consisted of small patches of stone pavements in Sq I5 (L2027), and a burial of a child in a storage jar in Sq H5 (L2090). The vessel lay on its side, and the upper half had been shaved away (Figs. 3.48, 3.49). The burial cut into the upper part of Stratum III W211, indicating that the wall had gone out of use.

Fig. 3.48. Burial 2090 set into W211, as it appeared on the modern ground surface prior to excavation.

Fig. 3.49. Burial 2090, after excavation.

84

AMIR GOLANI

Although the Stratum II remains had been almost completely removed by bulldozer, there was no clear evidence of any significant building remains, and this area was apparently an open space at the fringes of the settlement.

Area M (Plans 3.8–3.10) Area M is located to the south of Area H, on a level area in the center of the site (Fig. 3.50).6 The excavations here exposed remains of Strata IV and III (Plan 3.8). Areas M and H are stratigraphically connected by habitation horizons of dark ash layers: at the southern extremity of Area H, L4186 continued into Area M as L7145 (see below), both surfaces associated with Phase IIIB. Stratum IV was not substantially exposed due to lack of time. Area M is also stratigraphically connected to Area B by habitation horizons in both Stratum IV and III (see below).

Fig. 3.50. The southern portion of Area M, looking east. At upper right, the edge of Area B.

In the first excavation season, three probes were carried out in Sqs B–C9 and D12 of Area M in the framework of excavations in Area B, and the relevant loci for these probes are found in the locus register of that area. Work in Area M resumed on a larger scale in the third excavation season. 6

A

B

C

D 1

85

14

14

2

72

W721

W

13

13

2

W720

16 W7

Northern Area M

W7

19

12

W71 8

12

4

W72 5

72

W

11

11

7

W71

W715

10

5

10

3

71

9

W726

W

W25

9

3

3

Southern Area M

8

W703

6

70

W712

W

W705

8

4 W707

W714

5

4

W708

Stratum IV, Phase A

6

W711

Stratum IV, Phase B

B

Area B

W

C

1

A

W24 20

5 m

0

7

W23

Stratum III, Phase B

W710

W7

04

2

Building M1

Stratum III, Phase A

09

W7

7

D

Plan 3.8. Area M, composite plan, Strata IV–III and Sections 1-1–5-5.

6

26 00

27 00

28 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

26 00

27 00

28 00 7 3

26 00

27 00 7

28 00

a

a

a

Sand

C9

D10

L7124

Sand

L7105

W708

L7083

L7081

L7045 704 L7049

L7029

L7144

W704

D7

L7026

L7013

L4162 10

L7056

L7012 016 L7016 7039 L7039

L7011 L7015 6L7024

a

L7145

C14

L7097 7 L7106

7W707

L7052 B

L7078

2'-2''

D11

2-2'

L7113

L7043

L7010 L703 L7018 L7036 L7031 L7036

D8

L7116 1' 1''

L7076

W714

C8

1'-1''

W706

Sand

L7106 7 W707

L7019 L702 L7028

14 L7059 8Burial

L7134 L7157

Basal dune

L238

L226

L216

Sand

D12

L7149

L7122 L7 L7129

D9

C7

L7139

L7098 L 3 L7114 LL L7118 L

1-1'

W719

43and L7152

C12 a L7130

L7133

a

a

L7035 L70

L7033

W7 L77 W718

1L7143 ar

Sand Sa

L7066

L7082

L7048

L7148

Dark sand

Plan 3.8 (cont). Area M, composite plan, Strata IV–III and Sections 1-1–5-5.

L7037 L70 L7046

L7032

L7150

L7110

C13 Sand

W711

L7034

C6

L7141

C11 S

L7094

W717

S aDark sand

C10 Sand

a

a

AMIR GOLANI

87

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

L7022 28 00

27 00

26 00

L7046

C8

L7137

L7018

L7019

D8

L7028

L7031

L7010

L7105

L7052

L7086

L7032

L7036 W707

L7043

W707

3-3

L7129

28 00

L7011

L7134

D9

L7015

27 00

L7122 L7157

L7149 7036

L7013

L7026

L7024 26 00

C9

L7029

L71 Basal dune

4-4

28 00

27 00

L228

B9 W25 L221 L243 L247

L235

Basal dune

26 00

5-5

Plan 3.8 (cont.). Area M, composite plan, Strata IV–III and Sections 1-1–5-5.

Stratum IV (Plan 3.9) Several architectural elements of this stratum were identified. In northern Area M, two deep probes exposed portions of walls and associated surfaces. In the more thoroughly excavated southern part of the area, the remains included a complete building (M1), in which two building phases were identified, and several adjacent walls. Northern Area M In a probe in Sq C12, the inner corner of a structure was exposed, composed of two mudbrick walls (W718, W719) preserved up to two courses. A beaten-earth surface (L7153) lay at the base of these walls to the south of W719, while a small area of a similar surface (L7152) was uncovered to the north of W719 (Plan 3.8: Section 1-1). In a probe to the south, another mudbrick wall was revealed (W717), preserved up to four courses, founded on a thin fill atop the basal dune (Fig. 3.51; Plan 3.8: Section 1-1). At the base of this wall was a beatenearth surface (L7148) at a lower level than the surface to its north (L7153). This may indicate two different phases of Stratum IV, the earlier of which was not reached in Sq C12 (see below), or that the Stratum IV habitation was founded on a southern-facing slope. West of these walls, a very small portion of a Stratum IV surface was exposed in Sq B11 (L7156), where part of the Stratum III surface was removed.

A

B

C

D 1

88

14

13

13

2

14

12

Northern Area M

26.74

W71

9 26.61 L7152 26.60

12

26.76 26.62

L7153

W718

26.60

26.71 26.63 26.44

L7156 26.33

11

L7148 26.32

26.77 26.43

11

26.76 26.35

7

W71

10

5

10

L7159 26.47

9

26.60

L7026 L7029

L7149 L7157

26.54

7

26.45 26.63

26.83 26.54

Stratum IV, Phase A Stratum IV, Phase B

L7104 26.55

B

26.74 26.53

7

L7075 26.50

26.69 26.53

L7082 26.50

W711 L7094 26.50

C

Plan 3.9. Area M, Stratum IV.

L218

6

W24 26.83 26.50

1

A

26.42

26.57

Building M1

5 m

8

26.62

26.63

26.75 26.50

26.62

L7113

L7118 L7133 26.89

3

W23

26.57

26.82 26.62 26.54 26.58

4

L7036 L7043

L7106

L7139

W705

L7099

26.85

26.82 26.40 26.64

26.71 26.56

W712

26.44

26.83

0

26.35

26.43

26.56 26.42

6

L7116

L7076 L7103 L7078

W714

26.50

26.90 26.51

26.85 26.47

26.54

W708

Southern Area M

W707

2

5

8

26.96 26.83 26.47 26.55

3

L7042

26.66 26.49

26.50

4

9

W726

L247

Area B

D

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

89

Fig. 3.51. Stratum IV W717, looking south. Note the Stratum IIIB dark ash layer overlaying this wall, apparent in all three balks.

Southern Area M Building M1 Building M1 was built of mudbrick with no apparent stone foundations, although occasionally some stones were found integrated into the construction of its walls. The mudbricks of this structure were brown to orange-brown and save for a few small whitish chips, they generally lacked visible inclusions, making their identification during excavation difficult. The general plan of the building was rectangular (outer dimensions 5.0 × 9.4 m, inner floor space 28 sq m) with what appear to have been rounded corners. However, these corners were all located within the unexcavated balks so the structure might have been elliptical, like that excavated in Stratum IV in Area L (see Plan 3.28). Only a small portion of the slightly rounded northern face of W712 was exposed, preserved up to five courses (Fig. 3.52). The eastern wall (W708) was also located mostly in the balk (Plan 3.8: Section 2-2), where it was preserved up to three courses. The continuation of this wall to the south (W23) was uncovered in Area B (Sq D6), where a short wall segment (W24) protruded from it at a right angle. These two walls and their associated surface (L218), also in Area B, lay directly below Phase IIIB and were definitively associated with the Stratum IV occupation (see below). The southern wall (W711) was preserved up to two courses; a later pit had cut into its southwestern segment (Fig. 3.53). The western wall (W705) was preserved up to four courses. Within the structure, two superimposed beaten-earth floors (Phases IVB, IVA) were discerned in its northern portion. The earlier floor (L7139), adjacent to the base of W705, was also observed in the southern portion of the building (L7082; Fig. 3.53; Plan 3.8: Section 1-1). The later resurfacing in Phase IVA (L7118/7133) included several small to mediumsized stones and a rounded installation of small stones and mortar, whose position along the central axis of the building suggests a function as a posthole or pillar base (Fig. 3.54).

90

AMIR GOLANI

W712

L7103

L7076

Fig. 3.52. Stratum IV remains in Sq C8, looking south. Wall 712 and Phase IVB and IVA Surfaces 7103 and 7076 respectively, outside Building M1, looking south.

W711 W710 W705 L7082

Fig. 3.53. Square C6 at the end of excavation, looking south. Stratum IV W711 cut by a later pit, and Stratum III Granary 7068 (W710) atop Stratum IV W705.

5

70 W

L7118

L7139

Fig. 3.54. Remains of Building M1 in Sq C7, looking south. Note the round installation on Phase IVA Floor 7118.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

91

Only one phase of beaten-earth surfaces (L7042, L7075, L7094, L7099, L7104; Plans 3.8: Section 1-1; 3.9) was revealed outside the building, except to the north, where Surface 7103, adjacent to the base of W712, was associated with Phase IVB (see below). South of the building, Surface 7094 was associated with W711 (Plan 3.8: Section 1-1), and to the west, Surface 7099 included small stones. Other Architectural Elements Several architectural features were found outside Building M1 to the north. A narrow mudbrick wall (W707), oriented east–west, was traced for 7.4 m (Plan 3.8: Section 3-3). The Phase IVB surface (L7103) that was associated with W712 was also associated with this wall. This surface was identified farther north, where it included a few small to medium-sized stones (L7116; Figs. 3.55, 3.56). At a later stage, this area was resurfaced (L7076/7078) and an L-shaped wall (W714) was added, preserved up to four courses. Wall 714 clearly lay upon

L7103 L7076

77 7700 W W

L7116

Fig. 3.55. Stratum IV remains in Sq C8, looking southwest.

7

70

W

W7

14

Fig. 3.56. Stratum IV remains in Sq C8, looking northeast. Note the dark Phase IIIB strip in the northern balk at left (arrow), overlying W707.

92

AMIR GOLANI

Phase IVB Surface 7116 and was therefore associated with Phase IVA (Sq C8; Plan 3.8: Section 1-1). Two resurfacings associated with Stratum IV were also evident to the east of W714. Phase IVB Surface 7113 was replaced in Phase IVA by L7036/7043 and L7106 (Sq D8; Plan 3.8: Section 2-2). North of W707, deep probes uncovered Stratum IV beaten-earth surfaces (L247, L7026/7029) and a mudbrick wall (W726) preserved up to two courses. Wall 726 was found below Stratum III Granary 7126 (W713; Fig. 3.57) and was separated from W707 by a 1.5 m gap (L7149/7157). A small probe below the floor of the Stratum III granary revealed that W726 did not continue farther north, and a Stratum IV beaten-earth surface was exposed (L7159; Fig. 3.58). Stratum III (Plan 3.10)

W713

W726

L7149

Fig. 3.57. Stratum IV Surface 7149/7157 to the south of W726, below Stratum III Granary 7126 (W713), looking north. W713

L7159

L7126

The remains of Stratum III in Area M were more fully exposed. These included a portion Fig. 3.58. A portion of Stratum IV of a walled compound in northern Area M and Surface 7159 below the base of Stratum III Granary 7126, looking east. a large open space with at least two granaries in southern Area M. Two clear stratigraphic phases (IIIB, IIIA) were identified in southern Area M, unlike the northern area where several architectural modifications were observed but only one clear habitation level was identified, associated with Phase IIIB. Northern Area M The Compound Nearly 18 m of the mudbrick enclosure wall (W715, W716) were traced on the northwestern side of Area M, although the bulk of the compound lay outside the excavated area. The southern segment of the wall (W715) was preserved up to one course, while the eastern wall (W716) was preserved up to two courses and the mudbricks were laid as headers. Two walls (W720, W721) abutted W716, but their function was not fully investigated. A succession of two beaten-earth surfaces was exposed in Sq B11; the lower surface (L7154) at the base of the wall was associated with Phase IIIB, and the Phase IIIA surface (L7142) included two short lines of medium-sized stones attached to the wall to form a small space or installation of unclear function. This Phase IIIA surface may have been uncovered in the adjoining square to the north (L7147). In Sq B10, another Phase IIIB surface (L7138) was identified adjacent to W715, and a similar Phase IIIB surface (L7131) lay immediately outside W715.

A

B

C

D 1

93

26.86

14

14

L7145 26.75

L7144

26.82

26.85

2 72

W721

26.85 W 26.77

13

L7110 27.20

13

W720

26.88

26.95 26.88

6 W71

12

Northern Area M

2

26.86

26.90 26.85

L7130 27.00

12

27.11 26.99

L7143

L7147

26.77

26.99

L7154 26.94 26.69

26.67

L7141 26.80

11 26.69

26.89

L7142

26.88

26.99 26.85

11

25

W7

76

26.96 26.85

24

27.00 26.91

26.71 26.68

W7

Compound

26.93 26.87

26.97 26.77

L7138 26.88

26.98 26.89

26.75

L7131

10

26.90

27.38

5

10

L7140

W715

L235

L221

27.25

27.10

27.47 27.25 27.33

L228

L7025 26.90

26.80

L7129

4

27.34

3

L7022 L7086 27.53 27.30

27.05

W703 L7023 L7092

L7007 27.46 L7017

26.85

L7059

27.25

27.25

L7053 26.90

L7084

26.90

26.90

W7

10

5 m A

B

04

27.17 27.03

L7039 L7056 27.16 27.04

27.05

27.02

9

70

W

27.15 27.03

7

L7030 27.04

L7034 27.30

L7068 26.47

6

L7048 L7066

Stratum III, Phase B 0

27.25

W7

2

27.05 26.85 27.05

L7081 L7012 L7045 L7016 L7049

27.18 26.90

L7098 L7114

8

26.84 26.68

W

27.01 26.63

27.29

3

26.99

6 70

27.30 27.23

L7033 L7035

L7055

6

L7097 L7105

L7032 L7037 27.30 L7096

27.35 27.28

Stratum III, Phase A

L7010 L7018 27.25 L7019 27.00 L7028

L7046 L7052 27.17

27.30

26.99

7

9

26.67

26.90

27.41 27.32 27.32

Southern Area M

27.25

L7126

27.20 27.38 26.66

L7024

27.50

4 27.46 27.36

5

W25

27.34

L7120

L7122

L7015 27.00

9

8

W713

L7011 L7013

27 02 26.47

27.00

C

Plan 3.10. Area M, Stratum III.

D

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AMIR GOLANI

Open Area East of the Compound The area east of the compound was systematically sampled (Sqs C10–14, D11) and for the most part appears to have been an open area consisting of surface buildups but little architecture. Several beaten-earth surfaces covered with brown-gray debris and ash were attributed to Phase IIIB (L7140, L7141, L7143, L7144, L7145; Plans 3.8: Section 1-1; 3.10). In Sq C14, numerous burnt clay fragments were also found on Surface 7145, which appears to have been the southern continuation of Surface 4186 in Sq C15 of Area H. Only two beatenearth surfaces (L7110, L7130) can be attributed to Phase IIIA with any measure of certainty. Farther east, the remains of two mudbrick walls (W724, W725) were preserved up to one course high, but no clear surfaces were associated with them. It is unclear to which Stratum III phase they belong. Southern Area M Southern Area M, down to Area B in the south, also functioned primarily as an open area. It included two mudbrick granaries built in Phase IIIB that continued into Phase IIIA, and several wall fragments of unclear plan, attributed to one or the other phase. Phase IIIB Granary 7126 The northern granary (outer diam. 2.4 m, inner diam. 2.0 m) was built of a circular mudbrick wall (W713) preserved up to six courses (Fig. 3.59). It appears to have been partially sunken into the ground (two courses), yet most of it stood above ground. Within the granary was a beaten-earth floor with ash and a few small stones at its base (L7126), while outside was a beaten-earth surface (L7129) 0.24 m higher than the floor of the granary.

Fig. 3.59. Granary 7126 during excavation, looking east.

95

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Granary 7068 The southern granary was only partially exposed, as most of it lay outside the excavated area (reconstructed outer diam. 2.5 m, inner diam. 1.5 m). This granary was constructed of a circular mudbrick wall (W710) preserved up to five courses and partially sunken into the ground, cutting down to the Stratum IV remains (see Fig. 3.53). Within this structure was a beaten-earth floor (L7068), while outside was a beaten-earth surface 0.53 m higher than the floor inside (L7048/7066). Other Architectural Elements Between the two granaries described above was a beaten-earth surface of Phase IIIB (Sqs B–C/7–9, D8) covered by a thick buildup of dark gray debris (L235, L7015, L7019/7028, L7024, L7025, L7046/7052, L7053, L7084, L7096, L7097/7105, L7098/7114; Plans 3.8: Sections 1-1–5-5; 3.10). A few stones in the eastern part of Sq C7, possibly the remains of a wall, were associated with this surface. In Sq D7 to the east, two fragmentary mudbrick walls with no discernable stone foundations, preserved up to one course (W704, W709), formed an obtuse corner. Beatenearth surfaces were associated with the base of the walls to their south (L7030, L7039/7056) and north (L7045/7049). An installation (L7081) in the northwestern corner of this square cut down into Stratum IV (Fig. 3.60; Plan 3.8: Section 2-2). This feature, of unclear purpose, was built of two courses of mudbricks laid one atop the other on their long narrow sides to create a kind of bin, the top of which was associated with Surface 7045/7049. Within it were a few small stones.

W 70

4

L7081

L7036

W

70

9

L7030

L7045

Fig. 3.60. Phase IIIB remains in Sq D7, looking west. Note Installation 7081 in the northwestern corner of the square above Stratum IV Surface 7036.

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AMIR GOLANI

Phase IIIA Granary 7126 In this phase, the floor of the Phase IIIB granary was raised over 0.5 m (L7120), and a new surface outside the structure (L7122) lay at the same level as that within (Plan 3.8: Section 2-2). Other Architectural Elements In this phase, Granary 7068 was dismantled and most of this area appears to have been resurfaced, while a few new architectural features were added. A semicircular mudbrick wall (W25), preserved up to two courses, delineated a small area within which was a beaten-earth surface (L228). Excavation immediately to the south revealed no continuation of this wall, although large amounts of mudbrick debris were discerned to its southwest. A beaten-earth surface (L221) with a crushed ceramic vessel was associated with W25 (Fig. 3.61; Plan 3.8: Section 5-5). Farther east, this surface was identified as L7011/7013 and L7122, the latter associated with Granary 7126. The Phase IIIA beaten-earth surface continued to the south (L7007/7017) with numerous ceramics and scattered stones upon it. In Sq C8, a portion of a mudbrick wall or installation of unclear plan (W703) was preserved up to two courses. North of this feature was a beaten-earth surface (L7022/7086; Plan 3.8: Section 3-3) and a similar surface (L7023/7092) strewn with ceramic fragments lay to its south (Fig. 3.62). In the southeastern corner of this square was a segment of a mudbrick wall preserved up to two courses (W706), although no continuation of this wall was discovered in any of the adjoining squares. Northwest of this wall, a beaten-earth surface (L7032/7037) incorporated some

L221

W25

Fig. 3.61. Phase IIIA remains in Sq B9, looking north. At upper right, a deep probe reached the basal dune.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

97

small to medium-sized stones within its make-up (L7037), between the Phase IIIB and IIIA surfaces, as well as a child burial (L7059) with several large ceramic fragments of various vessels placed around the interment (Figs. 3.63, 3.64). The stratigraphic position of this burial suggests that it was inserted into a shallow pit dug down from the Phase IIIA surface (Plan 3.8: Section 1-1). The Phase IIIA surface continued east and south (L7010/7018, L7012/7016, L7033/7035, L7034, L7055), and was identified above the Phase IIIB architectural remains in Sq D7 (Plan 3.8: Section 2-2) and above Granary 7068, indicating that the granary had been dismantled and ceased to function.

W703

Fig. 3.62. Buildup on Phase IIIA Surface 7023, south of W703, looking north.

Fig. 3.63. Burial 7059, between Phase IIIA and IIIB surfaces, encased within several large ceramic fragments of different vessels.

Fig. 3.64. Burial 7059 after removal of the upper ceramic fragments.

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AMIR GOLANI

Area B (Plans 3.11–3.14) Area B is located in the center of the site, at the southern end of the main north–south section of the excavation (Fig. 3.65).7 In the southern part of Area B, the basal dune was exposed at 27.65 m asl, while 20 m to the north it was lower, at 26.80 m asl (Plan 3.11: Sections 1-1, 6-6, 7-7). In two probes in Area M, the basal dune was encountered at an even greater depth of 26.25 m asl in Sq B9 (below L247) and 26.40 m asl in Sq D12 (below L238; see Plan 3.8: Sections 2-2, 5-5), indicating that the occupation in Area B lay on the

D

6

C

E

4

F

W

W23

29

4

1

W2

6

6

8

W2

W24 20 W

0

1

W4

3

W27

5

7

3

W2

0

W34

2

2

5

W28

W2

5

2

W26

1

W4

W3

1

5 3

W3

4

W

30

W

2

W3

35

2

2

W36

5 m

6

C

7

1

0 D

Stratum IV

Stratum III, Phase A

Stratum V

Stratum III, Phase B

E

F

Stratum II

Plan 3.11. Area B, composite plan, Strata V–II and Sections 1-1–7-7.

7

See n. 6 above.

3

W

3

39

W37

W38

4

25 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

L 28 00

W28

L242 2A

L225 L240A

L312

L249

L233A

F6 L233B

L232B

L315

L248

L232A

F5

C2

W28

L297

L268

L322

L272

L326

L253

Basal dune

3-3

L208

E6

L282

E5

L309

2-2

L231

bones

1-1

L256

L255

L207

Basal dune

L223

W20

Burial

L306

W20 L258 9L237

3L209

L234

L286

L245

L204

D5

D6 L203

L244

W40 L261

Basal dune

45 L250

C4

Plan 3.11 (cont.). Area B, composite plan, Strata V–II and Sections 1-1–7-7.

L327

L214B L222

L214A

L283

L300 09

C3

C5

C5

W26 L229

L200

L241

L200

L219 L230

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

99

26 00

27 00

28 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

a

a

L242 L258

4-4

Basal dune

C5

L329

D2

L205

W20

L314

L256

L269

21 L217 L218

Basal dune

2W20 2

D5

W35 L276 W Basal dune une

W30

W23

L212

W L263

Sand

D6

L330

L239B

6'-6''

C4

Burial

6-6'

L289

7-7

L239A

L306

W24

D6

L279

W40 256 L256

L209

L273

L266

5-5

Basal dune

W W23

L217 L205

L205

D5

C3

D4

nes L244 Bones

L296

a

a

Plan 3.11 (cont.). Area B, composite plan, Strata V–II and Sections 1-1–7-7.

L275 L291

D3

26 00

27 00

28 00

L308

C2 W30 L297

100 AMIR GOLANI

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

101

Fig. 3.65. General view of Area B at the end of excavations, looking west.

very moderate northern-facing slope of a low east–west ridge that apparently protruded from the main north–south kurkar ridge to the west. Areas B and M were separated by a balk. The Phase IIIB surface in Area B abutting the northwestern corner of the compound (L217, see below) is identical to that in Area M in Sqs C6 and C–D7 (e.g., L7048/7066, etc.; see above). In addition, W23 and W24 in Area B were a continuation of Building M1 (Stratum IV; see above), and the surface (L218) associated with W23 and W24 was identified as Surface 7094 in Area M. The continuation of these architectural features and their associated surfaces provided a clear stratigraphic link between the two areas. Excavation in Area B identified two main occupation strata (IV, III), preceded by ephemeral remains designated here as Stratum V, and superseded by a post-habitation phase consisting of infant and child burials associated with Stratum II. Stratum V (Plan 3.12) This stratum was defined in six probes as sherd scatters within the loose, light brown sand upon the basal dune of the ridge that sloped down moderately from south to north. Stratum V was characterized by a localized and very thin layer of ash and small scatters of sherds, without any buildup of organic material, perhaps representing the remains of transient campsites that were quickly covered by shifting wind- and water-borne

102

AMIR GOLANI D

6

C W23 26.75 26.48

6

E

4

4

L227

W

26.55

1

26.62

25.25

26.90

26.25

3

5

7

L314 L329

5

6

L249 L265

26.80

L327

26.85

26.70

25.95

L241

L326

L261

26.95

L214B L222

26.48

3

L249

26.63

26.67 26.65

W24 26.75

L240B

26.66

29

L218

F

L310 26.69

26.75

L256 L258

L262

L272

26.70

26.61

5

L248

L283

L282

27.00

26.08

27.12 27.04

26.46

2

2

5 L254B 26.97

4

L284

L319

L250

4 L267

26.61

L318

27.57

L316

3

3

27.66

L269 27.57

L264

L293

L321

27.67

27.17

27.67

2

2

L294 27.84

L260 27.75

6

C

7

1

L263

D

L295 27.76

E

0

5 m

F

Stratum IV Stratum V

Plan 3.12. Area B, Strata V–IV.

sand, or a pre-construction leveling phase of Stratum IV. In one probe (Sq D5), another thin, horizontal ash layer was uncovered 0.5 m within below the surface of the basal dune (L314; Plan 3.11: Section 6-6) and below this was a 0.2 m thick layer of sterile sand (L329) overlying a sterile layer of brown marly sand (L330). Stratum IV (Plan 3.12) In the northern Sqs C–F/5–6, the Stratum IV remains were somewhat more substantive than those to the south. The occupation buildup here reached a depth of approximately 0.3 m (Plan 3.11: Section 2-2) and included several rounded pits (L282, L283, L327) and associated beatenearth surfaces (L214B/222, L248, L249, L256, L258, L261, L272, L310, L326; Plan 3.11:

103

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Sections 2-2, 3-3). In Sq C5, a large conical pit (L241; diam. 1.9 m, depth 1.3 m) was discovered immediately below the base of a Stratum III wall (W27; Plans 3.11: Section 1-1; 3.12). The only architectural remains of Stratum IV were two mudbrick walls (W23, W24) forming a right-angled corner on the northern edge of the area, apparently part of Building M1 (see above). They were preserved up to two courses, with no stone foundations (Fig. 3.66). East of these walls was a beaten-earth surface (L218; Plan 3.11: Section 4-4) with some small stones and pottery. The surface was clearly observed to run under Stratum III W20, and to appear again to the east (Plan 3.11: Section 3-3). Another small wall segment (W29), preserved up to one course, was associated with a beaten-earth surface to its east (L227; Fig. 3.67).

W20

W24

W23

L218

Fig. 3.66. Strata IV and III remains in Sq D6, looking south. Note W23 and W24 of Building M1 and the associated surface (L218).

L327 L214B

W21

L227

Fig. 3.67. Stratum IV Surfaces 227 and 214B/222, under Stratum III W21, connected Pit 327 and W29.

W 29

W28

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AMIR GOLANI

In the higher, southern Sqs C–F/2–4, the remains were sparser, compose of debris discovered in a probe (L319), and two shallow, rounded pits (L284, L321) dug into the sands. These pits may be associated with several beaten-earth surfaces (L254B, L260, L264, L269, L293, L294, L295, L316, L318) revealed below walls and surfaces of Stratum III. These surfaces sometimes included small patches of pavement and often bore concentrations of small to medium-sized stones alongside ceramics, burnt mudbrick fragments and decayed mudbricks, the latter often appearing as patches of packed, light brown soil with numerous white calcite concretions. Stratum III (Plans 3.13, 3.14) In Stratum III, a large, roughly oval compound (15 × 22 m, inner area c. 270 sq m) was bounded by a stone and mudbrick wall, 0.4–0.8 m wide, preserved 0.2–0.5 m high. As it was traceable for over 66 m, the wall was assigned various numbers along its course (W20, W21, W28, W30, W31, W36, W37, W38; Figs. 3.65, 3.68). In its northern portions (W20, W21, W28), the wall was preserved up to two–three courses of light cream-gray mudbricks containing many white calcite concretions. The mudbricks in the northern portions were usually laid as headers across the width of the wall (Fig. 3.69), yet in some places they were arranged as headers on one face paralleled by a row of stretchers on the other face. The southern portions of the wall, built mainly of mudbricks and preserved up to five courses, were set on an irregular, intermittent stone foundation of small to medium-sized kurkar stones. An intermittent level of small stones was also incorporated within the mudbrick courses, probably to further stabilize its construction (Fig. 3.70).

W28

21

W

W2

0

Fig. 3.68. The northern part of the enclosure, looking east.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

105

W28

Fig. 3.69. Wall 28, looking south. In this section of the wall, the mudbricks were laid stretcher fashion across the entire width of the wall.

21

W

Fig. 3.70. Wall 21, looking northeast.

The compound followed the natural slope of the dune, with the base of the southern wall at a higher level than that of the northern wall. Three gaps in the enclosure wall appear to be entrances located in the east, south and west. Only a few partition walls were discerned, indicating that the compound was not roofed, although it could have been shaded by an awning. Two phases of use were identified within this structure. Phase IIIB (Plan 3.13) The Compound The entire circumference of the enclosure wall was erected in the earlier phase, along with several short, curved mudbrick walls within the compound (W32, W33, W34, W35, W39, W40), most of which abutted the enclosure wall. They were usually preserved no higher than one course, only a few centimeters in height, and except for their slightly lighter color

106

AMIR GOLANI

D

6

C

E

4

4

0 W4

20

L207 L255 27.00

7

W

1

1

27.05 26.76

27.40 27.02

W26

L244

26.81 26.86 27.47 26.90

26.76

3

27.12 27.00 27.27 27.13

L232B 27.25

L268 27.10

27.55 27.25

2 5 L211

L274

27.25 27.20

27.18

L254A

W4

26.82

27.16

W

1

4 Industrial area

27.24

27.67 27.45

27.04

L328 L302

27.09

27.47

L299 L307

27.17 27.11

27.12

27.21

L313

27.33

L308

27.42

27.57

27.83

27.64 28.15 27.95

6

7

1

L259

28.10 27.93

27.98

27.92

D

27.96 27.76

L278

L280

28.10 27.92

27.91

E

27.97 27.62

28.20 28.13

W36

2

L285

27.97 27.88

27.84

L297

C

28.23 27.93

27.93

L251

3

L331

L288

27.87 27.82

35

2

L276

2

W3

W

30

W

27.90 27.83

27.66

27.85 27.60

27.53 27.40

L315

L311

27.61

L275 L291

L296

39

L289

L309

W

L325

W38

27.05

4

27.24 27.18

L257

L273

3

5

26.95

L239B

26.84

27.03 27.00

26.94

L286

26.94 26.69

L245

27.15

Base of smelting installations

L281

26.90

6

27.50 27.15

26.95

33

2

L322

W3 4

26.82 26.91 26.69

L233B

27.00

27.30 27.00

L223 L229 L237

W2 0

W27

L236

L214A

W28

26.82

5

W2

27.40 26.95

5

L230

27.15

27 07 26 80

27.06 26.86

8 W2

26.99 26.77

6

L225

26.84

26.82

26.90

3

L224

L206

L217

F

27.97

0

5 m

F

Stratum III, Phase B

Plan 3.13. Area B, Stratum III, Phase B.

and numerous calcite concretions, were difficult to discern from the surrounding matrix. The poor preservation of these walls may be due to renovations during Phase IIIA, when most of the inner walls were dismantled and covered with new surfaces (see below). In the southern part of the compound, W32 appears to have functioned as a screen wall directly opposite the southern entrance to the compound, and a similar wall (W33) partially screened off the eastern entrance (Fig. 3.71). Other walls (W35, W39, W40) were attached to the enclosure wall creating small spaces of unclear function. Wall 40, built of one row of rectangular mudbricks and preserved up to three courses, appears to be an extension of W20. Wall 34 (Sq E5) is the only inner wall that is not connected to the enclosure wall, and may have delineated a small storage area.

107

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W28

33

W

Fig. 3.71. Screen W33 near the eastern entrance into the compound, looking north.

Inside the compound, the beaten-earth surface attributed to Phase IIIB bore concentrations of pottery, small stones and evidence of burning activity (L207, L214A, L232B, L233B, L239B, L244, L251, L254A, L257, L268, L273, L274, L275/291, L276, L281, L288, L289, L302, L307, L313, L322, L328). A surface with similar concentrations was exposed outside the compound (L206, L217, L224, L225, L229, L236, L245, L259, L280, L285, L296, L297, L309, L311, L315). Surface 217, abutting the northwestern corner of the compound, continued into southern Area M (Sqs C6, C–D7). The Industrial Area Inside the Compound: A wide, 10 m gap was observed in the western portion of the compound’s enclosure wall. West of this opening (Sqs C3–4), a thick buildup of dark gray-black burnt debris lay on the beaten-earth surface (L239B, L245, L296, L309; Plan 3.11: Section 1-1). This debris contained slag, crucible fragments and prills, apparently the refuse dump of a metallurgical industry that was concentrated within an oval area in the gap in the compound wall. The oval area (5 × 10 m), although not completely excavated, appears to have been slightly sunken into the ground (Fig. 3.72). It was bounded by W41, which was made of burnt mudbricks. The oval area was full of decayed and burnt mudbrick fragments, as well as several stone concentrations that also exhibited signs of burning. These stone clusters, together with the numerous burnt mudbrick fragments, are probably the remains of dismantled or decayed smelting installations. Alongside these installations, four ceramic bowls and two complete basalt bowls sat on the surfaces in an upright position (L289, L328; Fig. 3.73; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming; Rosenberg, forthcoming), which may have been connected to the metallurgical activities. Immediately to the north of this activity area was a rectangular mudbrick installation (L286) whose function is unclear. The position of this industrial area on the western side of the compound was probably not coincidental, as this side was open to the sea and a gap or local depression in the kurkar

108

AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.72. The oval-shaped industrial area on the western side of the compound, looking east.

ridge to the west may have facilitated the sea breezes to improve the draft. On the surface northwest of the refuse dump (Sq C5; L229, L236), quantities of ash, presumably metallurgical waste, and decayed mudbricks were found. This surface connected the compound (W20) with two mudbrick walls (W26, W27) preserved up to two courses. The buildup of ash appears to have damaged W26, causing it to collapse (Plan 3.11: Section 2-2). Phase IIIA (Plan 3.14) The Compound Fig. 3.73. Several complete vessels found in the industrial area. At lower right, a complete basalt bowl The large compound continued to function and to its right, a complete ceramic V-shaped bowl. At upper center, another ceramic bowl near the wall. in this phase, with some modifications. The industrial area on the western side of the compound may have continued in use, although no clear Phase IIIA surfaces were discerned; L266, L279 and L317 are understood as burnt-debris buildup. In addition, the wide entrance facing west was constricted by the construction of W31 and W37, both built of two rows of square mudbricks and preserved up to one course. These walls were erected directly atop the Phase IIIB dark gray-black layer of metallurgical debris (L239B, L245, L309); however, as this same gray-black matrix was also found next to these walls, it is

109

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY D

6

C

E

4

4

L202

L205

27.18

27.10

27.35 27.12

2

1

L333

27.30 27.25

L253

27.45

L242

27.15 27.00

5

2

L332 W28

W3 1

5

27.55 27.45

1 W4

27.21

3

L232A

27.30

27.25

L220 L234

4

6

27.35

L213

27.15

2

27.26

27.25

L212

27.20

27.20

Smelting installation L233A

L204 L209

W2

L200 L219

27.39 27.18

26.90

27.25

27.40 27.20

5

7

27.36 27.11

L210 27.30 27.22

5

0 W4

27.25

L304

L292

L208

L231

L203

27.25

27.45 26.95

27.15

0

W2

L306 27.40

3

1 W2

8 W2

L305

6

F

4

L239A L266

27.67 27.45

L279

L323

27.93 27.86

L298

L300

3

27.76

27.25

W38

W37

L317

3

L287 27.96

27.48 27.35

27.97 27.65

W

30

2

28.09 27.86

28.10 27.93

28.15 27.95

6

1

7

D

28.20 28.13

W36 27.97 27.88

28.10 27.92

C

L301

28.23

5 m

0 E

2

L277

F

Stratum II Stratum III, Phase A

Plan 3.14. Area B, Stratum III, Phase A and Stratum II.

evident that the dumping of refuse continued after their construction as well. The two walls (W26, W27) west of the compound were no longer in use. The compound did not change its function, and the metal-refining activities of Phase IIIB apparently continued directly into Phase IIIA, although most of the internal curved walls of Phase IIIB were dismantled to create a more open space. Only W40 continued in use. One new wall (W22) was added onto W20, built of large mudbricks preserved to only one course high. North of W40 and adjacent to the compound wall (W21) were several brown mudbricks with a light gray fill between them, which may be the remnants of an additional wall that had collapsed, leaving only its debris. Next to this concentration was an oblong pit full of small stones (L333).

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AMIR GOLANI

Within the compound, a beaten-earth surface was discerned above those of Phase IIIB (L203, L204, L208, L209, L212, L213, L231, L232A, L233A, L253, L287, L298; Plan 3.11: Sections 1-1–6-6). This surface was revealed primarily in the northern part of the structure, as the southern part was largely eroded. Beaten-earth surfaces were noted outside and adjacent to the structure as well (L200/219, L202, L205, L234, L277, L300). Metallurgical Installations in the Stratum III Compound A relatively large number of copper-smelting installations comprising small, conical pits lined with small stones and clay (see Chapter 4) were associated with the Stratum III compound in Area B. At the northern edge of the compound, a solitary smelting installation was associated with Phase IIIA (E–F6 balk). To the south, in Sq E5, the bases of another two smelting installations were found on Phase IIIB Surface 268 (see Plan 3.13). Thus, the metallurgical activities were not confined to the oval industrial area on the western side of the compound, but were also carried out in other places within this compound. Stratum II (Plan 3.14) In the final phase, the compound appears to have gone out of use and the area was subsequently used as a burial ground. Seven or eight burials were found throughout the excavated area, five of which were cut into the enclosure wall, indicating that these interments are to be attributed to a post-occupation phase. Two burials (L210, L332) were inserted into shallow pits. Each burial consisted of a solitary interment: five infant and two child burials (see Nagar, forthcoming). Most were found in a flexed position, sometimes within a ceramic vessel (L301, L304, L305, L323) or covered with one or more large ceramic fragments (L306). A cluster of four or five (including L292) was concentrated around W20 (L210, L292, L304, L305, L306). Burial 210 (Sq C5). A few deteriorated fragments of an articulated burial of a child in a flexed position were found in a pit west of W20, a few centimeters above the Phase IIIA surface. Burial(?) 292 (Sq D5). A medium-sized storage jar missing its neck and rim was embedded in W20, but did not contain any bones. It was placed in a shallow pit that cut into the southeastern face of W20, and is to be associated with the same phase as the other jar burials. As other jar burials in W20 contained bones, it is unclear if here they had completely disintegrated, or perhaps this was not a burial but an offering associated with nearby Burial 306. Burial 301 (Sq E2). This burial of an infant in a storage jar cut into the base of W36 (Figs. 3.74, 3.75). The neck and rim of the jar were missing, probably removed to facilitate insertion of the burial. No building remains were found over the burial, thus it was not a deposit connected to the building of the wall but was inserted into it.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

111

Burial 304 (Sq D6). This burial of an infant in a medium-sized storage jar partially cut into the southeastern face of W20 (Fig. 3.76). The jar was lying on its side and missing its neck and rim. Burial 305 (Sq D6). This burial of an infant in a medium-sized storage jar partially cut into the western face of W20 (Fig. 3.77). The jar was lying on its side and missing the neck and rim. Burial 306 (Sq D6). Two large, slightly overlapping fragments of ceramic vessels covered a child burial that partially cut into the western face of W20. Burial 323 (Sq F3). This burial of an infant in a storage jar cut into the western face of W38. Just south of this burial jar was a very fragmentary, medium-sized juglet ringed with several small stones that was also inserted into the wall.

Fig. 3.74. Burial 301 cutting into W36, looking southwest.

Fig. 3.75. Burial 301 prior to its opening.

Fig. 3.76. Burial 304 cutting into W20.

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AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.77. Burial 305 partially cut into W20, looking south.

Burial 332 (Sq F5). A skull fragment and several bones of a small child were concentrated in a pit that cut through the Stratum III remains down to Stratum IV.

Area K (Plans 3.15–3.17) Area K is located immediately east of Area B (Fig. 3.78). Bulldozer work prior to excavation had removed nearly all the topsoil in this area, exposing the dark debris and outlines of several mudbrick walls in the archaeological layer. These leveling activities also cut into some of the archaeological strata, although the full extent of the damage is unclear. To the south of Area K, modern development had completely removed the archaeological remains (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3). At the start of the excavations, most of the area was flat, with a slight descent toward the north and a very moderate ascent toward the east. As in Area B, the archaeological remains in Area K were located on the northern slope of a low east–west ridge that protruded from the main north–south kurkar ridge to the west. Excavation within this area revealed extensive remains of two main strata (III, II; Plan 3.15). Although limited evidence of Stratum IV was noted in Area B to the west (see above), it was nearly absent in Area K. Excavation in most of the squares in Area K reached the basal dune, where a shallow occupation buildup began in Stratum III. In most instances, when an artifact-bearing debris layer was discerned below the Stratum III surfaces, it was extremely poor in finds.8 While such loci may possibly be associated

Area K was initially planned as an eastward extension from Area B. However, the shallow depth of occupation remains exposed in the initial stages of excavation led to a change in strategy in favor of a broad lateral exposure. Time constraints did not allow for the full exposure of the large architectural units. 8

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

113

Fig. 3.78. General view of Area K, looking west. Areas B and M, at left.

with an earlier occupation, they could also have resulted from construction leveling for the foundation of Stratum III in this area. Only in the eastern part of Area K did excavation in a few probes below the earliest Stratum III architecture and surfaces reveal a thick debris buildup of nearly 0.5 m above a dark layer founded on the basal dune (Sqs L5, M4, O5; Plan 3.15: Sections 5-5–7-7, 10-10). Time constraints precluded further investigation of this layer. Area K is separated from Area B by a balk. The contemporaneity of these two areas in Stratum III may be established first and foremost by the architectural layout exposed in both areas: two compounds with similar alignment and construction techniques separated by a north–south alleyway c. 3 m wide. The beaten-earth surfaces in the alleyway in both areas connected with one another (see below). Stratum III (Plan 3.16) As in most other excavated areas of the site, the Stratum III remains were the most prominent, comprising a northern and southern compound separated by a wide open area from another concentration of architectural remains (Building K4) on the eastern side of Area K. Two building phases were identified in the northern and eastern parts of the area (Plan 3.16).

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AMIR GOLANI

G

H

I

J

K

L

04

W5

W521

7

6

W517

W518

7

W515

5

W52

6

0

Structure K5

4

Building K1 W539

W511

W530

W5

07

W

50

8

W505

3

Building K2

2

2

W501

50

W

W506

1

1

1

W506

2

W503

06

W5

G

H

W

Structure K3

1

50

9

W51

4

W502

I

J

K

Plan 3.15. Area K, composite plan, Strata III–II and Sections 1-1–11-11.

L

115

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

N

M

O

P

4

7

32

W5

6

6 W51

3

W510

Structure K4

9

11

8

10

8

W534

W523

W537

6

W5

3

W51

5

W531 W538

W525

19

5

W535

W526

W536

W524

W522

W527

7

Juglet with W528 dentalium shells W533

8

4

W529

W52

W540

5

11

4

10

9

3

3

2

Stratum II Stratum III, Phase A Stratum III, Phase B 5 m

0 M

N

O

P

Plan 3.15 (cont.). Area K, composite plan, Strata III–II and Sections 1-1–11-11.

1

27 00

28 00

29 00

27 00

28 00

29 00

27 00

28 00

29 00

2 27 00

28 00

29 00

2 27 00

28 0 28 00

2 29 00

L5122

W501

L5147

L5079 L5088

Basal dune

W519

N5

Basal dune

L5110

M4

33 L5138

L5138

L5127

L5106

L5152A

L5078

3-3

Basal dune

Basal dune

L5127 ne

L5121

0 W508

L L5043

Ba L5135

M5

L5 68 L5068

J3 J3

L 6 L5062

50 L5021

G G2

L5110

M4

0 L5023

L L5019

L5099

N4

L5108

M5

W519

L5085

Basal dune

W501

I33

W501

H H2

5-5

2-2

L5134

L5114

5 W530

W533

W535

W 3 W530

L 6 L5160

W515

Basal dune

L5078

N4

W537

L5106

078 L5152A

O4

H33

L5

50 L5021

5 3 L5032

W538 W528

27 00

28 00 5106

15 A 29 00

L5061

5 3 L5032

L5181

1-1 H

6-6

Basal dune

L 03 L5031

L5048 -1

I2

W525

P4

K5

L5088 L51

L5103

L5113

L5119

L5122

L5142

4-4

Basal dune

L5079

N5

G3 G3 L L5064

5 0 L5005

L L5140

W501

L L5018

J J2

L5147

L5150

W516

N6 L5082

116

26 00

27 00

28 00

727 0 00

a

a

5152B

L5177

L5148

L5087

6 N6

O4

L5164

L5155

L5178

O5

Basal Basal duned

5150 L5150

082 L5082

K5

L5 L5123

W W517

Basal dune

L5100 L50L5 7

L5170

L 828 0 00

929 0 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

2 27 00

2 28 00

2 29 00

A L5169A

W528

10-10

M6 M6

L5165

L5170

5L5126 26

W512

L5 L5134

L5 L5114

L5155

L5178

O5

L5149 5 51

P5

L5

L5111

L5170

L5164

7-7'

27 00

28 00

29 00

727 0000

828 0000

929 0000

L5 L5135

L L5121

M5

O4

5113 L5113

5L5088 88 N5

L5 L5138

L5 L5127

L5169

550 N5

Plan 3.15 (cont.). Area K, composite plan, Strata III–II and Sections 1-1–11-11.

L5118 L5182

-8 8-8 L5145 W513

5 6 W516

L

7'-7''

W W515

L5 L5103

11-11

W528

a

O5

528 W528

5085 L5085 N4

507 4L N4

L5164

5085 L5085

L5 a2 L5122

L5 L5079

L5178 W538 L5155 W528 L5170 W531

9 9-9

512 W52 L5122 5147 L5147

5099 L5099

5L5113 1 3L W513 W5 513

L5 L5088 L5 L5147

L5087 W537 L5148

5079 L5079 L

W W516

N5

5L5152A 5 A

5078 L5078

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

117

118

AMIR GOLANI

Phase IIIB The Northern Compound This compound, just east of the large compound in Area B, was not fully exposed, but it can be reconstructed as a large rectangular compound (19 × 23 m, inner area c. 420 sq m), with two buildings (K1, K2) in its southern half (Fig. 3.79). Most of the northern half of the compound was not excavated. The compound was bounded by W518 to the west, W504 to the north, W507 to the east and W501 to the south, all built of mudbrick material and preserved no higher than one course. The corners were rounded, and in several segments a foundation of small to medium-sized stones was exposed, although this does not appear to have been a consistent feature. Only a small portion of W504, forming a corner with W518, was uncovered (Fig. 3.80). Within this rounded corner, a beaten-earth surface (L5162) was associated with the base of both walls and founded on the basal dune. Excavations to the east did not uncover the eastern continuation of W504, although remains of a habitation buildup on a beatenearth surface (L5163), presumably within the area of the compound, were exposed, also on the basal dune. Wall 507 was largely missing, possibly dismantled with the construction of Stratum II Structure K5 (see below). A small remnant of this wall formed a rounded corner with W501 (Sq K3). Wall 501 was uncovered primarily during the dismantlement of the southern balk of three successive squares (H–J3). Portions of this wall were constructed of mudbrick, yet

Fig. 3.79. General view of the western portion of Area K, looking north. At center, the northern compound; at lower center, the exposed part of the southern compound. At far left, Area B, parallel to the western wall of the northern compound of Area K. Note the large diagonal bulldozer cut in upper center.

119

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

most of the wall was revealed as a non-continuous line of small to medium-sized stones that apparently comprised the foundations of a mudbrick superstructure. An entrance lay just north of the rounded corner formed by W501 in the southwestern corner of the compound (Sq G3; Fig. 3.81). An L-shaped screening wall (W505), preserved up to one course high, stood just outside the entrance, creating an indirect entrance into the compound. Inside the compound, the entrance was further obstructed by the western wall (W530) of Building K1, creating a narrow passage between the building and the compound’s outer wall. Within this passage, a beaten-earth surface (L5112, L5160; Plans 3.15: Section 2-2; 3.16) founded on the basal dune was associated with the base of the compound’s and

4

50

W W518 L5125 L5168

Fig. 3.80. The northwestern corner of the northern compound, looking east. Note that the base of W518 was not continuously built of stone, but had segments of mudbrick only. At lower right, Burial 5168.

W511

1

50

W

W518 W505

Fig. 3.81. The entrance into the northern compound, looking east. The Phase IIIA modification, W511, apparently blocked the entrance into the compound.

120

AMIR GOLANI

G

H

04

26.92 26.86

L5124 L5116 27.11 L5120

L5125

27.13

W518

27.22

27.27 27.17

7

27.21 27.18

L5105 27.15

5

Northern Compound

27.21 27.14

L5123

27.83

L5095

L5134

27.31

27.85

L5107 27.15

L5176

28.06 28.00

W5

27.80

27.90 27.70

27.94 27.80

27.77 27.72

L5062

27.71

2

27.81 27.71

28.02 27.89

L5048 L5080

28.16 27.96

28.30

28.49 28.33

28.31 28.17

28.12

28.20 28.05

28.19

28.18

L5013 L5038

2

L5018 L5140

28.39 28.18

L5029

W502

28.29

28.30 28.17

Smelting installations 28.34

28.30

L5028

28.37 28.12

28.10 28.29 28.08

1

L5037 L5047

28.25

28.60 28.42

L5046

L5022

L5022

28.49

L5057

L5026

28.20

L5027 L5052

28.45

28.42

03 W5

28.34 28.23

28.60 28.51

W506

28.43

W506

28.13 27.93

L5067 L5072

28.21 27.95

28.15 28.04

W501

L5032

6 W50

W51 4

1

L5067 L5073

28.01 27.83

L5031

28.04

Building K2

28.08 28.02

W501

27.83

28.37 28.30

27.82

27.85

L5061

01

27.88 27.50

L5023

27.70

L5017 L5034

07

W530

27.90

28.01

L5068

28.02

27.74

L5160

W511

L5064

L5161

L5096

W5

27.99 27.79

27.80 27.70

8

W505

27.85

27.55

1

Building K1

27.42 27.34 27.88 27.82

W539

L5071

L5119

2

27.60 27.42

27.50 27.42

27.32

27.53 27.39

27.49 27.37

27.56 27.44

L5112

50

27.34 27.30

27.40

W

8

L5094 27.53

4

L5175

27.45 27.40

6

27.46 27.44

27.37

28.53 27.43

09

27.30

W51

L5109

L5181

27.40

W520

28.63

27.21

W5

27.25 27.13

3

W507

6

L

27.33 27.20

W521

27.10

L5168

26.98 26.89

K

L5163

L5162

26.91 26.95 26.82

27.17 27.06

J

W504

26.89 26.83

W5

7

I

Southern Compound

28.46 28.35

L5042 L5060

Structure K3 G

H

I

J

Plan 3.16. Area K, Stratum III.

K

L

121

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

M

N

O

P

7

27.88 27.43

4

27.65 27.33

L5173 32

27.36

L5150

W5

6

27.37

Building K4

27.60

L5147 27.54

27.67 27.55

27.90

27.73 27.62

27.90 27.65

19

W5

5

W540 28.19

28.15

W538

28.05 27.58

27.55

27.90

L5152A

L5169B

9

3

10

W528

7

L5165

27.36 27.69 27.37 27.68 27.63

L5149

27.89 27.85 27.71 27.90 27.85 27.78 28.03 27.62

27.91 27.76

Smelting installation

W525

5

28.12 28.02 27.98 27.91

L5142

27.85

5 27.88 27.75

27.95

4

27.94 27.86

27.98

27.84

27.95

4

28.52 27.97

L5148 L5152B

27.35

27.33 27.60

8

28.22 27.95

L5110

L5143 27.52 L5154

W529

28.06 27.86

27.56 27.41

W526

L5182

W52

L5106 L5183

27.44 27.32 27.91 27.56

6 27.84 27.62 27.93 27.59

27.32

W531 W534

L5135 L5138

27.70 27.50

W512 27.91

27.98 27.93

L5169A L5177

11

27.75

27.78

W527

Smelting L5113 installation 27.75 27.81

27.43

27.69 27.35 L5155 27.51 27.51 L5164

W524

L5135 L5138

L5170 27.49

W533

9

27.64 27.56

W536

3

10

8

11

8

3

L5036 L5045 28.45

2

Stratum III, Phase A Stratum III, Phase B 5 m

0

M

N

O

Plan 3.16 (cont.). Area K, Stratum III.

P

1

122

AMIR GOLANI

the building’s walls. This surface continued to slope down to the north (L5107, L5124), associated with the base of W518. Another beaten-earth surface (L5017/5034) exposed in the southeastern corner of the compound was associated with the base of the enclosure wall. This peculiar arrangement of a screen wall outside the compound entrance, and the positioning of a building immediately across from the entrance inside, does not appear to have been the result of haphazard planning. One possible explanation for this is that they provided protection from the strong westerly winds entering the compound. Building K1. Although only partially exposed, Building K1 appears to represent an elongated, possibly elliptical structure oriented on a north–south axis (6.0 × 10.5 m, inner floor space of c. 36 sq m). The northern apse of the building was fully exposed, delineated by W520, built of mudbricks incorporating some small to medium-sized stones (Fig. 3.82). The eastern wall of the building was not excavated, its line only suggested by the eastern curve of the apse formed by W520. The western wall (W530), partially uncovered, was constructed in a similar manner to W520. At its southern end, W530 was observed to bend into an apse whose curvature was sharper than that of its northern counterpart. The abrupt cut off at the eastern end of W530 suggests the existence of an entrance here. Within the building was a beaten-earth floor (L5061, L5161, L5175) associated with the base of the walls, which included some randomly placed stones. In the center of the northern apse, a rounded concentration of stones, partially uncovered, suggests the base of a pillar to support the roof. In the southern apse, a polygonal arrangement of mudbricks positioned upright on their sides and encircling another mudbrick lying flat, apparently served a similar function (Fig. 3.83). Building K2. This building, to the east of Building K1, is elliptical in plan, with an inner floor space of approximately 11.5 sq m. Its narrow mudbrick wall (W508) was preserved up to two courses (Fig. 3.84). The southern wall of the structure was incorporated into W501. The beaten-earth floor within this building (L5068) incorporated some small stones.

8

51 W

W539

L5175

W520

Fig. 3.82. The northern apse (W520) of Building K1, looking south.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

123

Fig. 3.83. A mudbrick pillar base in the southern part of Building K1.

Fig. 3.84. Building K2 in the southeastern quarter of the compound, looking northwest.

North of Building K2, a small segment of a beaten-earth surface (L5096) was revealed, and to the west another surface (L5023), founded on the basal dune within the open space, separated the two buildings in the compound. Alleys Two alleys separated the northern compound from other compounds to its west and south. To the west, the compound was separated from the Area B compound by a narrow, north–south alley, 2.5–3.0 m wide, that sloped slightly down to the north (Fig. 3.85). It was bounded by W28–W38 of Area B to the west and W518 of the Area K northern compound to the east. The beaten-earth surface within the alley (L5105, L5109, L5119, L5125) was associated

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AMIR GOLANI

W

W518

28

4

50

W

Fig. 3.85. The alley separating the northern compound of Area K (left) from that of Area B (right), looking south.

with the base of W518 and founded on the basal dune. Removal of this surface in Sq G6 exposed an infant burial (L5168) embedded in the basal dune, within in a large ceramic fragment covered with another large pottery sherd (see Figs. 3.80, 3.86). An east–west alley (1.5–2.0 m wide) separated the northern compound from the southern one. The alley was bounded by W501 to the north and W506 of the southern compound (Fig. 3.87). Between these two Fig. 3.86. Burial 5168 after removal walls was a beaten-earth surface founded on of the ceramic cover. the basal dune and associated with the base of both walls (L5013/5038, L5018/5140, L5032, L5048/5080, L5062; Plans 3.15: Section 1-1; 3.16). The Southern Compound The partial remains of another compound, with a structure (K3) and storage installations, lay to the south of the compound described above. The northern wall (W506) of this compound, built of mudbrick interspersed with scattered stones, was traced for 23 m with several features adjacent to it. The continuation of this enclosure to the south was completely destroyed by modern development prior to excavation. Unlike the northern compound, only one clear habitation level was identified here.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

125

W501 Building K2

07

3

W5

50

W506

W

L5026 L50 26

Fig. 3.87. The alley between the northern and southern compounds, looking west. At right, Building K2 of the northern compound; at left, Granary 5026 of the southern compound.

Structure K3. In the northwestern portion of the compound, a few scanty and disjointed remains may possibly be reconstructed as a structure of some kind. On its north, a clear line of mudbricks preserved up to one course high and oriented east–west (W502) was associated with a concentration of stones and mudbricks that appears to form a curved wall to the south (W509). Wall 502 may have been incorporated into the construction of W506, just as W508 of Building K2 was incorporated into the compound W501. A short wall consisting of two rows of small to medium-sized stones (W509) and incorporating a large fragment of a basalt bowl, may be the continuation of W502 in Sq I1. Another wall segment (W514), similar to W509, may be the western wall of the structure. Within the area of Structure K3 was a beaten-earth floor (L5042/5060, L5067/5072) that incorporated two smelting installations west of W509 (Fig. 3.88). East of W514 was a similar beaten-earth surface (L5067/5073). Storage Installations. East of Structure K3, two installations were exposed. Granary 5026 (outer diam. 2.3 m, inner diam. 1.75 m) was comprised of a mudbrick wall (W503) partially sunken into the basal dune, and preserved up to nine courses (see Figs. 3.87, 3.89). It was found full of loose gray debris on a floor (L5026) that sloped down toward the center. Outside the upper courses of the granary was a beaten-earth surface (L5022) founded on the basal dune and associated with the base of W506. This surface continued to the west (L5028) and east (L5022, L5027/5052, L5036/5045).

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AMIR GOLANI

W509

L5042

Fig. 3.88. Smelting installations embedded in Floor 5042/5060, looking east. Note the large basalt bowl fragment in W509.

L5053

L5054

W503

Fig. 3.89. Stratum III Granary 5026, with Stratum II Burial 5053 in the center and adjacent Stratum II Burial Cist 5054, looking west.

East of Granary 5026, the outline of a rounded pit was observed from the level of Surface 5027/5052. Excavation within a small portion of this pit to over 1.2 m below the L5027 surface revealed a fill of loose, light brown-gray debris (L5057). At the bottom of the pit and below the debris, a possible curved mudbrick wall was preserved up to three courses. The most plausible explanation suggests that this was a large, deep pit excavated in order to accommodate a silo. The wall would thus have belonged to a silo that was apparently abandoned after its initial stages of construction, and then the pit was intentionally or naturally filled with surrounding debris. Open Area In the space extending some 15 m east of the northern compound, excavation in several randomly positioned squares (L3, M4, K–M5, N6) revealed no architectural remains

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

127

associated with Stratum III, indicating the existence of an open area. To the north of the southern compound, in Sq L3, was a beaten-earth surface covered with dark ash and organic debris (L5037/5047). Due to the northward descent of the basal topography, this surface was nearly 0.2 m lower than the base of W506 in the south. Farther north, in a small probe (L5123) below Stratum II W515 and W517 (Sq K5), this beaten-earth surface was identified even lower, founded on the basal dune (Plan 3.15: Section 7-7). It was Fig. 3.90. Burial 5183 covered with the lower part of an overturned storage jar. also identified farther east (Sq L5; L5134), where a small probe (L5181) sunken into this surface showed that here also it was comprised of dark surface buildup directly W516 on the basal dune (Plan 3.15: Section 6-6). Farther east (Sq M4), the Phase IIIB surface was excavated as L5135/5138 and L5110. The downward slope to the north is clearly seen in Sqs M5 and M4 (Plan 3.15: Sections 3-3). An infant burial covered W532 with the lower part of a storage jar, was found immediately below Surface 5110 (L5183; Fig. 3.90). Removal of the Stratum II habitation level in Sq N6 (L5082, see below) exposed an earlier surface of dark ash and organic debris (L5150) founded on the basal dune (Plans 3.15: Section 8-8). An oval structure, consisting of a wall (W532) built of one row of small to medium-sized kurkar stones and preserved up to three courses, lay adjacent to Fig. 3.91. Oval structure in Sq N6 (W532), looking this surface (Fig. 3.91). Originally thought southwest. At upper left, Stratum II W516. to be a tomb, excavation within this feature (L5173) exposed several stones arranged in a bisecting line. No indication of any form of burial was observed, and the function of this feature remains unclear. This structure may be associated with Stratum III, as the Stratum III debris on Surface 5150 appears to be associated with its base, indicating an above-ground and freestanding construction. On the other hand, it could just as likely belong to Stratum II, if it was subterranean and entered from the level of the Stratum II surface.

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AMIR GOLANI

Building K4 On the eastern side of Area K, a dense concentration of architectural elements represents a complex structure with several building stages (Figs. 3.92, 3.93). The earliest walls and surfaces are associated with Phase IIIB and represent a large building with massive walls founded on a northern-facing slope. In this phase, Building K4 consisted of three massive walls: W528 in the south, W527 in the east and W524 in the west. A partition wall (W531) extended between W524 and W527 (Fig. 3.93). Wall 528, oriented east–west, was traced for 5 m and appears to have continued some 5 m farther west, where it was found at a slightly different angle below Phase IIIA W540. This wall is nearly 1.5 m wide, built of medium-sized to large stones. The adjoining Phase IIIB surfaces on its southern, upslope side were nearly 0.5 m higher than on its northern side. Thus, the southern face of the wall consisted of one course, while the northern face had three additional courses that descended to a lower level, functioning as a kind of retaining wall for the slope (Plan 3.15: Section 11-11). The eastern end of W528 was abutted by W527, which was 1 m wide and built of small to medium-sized stones preserved up to two courses. In its center, W528 was abutted by W524, also 1 m wide and built of medium-sized to large stones preserved up to two courses. No continuation of W524 was uncovered in the adjoining square to the north (Sq O6).

Fig. 3.92. The architectural remains on the eastern side of Area K, looking south.

129

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W525

52

W536

W

W533

W538

3 W 53

52

4

W

4 W531

W527

Fig. 3.93. Building K4, looking south. Note the storage jar in the installation at left (arrow).

Wall 531, only 0.5 m wide and built of small to medium-sized stones, was probably a partition wall between W524 and W527 (Fig. 3.94), to block off a room formed by W528, W527 and W524 (3.5 × 6.0 m) with a beaten-earth floor (L5154). To the north, there appears to have been another room, although its northern closing wall was not located. Within this room was a beaten-earth floor (L5164) upon which was an accumulation of dark-colored debris (Plan 3.15: Section 7-7). The same surface was

W5

23

W5

34

31

W5

W

52

4

Fig. 3.94. The juncture between Phase IIIB W531 and W524, looking south; Phase IIIA W534 separated from Stratum II W523 by a layer of earth.

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AMIR GOLANI

associated with the base of W527 outside the building to the east, below a Phase IIIA surface (L5149). South of this building, a mudbrick wall (W529), preserved up to one course high, abutted W528. Beaten-earth surfaces were associated with W529 to the east (L5169B) and west (L5169A/5177; Plan 3.16: Section 10-10). Despite the limited exposure of Phase IIIB to the west of Building K4 (Sqs N–O5), the general lack of architectural remains suggests an open area. To the west of W524, a small probe exposed a beaten-earth surface at its base (L5182), and to the north, another beaten-earth surface covered with dark debris (L5147) was exposed on the basal dune, upon which were small stones, some appearing to form a wide arc (Fig. 3.95; Plan 3.15: Sections 4-4, 6-6). A deep probe in Sq N4 (L5106) below a Phase IIIA surface (L5152A) and the base of W540, exposed the western face of a Phase IIIB mudbrick wall (W519) preserved up to two courses (Plan 3.16: Section 5-5). A small portion of the eastern face of this wall was exposed adjacent to the southern balk of Sq N5, although no further continuation of this wall was observed. Phase IIIA In this phase, the two compounds were dismantled and extensive renovations were made to Building K4. Building K4 Although the basic plan of the building was retained, extensive modifications and additions were made in Phase IIIA. The southern W528 continued in use, with a few courses of small stones (W538) added onto its northern face. Wall 527 was shaved down and another stone wall of small to medium-sized stones preserved up to two courses (W533) was laid directly

L5113

L5147

Fig. 3.95. Phase IIIB Surface 5147 in Sq N5, looking north.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

131

on it, creating a slightly narrower wall. Within the southern room of Building K4, a portion of W533 was buttressed with a stone facing (W536) of small stones preserved up to three courses (Fig. 3.96). This refacing could have taken place at a slightly later stage than the construction of W533, but it appears to be consistent with the similar mode of construction seen in W538. To the west, the northern part of W524 was dismantled, and on its southern part a new wall (W534) was built of small to medium-sized stones preserved up to one course high (see Fig. 3.94). The northern wall of the Phase IIIB room (W531) was replaced with a new wall (W526), also built of small to medium-sized stones preserved up to one course high, apparently perpendicular to the northern end of W534. A new room was thus formed within Building K4, of roughly the same size and plan as the Phase IIIB room, except that the shorter W526 provided a clear entrance in the northeast. Within this room was a beaten-earth floor (L5143) that incorporated some small and medium-sized stones laid over the Phase IIIB floor. North of this room, with the elimination of the northern part of W524, an open area appears to have been formed between W526 and W533. The stone courses of W533 ended abruptly, separated by a 0.5 m wide gap from the continuation of the mudbrick superstructure (W512) to the north, suggesting that in Phase IIIA an entranceway existed in the eastern wall of this building. Within this area was a beaten-earth surface (L5155; Plan 3.15: Section W535 7-7). W536 The area to the east of W533 appears to have been partially enclosed in Phase IIIA with the construction of W525, built of W533 medium-sized stones and preserved up to one course high. This wall did not continue the line of W528 and W527 was at a slightly higher level (Plan 3.15: Section 5-5), indicating that it was a later addition to the building. Only the southern face of this wall was traced with certainty; the northern face was poorly preserved and partially dismantled. Wedged between the stones of this wall was a small juglet containing a cache of dentalium shells (Figs. 3.97, 3.98; see Ktalav, forthcoming). The area between W533 and W525 was now resurfaced (L5149; Plan 3.15: Section Fig. 3.96. The Phase IIIA renovation of Building K4’s 7-7), and several stone features were eastern wall, looking south. Note the line of W533 and the stone facing W536. At upper left, Stratum II W535. noted: possible pillar bases, the

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AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.97. A juglet containing dentalium shells wedged between the stones of W525 (arrow).

Fig. 3.98. The dentalium shells in the juglet.

0 54 W

W

51

3

W

52 8

remains of a smelting installation and the lower half of a storage jar sunken into the floor in an upright position and surrounded by a few stones, of unclear function (see Fig. 3.93). During this phase, a new wall (W540), built of small to large stones and preserved up to two courses, was added to the western end of W528 (Fig. 3.99). The western end of W540 was squared off with two large, upright stones; it is unclear if this feature denotes an entrance to this area. North of W540, a new beaten-earth surface (L5113) was laid down in the open area that declined slightly northward with the slope (Sq N5; Plan 3.15: Sections

Fig. 3.99. Phase IIIA W540, looking northeast. The northern face of this wall was partially continued by Stratum II W513.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

133

4-4, 9-9). Within this surface, a smelting installation and several large, flat paving stones were incorporated. South of Building K4, Phase IIIB W529 was removed and the area became an open space and was resurfaced (L5142, L5148/5152B, L5152A). On this surface (Sq O4), a curved wall built of small stones apparently formed an installation of unclear function. Open Area In Phase IIIA, the northern and southern compounds were apparently no longer in use. A few architectural features were discerned in Sqs G3–6 that appear to partially follow the remains of the Phase IIIB northern compound, indicating slightly later modifications; these include W511 and W539 in the southeastern corner of the compound. Wall 511, built of small stones, was founded directly upon the northern end of W501, where the entrance into the Phase IIIB compound was located (see Fig. 3.81). West of this wall was a beaten-earth surface (L5064) with fragments of a large bovid skull adjacent to the wall (Fig. 3.100), all immediately above a Phase IIIB surface (L5119; Plan 3.15: Section 2-2). East of W511 was a similar surface (L5071) that overlay Phase IIIB W530. Upon this surface was a concentration of broken pottery sherds adjacent to W511. An east–west line of mudbrick material perpendicular to W511 may possibly be identified as a wall (W539). These few features are apparently the remnants of a structure that replaced Building K1. Farther north, additional surfaces of this later phase were identified sloping down to the north (Sqs G4–6; L5094, L5095, L5116/5120), suggesting that W518 was no longer in use. In Sq G6, the north–south line of a mudbrick wall (W521), parallel to and at a higher level than W518, may possibly be associated with this later phase. These features are associated with the later building phase of Stratum III on the basis of their relative height in relation to the Stratum III remains in Area B. While an attribution to Stratum II may also be postulated, this appears less likely as no other architectural elements can be definitely associated with Stratum II in the immdiate surroundings.

Fig. 3.100. Phase IIIA W511, looking east. At left, large fragments of a bovine skull (arrow).

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AMIR GOLANI

Stratum II (Plan 3.17) The remains of Stratum II were situated close to the present-day surface; they were heavily eroded after abandonment of the site, and further damaged by the modern development that preceded the excavation. Stratum II features were found primarily in the central, eastern and southern parts of Area K; no clear remains were identified to the west, near Area B. Building K4 Building K4 of Stratum III continued in use in Stratum II. Several new stone walls were laid directly on the Stratum III walls, while segments of earlier walls were reused and surfaces were relaid. The Stratum II stone walls probably served as foundations for mudbrick superstructures of which no traces were detected. In this phase, the building consisted of W513 and W537 in the south, W535 in the east and W516 in the west. Another two walls (W523, W510) may have been partition walls. Wall 513 appears to be a continuation of Stratum III W528–W540 (Plan 3.15: Section 10-10). Its northern and southern faces consisted of the addition of one–two courses of small to medium-sized stones, with no other stones found between these two stone lines. Farther east, the continuation of W513, labelled W537, was also built above Stratum III W528 and separated from it by a layer of earth (Plan 3.15: Section 11-11). It was much narrower, composed of two rows of small to medium-sized stones arranged closely together. The eastern end of W537 appears to have joined with W535, which was a rather crude and flimsy wall constructed directly over Stratum III W527–W533 (see Fig. 3.96). It appears to have been a partial rebuild of the earlier wall, consisting of a new stone foundation laid over W527. Wall 516 was preserved up to two courses running north–south (Sq N6); W510, a short wall, protruded from its eastern face. A reconstruction of W516 southward links it up with the end of W513, suggesting that they were part of the same architectural complex, perhaps with a wall or a wide entranceway between them. Wall 523, perpendicular to the juncture of W513 and W537, consisted of two rows of small stones built above Stratum III W534 and separated from it by a thick layer of earth (see Figs. 3.93, 3.94). Within the building was a beaten-earth floor (L5099) associated with W513; this floor extended farther north (L5079/5088) and east (L5118/5128, L5178/5136; Sqs N4– 5, O5, Plan 3.15: Sections 7-7, 10-10). Outside the building were several beaten-earth surfaces associated with its walls (L5078/5085, L5082, 5100/5145, L5111/5137, L5126); the surfaces to the south were characterized by scattered small stones and sherds, the surface to the east overlay Phase IIIA surface (L5149, Sq P5; Plan 3.15: Sections 7-7, 8-8). Structure K5 Two large stone foundations that joined at a right angle (W515, W517) and several other architectural features found in central Area K may indicate the existence of a massive structure (Fig. 3.101). These walls, 1 m wide, were built of small to medium-sized stones and

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

135

W515 W517

Fig. 3.101. Remains of Structure K5, looking south. Note the row of large stones (pillar bases?) at upper center.

preserved up to only one course high. A bulldozer had destroyed the western continuation of W517. The southern continuation of W515 was also not found. In the corner formed by these two walls was a beaten-earth surface (L5103) that extended farther to the west (L5097) and south (L5098/5172, L5101). South of W517, several concentrations of large stones were aligned parallel to W515 (Sqs K4–5). The relative positions of these stones in relation to W517 and W515 suggest their function as pillar bases for a large structure whose walls were largely eroded after its abandonment, or robbed at a later date. Adjacent to and east of one of these pillar bases was a horseshoe-shaped installation of small to mediumsized stones. Outside the structure to the east was a beaten-earth surface (L5114; Sq L5), and to the south (Sqs I–J3, L3) were other beaten-earth surfaces (L5015/5033, L5019, L5043) that incorporated two smelting installations. Other Architectural Elements Scattered architectural remains were found between Building K4 and Structure K5. Two parallel rows of stones in Sq M5 appear to delineate the foundations of what may have been a mudbrick wall (W522), although all the mudbricks have long since disintegrated. This wall forms a rounded corner, but no continuation of this structure was found to the north or to the west. Two beaten-earth surfaces were associated with the wall (L5121/5127 to the north and L5108 to the south).

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AMIR GOLANI

G

H

I

J

K

L

7

6 28.18 27.91

28.03 27.87

28.00 27.78

W517

28.10 27.99

7

28.05 27.99

28.15 28.01

28.24 28.07

L5103

5

L5114

L5097 27.97

6 L5101

28.05 27.99

28.23 28.11

Structure K5

28.28 28.05

28.19 28.09

L5098

28.05

28.07

28.23 28.03

28.31 28.16

4

28.08

W515

28.00

28.23 28.03

L5098 L5172

28.06 28.03

28.10

28.32 28.24 28.41 28.35

Smelting installation

3

Smelting installation

28.48 28.25

L5015 L5033

L5043 28.20

L5019

2

28.44

28.30

2

1 L5063

28.12 28.09

2

L5021

1 28.44

28.42 28.34

L5055

28.17 28.14

L5007 L5016

28.15

L5005 28.40

28.59 28.39

28.67

L5053 28.49 28.39

28.62 28.53

L5077

Smelting installation

28.65 28.55

L5056 L5074

L5054

28.63 28.58

L5008 L5012 28.60

28.68 28.52

1

G

H

I

J

Plan 3.17. Area K, Stratum II.

K

L

137

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

M

N

O

P

4

7

28.07 27.78

28.22 27.91

28.09

28.20

5

L5099

11

28.14 28.09

6

28.47 28.25

L5118 L5128

28.12

L5178 L5136

28.13

W537

28.48 28.30

L5078 L5085

28.40 28.30

W513

L5111 L5137 28.09

5

28.30 28.10

28.29 28.18

28.39

4

L5100 L5145 28.23

28.27

5

28.03 27.98

28.35 28.22

28.26 28.18

28.24

27.95

W535

28.00

W523

2 28.27 W52 L5108 28.10 28.12

27.85 27.72

L5178

L5079 L5088 28.33 28.08

7

27.75

28.00

28.18

4

10

9

3

11

28.24 28.08

Building K4 8 9

28.27 28.08

L5121 L5127

28.08 27.72

W510

3

28.21 28.08

27.91

10

27.94

8

6

L5082 W516

L5126

3

28.65 28.60 28.60

28.57

2

L5086

L5014 28.69 28.63

Stratum II 0

M

N

O

Plan 3.17 (cont.). Area K, Stratum II.

5 m P

1

138

AMIR GOLANI

Farther south, the Stratum II remains consist of several surfaces, pits and burials that were all found within or directly below the topsoil cover and on the Stratum III remains. In Sq G2 was a beaten-earth surface (L5021; Plan 3.15: Section 1-1) that also included a few concentrations of small stones. Farther east, the same surface (Sq J2; L5005) was found at a slightly higher elevation. Within this surface was a pit that cut directly into Stratum III enclosure W506. This surface continued to rise slightly to the east, where it was identified as L5007/5016 and L5008/5012 (Sqs K–L2) and incorporated a smelting installation adjacent to a concentration of crushed ceramic remains. The Stratum II occupation level farther east, designated as L5014 and L5086 (Sqs M–N2), also bore numerous small to medium-sized stones. Infant and Child Burials Numerous burials were excavated in the southern part of Area K. While such burials occurred in Strata IV–II throughout the site, their largest concentration was found in Stratum II Areas B and K, probably in proximity to the core of the Stratum II settlement that appears to have stretched from Area K to Area D (see Chapter 4: Fig. 4.3). Six individual interments were found in Area K: two in pits (L5063, L5077), two in ceramic vessels (L5053, L5074), and two in mudbrick cists (L5054, L5055, L5056––the latter two possibly the same burial). Some of the burials contained an offering. Burial 5063 (Sq H2). This fragmentary burial contained the remains of a child in a flexed position, possibly in articulation yet lacking the skull, within a shallow pit above the Stratum III occupation. Adjacent to the burial was a fish bone that may have been an offering (Fig. 3.102). Burial 5053 (Sq K2). An infant was interred in a medium-sized storage jar resting on its side with the neck and rim missing, probably to facilitate insertion of the skeleton. The jar was laid in the center and above Stratum III Granary 5026 after it had gone out of use (Figs. 3.89, 3.103), implying awareness of the earlier architectural remains.

Fig. 3.102. Burial 5063 with a fish bone at left.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

139

Fig. 3.103. Burial 5053 after opening the jar.

Burial Cist 5054 (Sq K2). A small mudbrick cist (0.47 × 0.90 m), oriented southwest– northeast adjacent to Stratum III Granary 5026, contained the skeleton of an infant lying on its right side in a flexed position (Figs. 3.89, 3.104). The cist was dug from the Stratum II surface and onto the Stratum III surface. The mudbricks (0.10 × 0.35 m) were made of a dark brown material and laid on their sides. Among the bones was a fish bone that may have been an offering. Burial Cist 5055 (Sq K2). A mudbrick cist similar to Burial Cist 5054 contained a few bone fragments. The cist was oriented north–south adjacent to the top of Stratum III W506, using the wall as its northern end (Fig. 3.105). It did not have a closing wall at its southern end, where a large ceramic fragment was found, possibly a burial offering. Adjacent to the south of the cist was a childʼs skull (L5056) that may have belonged to this burial and appears to have been moved from its original position. A bovine jawbone found nearby may have been placed as an offering, but it is also possible that it was related to the Stratum III buildup into which the cist was cut.

Fig. 3.104. Burial Cist 5054 with an infant lying in flexed position.

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AMIR GOLANI

W506

L5055

L5053

Fig. 3.105. Burial Cist 5055, looking east. Note the large ceramic fragment, possibly the remains of a burial offering, to the right of the cist. At lower right, L5053; at lower center, a bovine jawbone.

Burial 5074 (Sq K–L2). A holemouth jar lying on its side contained the skeleton of an infant in a flexed position (Fig. 3.106). Burial 5077 (Sq K–L2). This burial comprised an infant skeleton interred in a pit, lying on its back, legs flexed and arms crossed over the pelvis (Fig. 3.107); no remains of the skull were found.

Fig. 3.106. Burial 5074.

Fig. 3.107. Burial 5077 interred in a pit.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

141

Area D (Plans 3.18–3.23) Area D is located in the southeastern part of the site and is separated from the areas in the main north–south section (Fig. 3.108; see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3).9 Area D was originally situated at the bottom of the moderate slope descending eastward from the north–south kurkar ridge into the trough. In the eastern part of the excavated area, the archaeological strata were level, while in the western part they sloped upward, apparently following the natural topography of the underlying basal dune. As noted above, modern earthmoving activities had cut a wide swath through the site, removing nearly all the archaeological remains to the west of Area D. The debris from this activity had been dumped in the eastern part of Area D and removed mechanically at the beginning of the excavations. In addition, mechanical excavation of a 15 m wide sewage-pipeline trench that transverses the site from east to west, to the south of Area D, obliterated all archaeological remains in its path, and severed any stratigraphic connection between Areas D and G (Fig. 3.109). However, it was possible to correlate the occupation strata in Area D with those of the other excavation areas in the center of the site. Excavation within Area D identified five

Fig. 3.108. General view of the southern part of the site, looking south. In foreground, Area D; at center, Area G.

Area D was initially probed in a limited trial excavation where remains were visible on the modern surface, to determine their depth and nature. Consequently, a large-scale excavation was undertaken in order to expose as much of the remains as possible. 9

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AMIR GOLANI

12

11

9

10

8

W174

8 W17

9

W17

7

H

6 W17

G 9 W16

4

Structure D6

W171

F

W166

W164

W168

1

W161

W172

E

W163

9

6

7

3

7

1

W18 W58

W53

8

6

W15

W55

W50

D

8

W1

60

W52 W51

W167

W16

Structure D7

2

7 W5

6

15

W

C

4

6

Building D8

B

12

11

10

9

8

Plan 3.18. Area D, composite plan, Strata V–I and Sections 1-1–8-8.

7

143

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

6

5

4

1

2

3

Structure D9 5 W13

W129

W130

W128

W131

W134

W126

H

W127 W155

G

W175

W177

5

W137

Structure D5

W136

W143

5

W180

Structure D1

W140

W153

59 W1

9

W125

Structure D2

W152

W144

W148

E 7 W14

62

W1

W150

5

14

W

W151

Structure D4

W158

1 W121

W173

W138

W13

W165

F

W154

W15

7

2 W12

4

W149 W156 2

W120

D

Structure D3

3

12

W

W12

3

W14

6

C

Stratum I Stratum II Stratum III, Phase A Stratum III, Phase B Stratum IV 5 m

0

6

5

4

3

2

Plan 3.18 (cont.). Area D, composite plan, Strata V–I and Sections 1-1–8-8.

1

B

25 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

29 00

b

L589

W167

L1220A L1220B

L1204 L1209 b

a

a

W121

E4

E8

L1132

L1089

E12

a L1078

W163 L1001

L1342

L1333 L1341 L1360

L5 L1206 L1210 L1227 L1225W L1309 L1288

L1041

L564

W172

L574

L577

E3

L1036

E7

L1096

L581 L593

W158

L1082

L1016

L1100

L1087

E11

1''-1'''

L1125

L1358 L1368

L1236 L1247 L1282 W 6 L1354 L1356

1'-1''

L1117

W165

1-1'

W168

E6

L1128

W144

E2

L1127

L579

L570

E10

W150

L1094

L587

L1057

une L1299

L1244 L1252

L1217 L1223

L1276 L1322 L1323

W148

E1

L1200 L1208

Basal dune

E5

L1126A

L1013

L1126B

W152

L1118

W173 L1231 L1345 L1363

L1085 L1112 Basal dune

L556

L1057 L1125

L1048

E9 a

L1261 L1268 L1336

b

b

L1122 a

L567 L569

144 AMIR GOLANI

26 00

27 00

28 00

29 00

26 2600 00

27 2700 00

28 2800 00

29 2900 00

5 0 25 25 00

2600 0 26

22 0 27 00

W14 W147

b

L1122B

b

aa

LL1200 200 LL1208 208

E5 E5

L1126A

L567

L1276 L1276 LL 322 32 L1322 LL 323 32 L1323 L 3336 L1336

L1126B

E9

Basal u e Basal dune

LL1223 223 LL1217 2 aa

1 W12 W124

E

E E1

Basal dune

L1048

L1013 L1118

LL1231 23 LL1345 45 LL1363 63

L124 L1244 LL125 252 L1252 6 L126 L1261 LL126 26 L1268

E10

L1125 L1057

L556 W161 L570

L595 L595

LL1117

E6 E6

5 L135 L1356 5 L135 L1358 LL136 6 L1368

L1087

2''-2'''

L1096

L570 L581

-2 2'-2''

Basal u e Basal dune

LL1127 2

W 62 W162 LL1094 094

-2-2'

1 L123 L1236 L124 3 L124 L1333 L133 L1247 L128 L128 L1282 1 L129 L1291 LL135 5 L1354

L1100

E11

LL1079 079 LL1036 036

L593

L5 7 L577

E7 E7

E3

E E3 2 L122 L1225

W172

LL1016 0 6 W167 W167 LL1045 045

2 L120 L1206 L121 L1210 LL122 2 L1227 3 L130 L1309 LL134 L1341 LL136 L1360

Plan 3.18 (cont.). Area D, composite plan, Strata V–I and Sections 1-1–8-8.

L1128

LL1047 04

EE E2

L1132

E12

bb

LL1041 04

LL1001 00 LL1078 0 8 bb

W169 W169

a

L120 L1204 LL120 2 9 L1209 a

2 L1220A L1220A LL1220 220 L1220B

L59 L591 L589 L589

W12 W124

E8 E8

L1089

L564 L564

8 L128 L1288

E4

E E4

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

145

24 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

26 00

27 00

28 00

26 00

27 00

28 00 1040

29 00

27 00

28 00

29 00

c

c

b

b

L1242

35 W156

Basal dune

D2

L1317

D5

L1035

D8

L

L1203

L1222

L1216

L1040

L597

L1232

L1023

aL

a

L1054

D12

L582 156

W156

L1015

L1072

3'''-3''''

W124

L534 L51

L1233 L1240 L1294 L1250

L1221 L1224

Basal dune

W156

L529

W149

D6

D3

ld n L512

D10 3L524 L566

b

L1237 c

c

Basal dune

L557

L598 1043 L1027 W 56 b L1043 W156

L1033 l

Plan 3.18 (cont.). Area D, composite plan, Strata V–I and Sections 1-1–8-8.

W147

D1

3-3'

W50

D4

W149

3'-3''

D7

3''-3'''

D11

L531

L1258 L1270 L1266 L1334 L1295 L1337 L1338

L1298

L1251

L1228 L1273 3L1306

L1219

039 L1037 L599 L1039

L504 53 L530

3 D9

L1034 a L1073 L1074A L1074B

L1033

a

a

146 AMIR GOLANI

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

147

Fig. 3.109. Area D at left, Area G at right, separated by modern pipeline trench, looking east.

strata (Plan 3.18): ephemeral remains of Stratum V, previously defined in Area B, were identified on the basal dune, followed by clear architectural features of Stratum IV within a medium gray-brown matrix. The most substantial remains in Area D are those of Stratum III, which can be divided into two distinct building phases and are further distinguished by their earthen matrices: Phase IIIB lay within a brown matrix, while that of Phase IIIA was light brown in color. Stratum II lay within a dark gray-brown, very compacted earthen layer that included many stone chips and was distinct from that of Stratum III. Finally, a few elements of Stratum I, dated to the Byzantine period, were uncovered.10 Stratum V (Plan 3.19) The earliest stratified remains were exposed in a few limited probes represented by debris layers lacking any architectural remains. Their stratigraphic position on the sterile sands of the basal dune, below architectural elements of Stratum IV, define them as Stratum V. In the eastern part of the area, a 0.2 m thick buildup of dark brown debris with some stones was detected (L1334/1337; Sq D2; Plan 3.18: Section 3-3). In the western part of the area, the Stratum V remains were approximately 2 m higher than in the eastern part. These include a large patch of a packed kurkar layer (L1074B, L1126B) exposed in Sqs D9 and E9, and dark brown laminated debris in Sqs D8, E6 and E8 (L1044, L1045, L1127; Fig. 3.110)

It should be noted that in Area D, as opposed to the other areas, the y axis is alphabetic and the x

10

axis is numerical, and the squares are labelled from right to left.

148

AMIR GOLANI

12

11

9

10

8

7

26.90 26.81

W178

H 26.86 26.79

4

G

F

L1095 26.85

1 L1118 L1122B

E

L1041 L1045 L1041 26.96

27.25

26.79

26.84

L1126A

W167

L1082 26.60

26.77 26.69

27.20

L1126B

7

3

27.08 26.98

27.12

6

2

7

L1074A L1074B 27.15

L549

L550 L543 L547

L538

27.77

C

28.38 27.78

27.55 27.48 28.37 27.75

L1084 27.40 L1088

8

1

W18

27.94 27.70

27.86

28.35 27.67

56

L1044 27.15

L1035 L1040 27.20

L1079

26.70

27.75 27.17

27.17 26.78

L1072 26.62

27.65 27.17

L1146 27.36

28.40

L1060

1

W

26.83

W156

28.20 27.15

27.28

27.86

8

26.91

L1073

L539 L548

D

27.07

L1083 26.99

26.82

4

6

B

12

11

10

9

Plan 3.19. Area D, Strata V–IV.

8

7

149

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

6

5

4

3

2

1

H

5 L1362 L1364

G

25.32

5

26.10 25.76 25.88

W159 25.77

F

25.68

L1371 25.65

25.42 25.07

Structure D2 26.11 25.68

W182

26.02

26.57 26.49 26.60

27.02

L1043 L1046 26.62

W154

E

2

25.14

L1295

3

25.10

25.02

25.37

26.01

25.37

L1334 L1337

25.21

26.15

Pit 25.00

L1368

L1298

L1317 L1306

26.75 26.46

25.00

1 25 63

25.63

W156

L1336

Structure D1

25.63

W151

26.51

25.96

W150

26.02

26.50

L1094

L1231 L1345

W148

26.57 26.50

W15

L1117 L1127

2

26.05

L1250

26.38 26.13

D

25.05

26.27 26.04

C

Stratum IV Stratum V 0

6

5

4

3

Plan 3.19 (cont.). Area D, Strata V–IV.

2

5 m

1

B

150

AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.110. A small probe in Sq D8 revealing depositional remains below the base of Stratum IV W156. The basal dune was reached at the bottom of the probe.

and Sqs C–D10 (L549, L550; Plan 3.18: Sections 2-2–4-4, 6-6, 8-8). The limited scope of the Stratum V exposure appears to represent a sporadic occupation of limited duration, or perhaps activities designed to lay down a firm constructional fill upon the loose sands prior to construction of Stratum IV. Stratum IV (Plan 3.19) In Area D, significant building remains began to appear in Stratum IV throughout the area, including two structures, a massive enclosure wall and several walls, some of which may have belonged to a compound. Structure D1 The remains of a mudbrick structure with rounded corners stood at the far eastern edge of the area. Only the eastern wall (W148) was excavated down to its base, comprising a superstructure of brown to orange-brown mudbricks upon a partial stone foundation. Due to time constraints, the southern (W154) and western (W151) walls and a partition wall (W150) were only identified from their very top. A northern extension of the structure is postulated, based on the width and building techniques of these walls. Wall 150 abutted W151, and a small portion also protruded from W148, thus forming a room (2 × 5 m; W148, W154, W151) that belonged to a larger structure of indeterminate shape and size. The entrance to the room was probably located in W150. Lack of time precluded further excavation down to an associated floor. Several beaten-earth surfaces of Stratum IV were found to the south and east of the structure (Sqs D1–2, E1). Upon the surfaces to the south (L1250, L1295, L1298) lay a thick mass of crushed ceramics, partly overlaid by Stratum III W124 (Plan 3.18: Section 3-3), while the surface to the east (L1336; Plan 3.18: Section 1-1) included a pit (unexcavated).

151

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Structure D2 The partial remains of Structure D2, to the northwest of Structure D1, consisted of a curved wall (W159) preserved up to two courses, built of brown to orange-brown mudbricks on a foundation of small kurkar stones. Wall 159 was revealed directly beneath Stratum III W140 and W143 (see below). Within the structure was a beaten-earth floor (L1371; Fig. 3.111). The excavated remains indicate the presence of a structure of unclear plan, possibly associated in some way with Structure D1. Enclosure Wall The most outstanding feature of Stratum IV in Area D was a very large wall (W156) 0.8– 1.0 m wide, preserved up to nine courses and built of brown to orange-brown mudbricks on a stone foundation (Fig. 3.112). It was exposed for 35 m through seven consecutive squares (C10, D4–9). This wall was cut at its southwestern extremity by the large sewage-pipeline trench. South of this wall, several beaten-earth surfaces ran up to its base (L1035/1040, L1043/1046, L1072, L1084/1088; Plan 3.18: Section 3-3; Figs. 3.113, 3.114). The base of a wall fragment (W181), built of small to medium-sized stones and preserved up to three courses, was connected to W156 by Surfaces 1035/1040 and 1084/1088 (Fig. 3.115; Plan 3.19: Section 4-4). This wall was partly reused within the foundations of Stratum III W160 (see below; Fig. 3.116). Farther south, L1146 and L1060 represent limited probes below the Stratum III architecture into the deposits of Stratum IV (Fig. 3.117). Although at least one wall was found roughly parallel to it, no walls were found to abut the southern face of W156. As such, W156 appears to have been an enclosure wall circumscribing a very large area, most of which was obliterated by intrusive modern activities. The southwestern continuation of W156 could theoretically have continued into Area G and adjoined Building G3, located only 15 m to the south of Area D (see below).

13

W

43

8

W1

59

W1

L1371 L1313

Fig. 3.111. Strata IV–III remains in Sq F3, looking north.

152

AMIR GOLANI

W 6 15

Fig. 3.112. The central part of Area D at the end of excavation, looking east; at right, W156.

6

15

W

L1072

L1039 L1039

Fig. 3.113. Wall 156 and the Strata IV–III remains in Sq D7, looking northeast.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W156

L1043

Fig. 3.114. Wall 156 and Stratum IV Surface 1043/1046, looking north.

0

16

W

W156

1

18

W

Fig. 3.115. Stratum IV remains in Sq D8, looking east.

W181

6

5 W1

L1040

Fig. 3.116. Stratum IV W181, as a foundation for Stratum III W160, looking west.

153

154

AMIR GOLANI

L588

L1146

Fig. 3.117. A probe below the Phase IIIB stone pavement (L588) in Building D8 down to Stratum IV Surface 1146.

Other Architectural Elements In the northeastern part of the area, a deep probe reached thick, dark brown debris deposits on a surface in Sq G4 (L1362/1364), directly below Stratum III surfaces (Plan 3.18: Section 5-5). Additional deep probes beneath Stratum III walls exposed the remains of a narrow wall of brown to orange-brown mudbricks (W152) in Sq E5. The bricks of this wall were observed to go into the western balk of the square, perhaps continuing into Sq E6 (W182; see below). Immediately to the east of W152, several stones as well as intact and crushed ceramic vessels lay on a beaten-earth surface (L1231/1345; Fig. 3.118; Plan 3.18: Section 1-1; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming). Wall 182 was narrow and curved, built of small to medium-sized stones and preserved up to one course. Only a small remnant of a stone foundation was identified. This wall and its associated beaten-earth surface (L1094) to the south were partially overlaid by mudbrick collapse (Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1, 2-2). A long portion of a wall (W167), built of brown to orange-brown mudbricks and preserved up to three courses, was exposed for 7.75 m. This wall began in Sq E7 and ran through all of Sq E8, but no continuation was found in Sq E9. South and north of this wall were beaten-earth surfaces (L1079, L1083 and L1041, L1082 respectively). The latter surface may have continued to the north (L1095; Sq F8) where numerous mudbrick fragments upon it suggest a segment of a curved wall, all overlaid by dark brown debris (Plan 3.18: Section 4-4). The fact that both W156 and W167 appear to have coexisted in Stratum IV suggests that W167 may have functioned as an enclosure wall of another compound at this time. Farther north (Sq H9), a remnant of a wall built of light brown mudbricks and small stones (W178) was observed running underneath a Stratum III wall (W179). North of the enclosure W156, several beaten-earth surfaces were also observed in Sqs C10–11, D4–5, D10 (L538, L539/548, L543/547, L1306, L1317; Plan 3.18: Sections

155

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

L1231

W152

Fig. 3.118. Ceramics on Stratum IV Surface 1231/1345, looking south.

3-3, 6-6, 8-8). In Sq D9, two beaten-earth surfaces (L1073, L1074A) were superimposed one atop the other, separated by a layer of sand (Plan 3.18: Sections 3-3). Numerous carbonized olive stones were found on the Phase IVB Surface 1074A (Fig. 3.119). The same stratigraphy of two superimposed beaten-earth surfaces was observed in the adjoining Sq E9 to the north (L1122B of Phase IVA overlying L1126A of Phase IVB; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1, 2-2).

56

W1

L1074A

Fig. 3.119. Carbonized olive stones on Stratum IVB Surface 1074A, looking southeast.

156

AMIR GOLANI

Stratum III (Plans 3.20–3.22) The remains of Stratum III were more extensively exposed than those of Stratum IV. Many new structures were erected in Stratum III, which appears to represent a very intensive building phase (Fig. 3.120). In the northwestern portion of the excavated area, many of the architectural elements were found immediately on the basal dune, indicating that Strata V– IV did not exist in this area, or had been shaved away by the Stratum III builders. The two Stratum III phases were characterized by mudbrick architecture; the Phase IIIB walls were generally wider than those of Phase IIIA. Phase IIIB (Plans 3.20, 3.21) Six separate structures (D3–D8) and various storage installations were founded in Phase IIIB, some of which continued into Phase IIIA. While none of these structures was fully exposed, the remains enable a plausible reconstruction of at least some of them. One storage installation (Plan 3.21), found to the west of the main remains in Sq E18, is probably also to be associated with Phase IIIB, although the excavation was not able to establish a link between this feature and the other architectural elements in Area D.

Structure D3

Structure D4

Fig. 3.120. Stratum III Structures D3, D4 in the eastern part of Area D, looking south.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

157

Structure D3 Only partially exposed at the very eastern edge of the excavated area (Fig. 3.120), Structure D3 represents the remains of a large rectangular or square building of which only parts of the western (W147) and southern (W146) walls were exposed. Wall 147, 9 m long, was built of two rows of dark gray mudbricks preserved up to four courses and oriented southwest–northeast. It formed a right-angled corner with W146, constructed in a similar manner, and may have made another corner at its northern end. Adjoining W147 within the building was W124, built of orange-brown mudbricks and preserved up to six courses. Wall 124 appears to have been a somewhat later addition to the structure and functioned as an inner buttress or a bench along W147. The bases of both walls were found at the same height. Within the structure, a beaten-earth floor (L1294) with some small stones upon it was exposed between W124 and W146. Outside Structure D3, several beaten-earth surfaces were associated with the base of its walls in Sqs D1–2, E1 (L1251, L1266/1270, L1276, L1283, L1322/1323; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1–3-3). Structure D4 Farther west, the Phase IIIB remains were found at a slightly higher level due to the natural topography. Structure D4 was only partly exposed, with three mudbrick walls forming a large, somewhat polygonal building: W149 on the south, W121 on the west and W138 on the east (Fig. 3.120). Wall 149 was built of two or three rows of orange-brown mudbricks preserved up to three courses. At its eastern end, it appears to have been squared off, possibly forming an entranceway with W138 (see below). At its western end, W149 probably connected with W121 at an obtuse angle. Wall 121 was also built of orange-brown mudbricks arranged in two rows and preserved up to four courses. Traced for nearly 9 m, the northern end of W121 ended abruptly. Farther north, a very short wall segment (W136) appears to have connected to a curved mudbrick corner built in similar fashion and material to W121, suggesting the presence of an entranceway into this building, with a line of stones (W153) possibly functioning as a threshold between them. Wall 138, the probable eastern wall of the structure, differed from W149 and W121, being built of brown and brown-gray mudbricks that were extremely difficult to differentiate from the surrounding earthen matrix. Because of this, much of W138 was inadvertently dismantled during excavation, yet the extant traces along with close scrutiny of the balks, enabled the reconstruction of this wall. In its central portion (Sq F3), one line of mudbricks was observed, and the northern and eastern balks revealed this wall to be over 1 m in width and preserved up to four courses. Farther north (Sq G3), the base was exposed, constructed of a row of small kurkar stones. The southern portion of this wall was not excavated, but several lines of stones in Phase IIIA (see below) can be conjectured as continuing the line of W138; they end some 3 m from the eastern end of W149, forming a wide entranceway between these two walls.

158

AMIR GOLANI

12

11

9

10

8

7

27.30 26.89

L1123

L1144

L1114

27.18 26.90

27.30

L1115 27.34

L1114

6 W17

H

26.69

9

W17

L1137 L1143

27.35

26.70

Structure D6

26.87 26.75

W169

26.96 26.81

G

L1124

L1140 L1142 26.78

L1113

27.38

27.21

4

27.53 26.80

L1099 L1102

F

L1090

L1059 L1133

L1101

27.50

27.54 26.89

27.17

27.49 27.11

1

L1100

L1119

27.73 27.52

W168

27.89 27.46

L1132

E

L1055 L1081

27.52

27.54

27.65 27.37

L1085 L1118

L1057 L1128

27.38

27.47

27.44

27.52

27.64 27.57

L1001 L1078

3

7

L1033 L1034

6

27.24 27.87

8

W5

L519 L535

28.38 27.76

0

16

W

6

27.82

L588

27.61

27.90 27.60

L1037 L1039 27.10

27.15 27.07

28.05 27.43

15

W

27.52

27.20 27.09

60

C

W51

8

27.64

L1023

28.14 27.86

W1

28.58 27.74

L1000

28.25 28.17

27.17 26.78

W15

27.65

8

27.05

27.29 26.16

7

Structure D7

D

L1036

27.10

6

W172

2

L1010 L1019

L1029

27.67

27.70

Building D8 4

6

B

12

11

10

9

Plan 3.20. Area D, Stratum III, Phase B.

8

7

159

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

5

6

4

3

25.80 25.56

2

1

L1365

5 W13

25.54

H

25.88 25.72

Structure D5 5

W15

5 L1353 L1355

25.76 25.68

26.17 25.91

25.95

L1350 L1361

26.60 26.29

W136

26.00

26.17 26.03 26.20 25.95

5

26.56 26.41

3

W153

26.81 26.48

14

W

26.79 26.34

26.45

26.25 26.10

26.16 26.01

Structure D3

26.33

25.30

25.56 25.31

L1322 L1323

26.55 26.41

E 25.66

25.30

W1 26.40

26.45 26.37

26.43 26.24 26.43 26.30

W14

9

L1237 26.14

L1266 L1270

L1251 25.30

25.29

26.30 26.13

L1312

25.59 25.26

L1266 25.24

4

L1273

L1027 26.90

26.65 26.38

W12

L1311

2

25.68 25.23

25.58 25.27

26.41

L1310

1

25.70 25.21

L1276

W121

L1220B

F

25.85

26.00

Structure D4 26.70 26.36

L1357

L1313 L1366

W138

W139

L1248

G

W138

25.76 25.68

47

26.04 25.83

W14

6

3 L1294 25.27

25.64 25.28

D

L1283 25.29

25.61 25.38

C

Stratum III, Phase B 5 m

0

6

5

4

3

Plan 3.20 (cont.). Area D, Stratum III, Phase B.

2

1

B

160

AMIR GOLANI

The northern portion of Structure D4 is a jumble of walls of various orientation. Wall 139, built of orange-brown mudbricks and preserved up to four courses, is roughly parallel to W121, and like W121, it was found squared off at its northern end. It was traced for only 2 m southward, where it may have joined W143 at an acute angle, the latter built of orangebrown mudbricks and preserved up to two courses. The function of W139 and W143, both of which appear to be related to Phase IIIB, remains unresolved. Within this structure was a beaten-earth floor (L1237, L1313/1366, L1350/1361) associated with the base of the walls in Sq D3 (Plan 3.20: Section 3-3). Alongside W138, this floor was covered with a concentration of large chunks of burnt ceramics and stones (see Fig. 3.111). Outside Structure D4 were beaten-earth surfaces (L1220B, L1248, L1273) associated with the base of W121 and W149. East of W138, a surface (L1357) was littered with numerous ceramic sherds. Structure D5 Fragmentary remains of a structure to the north of Structure D4, immediately below a Phase IIIA floor (L1281/1352; Fig. 3.121), comprise a segment of a large stone wall over 1.2 m wide (W135), built of two rows of medium-sized kurkar stones with smaller chinking stones in between, preserved up to one course. To the south, a small segment of a wall (W155) built of light cream-brown mudbricks was preserved up to two courses and founded on a row of small stones (Fig. 3.122; Plan 3.18: Section 5-5). On the basis of its orientation and height, this wall probably adjoined W135. South of W155 was a beaten-earth surface overlaid with dark ash (L1353/1355) within which two rounded clay installations of unclear function were embedded. To the east of W155, alongside its base, was another beaten-earth surface (L1365) built over mudbrick remains that are probably associated with Stratum IV (unexcavated).

L1281 Structure D9

W135

1

W13

Structure D5

Fig. 3.121. Structures D5 of Phase IIIB and D9 of Phase IIIA in the eastern part of Area D, looking south.

161

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W155

L1318

Fig. 3.122. Phase IIIB W155 and Phase IIIA Surface 1318 in the northern balk of Sq G4, looking northeast.

Structure D6 In the northwestern part of the area, three walls of an elongated structure oriented north– south were exposed: W169 on the west, W179 on the north and W176 on the east. Walls 169 and 179 were built of light cream-gray mudbricks preserved up to two courses, laid on a foundation of small to medium-sized kurkar stones; they formed a rounded corner (Fig. 3.123). Wall 169 was traced for nearly 7 m. Wall 179, built above W178 of Stratum IV, was traced for nearly 3 m until it disappeared beneath the remains of a Phase

9

16

W

78 W1

W174

W176

9

17

W

78

W1

Fig. 3.123. The northern part of Structure D6, looking south. Phase IIIA W174 is at the same level as Phase IIIB W169. Wall 176 mudbrick line was largely dismantled in the Phase IIIA renovations.

162

AMIR GOLANI

IIIA wall (W174). Parallel to W169, the western face of W176 was uncovered, comprising a long wall of brown mudbricks preserved up to two courses. At its northern end, closely packed, medium-sized kurkar stones appear to be the remnants of the stone foundation of this wall. In the area circumscribed by W169, W179 and W176, a beaten-earth floor (L1137/1143, L1140/1142) was associated with their bases (Figs. 3.123, 3.124), and another (L1144) lay outside the structure to the north. West of this structure, several probes exposed beaten-earth surfaces covered with thick accumulations of dark gray-brown debris (L1113, L1114, L1115, L1124), but no architectural remains apart from one oval pit full of dark brown debris (L1123), indicating an open area. These surfaces lay directly upon the underlying basal sand dune at an elevation over 0.5 m higher than the surfaces inside and outside Structure D6, due to the ancient topographical slope that descended eastward. The peculiar plan of Structure D6, which at present consists of two long, parallel walls forming an elongated room, can perhaps be explained as two retaining walls (W169, W179) erected to protect a large mudbrick structure to the east that was not exposed (see below).

W176

W169

W174

L1140

Fig. 3.124. Structure D6 in Sq G9, looking north. Phase IIIA W174 atop Phase IIIB W176.

Structure D7 On the western side of the area, several fragmentary walls may enable the reconstruction of a rectangular building (outer dimensions 7 × 11 m, inner floor space c. 50 sq m; Fig. 3.125). Two walls with their corners were uncovered—W168 in the east and W172 and W58 in the west. Wall 168 was built of orange-brown mudbricks preserved up to three courses. Its southern continuation was mostly destroyed by a deep Stratum I well that cut through all the earlier remains. The northern end of this wall was identified as a rounded corner; the

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

163

Building D8

Structure D7

Fig. 3.125. Stratum III Structures D7 and Building D8 in the western part of Area D, looking south.

northern wall of the structure was within a balk. The northwestern, rounded corner and remnants of the western wall (W172) were constructed of the same mudbricks as W168 and preserved up to two courses on a stone foundation laid on the basal dune (Sq E12; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1, 2-2). The southwestern corner of the structure may possibly be outlined by W51, a segment of a stone wall preserved up to three courses, and W58, a fragment of a heavily eroded wall of one row of orange-brown mudbricks preserved up to two courses (Plan 3.18: Section 8-8). Within the structure, a beaten-earth floor (L1100) covered with dark ash lay directly upon the basal dune and was associated with the base of W168 (Sq E11; Plan 3.18: Section 1-1). Outside the structure, to the east, a beaten-earth surface (L1057/1128) was exposed at a slightly higher level than Floor 1100. To the south, on a similar surface (L519/535) associated with the base of W51, a complete juglet was found (Fig. 3.126; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming). A surface to the west (L1132) lay on the basal dune, while in the surface to the north (L1059/1133, L1099/1102, L1119), two wide, shallow pits full of dark brown debris (L1090, L1101; Fig. 3.127) cut down into the basal dune. Despite its foundation on the basal dune, Structure D7 is attributed to Stratum III based on its stratigraphic position directly below Stratum II elements, and its two building phases (see below), which are similar to those in most of the Stratum III structures in this area.

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Fig. 3.126. Phase IIIB Surface 519/535 with a juglet upon it, and Phase IIIA Surface 506/516 with a stone installation.

W171

L1101

0

L109 Fig. 3.127. Squares G–F/10–11, looking south. Phase IIIA W171 above Phase IIIB Pit 1090, and Phase IIIB Pit 1101 to west.

165

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Building D8/Granary 58811 South of W156, a circular structure was exposed (outer diam. 7.3 m, inner diam. 5.3 m, c. 17 sq m; Figs. 3.128, 3.129). The southern portion of the structure was obliterated by a modern intrusion. The wall of the structure (W160) was founded on a stone foundation composed of one course of medium-sized to large stones arranged in two parallel rows. The foundation partially incorporated the remains of Stratum IV W181 (see above). The superstructure comprised two rows of cream-gray mudbricks preserved to four courses above the stone foundation (Fig. 3.130). A rough stone pavement, possibly the base for a beaten-earth floor (L588, L1010/1019), was found throughout the building (Plan 3.18: Section 4-4). The large size and circular plan of this structure suggest a public function, possibly a large granary.

Building D8

0

16

W

6

15

W

Fig. 3.128. Stratum III Building D8 and W156, looking east.

In Phase IIIB, Building D8 apparently functioned as a granary, while in Phase IIIA it appears to have changed in function. 11

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L572

Fig. 3.129. Building D8 in the foreground, cut by a modern intrusion, looking north. Phase IIIB rough stone pavement below Phase IIIA Floor 572.

Fig. 3.130. The southern end of W160, looking north. Note the cream-gray mudbricks on the Phase IIIB stone foundation. At upper left, the Phase IIIA orange-brown mudbrick addition to this wall.

Enclosure Wall Wall 156, erected in Stratum IV, continued in use during Phase IIIB, as evidenced by the beaten-earth surfaces that postdate the Stratum IV occupation to the north (L1001/1078, L1033/1034, L1036, L1085/1118) and south of the wall (L1000, L1023, L1037/1039; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1–4-4; Fig. 3.131). However, at the end of Stratum IV, the eastern part of the wall apparently collapsed, as is evident in Sq D6, where a Phase IIIB surface (L1027) directly overlay the extension of W156 (Plan 3.18: Section 3-3). Farther east, three pits (L1310–L1312) full of gray debris cut into W156, indicating that the wall had gone out of use (Fig. 3.132).

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CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W160

L1000

W156

Fig. 3.131. Phase IIIB Surface 1000, looking south.

Fig. 3.132. Square D5, looking south. Several Phase IIIB pits cut into the eastern end of W156, indicating that this part of it had gone out of use.

Granary 511 (Plan 3.21) The outline of a curved mudbrick wall (W54), located 30 m to the west of the main excavation area (Sq E18), was clearly evident on the surface after mechanical leveling activities had removed nearly all the overlying remains. The structure (outer diam. 3.2 m, inner diam. 2.4 m) was built of one row of brown to cream-gray mudbricks preserved up to three courses (Fig. 3.133). The rectangular mudbricks were carefully arranged, and the curvature of the wall created wedge-like gaps between the bricks that were filled with mudbrick fragments. It is unclear

18

E 27 37

27 59 27 46

L511 L513

54

W 0

2

m

Stratum III, Phase B

Plan 3.21. Area D, Sq E18.

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AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.133. Granary 511, looking north.

whether this structure was circular or elliptical, as excavation to the west did not reveal any continuation of the wall. Within the structure, a beaten-earth floor (L511/513) with light gray debris upon it, directly overlay sterile, light brown, sandy clay loam; no surface was identified outside the wall. As this area was heavily damaged by modern construction and completely detached from any of the other excavated squares, it is unclear to what stratum this feature is to be attributed. As the walls of the structure appear to have been set into the basal dune, it may constitute the remains of a partly above-ground granary, similar to those uncovered in Strata IV and III in Area G (see below). The type of mudbrick is typical of Stratum III. Phase IIIA (Plan 3.22) This phase showed minor renovations in some of the structures and the replacement of others. One of the characteristics of Phase IIIA is the narrow walls made of one row of mudbricks that appear to have delineated relatively small spaces. Structure D3 Structure D3 continued in use with minor alterations. The open area outside the structure to the west was resurfaced at a slightly higher level (Sqs E1–2; L1258, L1261/1268, L1315/1316; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1–3-3), yet no such resurfacing was observed in the very limited area excavated within the structure. Structure D4 This structure also continued in use with modifications. Stones were incorporated into W138 (Sq E3), and in some places small stones reinforced its outer faces (Sq G3). A small, curved wall of one row of mudbricks preserved up to one course high (W145) appears to have been joined to W138.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

The northern portion of the structure remains unclear. A new wall (W140) was constructed above Phase IIIB W143, of one row of mudbricks preserved up to two courses. Wall 140 abutted W138 in the east and connected with W139 in the west in a rounded corner. Within the structure, a new beatenearth floor associated with the walls was laid down (L1288, L1289, L1341/1360, L1348; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1, 2-2; Fig. 3.134). Floor 1289, between W138 and W139, lay above Phase IIIB W143, and a storage jar (L1344) was sunken into the floor in an upright position (see Golani and Talis, forthcoming). Adjacent to the jar was a large concentration of Glycymeris shells lying one within the other, as if they had been strung on a necklace (Fig. 3.135; see Ktalav, forthcoming). Resurfacing was also observed outside the structure: to the north of W136 (L1318; see Fig. 3.122), to the west of W121 (L1220A) and to the east of W138 and W149 (L1242, L1354).

Fig. 3.134. At lower center, Phase IIIA Surface 1288. At upper center, a concentration of ceramics on Stratum II Surface 1225.

Fig. 3.135. An upright storage jar base sunken into Phase IIIA Floor 1289. At upper left, a concentration of shells.

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170

AMIR GOLANI

12

11

9

10

26.89 26.78

9

L1130

L1108

27.00

27.66

27.61

7

W174

W17

H L1107

8

27.17 26.86

W169

L1091 L1106 27.69

G

L1139 26.98

27.32 27.00 27.53 27.00

Structure D6

4 27.82 27.68

Smelting installation

L1012 L1049

L1086

27.70

27.57 27.48

27.98 27.88

L1032 27.50

W164

27.61

27.76 27.50

W171

F

27.46 27.34

27.98 27.83

L1011

L1075

W166

27.86

1 28.08 27.89

L583 W161

W17

E

L1087 L1096

L1048 L573

2 28.25 28.17

L536

28.38 27.66

8

28.40 27.66

L537 L540

W51 L506 L516

L1016 27.27

27.24 27.18

9 L597 L599

6 15

27.70

W

L584

W1

28.13

28.10

28.11

27.88

28.12

28.09

56

1

W

28.08 28.03

27.86

27.90

Building D8

6

28.35 27.67

L580 L594

L572 L585

L544 L546

28.16 27.98

60

Smelting installation

4

27.99

28.58 27.74

W55

L521 L532

27.85

28.11

28.15

8

8

27.35 27.25

28.00 27.35

28.31 28.11

L551

W5

28.24 27.87

L590

L566

28.32 28.12

28.17

D

27.30

7 L531

27.45 27.25

L591

W16

6

7

3

C

27.52 27.35

27.70

Structure D7

2

27.24

W163

27.75

27.75

27.64 27.28

B

12

11

10

9

Plan 3.22. Area D, Stratum III, Phase A.

8

7

171

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

6

5

25.92

26.21 25.97

W129

L1347

4

Structure D9

L1305 L1369

26.30 26.05

L1304 26.08

26.35 26.25

26.02

W127 26.38

L1340

H

26.23 26.04

26.26 26.03

5

26.17

26.19

L1134 26.76

L1318 26.80

26.60 25.29

26.17 25.91

W136

W180

26.22

L1348

W13

26.84 26.76

25.70 25.21

L1342

L1341 L1360

26.70 26.36

26.14

26.70

L1288

Structure D4

26.40 26.55 26.41

L1220A 26.45

26.52 26.29

W149 26.58 26.38

1

L1261 L1268 25.67

E

25.56 25.31

25.93 25.88

L1315 L1316

L1354 25.80

25.70

2

7

W121

L587 L1020

26.63 26.14

26 41

25.58 25.27

L1258

L1242

26 65 26.51

W14

W173

27.00 26.78

26.20 25.81

F 26.16 26.01

25.70

25.78

26.30 25.13

3 4

27.00

26.24

L1344

26.56

W165 26.64

W140 26.40 26.24 L1289

W138

9

26.59 26.34

W12

26.81 26.48

26.17 26.03

5

5

26.90 26.81

14

26.70

G

26.29

L1138

W177 L1141

W

26.84 26.77

L1281 L1352

W126

W131

26.43 26.15

26.22 26.06 26.24

W128

26.00 26.46 26.09

W130

1

2

3

25.64 25.28

Structure D3 25.59 25.26

D

W14

6 25.61 25.38

C

Stratum III, Phase A 5 m

0

6

5

4

3

Plan 3.22 (cont.). Area D, Stratum III, Phase A.

2

1

B

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AMIR GOLANI

Structure D6 Two of the Phase IIIB walls (W169, W179), probably retaining walls, continued into Phase IIIA with the addition of several new mudbrick walls, apparently of a large structure to their east. Thus, in this stage, Structure D6 consisted of W174 and W164 in the west, and W163, W165 and W173 in the south. The area west of this structure appears to have continued as an open area with beaten-earth surfaces (L1107, L1108, L1091/1106); which, as in the previous phase, was situated on a higher level than the building to the east. The floor level enclosed by W169 and W179 (L1130, L1139) was raised, and the new floor partly overlaid Phase IIIB W176. Close inspection of the western balk of Sq E8 revealed a mudbrick wall preserved up to three courses (Plan 3.18: Section 2-2), which appears to be the southern extension of W169 as it is similarly aligned and built of the same mudbricks. It could not be determined if it linked with W156, the massive enclosure wall to the south. Wall 174 was constructed of brown to gray-brown mudbricks above W176, but at a slightly different angle (see Fig. 3.124). Farther south, W164 appears to be the southern continuation of W174, although not precisely aligned. Wall 164 was massive, 1.65 m wide, and was traced for 6 m. It was built of brown to gray-brown mudbricks laid on a partial stone foundation and preserved up to three courses (Sqs E–F8; Plan 3.18: Section 4-4). The northern end of W164 was slightly higher than W174, due to the rising slope. Both walls were built of the same type of mudbricks arranged in the same manner, suggesting that they were parts of the same, apparently massive wall. To the south, W164 formed a rightangled corner with W163, traced for 7 m and built of identical material preserved up to two courses. The eastern end of W163 is squared off and ends abruptly. Three meters to the east, W165, of similar orientation yet slightly to the north of W163, was built of orange-brown mudbricks and preserved up to three courses. This suggests an entranceway between W163 and W165, recessed slightly to the north. Similarly, the eastern end of W165 was separated by a 1 m wide gap from W173 to its east (Plans 3.18: Section 1-1; 3.22). Wall 173 is a small, L-shaped segment built of one row of orange-brown mudbricks preserved up to two courses that may have formed an indirect entranceway with W165. Within Structure D6, a beaten-earth floor (L1032) at the base of W164 included a rounded stone installation sunken into it and another, larger installation, both of unclear function. The latter installation comprised a narrow stone wall (W166), parallel to W164 and abutting W163, sunken three courses (0.25 m) below the floor level and forming a rounded corner to the north, although no eastward continuation of this wall was identified. In the area east of these features, only partially excavated, the only elements that could be definitely associated with Phase IIIA were two short mudbrick wall segments in Sq G6 (W177, W180) and their associated beaten-earth surfaces (L1134, L1138, L1141). Resurfacings was also observed outside Structure D6 to the south (Sqs E6–8; L587/1020, L591, L1016; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1, 2-2). Structure D7 Structure D7 appears to have continued in use during Phase IIIA. One course of small to mediumsized stones (W55/W161) was added directly on top of Phase IIIB W168, and the floor within the structure was raised (L531, L551, L1087/1096; Plan 3.18: Sections 2-2, 8-8).

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

173

Outside the structure, new beaten-earth surfaces appear to have been laid at a higher level, including L536 and L1048 to the east (Sqs D–E10; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1–3-3), and L521/532 and L506/516 to the south (Sqs C11–12), the latter surface with a rounded installation of small stones, possibly for holding a jar in place (see Fig. 3.126). In the adjoining Sq C10, another beaten-earth surface (L537/540) was associated directly with W156 (see below). To the north of Structure D7, surfaces were identified as L1086 (with a smelting installation), L1012/1049 and L1011 (Sqs F10–12); the latter two surfaces were also associated with a short segment of a mudbrick wall (W171) preserved up to one course high (see Fig. 3.127). Building D8 Building D8 also continued to function during the later phase of Stratum III, when it underwent several alterations. Within the structure, a new beaten-earth floor was laid down (L572/585, L580/594; see Fig. 3.129). The western portion of the building contained a smelting installation, indicating that in this phase the building was apparently not used for storage. Alterations in this phase also comprised the buttressing of the exterior of W160 on its western and northwestern sides with orange-brown mudbricks preserved up to two courses (see Fig. 3.130). A beaten-earth surface (L584) lay to the northwest, between Building D8 and the enclosure wall (W156). Structure D9 After Phase IIIB Structure D5 had gone out of use, Structure D9 was erected in its place. It appears to have been composed of three small rooms and a granary, all constructed of narrow walls of one row of brown-gray mudbricks, mostly preserved up to one or two courses (Figs. 3.121, 3.136). The northern and western walls were not excavated.

L1253

W126

W127

Fig. 3.136. The top of Phase IIIA W126 and W127 of Structure D9, looking south. At upper left, a Stratum II installation (arrow).

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AMIR GOLANI

The eastern room (Sq H4) was bounded by W126, W127 and W128. Within the room, the beaten-earth floor (L1281/1352) founded on top of Phase IIIB W135 was covered with large amounts of crushed ceramic vessels (Fig. 3.137). The entrance into this room may have been from the west, where another, possibly larger room may have been bounded by W128, W127 and W129. The beaten-earth floor in this room (L1304, L1305) was also covered with numerous crushed ceramic vessels. To the west, another room may have been partly enclosed by W129 and W130, with a beaten-earth floor (L1347). The fragmentary remains of Structure D9 appear to delineate small rooms that opened onto an open space with a granary (L1340). Granary 1340 To the southwest and adjacent to Structure D9, the northern part of a circular granary (outer diam. 2.4 m, inner diam. 2.0 m) was partly exposed (see Fig. 3.121). The granary was constructed of a mudbrick wall (W131) in similar fashion to the other walls of Structure D9. The floor was composed of carefully arranged mudbricks (L1340). Enclosure Wall Evidence for the continuation of this wall is seen in beaten-earth surfaces to its north (Sqs D9–10, C10; L566, L536, L537/540) and south (Sqs C9–10; L584, L544/546); however, to the east, a surface attributed to Phase IIIA (L597/599) appears to overlie this wall (Sq D8; Plan 3.18: Sections 3-3, 4-4). The repeated collapse of this wall during Phase IIIB resulted in an even smaller portion being used in Phase IIIA.

W126

W127

W128 Fig. 3.137. The eastern room of Structure D9 with a concentration of ceramic vessels on Floor 1281/1352, looking southeast.

175

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Stratum II (Plan 3.23) In contrast to the smooth transition between Strata IV and III, a drastic change appears to have taken place in the transition to Stratum II. Nearly all the Stratum III architectural features went out of use, and much of Stratum II consisted of an open area with disjointed constructions of small stones, and concentrations of stones dispersed throughout. There is very little indication of mudbrick construction, such as mudbrick debris, a phenomenon observed in other excavated areas as well. The lack of overlying sand in the western part of the area, together with the modern earthmoving activities, led to the disappearance of much of Stratum II in Area D. Only in the eastern and southern parts of the area were some remains preserved. Eastern Area D On the eastern edge of the area (Sqs D–E/1–2, F2), several beaten-earth surfaces were interspersed with concentrations of stones (L1232, L1233, L1252, L1256, L1282, L1308). A wall segment (W144) over 1 m wide, built of two rows of medium-sized stones chinked with smaller stones and preserved up to one course high, was exposed in Sq E2, but no further remains of a structure were identified in adjoining squares. West of these remains (Sqs D3–4, E3–5), additional stone-built features of unclear plan were preserved up to only one course high, along with beaten-earth surfaces and concentrations of ceramics (L1208, L1209, L1210/1227, L1213, L1225; see Fig. 3.134). South of these surfaces were several stone concentrations, possibly fragments of walls and pavements (W120, W122, W123) associated with beaten-earth surfaces (L1219/1228, L1221, L1224). In Sq E6, where the remains of Stratum II are slightly higher due to the topography, a large portion of a stone structure composed of small stones within a dark brown earthen matrix (W162), delineated a rounded space, probably an installation (inner diam. 1.5 m; Fig. 3.138). Within this round space, a large amount of dark gray burnt debris including

W1

62

65

W1

Fig. 3.138. Stratum II Installation 162, looking northwest.

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AMIR GOLANI

12

11

9

10

8

7

H

4

G

L1026

F

27.80

27.88 27.74

L1053 L1080 27.83

27.88 27.74

1 L581 L593

E

28 10

7

3

D

Smelting installation

28.48 28.24

C

L518

28.26

27.97 27.91

L512 L524

28.50 28.32

L529 L534

L557 28.20

28.35

28.35

28.24 28.17

27.50 27.20 27.70

L582

28.12

L1015 L1028 27.35

28.22 28.15

L526

7

W5

L517 28.22

L504 L530

28.26

8

W52 28.39 28.24

L510

28.84 27.62

7

L545 W53

8

27.60

28.00 27.90

28.29 28.02

28.24 28.09 28.48 28.32

28.49 28.31 28.41 28.33

28.19

28 27 28.11

W50

L1054

28.00

6

2

28.04

28.21 27.95

L564 L589

L567 L569

L556

28.06

28.21 28.07

28.54 27.08

28.02

27.92

4

6

B

12

11

10

9

Plan 3.23. Area D, Strata II–I.

8

7

177

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

5

6

26.60 26.30

4

3

1

26.45 26.36

L1292 L1297

H

W134

L1253 L1259

26.46

26.37

26.39

26.56

26.51 26.21

26.39

27.08 27.00

5

L1264 26.63

27.02

26.57 26.36

W175

Smelting installation

L1254

L1327 26.28

L1328

L1325 L1331

26.35 26.24

26.52

W137

L1135 L1136 27.05 26.96

2

26.38

26.85

G

L1326 26.23

26.60 26.47

5

27.04 26.82

Smelting installation L1214 26.81 L1234 26.63

26.55 26.25 26.72

26.43

26.82

39

W125

W1

W121

26.57

26.51

26.53

L579 L586

L1208

27.10

27.28 26.86

62 W1 L595 L1047 26.93

F

26.19

26.49

L1243 27.13 27.00

L1308

L1245 26.58 L1265

27.07 26.98

26.17

1

L1209 26.69

26.77

L1225

L1210 L1227

26.66

L1252

E

25.90

L1282

26.72

L1021

26.28 26.12

26.29 26.14

26.50

L1213

27.28 26.85

W144

25.92

26.06

26.79

26.99

2 W

12

26.76 26.63

2

26.56 26.43

26.73

26.46 26.32

W120

L1232 26.19

3

L1233 26.07

26.15 26.02

L1224

3

12

26.52

26.65 26.51

26.38

W

L1219 L1228

L1221

26.31

D

L1256

26.23

26.00

26.57 26.49

C

Stratum I Stratum II 5 m

0

6

5

4

3

Plan 3.23 (cont.). Area D, Strata II–I.

2

1

B

178

AMIR GOLANI

pottery sherds overlay a beaten-earth floor (L595/1047), while outside, to the north and east, were associated surfaces (L579/586, L1021). To the northeast, a beaten-earth surface was interspersed with concentrations of small stones in Sq F3 (L1245/1265). In Sq F4, a well-built rectangular pavement of an installation (W125) sloped down southward. This feature was constructed flush with the uppermost courses of Stratum III W121 and W139, and appears to be related to them (Fig. 3.139); apparently the Stratum III architecture was still visible to the Stratum II builders. This feature was found at a higher level than the Stratum III surfaces exposed in the adjoining squares to the south and east, and is at the same height as the Stratum II beatenearth surface (L1214/1234) adjacent to it in the north. Farther northeast, in Sq G3, a narrow wall (W137), built of two rows of small stones and preserved up to three courses, was positioned directly upon Stratum III W138, which was probably adapted as a base. East of W137 was a beaten-earth surface (L1326), and another to its west (L1325/1331) contained two adjacent, shallow rounded pits (L1327, L1328). Pit 1327

W121

W125

W139

Fig. 3.139. Stratum II pavement of an installation (W125) between the tops of W121 and W139, looking northwest.

Fig. 3.140. A concentration of small ceramic vessels in Stratum II Pit 1327.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

179

contained a concentration of small ceramic vessels, primarily small votive drop pots, in addition to a small flask (Fig. 3.140; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming). In Pit 1328, another ceramic deposit included fragments of several bowls and juglets, as well as a high loop-handled jug and two small flint blades (Fig. 3.141; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming; Goder-Goldberger, forthcoming). Within both pits, the ceramic depositions appear to have been intentional. Unfortunately, the fragmentary nature of the Stratum II remains in this area preclude a better understanding of the reason these vessels were interred in this manner. In Sq G4, the remains of two clay-lined conical installations, probably employed for copper smelting, had been sunken down from the beaten-earth surfaces (L1254, L1264; Plan 3.18: Section 5-5). In Sq G6, a curved wall (W175) may represent the remains of a small structure with a rounded corner, within which a partial stone pavement was revealed alongside a beatenearth surface (L1135/1136, Fig. 3.142). To the north, the Stratum II remains consisted of a beaten-earth surface in Sq H4 (L1253/1259) and at the eastern edge of the square was an installation of small stones (see Fig. 3.136). In Sq H5 were a beaten-earth surface (L1292/1297) and a narrow curved wall (W134) built of two rows of small to mediumsized stones chinked with smaller stones and preserved up to three courses.

Fig. 3.141. Concentrations of vessels in Stratum II Pit 1327, upper center, and Pit 1328, lower right.

W1

75

L1135

Fig. 3.142. Stratum II remains in Sq G6, looking south.

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AMIR GOLANI

Western Area D West of W162, the remains of Stratum II consisted of a large open area with localized concentrations of small stones on beaten-earth surfaces (Sqs D–E/7–9, F7–8; L557, L564/589, L567/569, L582, L1015/1028, L1026, L1053/1080; Plan 3.18: Sections 1-1–4-4). In the southwestern part of the area, meager architectural remains of unclear plan include north–south W50, built of two rows of medium-sized stones chinked with larger stones, preserved up to one course high and exposed to a length of 6 m. Its southern end was largely removed by the construction of a Byzantine well (see below, Stratum I), while its northern end was eroded or cut away. Another wall (W57), built of mudbricks preserved up to one course high, abutted W50 near its southern end (Figs. 3.143, 3.144; Plan 3.18: Section 8-8). A row of small stones (W53) possibly running parallel to W50, may indicate the remains of a third wall delineated by several lines of small stones of similar orientation nearby. Between W50 and W57 was a beaten-earth surface (L504/530, L545) with a small circular installation of small stones and pottery sherds upon its floor, possibly to hold a ceramic vessel upright (Fig. 3.145). East of W50 were beaten-earth surfaces (Sqs D–E10; L512/524, L529/534, L556) laid directly over the Stratum III remains (Plan 3.18: Sections 2-2, 3-3, 6-6–8-8). Numerous medium-sized to large stones were embedded in Surface 556. To the northwest of W50 was a surface (L581/593) with several stone installations of unclear function and the remains of a smelting installation (Plan 3.18: Section 2-2). West of W53 and W57, two shallow pits (L517, L518) were cut into a beaten-earth surface (L510), and farther north in Sq D12, the same surface was identified as L1054.

W57 L504 0

W5

W55

Fig. 3.143. Stratum I well cutting through the Stratum II remains in the southwestern part of Area D, looking south.

181

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W50 W57 L504

3

W5

Fig. 3.144. Stratum II remains, looking east.

Fig. 3.145. Circular installation on Stratum II Surface 504/530.

Stratum I (Plan 3.23) Limited remains of the Stratum I occupation, attributed to the Byzantine period, were identified within the topsoil that overlay most of the excavation area. These remains do not appear to have been in situ, consisting of scattered ceramics and building stones that had been disturbed by the modern-day earthmoving activities. In the southwestern part of the area, the ruins of a deep well were exposed (see Fig. 3.143), which may be the one alluded to in the British Mandate map of Ascalon North,12 found some 600 m south of a well named Bir Shuqeir that is located on the coast. The British Mandate map depicts a walled compound on a low hill with palm trees and a vineyard,13 which may indicate the presence of a well, possibly the one uncovered here.

British Mandate map, Sheet 10/12, 1:20,000 series, first printed in 1931.

12

Triangulation point 186G at a height of 35.9 m asl; map ref. 15983/62294.

13

182

AMIR GOLANI

A wall (W52) ringed the circular shaft (outer diam. 2.4 m, inner diam. 1.75 m) constructed of dressed kurkar ashlars on the inside and small to medium-sized stones and plaster on the outside. Twelve courses of ashlars were exposed, and the upper portion of the wall appears to have been shaved away. Excavation of the shaft reached a depth of 1.75 m, revealing it to be full of debris such as architectural fragments, plaster and marble slabs (L526). Ceramics within the debris included numerous Gaza storage jars, providing a date in the sixth century CE for the cessation of its use.

Area G (Plans 3.24–3.27) At the time of excavation, the contours of Area G, located to the south of Area D, were largely formed by modern earthmoving operations that had sculpted this area into an elongated, artificial ridge approximately 30 m wide, which rose gradually toward the west, where it was suddenly cut. To the north, a large modern pipeline trench completely severed any connection with Area D, while earthmoving activities to the south had removed most of the archaeological levels, thus cutting any ties with Area E (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3).

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

Building G3

1

6

W84

W103

5

5 W

83

W93

W96

W81

Building G1

3 4

W105

2

W104

W92

Building G2

W87 W8

W106

W95

4

92

W84

5 W8

6

3 4

W9

W

1

02

3

W88

2

W

W1

1

2

89

W98

W90

Intrus on

4

5

6 D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

Plan 3.24. Area G, composite plan, Strata IV, III, I and Sections 1-1–6-6.

L

M

183

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

The archaeological remains and the original topography were observed to slope down eastward into the trough. The western part of Area G appears to have been on a slightly higher level than its immediate surroundings. The basal habitation heights of Areas D and E on either side are 3 m and 2 m respectively below those of Area G, indicating that Area G was situated in a spot that overlooked the rest of the site, probably on one of the east–west ridges that traversed the trough. Over 800 sq m of archaeological remains were exposed in Area G (Fig. 3.146), and the positioning of the excavated squares was largely dictated by the extent of the modern intrusions. As the eastern extension of the area was covered by a heavy overburden of sand, not all of which could be removed within the allotted time, a long trench composed of four continuous, 2 × 4 m squares (R–U/2) was excavated here. This trench was devoid of architectural remains and revealed that the archaeological level thinned out toward the east, indicating the location of the site’s southeastern boundary. The habitation accumulation in Area G was not very substantial, and the finds originated primarily in Strata IV and III, apart from the intrusion of a few Stratum I pits (Plan 3.24). Although no Stratum II remains were identified, it is possible that they had been shaved away by the modern earthmoving activities prior to excavation. The top of the

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

1

W99

Structure G4 W9

7

2 2

1

W9

3

W

10

0

W

10

1

4

Stratum I

W101

5

Stratum III, Phase A

W100

Stratum III, Phase B Stratum IV

0 M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

6

5 m T

Plan 3.24 (cont.). Area G, composite plan, Strata IV, III, I and Sections 1-1–6-6.

U

29 00

30 00

31 00

28 00

29 00

30 00

29 00

30 00

31 00

28 00

29 00 W

30 00

b

b

L822

H2

E2

L824

W92

H2

L951A L951B L976

M2

L929 L852

W85

L940

W84 L853

W102

a

a

L821

L1427

W102

M1

I2

L993

L875

I2 L882

L953

L864

F2

L964

L87 L955

L1430

L829

L957

L1417

L1

L950

N2

L914B

L871B L914A

2-2'

L836

W98

L871A

J2

J2

L1410

L992

2''-2'''

L979

2'-2''

W90

1-1

L9 L944

95 L1404

L996

K1

L954

G2

O2

K2

W97

L956

K2

W90

L983

L942

L809A L809B

L1410

L880

W88 a

a

L918

L989

L983

W98

L878A L9 2 L878B

J1

L932

L2

P2

L2

W99

W L921

L886B

L971

L932

b L886A

I1

W102 b

b

184 AMIR GOLANI

28 00

29 00

30 00

28 00

29 00

30 00

28 00

29 00 8

30 00 9

28 00 28 00

29 00 8 00 29 00

30 00 9 00 30 00

W88

a

L1414

L870

L809A

a L912 L941

a

a

L830

H3

L815

93 W93

L862

L815

L885

L930

L825

L1436

G2

E3

L809B

L888B L888B

L888 L888A

K2 K2 W

F2

4'-4''

L928B

L928A

4-4'

3'-3''

33 3-3'

L871A

W82

L871B

L852 L852

L935

J3

L953

L882 L882

L875 L875

G3

E2

L809A

W81

W85

L936 L936

2# H3

L1409

K3

L862

L826

L917

W84

a

a

L 8 04 84 L9 W104 W84 L963 L958 L958

H2 H2

L830

L822 L822

L832#

L929 L853

L 405 L1405

L920A L920B

L845

L816

L960

L864 960

L957 L957

I2 I2

Plan 3.24 (cont.). Area G, composite plan, Strata IV, III, I and Sections 1-1–6-6.

L946

L883

L818

L876

L836

L9 4 L914A

L916

L868

I3

F3

L873

W92 W105

W82

L870

L872

L9 4B L914B

J2 J2

a

88 W88 a

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

185

186

AMIR GOLANI 30 00

F3

W83 29 00

L833 L840

W103 Basal dune

W83 W103B

Basal dune

L841 L869

L965

28 00

5-5 D2

30 00 L850 W89

W89

29 00

L865

L874 28 50

6-6

Plan 3.24 (cont.). Area G, composite plan, Strata IV, III, I and Sections 1-1–6-6.

Fig. 3.146. General view of Area G at the end of excavation, looking south.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

187

sterile sand dune was usually reached at 0.2–1.0 m below the modern surface, and only a few of the excavated squares yielded archaeological accumulations exceeding 0.5 m. The remains in this area were characterized by curvilinear architecture, typical of Strata IV and III in other excavated areas and generally absent from Stratum II (see Chapter 4). While the buildings in Area G were built of mudbrick on stone foundations, as in Stratum II, this curvilinear style in Area G makes an association with Stratum II unlikely. In addition, throughout most of the excavated areas Stratum II showed a sharp break with Stratum III, whereas the stratified architectural remains in Area G demonstrated a great deal of continuity; thus, an identification of Stratum II in Area G is implausible. The continuity between Strata IV and III in Area G is also evident in the storage facilities. In Stratum IV of Area G, two types of mudbrick storage installations were found, a silo and three granaries. In one locale, a granary was superimposed atop a silo. The silo was typical of the Stratum IV architecture throughout the excavation, while the granary was characteristic of Stratum III. An identical phenomenon of a Stratum III granary replacing a Stratum IV silo was observed in Area A. Stratum IV (Plan 3.25) Stratum IV represents the earliest habitation, founded directly upon the basal dune over most of the area. Three buildings (G1–G3) and one structure (G4) are assigned to Stratum IV, along with several installations and pits. Buildings G1 and G2 and Structure G4 were elliptical in plan, and may be considered typical EB I domestic structures. Building G3 was apparently larger and of a different plan, and apparently served some other function. Building G1 Although this building was badly damaged and only portions of its walls were preserved, the plan can be reasonably reconstructed as elliptical, oriented on a northeast–southwest axis (Fig. 3.147). The width of the building is 5.6 m, while the length, though uncertain, may be reconstructed as c. 9 m, producing approximately 28 sq m of floor space. Only W85 and W82 survived, built of two rows of small to medium-sized kurkar stones with smaller chinking stones in between and preserved up to two courses. The northern end of W85 curved eastward and probably continued to form the northern apse of Building G1, which was damaged by mechanical equipment. The southern part of this building was also missing due to modern intrusions. On its eastern side, a 0.7 m gap in W82 indicates the entrance into the building. Inside the building, across from the entrance, a short stone and mudbrick wall (W106), preserved up to one course high, protruded from W85. A beaten-earth floor (L825, L959, L960) was laid on the basal dune (Plan 3.24: Section 3-3). A small smelting installation appears to have existed within the southern apse (L825), while a similar, slightly larger installation was located just outside the posited southern apse.

188

AMIR GOLANI

D

E

F

G

H

I

L1439 28.53 28.29

W106

6

3

3

4 Smelting installation

29.47 29.39

L959

L960 29.44

L1434

29.39

29.69 29.44

29.29

29.29 29.14

L815 L870

L963

29.21 28.98

29.45

29.53

3 10

92

L1409 28.93

29.36

5

29.07 27.99 27.95

5

29.24 28.95

29.25

L869 L965

W

29.49

L993

W

29.16

L1435 29.14

L825

Smelting installation

L1441

L873 L876

29.43

1

29.27 28.93

29.47 28.93

W105

29.69

29.39 29.31

29.76 29.29 29.48 28.65

W92

29.74 29.02

29.78 29.47

29.78 29.50

29.77 29.50

28.93 28.37

L1433

L1438

W82

28.95

2

W85

6 89 W

2

L865 L874

29.75 28.99

L1440

L1437

Building G1

W84

1

W84

28.97 28.82

L946

L1414

28.93 29.39 28.92

W96

Building G2

29.07 28.03

L924 L970 29.16

4

28.84

29.27 28.93

29.17 29.00

5

6

D

E

F

G

Plan 3.25. Area G, Stratum IV.

H

I

189

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

Building G3

28.48

29.34 29.42

28.93

L935 28.77

29.34

L1442

29.02 28.80

28.62

1

L1430 28.55

L1429

1

29.00 29.17

L964 28.55 27.38

L951B L976

W94

29.33

L920B

28.40

Structure G4 W9

7

28.62 28.36

L979 L992

28.58

L1428

L897

4

L902

L904

28.60

28.24

L974

27.97

91

27.92 28.06 27.50

W

27.95 27.48

L991

27.75

27.91

27.80

28.00

28.07 27.98

L1418 L1419

L1407

L1408 28.00

27.86

27.73

27.84

W101

27.70

1

L1412 10

L900 L1411

27.84

W

27.80

3 L1431

27.47

27.83

L903

28.08 27.63

2

27.95

27.73

27.84

27.79

L906

27.80 27.70

27.85 27.79

28.57

28.56

3

2

01

28.73

W1

28.57

29.27 29.57

L914B

28.71 28.62

L1410

W99

28.75 29.46 28.82

28.94 28.70

L938

W98

L918

W90

28.58 28.69 28.66

4

27.82

L1425 27.63

L1413 L1420

5

27.70

27.91 27.73

Stratum IV

0 J

K

L

M

N

Plan 3.25 (cont.). Area G, Stratum IV.

O

P

5 m Q

6

190

AMIR GOLANI

L865

Building G1

L869

Fig. 3.147. Building G1 and the two storage installations positioned to its east and west, looking east.

Installations in the Vicinity of Building G1 Two large storage facilities were found in proximity to Building G1, and several pits and a ṭabun were scattered to its east, in the open area between this building and Building G2; near one of the pits was a child burial. Granary 865. Immediately to the west of Building G1, a circular granary (outer diam. 3 m, inner diam. 2.3 m) was partially sunken into the ground. It was first dug as a pit 0.8 m deep into the basal dune, after which a mudbrick wall (W89), preserved to eight courses, was constructed within. The floor was composed of irregularly laid mudbrick fragments and covered with dark brown debris (L865/L874; Figs. 3.147, 3.148; Plan 3.24: Section 6-6). Silo 869. Southeast of Building G1, a silo was constructed within a large pit dug into the basal dune. It comprised a circular mudbrick wall (W103; outer diam. 2.7 m, inner diam. 1.8 m) of which eleven courses were preserved that descended 1.3 m to a floor of mudbrick fragments (L869/965) overlaid by dark gray debris (Figs. 3.147, 3.149; Plan 3.24: Section 5-5). Open Area To the east of Building G1 was an open space (Sqs F–H2) with a beaten-earth surface (L815/870, L873/876, L963) laid upon the basal dune and overlaid by dark gray debris

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

191

W89

Fig. 3.148. Stratum IV Granary 865.

W83

W103

L840

Fig. 3.149. Stratum IV Silo 869 (W103) underlying Stratum III Granary 833 (W83). The brown mudbricks of the silo were separated by a dark gray fill from the lighter-colored mudbricks of the granary.

(Plan 3.24: Section 3-3). A ṭabun14 (L1441; diam. 0.9 m), dug from the surface into the basal dune, was lined with red-brown clay, 8 cm thick. In its immediate vicinity were five rounded pits with diameters ranging from 0.40 to 1.25 m (L1433, L1434, L1435, L1439, L1440), all dug into the basal dune to a depth of 0.30–0.75 m (Fig. 3.150). All the pits were full of dark gray-brown debris. Another rounded pit (L1438; diam. 1.1 m) was dug 0.6 m into the basal dune, adjacent to the proposed line of the northern apse of Building G1. Next to this pit and directly underneath the posited wall line, was a large fragment of a holemouth jar (L1437; Fig. 3.151) containing a child burial in a flexed position (Fig. 3.152). The location of the burial indicates that it predated the building, whether as an earlier depositional phase or more probably as a foundation burial associated with the construction of the building.

While this feature and many others like it are often generally referred to here as ṭabuns––a type of closed oven built of earth or clay––they could have also functioned as more simple open roasting pits, as the upper portions of most ṭabuns found in this period are missing. 14

192

W88

AMIR GOLANI

W81

L1441

Fig. 3.150. Square G2, looking south. Stratum IV pits and Ṭabun 1441 to the east of Building G1. At left, Stratum III Fence W81–W88.

Fig. 3.151. Pit 1438 next to Burial 1437.

Fig. 3.152. Burial 1437 after the removal of the upper part of the vessel.

193

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Building G2 Building G2, located 10 m to the east of Building G1, was constructed on a similar northeast–southwest axis and was better preserved than the latter. It was elliptical in plan with outer measurements of 5.5 × 10.0 m, producing approximately 35 sq m of floor space (Figs. 3.153, 3.154). The walls of this structure (W84, W92, W96) were all built of small to medium-sized kurkar stones arranged in two rows with smaller chinking stones in between, in some places preserved up to seven courses. It is assumed that the upper courses of the wall consisted of mudbrick, though no direct evidence was found. The building’s walls were damaged primarily by intrusive pits of Phase IIIA and Stratum I (see below) that removed numerous stones from the walls. The entrance into this building was not found; however, analogous to Building G1, it may have been located in the middle of the eastern wall, where large portions were missing. Within the building was a beaten-earth floor (L1409, L1414; Plan 3.24: Sections 3-3, 4-4), found adjacent to the base of the stone walls and constructed directly on the basal dune. Adjoining W92 on the east was another wall (W105) built of several rows of small kurkar stones and preserved up to two courses (Sq I3). This wall, which may be interpreted as a low bench outside the building near its possible entrance, was erected on the beatenearth surface (L946) associated with the base of W92 (Plan 3.24: Section 4-4). Another beaten-earth surface (L924/970) south of Building G2 was associated with the base of W96.

W88

L994

W81

W92

Fig. 3.153. Building G2, looking south. At right, Stratum III Fence W81–W88 separating Buildings G2 and G1. Note Phase IIIA Pit 994 cutting into W92 of Building G2.

194

AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.154. Building G2, looking north. At center, Phase IIIA architectural remains that postdated this building, pedestaled on earth.

Building G3 Building G3 was located a few meters northeast of Building G2 (Fig. 3.155). Only the southern part of the building was uncovered, as the large modern trench had obliterated its continuation to the north. The extant walls (W90, W94, W98) were built of medium-sized kurkar stones arranged in two rows with smaller chinking stones in between and preserved up to seven courses. These walls are wider and more massive than those of Buildings G1 and G2, and appear to delineate a rectilinear broadroom with rounded corners. The eastern wall (W98), upon which two mudbrick courses had survived on its stone foundations (Plan 3.24: Section 1-1), ended to the north in a large kurkar stone set across the width of the wall, possibly indicating the doorjamb of an entrance. Assuming that this structure was indeed a broadroom with an entrance in the middle of its long eastern side, approximately half of the building has been preserved, and a plausible reconstruction would produce a relatively large structure (7 × 14 m, inner floor space c. 72 sq m), oriented northeast–southwest with its entrance toward the east. Adjoining the inner faces of the walls were rows of stones preserved up to five courses, approximately 0.60 m in height, which are interpreted as narrow benches, 0.25–0.30 m wide (Fig. 3.156). Within the building, a beaten-earth floor (L938, L1410) with numerous mudbrick fragments upon it was associated with the base of the benches (Plan 3.24: Section 1-1). A round installation (L1442; diam. 1.60 m), composed of brown mudbrick material, stood 0.10–0.15 m above the floor, 0.70 m from W90 (see Figs. 3.155, 3.156). A beaten-earth surface (L918) extended to the west of Building G3, and on a similar surface to the east (L1430; Plan 3.24: Section 1-1) lay several smashed ceramic vessels

195

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Building G2

Building G3

Fig. 3.155. Buildings G3 and G2, looking south.

W98

4

W9

L1442

W90

Fig. 3.156. The southern portion of Building G3, looking east. Note the rounded corner and stone benches along the inner sides of the walls. At upper left, the proposed eastern entrance into the building (arrow).

196

AMIR GOLANI

together with a round installation (L1429). This feature, about 0.6 m from W98, was constructed of a roughly laid circle of small to medium-sized kurkar stones (diam. 1.6 m, height c. 10 cm; Fig. 3.157). Its position outside and adjacent to the presumed entrance to the building suggests that it may have functioned together with Installation 1442.

L1430

L1429

W 97

Structure G4 To the east of Building G3, the remains of Structure G4 consisted of an east–west wall (W97) that might Fig. 3.157. Stratum IV Installation 1429 and crushed ceramic have joined the rounded corner of vessels on Surface 1430, east of Building G3, looking southeast. a north–south wall (W99). Though both walls were badly damaged and fragmentary, they appear to have been built of two rows of small to medium-sized kurkar stones with smaller chinking stones in between and were preserved up to two courses (Fig. 3.158). No surface clearly associated with Stratum IV was found within this structure, but a beaten-earth surface to the south (L979/992; Plan 3.24: Section 2-2) linked the base of W97 with another Stratum IV surface farther west (see below).

W99

Fig. 3.158. Remains of Building G4, looking west. At center, a concentration of stones that may represent a Stratum III installation.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

197

Enclosure Wall and Installations Between Building G2, Building G3 and Structure G4 was a large open area nearly devoid of architectural remains that sloped down southward (Sqs J2–3, L1, K3–4, M–O/2–5, P3–5, Q2). This area was heavily affected by modern leveling operations and the few surviving archaeological features were founded directly on the basal dune and thus probably to be associated with Stratum IV. This open area was bounded on the southeast by a long, curved wall (W101) built of mudbricks set upon the basal dune and preserved up to two courses. This wall runs west– east, then turns toward the northeast. It was traced for 25 m and appears to have been an enclosure wall delineating a large courtyard. Several beaten-earth surfaces were identified on either side of this wall (L897, L900/1411, L902–L904, L914B, L918, L920B, L935, L951B/976, L974, L979/992, L1407, L1408, L1412, L1413/1420, L1418/1419, L1425, L1428, L1431; Plan 3.24: Sections 1-1–4-4). Two rounded pits (L964, L906) were sunken into the surface. Pit 964, between Building G3 and Structure G4, was deep and of indeterminate form (Plan 3.24: Section 2-2), while Pit 906 was located farther south. A fragment of a ‘violinʼ-type stone figurine was discovered on the surface (L920B) south of Building G3 (see Rosenberg, forthcoming). Granary 991. Within this open area was a large granary (outer diam. 4.3 m, inner diam. 2.7 m) that appears to have been partially constructed in a pit dug into the basal dune (Fig. 3.159). A circular mudbrick wall (W91) was built inside the pit to a depth of 0.59 m. The wall was preserved up to six courses, four of them above ground. However, it was not possible to determine the size of the individual bricks. At the bottom of the granary was a floor made of mudbrick fragments (L991).

Fig. 3.159. General view of the large open area to the south of Structure G4, looking west. At center, Granary 991; at left, enclosure W101/W100.

198

AMIR GOLANI

Stratum III (Plans 3.26, 3.27) Stratum III exhibits a great deal of continuity with Stratum IV, often differentiated by no more than a raising of floors within a building, or architectural modifications to the plan. As in other areas, Stratum III can be divided into two phases. Phase IIIB (Plan 3.26) Building G1 This building continued in use with minor modifications that consisted primarily of a new beaten-earth floor (L864/953) laid 0.10–0.15 m above the earlier floor of Stratum IV (Plan 3.24: Sections 2-2, 3-3).

D

E

F

G

H

I

Smelting installation L921

29.12

29.06

Building G2

L816 L845

W

29.49

L833 L840

5

29.31

29.47 29.14

4

29.40

5

L917

29.17

29.65 29.45

29.39 29.05

L835

29.47 29.34

L814 L827

29.48 29.00

29.04

29.25

W104

L1436 29.42 29.38

83

29.55 29.21

L912 L941

29.24 28.95

L883 L916

29.05

W96

29.01

29.35 29.05

29.29

29.43 29.33

5

6

D

E

F

G

Plan 3.26. Area G, Stratum III, Phase B.

H

L882 L957

W105

W88 29.81 29.41

29.38 28.93

L936 L1405

W92

29.72

4

3

29.27 29.57 29.04

W84

29.61

29.29 28.73

L958

29.13

Smelting installations

W81

W106

29.56

29.40

2

3

L836 L872

29.54

L809B

1

29.27 29.05

2

29.69

L864 L953

29.04

W9

2

29.76 29.60

Building G1

W8

W8

5

6

29.78 29.60

2

6

29.61 29.40

29.22 29.06

4

29.77 29.60

W8

1

I

29.17 29.00

199

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Fence Wall and Installations To the east of Building G1, the open area that separated it from Building G2 was now divided by a narrow stone and mudbrick wall (W81–W88) built of light cream-brown mudbricks with numerous calcite concretions and preserved up to four courses (see Fig. 3.150). This wall, running north–south and traced for 15.65 m, was cut at its extremities by modern disturbances. It apparently served as a fence wall separating the two buildings (Fig. 3.160), or perhaps as an enclosure wall of a compound that included one of the buildings, although not enough of the wall was exposed to determine this. Between this wall and Building G1, the Stratum IV habitation level––including the pits and the ṭabun––was covered over, and a new beaten-earth surface was laid (Sqs F2, G2–3; L809B, L816/845, L836/872; Plan 3.24: Sections 2-2–4-4) and a new pit (L1436) cut from the Stratum III surface.

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Building G3

28.77 28.94 28.70

L1404 28.73

29.32 29.05

29.42 29.29

L871B L914A 29.00

29.30

W95 29.34 W94

29.32

29.30

L888B 29.07

29.19

29.11 28.98

28.99 28.71

L1427 28.70

1

L983 L989 L950

L951A 29.24

28.55

28.87

L962

3

1

Structure G4

2

29.27 28 73

29.46 28.88

28.71

29.00

W10

29.02 28.80

L1417

28.55 28.00

28.62 28.36

28.40 28.26

W99

29.19 28.73

W98

29.05

W90

L878B

W9

L971

7

28.24

L954 28.36

28.57

28.41 28.26

2

2

L973 28.17

4 L928B 29.03

28.06 27.50

3

1

W9

27.47

L991

4

W

10

0

27.83

28.07 27.98

W100

5

28.01 27.91

27.90

Stratum III, Phase B 6

0 J

K

L

M

N

Plan 3.26 (cont.). Area G, Stratum III, Phase B.

O

5 m P

200

AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.160. General view of the western portion of Area G, looking west. At lower center, Fence W81–W88 that separated Building G1 from Building G2. At upper center, Building G1 flanked by two storage installations.

West of Building G1, Stratum IV Granary 865 does not appear to have had a second phase of use, although there is nothing that actually negates its continuation into Stratum III. However, Stratum IV Silo 869 to the southeast of the building was replaced by a granary. Granary 833. This installation, 2.7 m in diameter, was built over Silo 869 and above ground (see Fig. 3.149). The former W103 had been partially destroyed or eroded away prior to construction of the Stratum III wall, as an uneven, dark gray fill separated these two elements. Wall 83 was built of the same light cream-brown mudbricks as W81–W88, which are readily differentiated from the darker mudbricks of the Stratum IV structure. Within the Stratum III granary, the floor, comprised of a layer of mudbrick fragments, sealed the fill in the Stratum IV silo, and a thick layer of light gray debris lay upon it (L833/L840; Plan 3.24: Section 5-5). Building G2 Building G2 also continued in use into Stratum III with minor alterations that consisted primarily of a new beaten-earth floor (L912/941, L936/1405) laid 0.10–0.15 m above the Stratum IV floor. In addition, an inner mudbrick partition wall (W104), preserved up to four courses, was added perpendicular to W84 (Plan 3.24: Sections 3-3, 4-4). East of the building, adjacent to the Stratum IV bench (W105), a new beaten-earth surface (L916) was laid, indicating that this bench continued in use in this phase.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

201

Building G3 This building continued in use into Stratum III with more modifications than were apparent elsewhere in Area G. A new beaten-earth floor (L1404; Plan 3.24: Section 1-1) was laid, covering Stratum IV Installation 1442. To the east, the building was enlarged with the construction of a new annex. This renovation consisted of two walls (W95, W102) constructed of two rows of small to medium-sized kurkar stones with smaller chinking stones in between (Fig. 3.161), which met in a rounded corner. The western end of W95 abutted W98. The northern continuation of W102, like the rest of Building G3, was obliterated by the modern intrusion. Within the area bounded by W98, W95 and W102 was a beaten-earth floor (L1417; Plan 3.34: Section 1-1) that covered over Installation 1429 in the same manner that Floor 1404 in the main building covered Installation 1442. Structure G4 This structure appears to have continued from Stratum IV, although it could have been founded in Stratum III. Within this structure was a beaten-earth floor (L983/989; Plan 3.24: Section 2-2) upon which was a concentration of small to medium-sized stones that may represent an installation of unclear function (see Fig. 3.158). Enclosure Wall and Installations The large open area between Building G2, Building G3 and Structure G4 appears to have continued to exist. A narrower course of small stones (W100) was laid on top of Stratum IV W101. Although this may have been an architectural feature of the Stratum IV wall, the fact that W100 is narrower and of a completely different construction technique suggests that it was a later addition, possibly of Stratum III. As W100 was exposed very close to the modern-day surface, no clear habitation surfaces could be associated with it. Granary 991 may have also continued in use during Stratum III, although no clear surfaces connected

L939

W95

L932

Fig. 3.161. Phase IIIA–B Building G3 annex.

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AMIR GOLANI

this feature to nearby Stratum III remains. To the west of Building G2, Fence W81–W88 formed an alley approximately 1.5 m wide. A beaten-earth surface (L958, L917) connected the base of the fence wall and W84 of Building G2 (Plan 3.24: Sections 2-2–4-4). It cannot be determined if the fence wall connected with W100 to the south. New habitation surfaces were found in the open area (Sqs H1, I–J/1–3, K2, M1–2, N–P2; L835, L871B/914A, L878B, L882/957, L883/916, L888B, L921, L928B, L950, L951A, L954, L971, L973, L1427; Plan 3.24: Sections 1-1, 3-3). Three smelting installations were sunken in Surface 921 (Sq I1) to the northeast of Building G2. A round pit (L962), 0.45 m deep and lined with a 5 cm thick layer of reddish-brown clay, may be attributed to this stratum as it was cut into the surrounding matrix from this level (L950). A mass of crushed pottery lay on the surface (L951) west of Pit 962. Phase IIIA (Plan 3.27) The remains of Phase IIIA appear to have been much more limited than those of Phase IIIB; however, as they were positioned very close to the present-day surface, it is possible that some elements of this phase were removed by modern earthmoving activities. Buildings G1 and G3 continued in use with minor modifications, while Building G2 and Structure G4 were apparently abandoned. Building G1 A new beaten-earth floor (L824, L829) incorporating a pavement of small stones was laid in the area of the northern apse, 0.15 m above the Phase IIIB floor (Fig. 3.162; Plan 3.24: Section 2-2). Fence Wall To the east of Building G1, the open space bounded by Fence W81–W88 continued to exist. A small screen wall (W87), constructed of gray mudbricks perpendicular to W81–W88, was preserved up to one course. Adjacent to these walls, in Sq G2, was a beaten-earth surface (L809A; Plan 3.24: Sections 2-2, 3-3). Building G3 This building continued in use with minor modifications consisting primarily of the raising of floor levels. Within the main room, a beaten-earth floor (L942/956, L944/996) superseded the Phase IIIB surface, and in the annex to the east, a beaten-earth floor (L932, L955) lay slightly above that of Phase IIIB (Plan 3.24: Sections 1-1, 2-2). A new wall (W93) was perpendicular to and abutted W94 on the south. This addition was built of two rows of small to medium-sized kurkar stones and preserved up to three courses. Its southern extension was shaved away by modern earthmoving activities, so it is unknown what size room was appended to the southern part of Building G3 in this phase. Two beaten-earth surfaces were associated with W93 on the west and east (L885, L888A; Plan 3.24: Section 3-3).

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

203

Fig. 3.162. Remains of Building G1 in Phase IIIA, looking west.

Open Area with Installations Building G2 was completely abandoned and the entire space between the fence (W81–W88) and Building G3 became a large open area (Sqs H2–3, I–J/1–3) with the Phase IIIA beatenearth surfaces overlying the walls of Building G2 (L822/853, L826, L830/862, L852/875, L868, L871A, L878A, L886A, L930; Plan 3.24: Sections 1-1–4-4). A deep circular pit over 1 m deep (L994) cut down from the Phase IIIA level into W92 of Building G2 (see Fig. 3.153), while nearby, a concentration of stones and the remains of two smelting installations were discovered (see Fig. 3.154). Southeast of the annex, a smelting installation was embedded in a beaten-earth surface (L939/943; see Fig. 3.161), and farther east, the same beaten-earth surface was identified as L940. The remains east of Building G3 were badly damaged by modern intrusions, so it is unclear if Structure G4 also continued in this phase. Stratum I (Plan 3.27) A thin cover of loose sand that contained a small quantity of finds from the Byzantine period lay over the Early Bronze Age strata. No architectural elements of this period were identified here, and the Byzantine remains were limited to several pits that penetrated deep into the earlier strata. Although the pits were randomly positioned, one was sunken directly into the center of Phase IIIA Pit 994. These pits are attributed to Stratum I due to the presence of Byzantine artifacts within them, and in the sand cover above the Early Bronze Age strata.

204

AMIR GOLANI

D

E

F

G

H

I

L886A

1

29.33

29.77 29.66

5

6

3

29.62

29.66

Building G1 29.69

W106

2

29.61

L809A

L829

L824

W8

2

29.61 29.70

29.83

29.83

29.69 29.65

1 L826 29.41

W87

29.72 29.76 29.47

3

29.39

Smelting installations

L830 L862

L994

29.68 29.33

29.38

29.40

L930 29.38

5

29.40 28.47

L868

29.38

W81

5

L852 L875

L822 L853

29.49

29.81 29.41

29.62 29.59

29.53

4

29.64

W88

2

W8

6

29.78 29.66

L861 L812

4

29.43 29.33

5

6

D

E

F

G

H

Plan 3.27. Area G, Stratum III, Phase A and Stratum I.

I

205

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Building G3

L878A

L944 L996 29.10

29.10

L942 L956

29.42 29.29

L885

29.20

W93

L928A

28.99 28.81

29.31

L871A 29.34

L955

W95

29.07 29.34

W94

29.29

29.00

L888A

29.19 29.30 29.16

29.48 29.16

L932

L939 L943

1

29.11 28.98

29.05

29.30 29.05 29.19

1

2

29.44 29.10

W10

29.32 29.20

W98

W90

29.20

29.24

2

L966

2

L940

28.96

29.05

3

4

29.03 28.98

Smelting installation

3

29.90

4

5

Stratum I Stratum III, Phase A 6

0 J

K

L

M

N

Plan 3.27 (cont.). Area G, Stratum III, Phase A and Stratum I.

O

5 m P

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AMIR GOLANI

Area L (Plans 3.28–3.31) Area L, positioned in the northeastern part of the site, was planned as a major east–west section that would link up with Area H in the central north–south section to the west and the edge of the Early Bronze settlement to the east (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3).15 Prior to excavation, this area was level, with no indications of archaeological remains on the modern surface; however, the remains were found to be covered by a massive modern fill of sand, relatively shallow on the western side of the area, but 2 m thick at the eastern end. Mechanical removal of the sand was accomplished without penetrating the dark brown matrix of the Early Bronze Age strata below. Underneath the modern sand, the very top of the Early Bronze Age occupation was observed to slope down moderately to the east. An area at least 20 m wide and 100 m long was prepared for excavation (Fig. 3.163). During the initial stages of excavation, a large agglomerate of architectural remains was identified in the central portion of the area, while the eastern and western parts were nearly devoid of architecture, containing debris buildup that gradually dissipated toward the eastern edge of the site. For this reason, excavation in the central portion of Area L was expanded to expose and understand the remains as much as possible, while to the west and east, work was conducted in a series of half squares positioned at set intervals along and within a 10 m wide section (Fig. 3.164). Thus, the remains in Area L can be divided into three parts, each with specific characteristics: 1. In the central part of Area L (Sqs I–O/2–5), the architectural remains of Strata IV–III were well preserved and included structures within a light to medium gray-brown matrix, while Stratum II was characterized by a few disjointed walls and surfaces within a dark brown earthen matrix with numerous kurkar chips.

1

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

2 W613

3

Building L2

W634

9 W631 W61 W62

W408

4

6

W

2

W6 16

4

Area H

W619

1

17

5 Building L1 6 A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Plan 3.28. Area L, composite plan, Strata IV–II and Sections 1-1, 2-2.

See n. 4 above.

15

I

J

207

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Fig. 3.163. General view of Area L, looking west. In background, the main north–south section. Note the large amounts of sand that were cleared away in order to reach the top of the archaeological remains.

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W603

K

0

W

61

W635

23

W6

2

L

M

N

4

Stratum II Stratum III, Phase A

5

Stratum III, Phase B Stratum IV

0 K

1

W602

611

Building L3 W61 8 W638

3

W

W60

9

W606

W607

W632

W622

5B

W624

05A

W60

W601 W604

W61

W6

6

62

W

6

W

2

W613

5

08

7 62

W628 W637

2

W

W61

0

W62

1

O

P

Q

R

S

T

Plan 3.28 (cont.). Area L, composite plan, Strata IV–II and Sections 1-1, 2-2.

U

10 m

6 V

25 00

26 00

27 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

2 25 00

2 26 00

2 27 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

26 2600 00

27 2700 00

28 2800 00

d

d

c

c

W609

L6025

L4

L 3 L6183

L6223 L6223

L6217 L62 7

L6094

L6084

b b

b b

a

a

L6218 L62 8

L6200 L6200

Q4

L 1 9 L6179

I4

L6082

M4

L 1 0 LL6166 L6150 L 1 L6174

61 W619

E4

A4 A4

61 W616

R4

4 J4

L6032

N4 L6030

Basal dune

1'''-1''''

1''''-1'''''

L6155

L6119

W615

C4 C4

K4 K4

G4

L6194

L 0 6 L6046

L 49 59 L6149 L6 6 L6159 L6 59

W604

L 2 L6123 W 1 W614

S4

L6103

L6064

L6099

L6059

1''-1'''

L L6169

1'-1''

1-1' 1-

L 123 L6123

F4

63 W631 L L6148

L 1 8 L6158

B4 B4

63 W637

O4

6 W610

L 0 L6018

L6145

L6 L6107 1 L6 L6124 L6131 L

LL4

T4

P4

d

d

c

c

b

b

L6193

L L6094

aa

aa

L6204

L 02 L6025

L 0 L6084

L 1 2 L 3 L6112 L6039

1 0 L6170

L 0 L6045

L6135

Basal dune

H4

D4 D4

U4

208 AMIR GOLANI

25 00

26 00

27 00

25 00

26 00 26 00

27 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

24 00

25 00

26 00

27 00

c

c

b

b

a

7a

L3 L3

P3

Basal dune

T3

L6050

L6066

L6208

L6176

L6165

H3

L6180

6 5 L6151

L6138

L6017

W612

W610

G3

W637 L L6101

K3 K3

L6029

9O3

L6104

L6126

2'-2''

W615

W604

L6044 L6100

2'''-2''''

2 2 2''-2'''

Basal dune W614

L6092

L6013

2-2'

L6163

Basal dune

Basal dune

J3 J3

F3

W608 Basal du e B sa

L6221 615

L6048

N3

Basal dune

R3

L6108

L6167

L6055

L6042

Q Q3

W619

L6073 L6102

L6068

L6173

L6139

E3

L6153

Basal du B se

L6118

L6147

L6057

L6079 0L6132

Plan 3.28 (cont.). Area L, composite plan, Strata IV–II and Sections 1-1, 2-2.

W620

L6009

S3

L6156L 6 03 L L6203

I3 I3

L6225

L6 8 L6118 L6139 6 3 L6153 W617 6 73 L6173

L6051 L6089

M3

a

a

c

c

b

b

Basal dune

D3

L6142

L6133

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

209

210

AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.164. General view of Area L, looking south.

2. In the western part, six half-squares (C–H/3–4) were positioned along a west–east section (Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2). Small probes revealed no architectural remains, but a buildup of debris layers, no more than 1 m, often much less, from the top of the archaeological remains down to the sterile basal dune. The layers of debris and the lack of any architectural remains strongly suggests that a broad open area existed here at that time. 3. In the eastern part, one square (P3) and six half-squares (Q–V/3–4) positioned along the west–east section revealed debris layers, some containing limited architectural remains, which sloped down moderately toward the east (Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2). The archaeological buildup here did not exceed 0.5 m, and decreased to the east. In Sq V4, at the very eastern edge of the section, almost no buildup was discerned, the modern sand overburden lying on a diminishing layer of debris that marked the very edge of the settlement, probably associated with Strata III–II. Stratum IV (Plan 3.29) Central Area L Stratum IV represents the earliest habitation in this area, founded directly on the basal dune. The remains consist of a large compound with an elliptical building on its western side and a broad courtyard to its east containing two mudbrick storage installations. The compound was not excavated in its entirety; from the extant remains it can be reasonably reconstructed as somewhat kidney-shaped in plan, with measurements of approximately 17 × 29 m and an inner area of at least 400 sq m. The compound was circumscribed by a 0.6–0.8 m wide wall built of light brown to orange-brown mudbricks

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

211

preserved up to four courses, intermittently laid on a stone foundation of small to mediumsized kurkar stones. A total of 29 m of this wall was exposed (from west to east: W617, W613, W620, W615, W611). Wall 617 was traced for 3 m in a southwest to northeast orientation (Fig. 3.165). Farther east, W613, oriented east–west (Figs. 3.166, 3.167; Plan 3.29) abutted W620 to its east. At the juncture of these two walls, W620 continued approximately 2 m to the southwest, where it appears to have served as an inner partition wall of the compound. The wall was overlaid by Stratum III W628 (Fig. 3.168; Plan 3.28). Wall 615, oriented north–southeast, was preserved to four courses on a foundation of small kurkar stones. It was severely damaged by Stratum III W604 and later pitting activities, which removed significant segments of the wall down to its base (see below). Wall 611, oriented northeast– southwest, probably continued westward, eventually linking up with W617 (Fig. 3.169). Within the compound, several beaten-earth surfaces were associated with the base of the enclosure wall (L6099/6103, L6104, L6109, L6121, L6173, L6178; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2). A probe in Sq N4 beneath the Stratum III surface exposed a few stones and a large fragment of a bovine skull on the Stratum IV surface (L6099/6103; Fig. 3.170). Outside the compound, beaten-earth surfaces (L6087/6090, L6128, L6152, L6182/6186, L6207, L6221; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2) were also associated with the base of the wall.

W6

36

W6 1

4

Building L1 On the western side of the compound, the remains of an elliptical building were revealed; only the northern part of the building was excavated, the remainder lay outside the excavation area. This structure may be reasonably reconstructed with outer measurements of 5.5 × 9.0 m and approximately 35 sq m of floor space. It was partially damaged during the construction of Stratum III Building L2, which was built directly upon it (see below).

W616

W619

W617

Fig. 3.165. Strata IV–III remains in Sqs I–J/3–4, looking east.

6

H

1

2

7

L6130

I

25 78 25.48

L6174

25.49

61

W

25.51

25.46

L6152

25.50

25.54

L6169

J

25.56

L6113 25.84 25.61

25 75 25.56

25.56

L6220

25.88 25.53

L6167 L6163

W614

Building L1

W634

L6137

L6134

25.48

25.82 25.50

25.45

L6173

26.04 25.81

26.06 25.73

25.75

L6104

W613

25 78

L6128

K

5

63

W

26.11 25.83

K

25 42

L6188

L

L6112

25.77

26.00 25.83 25.72

M

M

L6031 L6033

25.54 25.47

26.14 25.76

L6182 L6186 L6186

Plan 3.29. Area L, Stratum IV.

25.75

25.97 25.73

L6178

26.02 25.78

25.85

L6207

L

26.11 25.48

W620

25.78

25.72

26.01 25.76

25.78

L6109

25.67

L6099 L6103

L6079 L6132

W 60 8

25.80 25.70

25.52

L6121

5

61

W

N

26.66

25.90 25.50

N

25.95 25.87

25.76

L6087 L6090

25 91 25.64

W611

5

4

3

16

25.78 25.47

W6

0

2

9

W62

1

4

J

W61

I

W

H

W62

W615 61 1

1

25 76 25.55

25.55

L6221

O

0

O

P

Stratum IV

2

P

5 m

6

5

4

3

2

1

212 AMIR GOLANI

213

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W610

W613 L6067

Fig. 3.166. Stratum IV W613, looking north. At right, Stratum II rough stone Pavement 6067.

W612 L6067 W637

W620

W613

W613

W610

Fig. 3.167. Strata IV–II remains in Sq K3, looking south. Stratum IV W620 and W613 under W610 of Stratum III. Stratum II W612 and Pavement 6067 at top.

214

AMIR GOLANI

W612

W620

W610

W613

W628

W620

Fig. 3.168. Strata IV–III remains in Sqs L2–3 and K3, looking south. Note Stratum III W628 atop Stratum IV W620.

W607

W611

Fig. 3.169. The southeastern corner of Stratum IV Compound W611, looking north. At left, Stratum III W607.

Building L1 was oriented on a northeast–southwest axis and had two entrances. The western wall (W616) was constructed of mudbricks on a stone foundation of small to mediumsized kurkar stones arranged in two rows with smaller chinking stones in between. A 0.75 m wide gap within the wall appears to indicate a western entranceway into this structure (Fig. 3.171). The wall of the northern apse (W614) was well preserved, retaining at least two

215

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

L6064

W604

L6099

W611

Fig. 3.170. A probe in Sq N4, exposing remains of Strata IV and III. At left, the remains of a large bovine skull (arrow) on Stratum IV Surface 6099/6103.

Fig. 3.171. Building L1, entrance in W616, looking east.

mudbrick courses on two courses of small to medium-sized stones (Fig. 3.172). Only a stone foundation of the eastern wall (W629), preserved up to three courses, was exposed. A gap of 0.75 m in this wall appears to indicate an eastern entrance into the building as well. A few stones topped by mudbrick material extending roughly parallel to the southern edge of the balk of Sq I4 at floor level suggests the existence of an inner partition wall (W634) that perhaps separated the southern apse from the rest of the structure.

Fig. 3.172. The northern apse of Building L1 (W614).

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AMIR GOLANI

Within the building, a beaten-earth floor was partially exposed (Sqs J3–4; L6134, L6163, L6169; Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2). Outside the building, beaten-earth surfaces were associated with the bases of the walls (L6113, L6130, L6174, L6220). Courtyard with Storage Installations The large open courtyard, mostly to the east of Building L1, was partly divided by an inner wall, the southern continuation of W620. Over most of the area to the east of the building, excavation reached the Stratum IV level, identifying two circular structures of Stratum IV: Granary 6079 in the northeast and a circular structure in the south that was not excavated, although the circular outline of its mudbrick wall (W635; outer diam. 2 m, inner diam. 1 m) was apparent when the Stratum III surface was removed (Fig. 3.173). It is unclear if this was a granary or a silo. Granary 6079. This structure, adjacent to W615 (outer diam. 3.2 m, inner diam. 2.2 m), was built of a mudbrick wall (W608) within a pit. Eight courses of the wall were preserved below the ground, therefore much of the structure must have been above ground. The granary was connected to W615 by a beaten-earth surface (L6121, L6221; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2). A section excavated within the granary revealed it to be full of debris on a beaten-earth floor (L6132) that was sealed by the Stratum II surface (L6048; Fig. 3.174). This feature may have continued in use into Stratum III as well (see below), a phenomenon also observed in Area G (W89). The Western and Eastern Fringes In the western part of Area L, the debris directly overlying the basal dune was of a soft, loose consistency, generally brown or light brown in color. This layer may possibly be attributed to Stratum IV (Sqs F3, G4; L6108, L6135, L6145; Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2). In the eastern part, no Stratum IV debris was identified.

Fig. 3.173. The top of Silo(?) 635 after removal of the Stratum III Floor 6044/6100, looking north.

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CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

4

60

W

L6048

W608

W615

Fig. 3.174. Stratum II Surface 6048 overlying Strata IV–III Granary 6079, looking south. At lower center, Stratum IV Compound W615; at upper left, Stratum III W604.

Stratum III (Plan 3.30) Central Area L Stratum III represents a completely new building phase in this area, and only a few cases of continuity with Stratum IV were observed. One clear habitation level was associated with Phase IIIB, and only in Building L3 and its immediate vicinity were two clear stratigraphic phases (IIIB, IIIA) identified. Phase IIIB Building L2 On the western side of the central part of Area L, remains of a mudbrick building were revealed upon the remains of Stratum IV Building L1. Building L2 was built on the same northeast–southwest axis as its predecessor, although slightly offset, indicative of some continuity between these two strata. As with Building L1, only the northern portion of this building was uncovered. The mudbricks were not of the typical light cream-gray material characteristic of most Stratum III mudbrick construction at the site, but rather of dark to medium-brown material, almost the same color as their surrounding matrix; in addition, as the walls lacked any stone foundations, their identification in the field was extremely difficult. Building L2 was rectangular in plan with rounded corners. Two walls were identified with certainty, the western wall (W619) and the eastern wall (W631), both preserved up to two courses. The curving corner at the northern extremity of W619 suggests that W636, the northern closing wall, continued in the balk (see Fig. 3.165) and adjoined W631 in

H

25.75

L6166

W636

25.68

I

Building L2

9

L6158

25.99 25.61

J

25.61

L6219

25.71

L6148 25.91 25.64

25.94

25.90 25.83

25 96 25.92

L6171

26.06

26.04

26 08 26.01

10 26 21 25.94

5B

25.89

26.25 25.88

L

26 14 25.86 25.89

26.12

L6161

L6168

25.94

M

25.96

L6020

26.02 25.96

L6122

Plan 3.30. Area L, Stratum III.

26.20 25.85

26.17 26.11

25.90 25.79

25.82

L6094

25.95

L6162

26.00 25.82 26 09 25.90

25.93

L6074

25.83

L6082

25 96 25.88

26.12 25.85

L6089 L6147 25.90

L6084

26 12 25.97

L6210 W 618 25.86

26 09 25.90

W60

25.84

L6170

L6063 L6224

W622 25.79 26.28 25.97

L6177

25.84

K

5A

25 88 25.73 25.88

L6198

26.04

26.26 26.03

M

L6151 26.00

26.02 25.96

L6093 25.98

L6034 L6037 25.97

W628

25.02

L6202

26 04 26.00

26 24 26.01

Building L3

7

L6045 26.11 26.00

W60

W6

L

L6081 L6070

25.93

L6080

25.94

W606

25.91

26 19 25.98

N

25.93

26.05

L6077 L6091

26.15 25.95

25 95

25.97 25.86

Pit(?)

26

W6

L6044 L6100 25.90

5

L6096 L6116 W 61

N

L6075 L6064

25 98 25.87

L6030 L6032

26.00

26.14 26.01

8

K

25.86 25.66

L6046

26.30 25.99

26.15 25.95

25.85

L6101

25.95

32

6

25 84 25.65

25.65

L6179 L6183

W61

L6092 L6126

W6

5

4

1

2

25 92 25.68

1

L6153

W63

3

J

W624

I

9

W63

8 W63

60 W

2

H

W607

26 11 26.04

26.34 25.91

26 30 25.96

W604

1

W60

W611

O

0

26.12

L6036

26.24 26.11

1

26 21

26.19

L6029

O

2

P

5 m

Stratum III, Phase B

Stratum III, Phase A

26.35 26.18

P

6

5

4

3

2

1

218 AMIR GOLANI

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CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

the east. Within the building, a beaten-earth floor (L6166) reached the base of W619, and debris buildup with no clear floor (L6158) was adjacent to W631 (Plan 3.28: Section 1-1). Outside the building, several beaten-earth surfaces (L6148, L6153, L6179/6183, L6219) were associated with the bases of the walls (Sqs I3–4, J4; Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2), those to the east of the building overlying the Stratum IV architecture below (Plan 3.28: Section 1-1). Building L3 East of Building L2 was another, much larger structure with the same orientation. It was founded directly on the Stratum IV remains and underwent several renovations in Phase IIIA. Like Building L2, Building L3 was built of mudbrick walls lacking a stone foundation, and its mudbricks were also extremely difficult to distinguish from the surrounding matrix. Building L3 consisted of an anteroom with an entranceway in the south, through which access was gained into a larger chamber. The anteroom was bounded by W624 in the west running north–south, which was separated by a 0.95 m wide entrance from W618, a short east–west wall that formed a broad, rounded corner with W609 in the east (Fig. 3.175). Wall 624 was preserved up to three courses and apparently continued southward outside the excavated area. Wall 609 was also preserved to three courses, while W618 was preserved up to only two courses. Within the anteroom was a beaten-earth floor (L6094, L6162) associated with the bases of the mudbrick walls and which continued into the large room to the north. In the center of the anteroom, within the southern balk of Sq L4, on Floor 6094 next to the base of W609, a complete storage jar lay on its side (Fig. 3.176; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming).

W605

W618

W609

Fig. 3.175. The rounded corner of Building L3 between W618 and W609, looking west. At upper center, Phase IIIA W605A.

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The large room to the north of the anteroom was enclosed by W605B to the south, W637 to the west and W609 to the east. No clear evidence of a Phase IIIB northern wall was identified, although the Phase IIIA wall (W628) may indicate its location (see below). Wall 605B, preserved up to two courses, was badly damaged by a later wall (W605A). Its eastern end adjoined W624 of the anteroom, while its western Fig. 3.176. Storage jar on Floor 6094 in end apparently connected with W637. Of Building L3 anteroom, looking east. W637 to the east, only traces of dark brown mudbricks were observed (Plan 3.28: Section 2-2). A large segment of W609, preserved up W605A to three courses running southwest–northeast, W605B was exposed in Sq L4, and it is assumed that it continued in the balk between Sqs L3 and M3, although time constraints precluded its full exposure. If the suggested reconstruction L6063 of the Phase IIIB building is correct, the large inner room would have had a floor space of approximately 42 sq m and the adjacent anteroom, 6 sq m. Fig. 3.177. Storage jar on Phase IIIB Surface 6063, adjacent to W605B. A number of floors were identified within the main room of the building. In the northern portion was a floor apparently composed of segments of thin, white-colored material, possibly plaster (L6034/6037, L6093; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2). In the southern portion of the room, two superimposed floors were observed, the earlier one (L6094, L6170) associated with Phase IIIB, adjacent to the base of the mudbrick walls (Plan 3.28: Section 1-1). Several Phase IIIB beaten-earth surfaces were uncovered outside Building L3. South of the building and within the entranceway, Surface 6210 was associated with W618 and W624. West of W624 was a surface (L6177, L6198, L6063/6224) that was overlaid by numerous stones and a complete storage jar lying on its side (Fig. 3.177). Surface 6177 also reached the base of a mudbrick wall (W632) in Sq K5, of unclear plan, preserved up to one course. Farther north, in K3, another surface (L6101), positioned above a Stratum IV surface (L6104) and below a Phase IIIA surface (L6126; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2), may therefore be associated with Phase IIIB. East of the building, a surface (L6168) was observed at the base of the outer corner of W618 and W609. In Sq M4 was a beaten-earth surface (L6082) with some whitish-colored patches, which apparently continued into the adjoining square to the north (L6089/6147).

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Other Architectural Elements Farther east, W604, oriented north–south adjacent to and within the eastern balks of Sqs N3 and N4 (Fig. 3.178), was built of two parallel rows of small to medium-sized stones with a mudbrick and small stone fill in between. No adjoining walls were found, yet a segment of a mudbrick wall (W606) made of light cream-gray material was identified perpendicular to W604. Several beaten-earth surfaces were associated with these walls (L6030/6032, L6044/6100, L6064, L6075); Surface 6044/6100 lay directly above the Stratum IV remains and contained a concentration of animal bones (Fig. 3.179). To the north, a surface (L6081/6070) was associated with the top of Granary 6079 (Plan 3.28: Section 2-2), indicating that this structure, which originated in Stratum IV, continued to function in Stratum III. A segment of Stratum IV W615 also appears to have continued in use into Stratum III (Sq N3) as its upper mudbrick courses were associated with a Stratum III surface (L6070). A new wall (W626) of one row of mudbricks preserved up to one course high was added, nearly perpendicular, to W615. These two walls, along with another short line of stones protruding from W615 toward the northeast, may possibly be interpreted as a pit, or the beginning of another structure outside the excavated area. East of W604 (Sq O3), a beaten-earth surface with numerous ceramic remains upon it (L6029) was exposed below the Stratum II level (Fig. 3.180), while a similar surface (L6036), also strewn with ceramics and a complete basalt bowl, was uncovered in Sq O4 (Fig. 3.181; see Golani and Talis, forthcoming).

W602

W604 W611

W606

Fig. 3.178. Square N4, looking east. Stratum IV Compound W611 under Stratum III W604, overlaid by Stratum II W602. At center, Stratum III W606.

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AMIR GOLANI

Southwest of W604, a concentration of stones in Sq N5 (W607), possibly the remnants of a wall or a pavement, was found directly above the Stratum IV level (see Fig. 3.169). To the east and west of this feature were beaten-earth surfaces (L6077/6091, L6080). Phase IIIA

Fig. 3.179. A concentration of animal bones on Stratum III Surface 6044/6100.

Building L3 The basic plan of this building was retained in Phase IIIA, but new stone walls were constructed on top of, or replaced, the previous mudbrick walls, and floors and surfaces were raised, both inside the building and in its immediate surroundings. In the southern portion of the building, W638 was composed of large kurkar stones and partially overlay W624. Another short stone wall (W622) was appended to this wall at a right angle. In the main room, W605B was Fig. 3.180. Stratum III Surface 6029 with pottery apparently partly dismantled and replaced remains, looking west. At right, Stratum II W601. by W605A, built of medium-sized stones in two rows with smaller chinking stones in between (Fig. 3.182). This wall bonded with W610, of similar construction but slightly wider, which was constructed upon the remains

Fig. 3.181. Stratum III Surface 6036 with ceramic remains, looking north.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

223

W605A L6046

Fig. 3.182. Phase IIIA W605A and Surface 6046, looking north.

of Phase IIIB W637, now largely dismantled (Plan 3.28: Section 2-2). To the north, W610 continued outside the excavated area, but probably cornered with the northern W628, built of medium-sized kurkar stones. Several scattered stones found on top of the eastern W609 may allude to a Phase IIIA stone wall here also that was superposed on the earlier mudbrick wall. Within the building, the floor of this phase (L6045, L6084) was only detected in its central southern portion, overlying the Phase IIIB W637 (Plan 3.28: Section 1-1), and was associated with the base of W605A. The area to the west of W638 and W622 was resurfaced with a new beaten-earth surface (L6171), which continued northward (L6046, L6092/6126) and was associated with W605A and W610 respectively (Sqs K3–4; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2). North of the building, another surface (L6202) was associated with W628, and east of the building, Phase IIIA beaten-earth surfaces were also found (L6020, L6074, L6122, L6161), where they incorporated a concentration of small stones and a portion of a stone pavement (L6074). The Western and Eastern Fringes (Plan 3.28) On the western fringe, a layer of slightly darker brown color was identified above the light brown layer of Stratum IV and may possibly be attributed to Stratum III. At the base of this layer, a beaten-earth and ash surface (L6073/6102) was overlaid by debris (L6068, L6131; Sqs F3, G4; Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2). On the eastern fringe, excavations in Sq R3 exposed the remains of a mudbrick wall (W623), typical of Stratum III, preserved up to one course high, with traces of a beatenearth surface at its base to the south (L6203) and north (L6201). Both the wall and its associated surfaces were founded on the basal dune and represent the earliest occupation

224

AMIR GOLANI

in this locale. Farther east, the dark brown compacted matrix of Stratum III thins out and disappears altogether in Sq V4. These findings indicate that Sqs U4 and V3 represent the easternmost limits of the Stratum III occupation in this area. Stratum II (Plan 3.31) Central Area L In Area L, the Stratum II remains were scanty and disjointed, and none of the architectural elements readily lent themselves to any clear plan. They lay close to the modern-day surface within a dark brown, compacted matrix with numerous white kurkar chips, the top of which was exposed directly below the overlying modern sand cover. As in other excavation areas, Stratum II was observed to have been founded directly over the remains of Stratum III, but occasionally with some evidence of an interlude in the form of debris or erosional buildup between the two. In nearly every instance in this area, Stratum II features were built with total disregard for previous remains. In Sq K3, a segment of a rough stone pavement (L6067) was revealed next to a portion of a stone wall (W612) preserved up to one course high. To the west of the pavement was a beaten-earth surface (L6041/6067). All these elements were founded directly atop those of Stratum III (see Fig. 3.167). To the east, several beaten-earth surfaces can be attributed to Stratum II (Sqs L3–4, M–N3; L6019, L6025, L6048, L6051; Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2). Surface 6048 in Sq N3, typical of the Stratum II surfaces in this area, was composed of scattered stones and ceramics on a compacted, dark brown matrix. This surface overlay Granary 6079 (see Fig. 3.174). To the south, this surface (L6059; Plan 3.28: Section 1-1) was associated with the base of W602, a short segment of stone wall preserved up to three courses (see Fig. 3.178). To the east, in Sq O3, a flimsy built wall (W601) of two rows of small stones preserved up to two courses,16 was traced across the square, but was not seen to continue in any of the adjoining squares. A short segment of a mudbrick wall (W627), preserved up to two courses and possibly including an entrance, was found northeast of the square (Fig. 3.183). Several beaten-earth surfaces (L6009, L6013, L6014) were associated with these walls. In the adjoining square to the north, another short wall segment (W603) oriented north–south and built of two rows of medium-sized to large stones with smaller chinking stones in between, was preserved up to one course high. It was squared off at its southern end, while its northern end lay beyond the excavated area. Adjacent to this wall was a beaten-earth surface (L6011/6015) upon which were several concentrations of stones and ceramic material (Fig. 3.184).

A wall of identical construction was uncovered in Area D (W137).

16

6

5

H

2

I

J

J

26.25 26.16

26 21 26.10

26.12

L6041 L6067

K

K

L

26.22

L6025

27.12

L6019

Plan 3.31. Area L, Stratum II.

26.30 26.12

L6138

26.28 26.10

L

M

26.14

L6051

M

26 11

L6048

N

N

26.24

L6059

26.56 26.13

26.68 26.33

0 O

27.37

26.25

26.25

2

26 52 26.39

Stratum II

26 53 26.24

L6013

L6012 26.63 26.35

L6014

L6009

26.40

L6011 L6015

L6028

26 49 26.03

L6120

W601

26.34 26.29

26 45 26.38

W603

26.62 26.22

1

26.69 26.39

O

7

4

1

I

62

3

2

H

W

W602

1

26.26

L6050

P

5 m

P

6

5

4

3

2

1

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

225

W61

2

226

AMIR GOLANI

W601 L6009

L6014

7

62

W

Fig. 3.183. Stratum II remains in Sq O3, looking west. Note W627 with its entrance.

Fig. 3.184. Stratum II Surface 6011/6015 with stone and ceramic concentrations. In upper center, post-Stratum II Burial 6012.

A probe (L6028) excavated east of W603 exposed a child burial (L6120) directly below the base of the wall. The skeleton, with the skull toward the south, was interred within a storage jar lacking the neck and rim (Figs. 3.185–3.187). An infant burial (L6012) resting on a Stratum II surface close to the modern-day surface (L6015), appears to postdate the occupation phase in this area. The burial, partially ringed by stones, consisted of a large ceramic fragment, probably of a storage jar, containing skeletal remains of an infant with its skull toward the north (Figs. 3.185, 3.188). The burial may have been covered with ceramic fragments, but these had certainly been eroded, or were removed when the overlying sand was cleared prior to excavation.

227

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

W603

L6015

Fig. 3.185. Stratum II remains in Sq O2, looking west. Wall 603 with Burial 6120 below it; in center, Burial 6012.

Fig. 3.186. Burial 6120 below Stratum II W603.

Fig. 3.187. Burial 6120.

The Western and Eastern Fringes (Plan 3.28) On the western side of the area, a layer of dark brown, compacted earth with numerous small white kurkar chips and some small stones, which can be associated with Stratum II (Sqs F3, G4; L6057, L6107, L6124), was found above a Phase III surface (Sq F3; L6073/6102; Plan 3.28: Sections 1-1, 2-2). On the eastern side of the area, a beaten-earth surface of dark brown, compacted earth (L6156), typical of Stratum II, with several large ceramic fragments upon it, lay above Stratum III

Fig. 3.188. Burial 6012 after the debris had been removed. Note the stones that ring the interment.

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AMIR GOLANI

W623 and its associated surfaces (Sq R3; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2). The Stratum II surface continued to the west (L6009, L6014, L6050; Plan 3.28: Section 2-2), while to the east of Sq R3, the distinctive dark brown compacted matrix petered out, indicating that Sq S4 comprised the easternmost limit of the Stratum II occupation in this area, somewhat smaller than the easternmost limit of Stratum III.

Area J (Plans 3.32, 3.33) Area J is located near the top of the north–south kurkar ridge in the northwestern corner of the site (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3). Mechanical shaving appears to have partially damaged the uppermost layers of the Early Bronze Age remains, leaving a flat, leveled surface sloping slightly down to the south. Examination of a large, mechanically made section east of Area J (see below: Western Sand Dune (WSD) Section) showed a 0.5 m thick layer of sparse Byzantine occupation (Stratum I; Plan 3.33: Unit 1), covering a light brown-gray habitation layer of the Early Bronze Age in which decayed mudbricks, ceramic remains and several pits were discerned (Plan 3.33: Units 2, 3), founded on and cutting into the basal dune (Plan 3.33: Units 3, 4; see also Chapter 2: Fig. 2.6). Excavation of Area J began after the Byzantine remains had already been removed, although a few intrusions of depressions and sand pockets in the light brown-gray matrix of the underlying Early Bronze strata contained limited amounts of weathered ceramics, glass and other finds of the Byzantine period. Due to the peripheral location of Area J, a different excavation strategy was employed here. It was decided to focus on whatever remains were apparent on the modern-day surface at the start of excavations, rather than a broad lateral exposure. For this reason, Area J is composed of several clusters of squares around architectural elements seen on the surface (Fig. 3.189). The finds here were sparse, most of the excavation squares revealing only one stratum (III) founded on the basal dune, of which two phases were noted, as well as pits, a surface and a burial of Stratum II. No substantial remains attributable to Stratum IV were identified with any certainty. Stratum III (Plan 3.32) The Stratum III attribution is based on a close comparison of building styles and materials between the findings in Area J and those from other excavated areas of the site where a fuller stratigraphic sequence was exposed. Phase IIIB Of the earliest phase, only a portion of one wall (W209) was found at the southern end of the area along with several associated surfaces. The wall was constructed of light creamgray mudbricks with numerous calcite concretions, typical of Stratum III construction throughout the site. It was preserved up to four courses and laid on a foundation of small to medium-sized stones. A Stratum II pit cut into this wall (Fig. 3.190; and see below). This wall was traced for 5 m (Sqs F11–12), though no continuation was identified in Sq E11.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

229

Fig. 3.189. General view of Area J, looking west.

South of this wall was a beaten-earth surface (L2037, L2064/2127), while a similar surface to its north (L2041; Plan 3.32: Section 1-1) included a small patch of stone paving. North of W209, the stratified remains were found to be slightly higher, apparently constructed on a topographical rise. The Phase IIIB surface farther north in Sqs F13 and F14 (L2066/2070, L2071/2091; Plan 3.32: Section 1-1) was a thick lamination of dark gray-brown debris atop the basal dune. A burial of a child (L2116) was set into the surface (L2071) and dug partially into the basal dune (Fig. 3.191; Plan 3.32: Section 2-2). It consisted of a medium-sized storage jar lying on its side with the opening toward the north. Much of the neck and most of the rim of the jar had been broken off to facilitate insertion of the child, the body flexed on its right side and the skull near the opening (Fig. 3.192). An irregular-shaped pit extended to the north of the burial, but no other remains were found associated with it. Phase IIIA Most of the archaeological features in Area J were assigned to this phase, which appears to have been the last significant occupation in this area. The remains may be divided into three major units, here described from north to south. Granary 2007 In the northernmost portion of Area J, the outlines of a small, circular mudbrick granary were clearly evident at the start of excavation. The granary (outer diam. 2.8 m, inner diam. 1.8 m) was constructed of one row of light cream-gray mudbricks and preserved down to ten courses below ground (W201; Fig. 3.193). The base of the wall and the associated

230

AMIR GOLANI

C

D

E

F

G

H

31.01 30.94

20 L2130 30.74 30.46

W201

30.82 29.89

20

L2123

L2007 29.81

30.78 29.91

19

19

18

18

30.36 30.08

17

L2050 30.06

W2

17

W

22

3

06

16

30.62 30.42

L2030

29.83

30.29 30.10

30.35 30.27

L2043 30.10

16

Northern Compound

15

15

Plan 3.32. Area J, composite plan, Strata III–II and Sections 1-1–2-2.

231

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

15

15 1

29.98 29.90 30.00 29.91

L2022 29.80

L2092

W207

L2011 29.40

2

L2010

29.74 29.43

13

29.52

29.97 29.40

29.81 29.40

29.40 29.09

2

29.85 29.68

29.71 29.34 29.52 29.39

L2018 29.29

29.70

L2016 29.70 L2021 L2066 29.52 L2070

29.88 26.29

Southern Compound

29.10 28.23

29.13

L2038 L2065 9 20 W

L2013 29.54

L2041

29.56

29.16

D

E

L2058 29.13

29.52 28.41

29.63 29.58

29.51 29.32 29.60 29.43

11

Stratum II

L2032

Stratum III, Phase A

29.27

29.34

10

29.48 29.34

29.03

29.66 29.46 29.71 29.35

C

20

L2055 L2057

29.59 29.15

28.97

12

29.31 29.10

Stratum III, Phase B

1

29.73 29.34

L2023 L2047

L2015 L2037

L2064 L2029 28.29 L2127

29.38 29.28

5 29.59

W20

29.48 29.11

W

L2013

29.21

29.08 28.95

29.00

11

L2053 3

L2034 29.25

13

L2128

29.60 29.22

12

14

L2071 L2091 L2116

29.69

12

2 W20

W2

30.04 29.44

W204

14

F

0

5 m

G

H

Plan 3.32 (cont.). Area J, composite plan, Strata III–II and Sections 1-1–2-2.

10

28 00

29 00

30 00

28 00

29 00

30 00

L2022

Basal dune

L2071

W205

L2116 Burial

L2091

W207

F14

L2127

L2064

F11

L2092

2-2

W202

W209

L2011

E14

L2041

W202

L2034

F12

1-1

Pit

F1

F13 W204

L2070

L2066

L2021

L2016

L2018

W204

Plan 3.32 (cont.). Area J, composite plan, Strata III–II and Sections 1-1–2-2.

L2029 W207

Basal dune

F14

L2071

L2022

232 AMIR GOLANI

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

233

beaten-earth floor (L2007) within the granary were dug into the basal dune. This structure was full of gray-brown debris. No clear surface was found outside the granary; however, a large fragment of a storage-jar base (L2130) found near the upper portion of W201 to the west, may represent the level of such a surface.

W203

W209

Fig. 3.190. Phase IIIB W209 and Phase IIIA W203 cut by Stratum II Pit 2038/2065.

Fig. 3.191. Phase IIIB Burial 2116 set into Surface 2071 and cutting into the basal dune.

Fig. 3.192. Burial 2116 after the upper portion of the vessel was removed.

Fig. 3.193. Phase IIIA Granary 2007, looking north.

234

AMIR GOLANI

The Northern Compound In the central part of Area J, another circular mudbrick granary and fragmentary segments of a wall may indicate the presence of a compound. Granary 2030 (outer diam. 3.5 m, inner diam. 2.85 m) was built of one row of light cream-gray mudbricks preserved up to three courses above ground (W206; Fig. 3.194). Within the granary was a beaten-earth floor (L2030). The base of the granary was dug about 0.2 m into the underlying basal dune, but most of this granary appears to have been a freestanding, above-ground structure. The entire area to the west of the structure was badly damaged by later intrusions of deep sand pockets, yet a few stones and mudbricks suggest the presence of a wall (W223) that may have connected with the granary to form an enclosure wall, as in the southern compound (see below). The Southern Compound In the southern half of Area J, a limited portion of the eastern part of a compound was exposed, which appears to comprise an enclosure wall (W207, W205, W212) that incorporated and circumscribed several mudbrick storage facilities, all built of light creamgray mudbricks (Fig. 3.195). The eastern wall of the compound (W207) was preserved up to one course of mudbricks set on one row of small to medium-sized kurkar stones. This wall abutted the upper courses of the wall of Granary 2018 at its southern end, and was traceable for 8 m to the north, curving to the west beyond the excavation area (Fig. 3.196; Plan 3.32: Section 1-1). The southern wall of the compound (W205) was constructed of two rows of medium-sized to large kurkar stones with mudbrick material between the stones (Figs. 3.197, 3.198). This wall was traced for almost 10 m and at its eastern end adjoined the wall of horseshoe-shaped Granary 2015. At the western end of this wall, its stone rows stood on two courses of mudbricks. It is unclear whether this was a construction feature of the wall,

Fig. 3.194. Remains of the northern compound, looking west.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

235

or evidence of another architectural feature below it that was not uncovered. Wall 212, a short segment preserved up to two courses and set on a partial foundation of small kurkar stones, was attached to Granary 2015 from the east.

Fig. 3.195. General view of the southern compound at the end of the excavations, looking east. W202

L2011

W204 W207

L2018 L2116

Fig. 3.196. Phase IIIA Compound W207 and Granaries 2011 and 2018, looking west. At lower right Phase IIIB Burial 2116.

236

W 20

3

AMIR GOLANI

W2

L2015

05

W2

09

Fig. 3.197. Phase IIIA Granary 2015, looking east. A Stratum II Pit (L2038/2065) cut through the granary, revealing the bottom of Stratum IV W209. To the right of the granary is a storage-jar base (arrow).

W203

5

20

W

Fig. 3.198. Granary 2015 and Compound W205, looking north.

Granary 2018. This installation was built of a circular mudbrick wall (outer diam. 2.1 m, inner diam. 1.7 m) inserted into the basal dune and preserved up to nine courses (W204; see Fig. 3.196). The upper two courses were associated with a beaten-earth surface (L2016/ L2021) on the outside, indicating that about 0.4 m of this granary was subterranean (Plan 3.32: Section 1-1). Within the granary was a beaten-earth floor (L2018). The above-ground portion was built of two rows of mudbricks, while that found below ground was constructed

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

237

of only one row. This may be explained by the need for a thicker and stronger wall for the freestanding above-ground structure. Granary 2015. This horseshoe-shaped installation, built of a curving mudbrick wall (outer dimensions 3.2–3.5 m, inner dimensions 2.4–2.7 m), was preserved up to five courses (W203; see Fig. 3.197). While its western side was found open, it may have actually been closed by a continuation of the wall that was cut by a Stratum II pit (see below). Within the granary, a beaten-earth floor (L2015) was exposed at the very top of Phase IIIB W209. The entire installation sloped down slightly to the east. Granary 2011. Inside the compound to the west of Granary 2018, this large granary was built of a circular mudbrick wall (W202; outer diam. 4 m, inner diam. 3 m) and preserved up to seven courses (see Fig. 3.196). The upper portion of the granary was above ground, while at least 0.3 m of the structure was below the beaten-earth surface associated with it from the outside (L2092, L2010). Within the granary was a beaten-earth floor (L2011). That this structure was partially underground is evident from a foundation trench observed adjacent to W202 (Plan 3.32: Section 2-2). Within the compound, several beaten-earth surfaces were associated with the bases of the enclosure wall and the granaries (L2010, L2023/2047, L2029, L2034, L2092; Plan 3.32: Section 2-2). In the corner between W205 and Granary 2015, was the base of a storage jar (see Fig. 3.197). Similar surfaces were exposed outside the compound (L2016/2021, L2022, L2032, L2053, L2058). To the south of Granary 2018 was an infant burial in a storage jar (L2128; Fig. 3.199) just below Surface 2021, from which it was apparently interred. The jar was lying on its side with the opening toward the northeast, its neck missing. Removal of the upper portion of the vessel exposed the skeleton (Fig. 3.200).

Fig. 3.199. Burial 2128 adjacent to W204, after removal of Surface 2021.

Fig. 3.200. Burial 2128 after removal of the upper portion of the vessel.

238

AMIR GOLANI

Stratum II (Plan 3.32) Scanty remains founded directly on the exposed surface were assigned to the final phase of the Early Bronze Age occupation in this area. None of the Stratum III features described above appear to have continued into Stratum II and, as in other areas of the site, the builders ignored any remains of the earlier settlement that were Fig. 3.201. Burial 2123 after removal of the upper ceramic still visible, probably after an occupation fragments; skull at left. hiatus at the site. In the southern portion of the excavated area, a pit (L2038, L2065) may have removed a portion of Phase IIIA W203, and also cut into Phase IIIB W209 (see Figs. 3.190, 3.197). To the upper part of this pit may be associated a beaten-earth surface (L2013) to its west, which incorporated a rounded installation, possibly a hearth, composed of pottery sherds and small stones. A few concentrations of stones in this area, all of which appear to postdate the Stratum III remains, may also be attributed to Stratum II. In the northern portion of the excavated area (Sq H20), an infant burial, possibly two (L2123) was exposed, lying on its side with the skull toward the north (Fig. 3.201) and covered with several large ceramic fragments. Although this feature was not found in stratigraphic association with any other stratified elements in Area J, its position close to the modern surface and its similarity to other infant burials of Stratum II make its attribution to Stratum II likely. Western Sand Dune (WSD) Section (Plan 3.33) Some 15 m to the east of Area J, where the eastern half of the kurkar ridge was removed by modern mechanical equipment, a large north–south section through the ridge was obtained (Plan 3.33; see Chapter 2: Fig. 2.6). Here, the Early Bronze Age remains were founded on the basal sand dune at higher elevation than in Area A, 20 m to the east, where the top of the basal dune was at least 2 m lower, evidence of the slope on which the settlement was established. Examination of Section WSD provided evidence of the uppermost remains (Byzantine Stratum I) that had been destroyed to the east by modern equipment (Plan 3.33: Unit 1; see also Chapter 2: WSD Section: Unit 1) and may be relevant to the stratigraphic linkage between Areas J and A. In both areas, the stratified remains were shallow, seldom exceeding 0.5 m, and founded directly on the basal dune. In Area J, the two main building phases identified in the excavation were associated with Stratum III, while only meager remains were assigned to Stratum II. In the upper reaches of Section WSD, architectural remains of truncated mudbrick walls, associated floors and debris buildup were observed (Plan 3.33: Unit 2; see also Chapter 2: WSD Section: Unit 2), and these are probably to be equated with Stratum III. In Area A as well, Stratum III was the major occupation, while

27 00

28 00

29 00

30 00

31 00

28 00

29 00

30 00

31 00

a

a

623 100

623 150

0

b

b

30 m

Area I

Area J

W

Area H

Area A

SD

159 750

159 750

159 800

159 800

623 200

623 100

623 150

623 200

28 00

29 00

30 00

31 00

Plan 3.33. Section WSD.

WSD-3

WSD-2

WSD-1

b

b

a

a

Unit 5: Pre-settlement

Unit 4: Pre-settlement

Unit 3: EB IA Stratum IV(?)

Unit 2: EB IB Stratum III(?)

Unit 1: Byzantine Stratum I

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

240

AMIR GOLANI

Stratum IV consisted of two subterranean silos with no other architectural features. In Section WSD Unit 3, traces of habitational buildup are apparent, and a few scattered pits penetrate deep into the basal dune; thus, Unit 3 in Section WSD is probably to be associated with Stratum IV.

Area E (Plan 3.34) Area E is located at the southern end of the site, about 30 m south of Area G. On the crest of the westernmost north–south kurkar ridge, some 70 m to the west of Area E, previous excavations had uncovered remains of a Byzantine occupation (Milevski et al. 2018), but no evidence of the Early Bronze Age. By the time of the present excavations, modern earth-moving activities had cut a north–south swath at the eastern base of the kurkar ridge, removing at least 1 m of the overlying sand and thus whatever Byzantine remains had existed here. In the upper part of the western face of this swath cut by the bulldozers, a thin layer of the Byzantine occupation was observed. This layer was separated by 1.0–1.5 m of sterile earth from the earlier EB I archaeological horizon in Area E. Area E was subdivided into two clusters of excavation squares, north and south. Northern Area E The excavation squares in northern Area E clustered around a few stones that were seen to protrude slightly from the modern surface after this area had been partially shaved by bulldozer work (Fig. 3.202). The meager architectural remains exposed here consisted of two stone walls forming a right-angled corner (W63, W64), preserved up to two courses (Sq K21), and a beaten-earth surface between (L607) and outside (L608, L609) these walls. The entire area of Sqs H–K22, I–K21 and I–J20 was characterized by a very shallow occupation level, poor in finds, lying directly on a sterile layer of light brown, marly earth (L610, L611/626, L612/616, L620/636, L621/627, L625/637, L630, L632), and two pits (L642, L661). South of this concentration, four trial squares (G16, G–H/18, J18) produced sterile, light brown marly earth devoid of finds or occupation debris, directly below the sand. While the finds in northern Area E were very poor, they are significant as evidence that the southernmost boundary of the settlement was located in this area. Despite the meager nature of the finds and the fact that only a single phase was identified in this area, these remains are tentatively attributed to Stratum III as it was the most extensive and intensive occupation at the EB I site of Barne’a. Southern Area E The remains of at least 23 rectangular stone installations (possibly burial cists) were visible on the modern surface in the southern part of Area E (labeled F1–F23; Figs. 3.203–3.206). The upper portions of these features were excavated, although only two were fully exposed down to their base.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

Fig. 3.202. General view of northern Area E at the end of excavation, looking south.

Fig. 3.203. Part of southern Area E at the end of excavation, looking north. Note the rectangular installations in the excavated squares.

241

242

D

AMIR GOLANI

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L610

28.22

28.50

L621 L627

28.03 28.01

28.06

L620 L636

21

L612 L616

L611 L626

28.09

L632

Northern Area E

28.10

28.17 28.00

L608

27.88

L661

22

L609

28.00

W63

W6 4

22

L

L607 27.98

21

28.10 27.99

L642

20

L625 L637 28.02

28.16 28.08

L630

28.11

20

19

19

18

18

17

17

16

16

15

15

14

14

Plan 3.34. Area E (north).

243

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

13

L645

29.30

13 29.15

Southern Area E

29.42

F1

29.24 29.43

12

F3

29.13

12

F2

29.22

28.41

29.11

28.47 28.61

11

F5

28.28

28.24

L646 L662

29.28

11

28.37

F4 29.18

10

28.63

L667

28.56 28.68

29.13

10

28.66

27.02

F6 28.69

L649

28.74 28.70

L666

28.47

28.70 28.55

9 28.69

F9

28.61 28.64

28.64

28.56

28.63

27.56 26.92 27.55

F10

28.53 28.64

28.62

28.67

8

28.45 28.56

27.41

L651 28.67 F12

F11

28.53

28.56

7

28.56

F14 28.26

F19 F18

27.57

27.59 27.00

8

F13 27.38

28.62

L652 L660 L663

F21

F20

27.43

28.37

9

27.61 27.06

28.49

F8

F7

6

L650

L665

7

28.02

28.16

L653 L664

27.47

F15

27.55

F22

F23

6

27.50

27.52

5

5

27.84

27.89

F16

27.93

4

L654 L659 27.85

27.75

27.31

27.74

27.20 27.20

4

27.24

F17 27.22

27.20 27.09

3

3

2

2

1

1 0 D

5 E

m F

G

H

I

Plan 3.34 (cont.). Area E (south).

J

K

L

244

AMIR GOLANI

Fig. 3.204. Feature 9 in southern Area E.

Fig. 3.205. Feature 16 in southern Area E.

Fig. 3.206. Features 18 and 19 in southern Area E.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

245

All these features were built of medium-sized to large kurkar stones usually not dressed, though in some cases the use of stone slabs, possibly worked, was also observed. In one case, square, dark gray mudbricks were employed instead of kurkar stones (F2). The features range in size from 1.0 to 1.6 m in length and 0.8 to 1.25 m in width, and were all oriented southwest–northeast, some in clusters and others solitary. All appear to have been dug into the sterile light brown marly earth. In one case, two such features (F18, F19) were built adjacent to one another, with an upright stone slab comprising the partition wall between them (Fig. 3.206). As the size, outline and orientation of these features are suggestive of burial cists, excavation within them was deferred due to religious constraints. Excavation was only completed in the two adjacent features (F18, F19), revealing them devoid of finds. Barring proper archaeological excavation of these features, their function and chronological association remain speculative. Two similar cists containing fragmentary osteological remains and a small number of ceramic and glass fragments, including a Roman glass candlestick bottle, were uncovered in rescue excavations on the other side of the kurkar ridge (Milevski et al. 2018:166–167, Area B), although these finds could have been intrusive. As further support of their possible use as burial cists, it should be noted that similar, but smaller cists arranged adjacently in a row were used for secondary burials in Area F (see below). If the cists in Area E had served for burial purposes, they could only have contained primary burials of animals, children or adults in a contracted position, or secondary burials. The fact that no fragmentary osteological remains were found in Area E suggests that if they were burial cists, they held interments that were later removed to be re-buried at another locale. As to their chronological association—all these features were apparently dug into the same sterile, light brown marly earth on which the meager Early Bronze Age remains in northern Area E were founded. A few finds, primarily of late Byzantine date, were recovered in the mixed topsoil on and around the top of the stones. As noted above, visual inspection of the section on the western boundary of Area E, above Features F1, F2 and F4, showed that the Byzantine level had been situated approximately 1 m above these features, indicating that they had either been dug down from this occupation, or more likely predate it.

Area F (Plan 3.35) This area is located at the far western side of the site, in the pipeline trench. Excavation was undertaken after mechanical equipment had removed all of the overlying sand dune, exposing the outline of a feature built of kurkar stones set into the sterile marly earth. The surrounding matrix was also removed prior to excavation, leaving this feature as a kind of ‛island.ʼ As a result, a single excavation square (4 × 4 m) was opened, revealing a unique construction of a chain of ten rectangular burial cists oriented east–west (L702–L711; Figs. 3.207, 3.208). The cists were built of thin kurkar slabs and vary in size from 0.3 to 0.4 m wide and 0.4 to 0.8 m long, each cist sharing at least one common dividing slab with a neighbor. The bottom of each cist consisted of a kurkar slab, and each cist was covered

246

AMIR GOLANI

25 82 25 51 L711

25 82 25 51

25 82 25 52

L710

L709 25 82 25 52 L708

25 82 25 53 L707

25 82 25 53

25 82 25 54 L705

L706

25 82 25 54

25 82 25 56

L704

L703

25 82 25 56

0

1 m

L702

Plan 3.35. Area F.

with another such slab. There was no continuation of the line to the north or south, and no remains overlay this feature. The cists contained only secondary burials. The two southernmost cists (L702, L703) were damaged by later intrusions that had removed most of the stones and the bones within. Between one and three interments were identified in each cist (see Nagar, forthcoming). The skulls were placed in the western part of the cist. The long bones lay in bundles lengthwise within the cist, and some of the cists also contained rib bones. No burial offerings were found. The lack of associated burial goods and the absence of a stratigraphic relation with other finds in the immediate vicinity, pose a problem in dating these burials. Samples of collagen from the bones and teeth for were not sufficient in quantity for 14C analysis (Golani and Nagar 2011:86). However, the proximity of these burial cists to the Early Bronze Age site would seem to attest to an association with one or more of the EB I strata.

CHAPTER 3: THE STRATIGRAPHY

247

Fig. 3.207. The burial cists in Area F, looking east.

Fig. 3.208. Burial Cists 704 and 705, looking east.

R eferences Goder-Goldberger M. Forthcoming. The Flint Assemblages. In AB II. Golani A. and Talis S. Forthcoming. The Ceramic Assemblages. In AB II. Ktalav I. Forthcoming. The Mollusks. In AB II. Milevski I., Bijovsky G., Sandhaus D., Krokhmalnik A. and Gorin–Rosen Y. 2018. A Byzantine Settlement on the Northernmost Kurkar Ridge of Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C Neighborhood. ‘Atiqot 91:159–192. Nagar Y. Forthcoming. Human Skeletal Remains and Mortuary Practices. In AB II. Rosenberg D. Forthcoming. The Groundstone Assemblage. In AB II. Zidane A. and Bar-Oz G. Forthcoming. The Faunal Assemblages. In AB II.

A. Golani, 2019, Ashqelon Barne a The Early Bronze Age Site I (IAA Reports 65)

Chapter 4

Architecture and Settlement Planning Amir Golani

The excavations at Ashqelon Barne‘a unearthed a wealth of architectural remains from EB I Strata IV–II (see Chapter 3) that reflect on the development of the settlement and the way of life of the inhabitants. This chapter presents a synthesis of the data.

Architecture The state of preservation of the Early Bronze Age remains was relatively poor, as most of the architecture was constructed of sun-dried mudbricks that disintegrate quickly when exposed to the elements. Thus, most of the mudbrick walls had survived no higher than one or two courses, while others were identified only by the line of their stone foundation, the mudbricks long eroded away. After abandonment of the site at the end of Stratum II, the uppermost remains were exposed to the elements for nearly three and a half millennia, until the Roman–Byzantine period, when the area was covered by a layer of sand of varying thickness (see Chapter 2). Byzantine pits (Stratum I), and natural intrusions such as sand pockets, were present throughout the site, often destroying large chunks of the Early Bronze Age architecture. Finally, modern disturbances took a heavy toll on the site––large areas, primarily in the southern third of the site, were destroyed by earth-moving machinery prior to excavation, and removal of the overlying sand dune also took away a portion of the uppermost strata. Construction Techniques The materials used for construction were all local, consisting primarily of mudbrick and stone, as well as plaster, though it is quite feasible that other materials that leave little or no trace in the archaeological record, such as wood, were also employed. Mudbrick Walls The use of mudbricks for construction was predominant in Strata IV–III. Although mudbricks were also used in Stratum II, the frequency cannot be determined due to erosion. During Strata IV–III, some mudbrick walls were founded upon a continuous stone foundation and some were not. During Stratum II, use of stone foundations appears to have been the norm. The mudbrick walls were often difficult to differentiate from the surrounding matrix during excavation. Based on color and texture, the outlines of a wall, and occasionally of the bricks themselves, could sometimes be identified. The bricks were usually rectangular (see Appendix 3). No specific arrangement of mudbricks was discerned; they were layered

250

AMIR GOLANI

as one or more rows of headers, stretchers or both. The mudbricks were usually separated by regular gaps about 1 cm wide that were filled with a dense, dark gray earthen material. At times, broken mudbricks were also employed in wall construction; a similar technique was noted in Early Bronze Age architecture at Lod (Lass 2006). In Stratum III, evidence for the facing of mudbrick walls with small stones was observed in Area K. During excavation, different types of mudbricks were identified by their color, texture and inclusions. Stratum IV. The mudbricks used in this stratum were of soft, well-levigated clay, generally brown to orange-brown or light brown in color with few inclusions (see Appendix 3). Their identification in the field was extremely difficult due to the similarity in color and texture to the surrounding matrix. Stratum III. A new type of mudbrick was observed in Stratum III, although the Stratum IV mudbricks continued in use. The new mudbrick type was made of dense, marly sand, light cream-gray or light brown-gray in color containing numerous calcite concretions (see Appendix 3). The raw material and the inclusions yielded a denser, heavier brick than those of Stratum IV, stronger and less prone to erosion by wind and rain. The distinctiveness of this material was such that it became one of the parameters for identification of Stratum III architecture throughout the site. Stratum II. Only three mudbrick walls were identified in Stratum II. Though scarce, the bricks appear to have been identical in color and texture to those identified in Stratum IV. Stone Walls Stone walls were found throughout the main strata at the site (IV–II). Only local kurkar stone was used. The small to medium-sized kurkar stones may have detached by erosion from nearby outcrops of the underlying kurkar, and larger chunks may have been pried out. No clear evidence for quarrying was found, although it is known, for example, from contemporaneous Qiryat Ata (Golani 2003:21–22, 75). In Strata IV and III, stone construction was actually scarce, employed only sporadically as foundations for mudbrick superstructures and for some installations. The stone foundation walls were preserved up to one–four courses and composed of two rows of medium-sized to large kurkar stones with smaller chinking stones in between (e.g., Area G; see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.154). Due to the plastic nature of sun-dried mudbricks, stone foundations were often constructed to create a sturdy base upon which to lay the bricks and prevent the wall from sinking, cracking and eventually collapsing. In Stratum II, nearly all the walls had stone foundations of small to medium-sized kurkar stones, which supports the hypothesis that the water level rose at the end of EB I (see Chapter 2), undermining the stability of mudbrick architecture. Other techniques in the use of stone were observed. In some mudbrick walls, stones were set intermittently along the edges of the wall, delineating its outline (e.g., Stratum III W7 in southern Area A; see Chapter 3: Plan 3.2). Such stones may have served to counter

CHAPTER 4: ARCHITECTURE AND SETTLEMENT PLANNING

251

lateral pressure of the mudbrick superstructure, although they could not have served as a base against the vertical pressures exerted. Another technique was the use of a stone row functioning as a stabilizing agent around which a terre pisée wall may have been constructed (e.g., Stratum III W501 in Area K; see Chapter 3: Plan 3.16). An architectural feature specific to Stratum II in Areas D, K and L was the construction of straight walls no wider than 0.20–0.25 m, built of two rows of small kurkar stones (e.g., W601; see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.183). Floors/Surfaces Three types of floors and surfaces were uncovered: beaten earth, stone and mudbrick. The most common type was that of beaten earth, encountered throughout the site and used in roofed as well as open areas. A rough level of evenly and densely spread, fist-sized stones is here termed a stone pavement, although it may have served as a bedding for a beaten-earth floor as well (e.g., Stratum III Building D8; see Chapter 3: Figs. 3.128, 3.129). Pavements of mudbrick were of two varieties: closely set mudbrick fragments, seen in Areas A and G (e.g., Stratum III Granary 141; see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.9), and mudbricks carefully laid as tiles, as in the entrance to the Stratum III walled compound in Area A (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.2) and in Phase IIIA Granary 1340 in Area D (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.22). Floors constructed of mudbrick fragments appear to have been used in storage installations, probably to safeguard against humidity and rodent burrowing from below. The Use of Plaster While none of the EB I walls at the site exhibited any clear traces of plaster, the mudbrick walls were probably covered regularly with some form of plaster or mud material, although this had apparently eroded over time. The only evidence for the use of plaster in the broad sense was a lining of light gray-brown, non-hydraulic plaster at the bottom of Stratum IV Silo 156 in Area A (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.2), and a whitish material, possibly plaster, on some floors. Architectural Plans The excavations at Ashqelon Barne‘a uncovered domestic and public buildings, as well as storage facilities, all constructed using the materials and techniques described above. Although not all the buildings were completely exposed, either due to incomplete preservation or partial excavation, the plans of most can be reasonably reconstructed. In general, three main building plans were revealed: elliptical, rectilinear with rounded corners and rectilinear with angled corners (Table 4.1).1

Although ‘buildingʼ and ‘structureʼ are not identical terms (see Chapter 1: Methodology), for the sake of clarity, the term ‘buildingʼ will be used in most cases in the following section. 1

252

AMIR GOLANI

Table 4.1. Domestic and Public Buildings by Stratum, Type and Function Stratum

Area

Elliptical

Rounded Corners

Angled Corners

Unclear

IV

D

IV

D

IV

H

Building H1

IV

L

Building L1

IV

M

IV–III

G

Building G1

IV–III

G

Building G2

IV–III

G

IV–III

G

III(?)

A

Structure A1

Domestic

III

A

Building A2

Domestic

III

D

Structure D7

III

D

III

D

Structure D4

Public

III

D

Structure D5

Unclear

III

D

Structure D6

Public

III

D

Structure D9

Unclear

III

I

Structure I1

Unclear

III

K

III

K

Building K2

Unclear*

III

K

Structure K3

Unclear

III

L

Building L2

Domestic

III

L

Building L3

Domestic

III–II

K

Building K4

Public

II

K

Structure K5

Domestic(?)

Structure D1

Function Domestic

Structure D2

Unclear Domestic Domestic

Building M1

Domestic Domestic Domestic

Building G3

Public Structure G4

Unclear

Domestic Structure D3

Domestic

Building K1

Domestic

* Due to the amorphic plan of this structure, it is unclear whether it can actually be defined as an elliptical building or a round storage installation.

Domestic Architecture Curvilinear domestic architecture is one of the hallmarks of EB I in the southern Levant (Braun 1989; Golani 1999). At Ashqelon Barne‘a Strata IV–III, two forms of curvilinear domestic structures were revealed: elliptical and rectilinear with rounded corners. Rectilinear buildings with straight walls and angled corners appear from Stratum III onward. Elliptical Buildings The remains of at least five elliptical buildings were exposed in Areas G, H, K and L (Table 4.2). In Area G, these consisted of a stone foundation that probably originally carried a mudbrick superstructure, as in Building L1. In all other cases, these buildings were built entirely of mudbrick with little or no stone foundation. The elliptical buildings generally consisted of one room, occasionally with an inner division. Of the four buildings whose inner floor space could be calculated with reasonable certainty, it ranged from 28 to 36 sq m, with an average of 33.5 sq m. The Area L building and the two buildings in Area G

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Table 4.2. Elliptical Domestic Buildings by Stratum Stratum

Area

Building/ Structure

Walls

Internal Division

Approx. Inner Floor Space (sq m)

IV

H

H1

Mudbrick

Unclear

Unclear

IV

L

L1

Mudbrick and stone

Yes

35

IV–III

G

G1

Mudbrick and stone

Yes

28

IV–III

G

G2

Mudbrick and stone

Yes

35

III

K

K1

Mudbrick and stone

No

36

were founded in Stratum IV, the latter two apparently continuing into Stratum III. The one definite elliptical building in Area K was founded in Stratum III. Thus, elliptical buildings in general appear to have been a phenomenon of Stratum IV that continued into Stratum III. Rectilinear Buildings with Rounded Corners The remains of seven domestic buildings with rounded outer corners were identified in Areas A, D, L and M. These were usually built of mudbrick, sometimes laid on a stone foundation. They consisted primarily of one room, and only in Structure D1 were there remains of an inner partition wall. Of the four buildings whose inner floor space could be calculated with reasonable certainty, it ranged from 28 to 50 sq m, with an average of 38.5 sq m (Table 4.3). Rectilinear buildings with rounded corners first appeared during Stratum IV and became more common in Stratum III. In both strata, they apparently coexisted alongside the elliptical building tradition. A single example of what appears to have been a Stratum II wall with a rounded corner in Area K (W522; see Chapter 3: Plan 3.17) may indicate a limited continuation of this building style into Stratum II as well. Table 4.3. Domestic and Public Buildings with Rounded Corners, by Stratum Stratum

Area

Building/ Structure

Walls

Internal Division

Approx. Inner Floor Space (sq m)

IV

D

D1

Mudbrick and stone

Yes

Unclear

IV

M

M1

Mudbrick

No

28

IV–III

G

G3

Mudbrick and stone

No

72

III(?)

A

A1

Stone foundation

Unclear

Unclear

III

A

A2

Mudbrick

No

28

III

D

D7

Mudbrick and stone

Unclear

50

III

L

L2

Mudbrick

No

Unclear

III

L

L3

Mudbrick and stone

No

48

Rectilinear Buildings with Angled Corners Two domestic buildings with clearly angled corners were identified in the excavations, although none were sufficiently exposed to reveal a complete plan. Structure D3 was built of mudbricks only, while Structure K5 had a stone foundation. These two rectilinear buildings are attributed to Strata III and II respectively (Table 4.4).

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Table 4.4. Domestic and Public Buildings with Angled Corners, by Stratum Stratum

Area

Building/ Structure

Walls

Internal Division

Approx. Inner Floor Space (sq m)

III

D

D3

Mudbrick

Unclear

Unclear

III–II

K

K4

Mudbrick and stone

Yes

Unclear

II

K

K5

Stone foundation

Unclear

Unclear

Ashqelon Barne‘a and the Development of Domestic Architecture during EB I The evolution of domestic architectural plans in the southern Levant during the protohistoric periods shows a cyclical development from the Chalcolithic period into the Early Bronze Age. During the Chalcolithic period, domestic buildings consisted of rectilinear broadrooms, usually with no internal division (Porath 1992). The subsequent EB IA is notable for the appearance of elliptical structures (Braun 1989) with some internal division. While the curvilinear building style was not exclusive to this period, it does appear to have been prevalent throughout EB IA and into EB IB. During a later phase of EB IB, elliptical buildings appear to have been gradually replaced by rectilinear buildings with rounded outer corners (Golani 1999). The rounded-corner building tradition begins during EB IB throughout the southern Levant and continues into the beginning of EB II (Golani 1999). Finally, during EB II, architectural development came full circle with the total abandonment of the curvilinear building tradition in favor of rectilinear broadroom building plans. The architectural elements uncovered at Ashqelon Barne‘a fit well into this evolutionary pattern. All three architectural styles were present at the site, with both elliptical and rounded-corner buildings appearing together in Strata IV and III. While the former tradition was clearly superseded by the latter in Area L, in Area G they appear to have been contemporaneous in Stratum IV: elliptical domestic buildings and a rounded-corner public building (Building G3, see below). Elliptical buildings are absent in Stratum II, when buildings with angled corners became the norm. As rounded-corner buildings are known to have existed in EB IB and into EB II (Golani 1999), they could be dated to either one of these periods. However, their coexistence with elliptical structures whose chronological range ends within EB IB, strengthens the attribution of both Strata IV and III to EB I and indicates a certain period of overlap in which both architectural styles co-existed. As only one wall (W522) may represent the existence of a rounded-corner building in Stratum II, and most of the Stratum II architecture was of the angled-corner tradition, this stratum can be dated to the very end of EB IB at the earliest, or early EB II at the latest. Public Architecture Definitions of what constitutes a public building are usually based on such criteria as size, building technique, plan, contents or specific location in relation to other elements at the site (see, e.g., Genz 2010). However, these parameters are relative in comparison to those

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of the domestic buildings at a site. In this light, public structures at Ashqelon Barne‘a can be identified in Areas D, G and K. Area D appears to have been somewhat different in a number of aspects from the other excavation areas, as it had the thickest accumulation of anthropogenic deposits, large and irregularly shaped structures, and no burials. The identification of Area D as the central, possibly public portion of the site arises not only from the character of the architecture, the depth of accumulation and the sheer volume of material finds, but also from the nature of the finds. Most of the imported and prestige objects, such as unique ceramic finds, basalt vessels and Egyptian flint tools, were recovered from this area or the adjacent Areas G and K; the archaeobotanical evidence also indicates that Area D served as a center for the collection of wheat and its redistribution (see AB II). Unfortunately, of the numerous architectural remains in Area D throughout Strata IV–II, few could be reconstructed with any certainty (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.18). In Stratum III, two structures (D4, D6) can be proposed as public buildings, and the massive size of enclosure W156, which began in Stratum IV and continued into Stratum III, also indicates a public function. Structures D4 and D6 were very large mudbrick buildings of irregular plan that underwent extensive architectural modifications in Phase IIIA. Structure D6 was the larger and more massive––one of its walls was 1.65 m wide. In Structure D4, a large concentration of Glycymeris shells was discovered (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.135). In Stratum II, the area produced numerous architectural remains, although most were incoherent. However, the discovery of a concentration of small votive ceramic vessels (see Chapter 3: Figs. 3.140, 3.141) serves to highlight the special nature of this area during Stratum II as well. Area G was apparently located on a higher elevation than its immediate surroundings in Areas K, D and E (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.24). Several buildings were uncovered in this area, all apparently built of mudbricks on stone foundations. Building G3, a rectilinear building with rounded corners, stands out due to its massive construction and large size (c. 7 × 14 m, inner floor space c. 72 sq m)––the largest single structure excavated at the site that can be reconstructed. Several other architectural features also set Building G3 off from the other structures at the site, including the narrow benches along its surviving western, southern and eastern walls, and a round mudbrick installation (diam. 1.6 m) inside the building near its western wall, which might have been an altar or a work platform (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.156).2 Another rounded, stone-built installation, perhaps of similar function, was found outside the building to its east (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.157).

Similar features were uncovered at Tel Lod, dated to late EB IB (Golani 2013: Fig. 5); at Eshta’ol, dated to EB IB (Ben-Ari and Golani, forthcoming); and at Qiryat Ata, dated to EB II (Assaf Kleinmann, pers. comm.). Much larger circular podiums are known from EB II at Tel Qishyon Stratum II (Arnon and Amiran 1993), and from EB III at Megiddo, Strata XIV–XVII (Loud 1948: Figs. 392–395) and Zeraqon (Genz 2002: Abb. 2). In most cases, these features were connected to architecture that may have been cultic, although at Eshtaʼol and Qiryat Ata, the area exposed was too small to draw substantive conclusions. 2

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Building G3 was founded in Stratum IV and was the only building that underwent extensive architectural modifications during Stratum III, when an annex was appended to its eastern side and the round installations were covered by floors. Although the contents of Building G3 were unexceptional, a large fragment of a violin-shaped figurine was recovered from a Stratum IV surface to the south of the building (see Rosenberg, forthcoming), suggesting a possible cultic activity in this area. While these features are insufficient to identify Building G3 as a temple, they do attest to a building of some importance.3 In Area K, extensive remains were revealed in Strata III and II. Structure K4, a large rectilinear building with angled corners, was one of the most massive buildings at the site (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.93), and the only one that exhibited continuity from Stratum III into Stratum II. It was an architectural complex of unclear plan, built of stone foundations that probably carried a mudbrick superstructure, and it underwent extensive architectural modifications in Phase IIIA and in Stratum II. A small juglet containing a cache of dentalium shells was found in one of the outer building walls (W525) of Phase IIIA and is interpreted as a foundation deposit (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.97; see Ktalav, forthcoming). Pillar bases and several copper-smelting installations were also found in this structure during this phase. Together, these factors suggest that it was an unusual building of some importance. Storage Facilities At least 23 storage facilities from Strata IV–III were identified in nearly all the excavated areas––in open areas and also within compounds. As only a small portion of the site was excavated, it can be assumed that these were a common feature throughout the settlement. These facilities were generally circular installations, 2.0–7.3 m in diameter (Table 4.5), subterranean, semi-subterranean or above ground. Subterranean installations are termed silos, and semi-subterranean and above-ground installations are labeled granaries (after Borowski 1987:71–72). Early Bronze Age silos and granaries in the southern Levant were usually built of stone and mudbrick and probably lined with plaster (Golani and Yannai 2016). At Ashqelon Barne‘a, they were nearly always made of mudbrick, preserved up to only one or two rows, and plaster was identified in only one example (see below). Mudbrick walls of such facilities, if properly maintained, would have offered adequate insulation from both moisture and heat, creating a stable microclimate for the produce stored within. It may be assumed that these installations were intended for the storage of agricultural surplus, presumably in sacks, loose heaps, bins or storage jars (Golani and Yannai 2016). Archaeobotanical analysis of the remains retrieved from the bottom of some of these silos suggests that emmer wheat, barley, lentils, olives, grapes and figs were among these products (Weiss and Mahler-Slasky, forthcoming).

An EB IB rounded-corner building of similar size and orientation, also with a low bench along one of its walls, was excavated at Eshta’ol (Golani and Storchan 2008:7*, Fig. 2). This building may also have been a public structure, in comparison to the smaller, yet similarly built buildings at that site. 3

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Table 4.5. Storage Facilities by Stratum Stratum

Area

Silo/ Granary

Wall

Loci Within

Within Compound/ Open Area

Floor

Type

Outer/Inner Diam. (m)*

Preserved Depth (m)

IV

A

Silo 156

W11

L156

Open area

-

Subterranean

3.0/2.1

1.77

IV

A

Silo 3095

W315

L3095

Open area

Beaten earth

Subterranean(?)

4.3/3.2 × 3.6/2.5

0.58

IV

G

Granary 865

W89

L865/874

Open area

Mudbrick fragments

Semisubterranean

3.0/2.3

0.80

IV

G

Silo 869

W103

L869/965, L841

Open area

Mudbrick fragments

Subterranean

2.7/1.8

1.13

IV

L

Silo(?) W635

W635

-

Compound

-

Unclear

2.0/1.0

-

IV– IIIB(?)

G

Granary 991

W91

L991

Compound

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean

4.3/2.7

0.59

IV–III

L

Granary 6079

W608

L6079/6132

Compound

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean(?)

3.2/2.2

0.63

III

A

Granary 141

W2

L141/148, L115

Compound

Mudbrick and stone

Semisubterranean

4.4/2.8

0.72

III(?)

D

Granary 511

W54

L511, L513

Open area(?)

Beaten earth

Above ground

3.2/2.4

0.22

III

M

Granary 7126

W713

L7126 (IIIB) L7120 (IIIA)

Open area

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean

2.4/2.0

0.72

IIIB

D

Granary 588

W160

L588, L1010/1019

Compound

Rough stone

Above ground

7.3/5.3

0.53

IIIB

G

Granary 833

W83

L833, L840

Open area

Mudbrick fragments

Above ground

2.7/1.8

0.25

IIIB

H

Granary 143

W10

L143/153

Open area

Beaten earth

Above ground(?)

5.0/4.0

0.56

IIIB

H

Silo 4124

W406

L4124, L4132

Compound

Beaten earth

Subterranean

2.8/2.0

1.30

IIIB

K

Granary 5026

W503

L5026

Compound

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean

2.3/1.75

1.26

IIIB(?)

K

Silo(?) 5057

-

L5057

Compound

-

Subterranean(?)

-

-

IIIB

M

Granary 7068

W710

L7068

Open area

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean

2.5/1.5

0.55

IIIA

D

Granary 1340

W131

L1340

Open area(?)

Mudbrick pavement

Above ground

2.4/2.0

0.33

IIIA

J

Granary 2007

W201

L2007

Open area(?)

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean

2.8/1.8

1.01

IIIA

J

Granary 2011

W202

L2011

Compound

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean

4.0/3.0

0.64

IIIA

J

Granary 2015

W203

L2015

Compound

Beaten earth

Above ground

3.5/2.7 × 3.2/2.4

0.63

IIIA

J

Granary 2018

W204

L2018

Compound

Beaten earth

Semisubterranean

2.1/1.7

0.59

IIIA

J

Granary 2030

W206

L2030

Compound

Beaten earth

Above ground

3.5/2.85

0.54

* All storage facilities are circular, except for 3095 and 2015.

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Only three of these installations appear to have been completely subterranean, two Stratum IV silos from Areas A and G and a Phase IIIB silo from Area H, reaching depths of 1.13–1.77 m (Table 4.5). All three silos were formed by the excavation of a large, deep pit, after which a circular wall of one row of mudbricks was constructed within, and the area between the pit and the wall was filled in. Only in the Area A silo was a plaster lining identified on its interior; its sides sloped inward, creating a cup-like contour (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.1: Section 1-1). The inner contour of the other two silos was uncertain, but may have been similar to that in Area A. It could be determined with certainty that five of the granaries associated exclusively with Stratum III were constructed above ground and freestanding. These include a granary with a mudbrick pavement and another, much larger example (Building D8/Granary 588), both in Area D (see Chapter 3: Figs. 3.128, 3.129; Plan 3.20), circular and horseshoeshaped granaries in Area J (see Chapter 3: Figs. 3.196, 3.197; Plan 3.32), and one in Area G constructed directly on a Stratum IV subterranean silo (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.149; Plan 3.24: Section 5-5). A similar phenomenon was observed in Stratum IV in Area A, where a subterranean silo was replaced by a semi-subterranean granary in Stratum III (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.1; Plan 3.1: Sections 1-1, 2-2). The reason that a subterranean structure was directly replaced by an above-ground structure of similar function is probably connected with the mudbricks. With the denser, harder mudbrick material used in Stratum III (see above), less labor was required to construct a storage facility, as there would have been no need to dig a large pit. An identical phenomenon was noted at nearby Ashqelon Afridar, in Area J, where a Stratum VI silo built of dark gray bricks was replaced by an above-ground granary in Stratum V made of different mudbricks that included numerous calcite concretions (Baumgarten 2004: 161–163). The majority of the granaries, however, appear to have been partially sunken into the ground, and the superstructure was largely eroded. The above-ground walls were straight sided, and may have carried a domed, conical superstructure, similar to the reconstructed granaries at Bet Yeraḥ (Currid 1985).4 Only a few of these structures had openings in their walls, including a Stratum III granary in southern Area A, a large Stratum III granary in Area H and a Stratum III horseshoeshaped granary in Area J. In the first two granaries, the openings had been blocked in a later stage of use, perhaps indicating a change in storage method that necessitated access from the top of the domed roof. Circular structures of mudbrick or stone, often interpreted as storage facilities, are common at Early Bronze Age sites, especially those dating to the latter part of EB I, throughout the southern Levant (Golani and Yannai 2016). In EB IB Stratum II at Palmaḥim Quarry (Braun 1992), they were often found adjacent to or incorporated into walls, some

One of the EB IB circular structures excavated at Eshta’ol exhibited stone-built walls that sloped slightly inward (Golani and Storchan 2008:7*: Fig. 4), suggesting that some form of corbelling was employed to produce a dome-shaped structure. 4

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of which may be interpreted as compound walls, as in Area J at Ashqelon Barne‘a (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.32). In all cases, these facilities are situated in proximity to domestic structures, implying the surplus storage of commodities by private households (Golani and Yannai 2016:33–34). During EB II–III, such circular storage structures adjacent to domestic buildings are generally unknown, although circular stone-built storage platforms are present, for example, at EB II ‘Arad (Amiran et al. 1978:17). Thus, these rounded storage structures appear to have been a phenomenon primarily of EB IB, as are rectilinear buildings with rounded corners (see above). At Ashqelon Barne‘a, circular storage facilities are situated in domestic compounds and thus have domestic associations. The large size of some of these facilities may be due to the volume or variety of the produce stored within, or may indicate the storage of surplus commodities. At Barne‘a, some facilities also stood in open areas, not directly associated with domestic structures, thus it is unclear if they belonged to individual households or perhaps represent communal or shared storage.

Settlement Planning The large-scale excavations at Ashqelon Barne‘a exposed almost 8 dunams of the Early Bronze Age occupation––approximately 15% of the entire site at its peak of 54 dunams in Stratum III. The scope of this exposure is nearly unprecedented in the archaeology of the Early Bronze Age in the southern Levant.5 The large number of architectural plans that are complete or can be reconstructed, and the broad lateral exposure that demonstrates their interrelationships, enables a comprehensive picture of settlement planning in this period. Compounds One of the most important results of the present excavations is the identification of planned compounds within the settlement, separated from one another by alleyways and open areas. Three types of compounds were defined: domestic, industrial and public. All feature a mudbrick enclosure wall, often on a partial stone foundation. These walls functioned as fencing or boundary walls, and presumably did not support roofing. Domestic Compounds At least eight domestic compounds were identified in Strata IV–III. They usually comprised three elements: an enclosure wall, a domestic structure and a storage facility. The manner in which these elements were arranged could vary, but in most cases the domestic

A much larger excavation at the site of ‘En Esur (‘Ein Asawir) in the northern part of the central coastal plain of Israel, has exposed some 6% of an EB I occupation estimated at 650 dunams (Elad and Paz 2018; Elad, Paz and Shalem 2019). 5

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structure was attached to and inside the enclosure wall, although in Area A the structure was appended to the enclosure wall from the outside. Furthermore, not all the compounds included both storage structures and domestic buildings, and some enclosed a few small smelting installations. Following is a brief summary of the domestic compounds identified at the site. Stratum IV Only the domestic compound in Area L can be related to this stratum with certainty. It was bounded by a mudbrick enclosure wall on a partial stone foundation, which was traced for 29 m. The compound encompassed at least 400 sq m and included an elliptical domestic building (35 sq m) and two circular structures, one of them a granary (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.29). Stratum III Domestic compounds of Stratum III were exposed in Areas A, H, J, K and M. The compounds were bounded by stone and mudbrick walls, except for that in Area M, built only of mudbrick. Area A. A wall of varying width and partly built on a stone foundation enclosed a large rectangular courtyard (165 sq m) with rounded corners. A domestic structure (28 sq m), also with rounded corners (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.2), abutted the northern courtyard wall from the outside, and a granary abutted the southern inner wall. In its final stage of use, the courtyard had two entrances in the south—the main entrance opened onto a mudbrickpaved surface, and another into a corridor leading to the open courtyard. Area H. Part of an enclosure wall was traced for 20 m in the southern part of Area H (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.5), which enclosed a silo. Area J. Portions of two domestic compounds were exposed (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.32). The enclosure wall of the northern compound, which was partly built on a stone foundation and badly damaged, incorporated at least one granary. The enclosure wall of the southern compound, also built on a stone foundation, was traced for 18 m. Two granaries were incorporated into the wall and a third was inside the compound. Area K. Portions of two domestic compounds were uncovered, with an alleyway between them (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.16). The northern compound was delineated by an enclosure wall with rounded corners, partly built on a stone foundation. The compound was reconstructed as approximately 420 sq m, and included an elliptical domestic building (36 sq m), and a smaller elliptical structure (11.5 sq m) that could have been used for dwelling or storage. An entrance into this compound was identified near its southwestern corner. The enclosure wall of the southern compound was traced for 23 m with no stone foundation; the compound included at least one granary and traces of what may have been a dwelling unit.

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Area M. A portion of an enclosure wall was traced for 18 m, but no structures could be identified inside this compound (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.10). The lack of industrial facilities or waste, and the relatively modest construction, suggest that this was a domestic rather than industrial or public compound (see below). Industrial Compounds for Metallurgical Activities During Stratum III at Ashqelon Barne‘a, copper processing appears to have become a major and well-organized industry, as witnessed by the numerous smelting installations found in nearly every excavation area and especially by the presence of at least three walled compounds that appear to have specialized in copper working. These compounds were incorporated within the settlement and situated alongside domestic compounds, suggesting that the copper-processing operations were under the control of individual families or groups of extended families working in a cooperative effort. Industrial compounds were identified in Stratum III, in Areas B, H and possibly Area I. Only in Area B was such a compound completely exposed (see Chapter 3: Plans 3.13, 3.14), while those identified in Areas H and I were only partially uncovered. These features are identified as industrial compounds primarily on the basis of the large amount of industrial waste and metallurgical installations found within and around their immediate vicinity. The plan of these compounds is irregular, yet they all appear to have been unroofed. The smelting installations found throughout Strata IV–II comprise small, shallow, cup-shaped pits, often lined with small stones and containing white-colored ash that originated from burnt plant matter. Surrounding these pits were large amounts of darkcolored burnt debris containing copper slags and prills and broken clay crucibles, as well as ashes and burnt mudbricks. While such metallurgical installations were not restricted to any specific zone, they were more concentrated in the industrial compounds. The metallurgical industry at Barne‘a apparently processed semi-refined copper into tools (Golani 2014) and bears witness to an organized network in which copper was mined and refined at distant locations and then transported over long distances to its final point of processing into tools and redistribution at Ashqelon. Area B. This compound was exposed in its entirety, revealing an enclosure wall on a partial stone foundation, encompassing an irregularly shaped area of 270 sq m (see Chapter 3: Plans 3.13, 3.14). The compound had three entrances––in the south, east and west. No domestic structures were identified, although the presence of a few curved mudbrick walls attest to some form of closed-off areas, possibly for storage or as windbreaks. Two such walls that could have functioned as windbreaks were built in the southern and eastern entrances. The western opening, however, was the focus of most of the metallurgical activity and appears to have been positioned in order to take advantage of the stoking draft from the sea, possibly enhanced by a dip in the kurkar ridge to the west. In and around this opening, large amounts of burnt mudbrick waste and dark ashes were found––clear evidence of pyrotechnical activities––along with slags and crucible fragments.

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Area H. In southern Area H, the western side of a compound was exposed (Eastern Compound; see Chapter 3: Plan 3.5). The enclosure wall was built of mudbrick and stone and apparently had two rounded corners. Within the compound, two short walls were attached perpendicular to the western enclosure wall at regular intervals, creating three cells. Within one cell were the remains of at least one smelting installation. Large amounts of burnt mudbrick waste and ashes as well as slags and crucible fragments were found in the cells and other parts of the compound. Area I. A stone wall bounded a large courtyard of approximately 110 sq m, abutted by scanty remains of a smaller structure to its north (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.7). The courtyard had two entrances, one in the north and the other in the east. In the central portion of the courtyard was a smelting installation surrounded by a buildup of burnt mudbrick and ash. Public Compounds A large compound and architectural elements were found in Area D; their continuation may possibly be identified in Area G. The compound in Area D was initially constructed in Stratum IV, bounded by a 1 m wide enclosure wall on a stone foundation traced for 35 m in the southern portion of the area (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.19). A broad modern pipeline trench cut through this compound and its wall at both ends. The compound continued into Stratum III, when a considerable portion of the enclosure wall collapsed and a very large circular structure (Granary 588, diam. 7.3 m) was constructed on top of a previous structure (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.20). As the modern disturbance severed any possible ties between Areas D and G, it is unclear if the enclosure wall continued further south, where it may have linked up with Building G3 and the narrower enclosure wall in Area G, which was also constructed in Stratum IV and continued into Stratum III (see Figs. 4.1, 4.2). If this reconstruction of a large public compound is correct, then in Stratum IV it may have included the public (cultic?) Building G3, at least one curvilinear structure (Structure G4) and possibly two elliptical buildings (Buildings G1 and G2) and a granary (Granary 991). In Stratum III, in addition to the public (cultic?) building, at least one curvilinear structure (Structure G4) and possibly an elliptical building (Building G2), the compound also included two granaries. Open Areas Open areas between the compounds took the form of alleys as well as broad open spaces around which the compounds were positioned. The open areas occasionally included granaries, pits and wall fragments of unclear plan. Of special note is the large Stratum III granary in northern Area H (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.5), located midway between the domestic compound in southern Area A and the domestic and industrial compounds in southern Area H (see Fig. 4.2). To its west is the industrial compound in Area I and, adopting a principle of symmetry, another compound may have been located immediately to its east (and west

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of the compound in Area L), so that this granary may have been positioned in the center of a large open area bounded by compounds. Another extensive open area in Stratum III may have existed between the industrial compound in southern Area H, the domestic compound in Area M to the west, the industrial compound in Area B to the south and the domestic buildings in Area L to its east (see Fig. 4.2). Burials Infant and child burials were common throughout Strata IV–II (see Nagar, forthcoming), with 29 such interments found in open areas or alleyways, yet never within compounds or other structures that were still in use, indicating a clear differentiation between burials and living areas. The burials were usually placed in jars with their tops cut off to facilitate insertion of the body, or encased in several large ceramic fragments in secondary use. In a few cases, they were placed in mudbrick cists or shallow pits. Most were found without any burial offerings, yet a few, such as Burials 5054 and 5063 in Area K, included a fish bone. No burials were found in Area D in any stratum, which further attests to the special, probably public significance attached to this area (see above). In Stratum II, infant and child burials were inserted into earlier habitation remains, as in the walls of the Stratum III industrial enclosure in Area B, or Burial 5053 immediately above the Stratum III Granary 5026 that had gone out of use. This practice implies that the inhabitants of Stratum II were aware of the earlier remains and purposely made use of them. Most of these Stratum II burials were concentrated in the southern portion of Area K and throughout Area B, both situated adjacent to what was apparently the heart of the Stratum II settlement in Area D (see Fig. 4.3). The practice of infant and child burial within the habitation area, and not within a specified burial ground outside the settlement, appears to be a ‘holdover’ from the previous Chalcolithic period, indicating a continuation of burial traditions from that period into EB I (Golani and Nagar 2011). Adult burials do appear to have been concentrated outside the settlement, beyond the southernmost extremity of the habitation represented by the sparse anthropogenic remains in northern Area E. The numerous stone cists found in southern Area E may have been intended for burial, although the present excavations were unable to determine with certainty if these features had actually contained burials or to what period they belonged. The cists in Area F, also situated at the periphery of the site, served as burial receptacles for secondary adult interments. Despite the lack of any diagnostic finds, the proximity of the burials in Areas E and F to the EB I site strongly suggests a connection between them (Golani and Nagar 2011).

Settlement Growth and Contraction The excavations have revealed a history of settlement growth from the foundation of the site in Stratum IV, its climax and subsequent abandonment during Stratum III, and a diminished resettlement in Stratum II.

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AMIR GOLANI

Stratum IV (Fig. 4.1) This was the first clearly permanent occupation at the site, encompassing an area of some 23.5 dunams. The exposed remains demonstrate that walled compounds, buildings and storage facilities were already in existence at this time, although they appear to have been widely spaced. These include a domestic compound in Area L, building remains in Areas D, G, H, I and M, and a storage silo in southern Area A. The foundations of the large public compounds in Areas D and G in this stratum suggest that already in this stage the area was intended for public purposes. The lack of definite Stratum IV remains in Area K, where the Stratum III features were often founded atop the basal sand dune, suggest it was an open area at that time. To the north, Area J, positioned atop the kurkar ridge, was apparently not settled at that time and thus the northern boundary of the Stratum IV settlement is to be found in Areas I and A. Area G probably represents the southern limit of occupation at this time. Stratum III (Fig. 4.2) A smooth transition from Stratum IV to Stratum III was apparently accompanied by intensified building and rapid growth in settlement size, which now encompassed an area of about 54 dunams. In many cases, the Stratum III occupation completely replaced that of Stratum IV, often reusing the earlier Stratum IV walls. The Stratum III settlement was identified over most of the excavated site, arranged as loosely organized nucleations of walled compounds of different functions around open spaces, sometimes as clusters of compounds with alleyways between them. Metallurgical activities took place in certain industrial compounds, but also in open areas and in proximity to dwellings, and were not restricted to a specific zone. In Stratum III, public buildings were constructed in Areas D and K and the public (cultic?) building in Area G was enlarged. As in Stratum IV, Areas D and G were among the most intensively built-up parts of the site and retained their somewhat different character, which became even more pronounced in Stratum III. Stratum II (Fig. 4.3) The Stratum III site was abandoned, and then resettled during Stratum II on a smaller scale, reaching about 20 dunams in size. This may have been due to the much wetter climatic conditions that resulted in localized marshlands, rendering the coastal region less hospitable to settlement (see Chapter 2). The Stratum II occupation was scant and widely spaced compared to that of Stratum III, suggesting that at this stage it consisted of only a few scattered buildings. The most substantial Stratum II architecture was unearthed in Area D and the eastern portion of Area K, with limited remains in Areas A and L. Beyond these areas to the west, Stratum II consisted of a few beaten-earth surfaces and infant and child burials, the majority of which appear to have been located outside the Stratum II settlement. No remains of Stratum II were recognized in Area G, and the settlement appears to have shrunk toward the southeastern side of the site.

159 950

159 900

159 800

159 700

159 600 623 200

623 200

Area J Area C Area A

Byzantine remains

Area I

623 100

Domestic compound

Area H

623 100

Area L Area M

Area B Area F 623 000

Area K

Burial area

623 000

Area D

Area G

Public area

622 900

622 900

Area E Burial area? 622 800

622 800

Fig. 4.1. Reconstruction of the Stratum IV settlement.

159 950

159 900

159 800

50 m 159 700

159 600

0

Domestic compound

159 950

159 900

159 800

159 700

159 600 623 200

623 200

Domestic compound Area J

Area C

Domestic compound

Industrial compound Byzantine remains

Area A

Area I Domestic compound

623 100

Industrial compound

Domestic compound

Suggested compound Area L

Area H

Area M

623 100

Suggested compound Domestic compound

Area B Industrial compound

Area F 623 000

Burial area

Suggested compound

Area K Domestic compound

623 000

Area D

Area G

Public area

622 900

622 900

Area E Burial area? 622 800

622 800

Fig. 4.2. Reconstruction of the Stratum III settlement.

159 950

159 900

159 800

50 m 159 700

159 600

0

159 950

159 900

159 800

159 700

159 600 623 200

623 200

Area J

Area C Burial

Byzantine remains

Area A

Area I

623 100

623 100

Area H Area L Area M

Area B

Burial area

Area F 623 000

Area K

Burial area

623 000

Area D

Area G

Public area

622 900

622 900

Area E Burial area? 622 800

622 800

Fig. 4.3. Reconstruction of the Stratum II settlement.

159 950

159 900

159 800

50 m 159 700

159 600

0

268

AMIR GOLANI

Summary Taken together, the environmental (Chapters 1, 2), stratigraphic (Chapter 3) and architectural data appear to highlight a functional-spatial division within the settlement between public, domestic and industrial compounds and burial grounds. The core public area appears to have been located in the southeast, mainly in Area D and parts of Areas G and K, the only locales where public buildings were identified. Area G was apparently somewhat elevated, while Area D was completely devoid of burials and its public/cultic function is further attested by the nature of the architecture and many of the finds. Public architecture existed in Areas G and D during Strata IV–III, but it appears that a shift took place during Stratum II, when public architecture was found only in Areas D and K, probably due to the more constricted dimensions of the settlement at that time.

R eferences Amiran R., Paran U., Shiloh Y., Brown R., Tsafrir Y. and Ben-Tor A. 1978. Early Arad I: The Chalcolithic Settlement and the Early Bronze Age City I: First–Fifth Seasons of Excavations, 1962–1966 (Judean Desert Studies). Jerusalem. Arnon C. and Amiran R. 1993. Tel Kishion. NEAEHL 3. Pp. 873–874. Baumgarten Y.Y. 2004. An Excavation at Ashqelon Afridar—Area J. ‘Atiqot 45:161–184. Ben-Ari N. and Golani A. Forthcoming. Eshta’ol—Area K. HA–ESI. Borowski O. 1987. Agriculture in Iron Age Israel. Winona Lake. Braun E. 1989. The Problem of the Apsidal House: New Aspects of Early Bronze I Domestic Architecture in Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. PEQ 121:1–43. Braun E. 1992. Palmaḥim Quarry—1989/1990. ESI 10:21–23. Currid J.D. 1985. The Beehive Granaries of Ancient Palestine. ZDPV 101:97–110. Elad I. and Paz Y. 2018. ‘En Esur (Asawir), Preliminary Report. HA–ESI 130 (July 16). http://www. hadashot-esi.org.il/report_detail_eng.aspx?id=25453&mag_id=126 (accessed December 12, 2019) Elad I., Paz, Y. and Shalem D. 2019. ‘En Esur (Asawir), Area O. HA–ESI 131 (July 7). http://www. hadashot-esi.org.il/report_detail_eng.aspx?id=25576&mag_id=127 (accessed December 12, 2019) Genz H. 2002. Die frühbronzezeitliche Keramik von Ḥirbet ez-Zeraqōn: Mit Studien zur Chronologie und funktionalen Deutung frühbronzezeitlicher Keramik in der südlichen Levante (Abhandlungen des deutschen Palästina-Vereins 27, 2). Wiesbaden. Genz H. 2010. Thoughts on the Function of ‘Public Buildings’ in the Early Bronze Age Southern Levant. In D. Bolger and L.C. Maguire eds. The Development of Pre-State Communities in the Ancient Near East: Studies in Honour of Edgar Peltenburg (Themes from the Ancient Near East BANEA Publication Series 2). Oxford–Oakville. Pp. 46–52. Golani A. 1999. New Perspectives on Domestic Architecture and the Initial Stages of Urbanization in Canaan. Levant 31:123–133.

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Golani A. 2003. Salvage Excavations at the Early Bronze Age Site of Qiryat Ata (IAA Reports 18). Jerusalem. Golani A. 2013. Lod, Remez Neighborhood. HA–ESI 125 (June 30) http://www hadashot-esi.org.il/ Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=2282&mag_id=120 (accessed March 21, 2016). Golani A. 2014. Ashqelon during the EB I Period––A Centre for Copper Processing and Trade. In A. Mączyńska ed. The Nile Delta as a Centre of Cultural Interactions between Upper Egypt and the Southern Levant in the 4th Millennium BC (Proceedings of the Conference Held in the Poznań Archaeological Museum, Poznań, Poland 21–22 June 2012) (Studies in African Archaeology 13). Poznan. Pp. 119–137. Golani A. and Nagar Y. 2011. Newly Discovered Burials of the Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age I in Southern Canaan—Evidence of Cultural Continuity? In J.L. Lovell and Y.M. Rowan eds. Culture Chronology and the Chalcolithic: Theory and Transition (Levant Suppl. S. 9). Oxford–Oakville. Pp. 84–96. Golani A. and Storchan D. 2008. Early Bronze Age and Intermediate Bronze Age Settlements at Eshtaʼol. In D. Amit and G.D. Stiebel eds. New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Its Region, Collected Papers II. Jerusalem. Pp. 5*–14*. Golani A. and Yannai E. 2016. Storage Structures of the Late Early Bronze I in the Southern Levant and the Urbanisation Process. PEQ 148:8–41. Ktalav I. Forthcoming. The Mollusks. In AB II. Lass E.H.E. 2006. A Failed Innovation: Early Bronze Age Trapezoid Mud Bricks at Lod. In A.M. Maeir and P. de Miroschedji eds. “I Will Speak the Riddles of Ancient Times”: Archaeological and Historical Studies in Honor of Amihai Mazar on the Occasion of His Sixtieth Birthday 1. Winona Lake. Pp. 49–54. Loud G. 1948. Megiddo II: Seasons of 1935–39 (OIP LXII) (2 vols.). Chicago. Milevski I., Bijovsky G., Sandhaus D., Krokhmalnik A. and Gorin–Rosen Y. 2018. A Byzantine Settlement on the Northernmost Kurkar Ridge of Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C Neighborhood. ‘Atiqot 91:159–192. Nagar Y. Forthcoming. Human Skeletal Remains and Mortuary Practices. In AB II. Porath Y. 1992. Domestic Architecture of the Chalcolithic Period. In A. Kempinski and R. Reich eds. The Architecture of Ancient Israel from the Prehistoric to the Persian Periods. Jerusalem. Pp. 40–48. Rosenberg D. Forthcoming. The Groundstone Assemblage. In AB II. Weiss E. and Mahler-Slasky Y. Forthcoming. The Archaeobotanical Remains. In AB II.

A. Golani, 2019, Ashqelon Barne a The Early Bronze Age Site I (IAA Reports 65)

Appendix 1

R adiocarbon Dating of Archaeobotanical Samples Elisabetta Boaretto

Ten charred samples from various areas and strata of the excavations at Ashqelon Barne‘a (see Chapter 3) were submitted for radiocarbon dating to the radiocarbon laboratory of the Weizmann Institute.1 Nine of the samples were charred olive stones and one was wood charcoal.

Sample Pre-Treatment and Preparation The samples were pre-treated to remove environmental contaminants according to the procedure presented in Boaretto et al. (2009). The samples were transformed in vacuum with copper oxide at 900º C into CO2 and then prepared as graphite for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry analysis. The stable carbon isotope ratio was determined to correct for the fractionation effect. Data concerning the samples and the radiocarbon results are presented in stratigraphic order from Stratum II to Stratum IV (Table App. 1.1). The 14C ages are reported in conventional radiocarbon years (before present = 1950) in accordance with international convention (Stuiver and Polach 1977). All calculated 14C ages have been corrected for fractionation to ensure that the results are equivalent with the standard δ13C value of –25‰ (wood). Calibrated ages in calendar years were obtained from the calibration tables in Reimer et al. (2013) by means of version OxCal v. 4.2.4 of Bronk Ramsey© version 2013 (Bronk Ramsey and Lee 2013).

R esults (Table App. 1.1; Fig. App. 1.1) During pre-treatment, all the samples indicated a good state of preservation. The percentage of material recovered after the pre-treatment procedure was between 45 and 55% by mass, and the carbon content was between 74 and 88% by mass. Only Sample RTT 5430 produced a very low percentage of recoverable material (11%) and its carbon content was also very low. Its state of preservation was particularly poor and its date should thus be regarded with caution. Sample RTT 5432 from L864 in Area G was found between two beaten-earth surfaces of Stratum III (L829 of Phase IIIA, L953 of Phase IIIB). It is interesting to note that Sample RTT 5432 is closer in age to samples

D-REAMS Dangoor Research Accelerator Mass Spectrometer, Scientific Archaeology Unit, Weizmann Institute of Science, Reḥovot, 7610001, Israel. 1

272

ELISABETTA BOARETTO

Table App. 1.1. Results of Radiocarbon Dating According to Stratum Sample No.

Provenance

Type

14

C Age ± 1σ Year BP

Calibrated Age

δ13C ‰ PDB

RTT 5437

Area D, L557, B5163; Stratum II surface

Olive stones

4300 + 75

68.2% probability 3090 (3.9%)–3060 BCE 3030 (61.0%)–2870 BCE 2810 (3.3%)–2770 BCE 95.4% probability 3320 (3.0%)–3230 BCE 3120 (76.4%)–2830 BCE 2820 (15.8%)–2660 BCE 2650 (0.3%)–2630 BCE

–21.4

RTT 5436

Area D, L530, B5061; Stratum II surface and surface make-up west of W50

Olive stones

4300 + 75

68.2% probability 3090 (3.9%)–3060 BCE 3030 (61.0%)–2870 BCE 2810 (3.3%)–2770 BCE 95.4% probability 3320 (3.0%)–3230 BCE 3120 (76.4%)–2830 BCE 2820 (15.8%)–2660 BCE 2650 (0.3%)–2630 BCE

–21.9

RTT 5434

Area A, L141, B1083; Stratum III floor in Granary 141

Olive stones

4335 + 75

68.2% probability 3090 (8.9%)–3050 BCE 3040 (59.3%)–2880 BCE 95.4% probability 3340 (9.1%)–3210 BCE 3190 (1.7%)–3150 BCE 3130 (81.3%)–2860 BCE 2810 (2.8%)–2750 BCE 2720 (0.4%)–2700 BCE

–22.2

RTT 5435

Area J, L2047, B20106; Phase IIIA surface make-up

Olive stones

4250 + 75

68.2% probability 2930 (30.8%)–2840 BCE 2820 (37.4%)–2670 BCE 95.4% probability 3090 (1.1%)–3060 BCE 3030 (94.2%)–2600 BCE

–23.3

RTT 5433

Area K, L5165, B50438; Phase IIIB surface

Olive stones

4315 + 75

68.2% probability 3090 (6.0%)–3060 BCE 3030 (62.2%)–2870 BCE 95.4% probability 3330 (5.8%)–3210 BCE 3180 (0.7%)–3150 BCE 3130 (79.7%)–2840 BCE 2820 (9.3%)–2670 BCE

–22.0

RTT 5432

Area G, L864, B8119; Phases IIIB floor in Building G1

Olive stones

4595 + 75

68.2% probability 3520 (25.1%)–3420 BCE 3410 (19.2%)–3320 BCE 3240 (24.0%)–3110 BCE 95.4% probability 3630 (3.2%)–3580 BCE 3540 (92.2%)–3090 BCE

–22.9

RTT 5428

Area B, L319, B2238; Stratum IV, basal dune

Lump of charcoal

4500 + 80

68.2% probability 3350 (68.2%)–3090 BCE 95.4% probability 3490 (1.2%)–3470 BCE 3380 (94.4%)–2920 BCE

–25.4

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APPENDIX 1: RADIOCARBON DATING OF ARCHAEOBOTANICAL SAMPLES

Table App. 1.1 (cont.) Sample No.

Provenance

Type

14

C Age ± 1σ Year BP

Calibrated Age

δ13C ‰ PDB

RTT 5430

Area L, L6182, B60348; Stratum IV surface north of W620

Olive stones

4530 + 75

68.2% probability 3370 (27.0%)–3260 BCE 3250 (41.2%)–3100 BCE 95.4% probability 3510 (6.0%)–3430 BCE 3380 (87.6%)–3000 BCE 2990 (1.7%)–2930 BCE

–23.4

RTT 5431

Area G, L869, B8109; Stratum IV floor in Silo 869

Olive stones

4590 + 75

68.2% probability 3510 (21.9%)–3420 BCE 3380 (18.8%)–3320 BCE 3280 (0.7%)–3260 BCE 3240 (26.8%)–3110 BCE 95.4% probability 3630 (2.4%)–3590 BCE 3530 (92.5%)–3080 BCE 3050 (0.5%)–3030 BCE

–22.5

RTT 5429

Area M, L7076, B70288; Phase IVA surface associated with W707, W712 and W714

Olive stones

4775 + 85

68.2% probability 3650 (54.9%)–3500 BCE 3430 (13.3%)–3380 BCE 95.4% probability 3710 (95.4%)–3360 BCE

–23.1

Stratum II Area D RTT 5437 (4300 ± 75) Area D RTT 5436 (4300 ± 75) Stratum III Area A RTT 5434 (4335 ± 75) Phase IIIA Area J RTT 5435 (4250 ± 75) Phase IIIB Area K RTT 5433 (4315 ± 75) Area G RTT 5432 (4595 ± 75) Stratum IV Area B RTT 5428 (4500 ± 80) Area L RTT 5430 (4530 ± 75) Area G RTT 5431 (4590 ± 75) Phase IVA Area M RTT 5429 (4775 ± 85) Calibrated date (calBCE)

4000

3800

3600

3400

3200

3000

2800

2600

Fig. App. 1.1. Probability distribution of the calibrated ages of the samples (ordered according to strata, and in each stratum from earliest to latest).

2400

2200

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ELISABETTA BOARETTO

from Stratum IV than those from Stratum III. A statistical analysis of the sequence of dates, imposing chronological boundaries between the strata, indicates that Sample RTT 5432 is an outlier in terms of stratigraphic association. This type of chronological discrepancy may suggest that the contents of the fill in L864, B8119, may have been residual from Stratum IV.

R eferences Boaretto E., Wu X., Yuan J., Bar-Yosef O., Chu V., Pan Y., Liu K., Cohen D., Jiao, T., Li S., Gu H., Goldberg P. and Weiner S. 2009. Radiocarbon Dating of Charcoal and Bone Collagen Associated with the Early Pottery at Yuchanyan Cave, Hunan Province, China. Proceedings of National Academy of Science 106(24):9595–9600. Ramsey C.B. and Lee S. 2013. Recent and Planned Developments of the Program OxCal. Radiocarbon 55(2):720–730. Reimer P.J., Bard E., Bayliss A., Beck J.W., Blackwell P.G., Bronk Ramsey C., Buck C.E., Cheng H., Edwards R.L., Friedrich M., Grootes M.G., Guilderson T.P., Haflidason H., Hajdas I., Hatté C., Heaton T.J., Hoffmann D.L., Hogg A.G., Hughen K.A., Kaiser K.F., Kromer B., Manning S.W., Niu M., Reimer R.W., Richards D.A., Scott E.M., Southon J.R., Staff R.A., Turney C.S.M. and van der Plicht J. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine13 Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curves 0–50,000 Years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55(4):1869–1887. Stuiver M. and Polach H.A. 1977. Discussion: Reporting of 14C Data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–363.

A. Golani, 2019, Ashqelon Barne a The Early Bronze Age Site I (IAA Reports 65)

A ppendix 2

Stratum I: Byzantine R emains

Introduction Amir Golani Remains of the Byzantine period (Stratum I) were revealed primarily in Area C, located atop the kurkar ridge and on its western slope, and consisted of several poorly preserved domestic structures of unclear plan. In addition, sporadic remains of the Byzantine period were encountered throughout most of the excavated area during topsoil removal. These included various pits in Areas D, G and H (see Chapter 3: Plans 3.1, 3.6) and the remains of a partially exposed well in Area D that was constructed of dressed kurkar stones (see Chapter 3: Plan 3.23; Fig. 3.143). Mechanical removal of the overlying sand dunes and leveling operations during development work appear to have destroyed any other remains of the Byzantine period at the site prior to excavation. In 2003, an excavation carried out by the IAA exposed Byzantine remains atop the kurkar ridge to the southwest of the present site and two cist tombs near the coastline (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3; Milevski et al. 2018). The architecture revealed in this excavation is similar to that in Area C and appears to belong to the same occupation. This appendix presents the Byzantine architectural remains exposed in Area C and other Stratum I finds at the site, which include ceramics, coins and a complete ring with an inscription.1

Area C (Plan App. 2.1) Amir Golani Area C was positioned to the west and outside the limits of the Early Bronze settlement (see Chapter 1: Fig. 1.3). Prior to excavation, mechanical trenching on the ridge had determined the northwestern boundary of the Early Bronze settlement and the extent of the previously recognized Byzantine occupation farther to the south.

A few poorly preserved glass fragments of greenish and greenish-blue color, representing well-known and common blown tableware from the Roman and Byzantine periods (second–sixth centuries CE), were also recovered from Area C; they were identified by Natalya Katsnelson of the IAA. In addition, a small fragment of a Late Roman mosaic glass inlay was found in a disturbed context in Area A (L3033), a common find in Egypt, but locally rare. 1

276

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

Two clusters of excavation squares (north and south) were positioned upon the ridge, where quantities of Byzantine potsherds and a few stones were apparent on the modern-day surface. The excavations exposed poorly preserved and disjointed architectural remains of a single Byzantine occupation horizon founded on sterile sand. In the northern portion of the excavated area (Sqs D4, E4–5), the sand cover was removed, revealing evidence of large-scale bulldozer damage. Nevertheless, a few remains were salvageable, although none of these formed a coherent plan. Two walls (W46, W43) and associated surfaces were uncovered in Sq E5. Wall 46, oriented north–south and exposed to a length of c. 1.5 m, was built of two rows of small kurkar stones with smaller chinking stones preserved up to one course. No continuation of this wall was found to the north, yet to the south, it appears to have connected at a right angle with W43. This latter wall was very poorly preserved and was attested only

C

D

E L422 L432

27.95

W42

4 27.83 27.77

4

L429 L431

27.93

L436

5

L424 27.94

27.95 27.91

W46

27.83 27.78 27.85 27.72

27.94 27.90

W43

5

L417 L440 28.22 28.00

27.85 27.74

28.00

6

6

7

7 L435 27.24

26.94 26.87 27.08 27.01

L407 W41 26.81 L439

8

27.07

27.20 27.14

L415 L423

27.40 27.58

L410 L414 L416 27.53

27.61 W44 27.64 27.58 L418 27.57

L443

5 m

0

C

D

Plan App. 2.1. Area C.

27.49

E

W49

W45

27.37 27.28

8

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

277

by the presence of a few stones and the remains of a compacted gray fill with plaster and numerous crushed shells that was interpreted as a robber trench, or perhaps a base for a wall foundation that did not survive. To the south of this wall were remains of a beaten-earth surface (L417/440). North of W43 and west of W46, the remains of a similar beaten-earth surface were identified (L424). This habitation level continued to the north (Sq E5) as a pavement of kurkar and beachrock (L436) and a gray, compacted beaten-earth surface (L422/432, L429/431). A robber trench (W42) full of compacted gray-brown earth with numerous crushed shells was exposed in the adjoining square (D4) to the west; no surface was identified in that square. The second cluster of excavation squares (D7–8, E8) was positioned 10 m to the south, where remains of several walls were uncovered. Wall 44, oriented east–west and exposed to a length of 1.5 m, was built of small to medium-sized kurkar and beachrock stones arranged in two rows (Fig. App. 2.1). This wall was poorly preserved and only a few stones hint at a western extension that may have continued as W41 (Sq D8; see below). To the east, W44 connected at a right angle to W49, the latter consisting of a compacted, light brown earth fill, apparently the remains of a robber trench. South of W44 was a beaten-earth surface (L418/443), and to its north a similar one (L410/414). A limited probe beneath the latter elements (L416) showed them to have been founded directly upon the sterile sands. Wall 41 consisted of a cluster of medium-sized kurkar and beachrock stones, the western continuation of which was cut. To its north, W45 was appended, built of small stones. North of this wall, the excavation exposed the outline of several upright ceramic vessels (Fig. App. 2.2) within a densely compacted, dark-colored matrix (L435); no

Fig. App. 2.1. Wall 44, looking west.

Fig. App. 2.2. Wall 45, looking south.

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APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

surface level was reached in this area. South of W41 was a beaten-earth surface (L407/439, L415/423) upon which were numerous storage-jar fragments. The remains in Area C, although disjointed and limited in nature, indicate the presence of one occupation stratum during the Byzantine period in this area, comprising at least two structures built on sterile sand. These structures appear to have been a continuation of those revealed in previous excavations nearby and identified as domestic buildings (Milevski et al. 2018:186, Plan 1). No evidence was discerned of activity in Area C during the Early Bronze Age, attesting that the EB I settlement did not extend onto the western slope of the kurkar ridge.

The Pottery Amir Golani The Byzantine ceramics presented here consist of bowls and a basin, storage jars, a juglet and a decorated sherd of an unidentified vessel (Figs. App. 2.3, 2.4).2 They were retrieved from surfaces and a surface make-up in Area C (L407, L410, L432), from a fill within the well in Area D (L526), from mixed debris in Area J (L2093), and from a pit in Area H (L3120). An intrusive fragment was recovered in an EB I stratum (L822) in Area G. Bowls and Basin (Fig. App. 2.3). The most common bowl types are of Late Roman C Ware (LRC), including Form 1A (Fig. App. 2.3:2, 3) dated to the late fourth–early fifth centuries CE (Hayes 1972:325, 327, Fig. 65:2); Form 8 (Fig. App. 2.3:4) dated to the second half of the fifth century CE (Hayes 1972:324, Fig. 70:1); and Form 3F (Fig. App. 2.3:5, 6) dated from the second quarter to the mid-sixth century CE (Hayes 1972:331–335, 338, Fig. 69:17, 19, 23). These types were frequent finds at other excavations in the Ashqelon region (Nahshoni 1999:103*, Fig. 5:7; Milevski el al. 2018: Fig. 14:1, 2). A fragment of LRC Ware, decorated with an impressed double-outlined cross (Fig. App. 2.3:7), is dated to the late fifth–early sixth centuries CE (Hayes 1972:365–367, Fig. 79:71a–d). Two Fine Byzantine Ware (FBW) bowls include one of Form 1B (Fig. App. 2.3:8), dated to the mid-sixth–late seventh/early eighth centuries CE (Magness 1993:193–195), and one of Form 2C (Fig. App. 2.3:9), dated to the mid-seventh–late ninth/tenth centuries CE (Magness 1993:198–200; Nahshoni 1999:103*, 106*, Fig. 5:1, 2). A fragment of a basin decorated with straight and wavy incised lines (Fig. App. 2.3:10) is typical of the Byzantine period in the coastal region (Israel and Erickson-Gini 2013:206–208, Fig. 35:5, 6). It resembles Magnessʼ arched-rim basins, which were common in the Jerusalem region (Magness 1993:206–207, Form 2A). Storage Jars (Fig. App. 2.4:1–6). The most common storage jars are Gaza jars (Fig. App. 2.4:1–5), which were widespread throughout the Mediterranean basin from the first to the

2

I would like to thank Itamar Taxel and Shoshana Israeli for their constructive comments.

279

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

seventh centuries CE (Majcherek 1995:165; for a typology, see Oked 2001). Studies have shown these jars were manufactured in the region of Ashqelon and Gaza (Israel 2001:223) and Ashdod (Baumgarten 2000). The most complete example (Fig. App. 2.4:1) originates from a pit in Area H (L3120) that was full of such jars (see Chapter 3: Fig. 3.39). It is similar to Majcherek’s Form 4 and Oked’s Type 7 (Majcherek 1995:169, Pls. 3:4; 4; Oked 2001:233, Pl. 1). This type first appeared in the late sixth century CE and became very common during the seventh century CE. Juglet (Fig. App. 2.4:7). This fragment may belong to a FBW juglet of Magness’ Form 2A, dated to the mid-sixth–early eighth centuries CE (Magness 1993:239–240; Israel and Erickson-Gini 2013:209–210, Fig. 36:3).

1

2

3

5

4

6 7 0

8

9

10 0

10

Fig. App. 2.3.

2

280

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

In summary, the pottery presented above dates to the fifth–seven centuries CE and resembles types recovered from the nearby excavation of a Byzantine occupation, dated from the mid-fifth to early seventh centuries CE (Milevski et al. 2018:160, 185). The Byzantine remains from the present excavation are apparently to be associated with the northern part of Ashqelon during the Byzantine period, known as Ascalon Maiumas (Bagatti 1974).

2

3

4

1

5 6

7

8 0

0

10

Fig. App. 2.4.

2

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

281

The Coins Gabriela Bijovsky Five coins, all dated to the Byzantine period, were discovered during the present excavations on the modern-day surface or in disturbed loci. Additional Byzantine coins, including a hoard of seven gold coins, were discovered nearby (Bijovsky, Sandhaus and Milevski 2014; Milevski et al. 2018:176–180, Fig. 17, Tables 2, 3). Catalogue 1. Surface, Area G, IAA 140169 378–383 CE Obv: Obliterated Rev: Vota type (uncertain) within wreath. Mintmark illegible Æ, 1.22 g, 13 mm Cf. LRBC 2:101, Nos. 2729–2736 2. Reg. No. 6090, L650, Area E, IAA 140171 Imitative issue, first half of fifth century CE Obv: Bust r Rev: Cross within border of dots Æ, 0.18 g, 6 mm Bijovsky 2000–2002:199 3. Reg. No. 6103, L646, Area E, IAA 140170 Anastasius I, 491–518 CE, Constantinople Obv: Obliterated Rev: Monogram  Æ, nummus, 0.43 g, 8 mm, MIBE:90, No. 40. 4. Reg. No. 6090, L650, Area E, IAA 140172 Blank flan, c. 450–550 CE Obv: Bust r Rev: Cross within border of dots Æ, 0.18 g, 6 mm Bijovsky 2000–2002:202, No. 5

282

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

5. Reg. No. 4041, L412, Area C, IAA 113554 Phocas, 603–610 CE, Constantinople Obv: dN FOC[AS PERP AVC] Bust facing in consular dress, holding mappa and cross on globe Undertype: K to l. ANN; above cross Rev: XX above star; in exergue: CON Undertype: bust facing Æ, half follis, ↑, 5.58 g, 21–26 mm, Overstruck on half follis of Maurice DOC 2/1:168, No. 37a.3

0

1

A Bronze R ing (Fig. App. 2.5) Eriola Jakoel A complete and well-preserved bronze ring was recovered in debris on a Phase IIIA surface (L2032) in Area J. The ring has a thin round shank (diam. 2.1 cm) to which an oval bezel (1.3 × 1.5 cm), weighing 2.34 g (after cleaning), is attached. The ring is clearly intrusive, although it is unclear how it arrived there. A Greek inscription incised in relief on the ring’s bezel comprises three lines, designed to conform to the size of the bezel. The inscription reads: ΥΓΙΑ ΘΕΩΔΟΡΟΥ, with ΥΓΙΑ in the uppermost register, ΘΕΩΔ in the middle register and ΟΡΟΥ in the lowermost register. It can be translated as ‘Health (to) Theodorosʼ. The formula ΥΓΙΑ is frequently found on similar rings (Dalton 1912: Nos. 69, 70), which bear inscriptions stating ‘health to (personal name) ʼ. They are quite common in Late Antiquity, dated to the fifth–seventh centuries CE, and have been found, for example, at Masada and Apollonia (Cotton and Geiger 1995:52–54) and other sites in the Levant (Rahmani 1985:178–179, Nos. 16, 17; Pl. 43:16, 17, and further references therein). 0

1

Fig. App. 2.5.

APPENDIX 2: STRATUM I: BYZANTINE REMAINS

283

R eferences Bagatti B. 1974. Ascalon e Maiuma di Ascalon nel VI secolo. LA 24:227–264. Baumgarten Y.Y. 2000. Evidence of a Pottery Workshop of the Byzantine Period at the Foot of Tel Ashdod (‘Ad Halom Site). ‘Atiqot 39:69*–74* (Hebrew; English summary, p. 201). Bijovsky G. 2000–2002. The Currency of the Fifth Century C.E. in Palestine—Some Reflections in Light of the Numismatic Evidence. INJ 14:196–210. Bijovsky G., Sandhaus D. and Milevski I. 2014. A Byzantine Hoard of Gold Coins from Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C Neighborhood. INR 9:193–211. Cotton H.M. and Geiger J. 1995. A Greek Inscribed Ring from Masada. IEJ 45:52–54. Dalton O.M. 1912. Catalogue of the Finger Rings, Early Christian, Byzantine, Teutonic, Mediaeval and Later. London. DOC 2/1: P. Grierson. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection 2/1: Phocas and Heraclius (602–641). Washington, D.C. 1968. Hayes J.W. 1972. Late Roman Pottery. London. Israel Y. 2001. The Economy of the Gaza–Ashkelon Region in the Byzantine Period in Light of the Archaeological Survey and Excavations of the ‘Third-Mile Estateʼ near Ashkelon. In A. Sasson, Z. Safrai and N. Sagiv eds. Ashkelon: A City on the Seashore. Ashqelon. Pp. 213–226 (Hebrew). Israel Y. and Erickson-Gini T. 2013. Remains from the Hellenistic through the Byzantine Periods at the ‘Third Mile Estate’, Ashqelon. ‘Atiqot 74:167–222. LRBC 2: R.A.G. Carson and J.P.C. Kent. Bronze Roman Imperial Coinage of the Later Empire, A.D. 346–498. In Late Roman Bronze Coinage A.D. 324–498. London 1965. Pp. 41–114. Magness J. 1993. Jerusalem Ceramic Chronology: Circa 200–800 CE (JSOT/ASOR Monograph Series 9). Sheffield. Majcherek G. 1995. Gaza Amphorae: Typology Reconsidered. In H. Meyza and J. Młynarczyk eds. Hellenistic and Roman Pottery in the Eastern Mediterranean— Advances in Scientific Studies (Acts of the II Nieborów Pottery Workshop; Nieborów, 18–20 December 1993). Warsaw. Pp. 163–178. MIBE: W. Hahn. Money of the Incipient Byzantine Empire (Anastasius I–Justinian I, 491–565) (Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte der Universität Wien 6). Vienna 2000. Milevski I., Bijovsky G., Sandhaus D., Krokhmalnik A. and Gorin–Rosen Y. 2018. A Byzantine Settlement on the Northernmost Kurkar Ridge of Ashqelon, Barne‘a B–C Neighborhood. ‘Atiqot 91:159–192. Nahshoni P. 1999. A Byzantine Site in the Migdal Neighborhood, Ashqelon. ‘Atiqot 38:99*–111* (Hebrew; English summary, p. 229). Oked S.H. 2001. “Gaza Jar”: A Chronicle, and Economic Overview. In A. Sasson, Z. Safrai and N. Sagiv eds. Ashkelon: A City on the Seashore. Ashqelon. Pp. 227–250 (Hebrew; English summary, pp. XIII–XIV). Rahmani L.Y. 1985. On some Byzantine Brass Rings in the State Collections. ‘Atiqot (ES) 17:168– 181.

A. Golani, 2019, Ashqelon Barne a The Early Bronze Age Site I (IAA Reports 65)

Appendix 3

Locus and Wall Lists by Area

Locus List Area A Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

100

B27

-

Topsoil removal

-

101

B28

-

Topsoil removal

-

102

C27

-

Topsoil removal

-

103

C28

-

Topsoil removal

-

104

E33

-

Topsoil removal

-

105

E34

-

Topsoil removal

-

106

E35

-

Topsoil removal

-

107

B27

100

Debris below topsoil

III–II

108

B28

101

Surface east of W7

III

109

C27

102

Debris below topsoil

III–II

110

C28

103

Debris above surface

III(?)

111

E33

104

Debris below topsoil east of W1

III(?)

112

E33

104

Debris below topsoil west of W1

III(?)

113

E33

104

Topsoil intrusion

I(?)

114

E35

106

Basal dune

-

115

B27

107

Debris above floor within Granary 141

III(?)

116

B27

107

Surface between W7 and Granary 141

III

117

B28

108

Surface make-up

III

118

C27

109

Debris above surface and mudbrick pavement

III(?)

119

C28

110

Combined into L110

III(?)

120

E32

-

Topsoil removal

-

121

E33–34

-

Topsoil removal; exposure of W5

III–I

122

C27

109

Combined into L141

III

123

C27–28

-

Topsoil removal and debris below topsoil

III–I

124

E34

105

Topsoil intrusion

I(?)

125

D22

-

Topsoil removal and surface; in Northern Area H

II(?)

126

C16

-

Combined into L4105; in Southern Area H

-

127

C27–28

123

Combined into L141

III

128

C27

118, 123

Mudbrick pavement north of W6

III

129

B–C27

-

Combined into L102

-

130

B–C27

129

Surface south of W6

III

131

E33–34

-

Topsoil removal; exposure of W5

III–I

132

B27

116

Surface and surface make-up between W7 and Granary 141

III

286

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

133

B–C27

129

Combined into L122

III

134

C27

118

Combined into L130

III

135

B–C28

-

Topsoil removal

-

136

C16

128

Combined into L4150; in Southern Area H

-

137

B/C28

135

Combined into L117

III

138

E34

105

Combined into L124

I(?)

139

C28

110, 135

Surface; equals L3027

III

140

D22

125

Surface and surface make-up in Granary 143; in Northern Area H

IIIA

141

B27

115, 122, 133

Mudbrick and stone floor of Granary 141

III

142

E32

120

Debris below topsoil

III(?)

143

D22

140

Surface within Granary 143; in Northern Area H

IIIB

144

B43

-

Topsoil removal

-

145

C16

136

Surface north of W410; in Southern Area H

IIIB

146

C28

119, 139

Debris below surface and exposure of light brown matrix

IV–III

147

B43

144

Sterile marl

-

148

B–C27

141

Dismantlement of the mudbrick floor in Granary 141

III

149

C16

145

Surface make-up; in Southern Area H

IIIB

150

B27

148

Light brown loose sand of basal dune

-

151

B27

148

Fill of foundation trench outside Silo 156 and section into wall

IV

152A

C27

119

Combined into L156

IV–III

152B

C27

152A

Debris east of Silo 156

IV

153

D22

143

Floor make-up within Granary 143; in Northern Area H

IIIB

154

C27

128

Dismantlement of the mudbrick pavement

III

155

C27

148

Fill within foundation trench outside Silo 156; equals L151

IV

156

C27

148

Debris within Silo 156

IV

157

B–C27

130

Surface make-up

III

3001

B29

-

Topsoil removal

-

3002

C29

-

Topsoil removal

-

3003

D29

-

Topsoil removal

-

3004

D27

-

Topsoil removal

-

3005

D28

-

Topsoil removal

-

3006

C30

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

-

3007

D29

3003

Debris south of W303

II

3008

D29

3003

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

-

3009

D29

3003

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

-

3010

D29

3003

Floor within Structure A2

III

3011

B30

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

-

3012

D29

3003

Debris between W301 and W303

III–II

3013

D27

3004

Combined into L3016

III

3014

B29

3001

Surface with topsoil intrusion; surface equals L3027

III

3015

D28

3005

Surface; equals L3027

III

287

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

3016

D27

3013

Mudbrick pavement north of W302

III

3017

D29

3010, 3008

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

III–I

3018

D27

3013

Surface(?) adjacent and to south of W302

III

3019

C29

3002

Mixed debris below topsoil

II–III

3020

D27

3016

Probe down to basal dune

IV–III

3021

D29

3017

Probe into debris down to basal dune

IV–III

3022

D29

3007

Stone pavement south of W303

II

3023

E27

-

Topsoil removal

-

3024

E29

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II–I

3025

C/D30

-

Topsoil removal in balk

-

3026

D28

3015

Surface make-up

III

3027

D27

3016

Surface and surface make-up east of W306; equals L3016

III

3028

D30

-

Mixed debris below topsoil

III(?)

3029

C29

-

Surface south of W317; equals L3027

III

3030

E29

3024

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

III–I

3031

-

-

Unused locus number

-

3032

E28

-

Topsoil removal

-

3033

E29

3030, 3024

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

III–I

3034

D31

-

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

III–I

3035

C30

3006

Surface west of W304

III

3036

D28

3026

Surface south of Silo 3095

IV

3037

D31

3034

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

III–I

3038

D27

3016

Combined into L3027

III

3039

B26

-

Topsoil removal; in Northern Area H

-

3040

E27

3023

Surface

II

3041

E29

3024

Surface east of W305

III

3042

E27

3016

Combined into L3040

II

3043

E29

3024

Surface north of W310; equals L3027

III

3044

D26

-

Topsoil removal; in Northern Area H

-

3045

C30

3035

Probe below surface down to basal dune

IV–III

3046

E26

-

Topsoil removal; in Northern Area H

-

3047

D27

3020

Probe into debris

IV(?)

3048

B26

3039

Surface(?); in Northern Area H

II(?)

3049

E28

3032

Mixed debris below topsoil

II(?)

3050

C30

3045

Combined into L3045

IV–III

3051

C26

-

Topsoil removal; in Northern Area H

-

3052

D27

3047

Probe into dune

V(?)

3053

E28

3049

Combined into L3081

III

3054

E28

3049

Combined into L3068

III

3055

C29

3029

Combined into L3029

III

3056

D25

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris; in Northern Area H

-

3057

E27

3040

Surface west of W310; equals L3027

III

3058

B26

3039, 3048

Surface make-up; in Northern Area H

III–II

288

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

3059

C26

3051

Surface east of W311; in Northern Area H

III

3060

C26

3051

Combined into L3059; in Northern Area H

IIIB

3061

D26

3044

Debris above surface; in Northern Area H

III(?)

3062

E29

3041, 3043, 3033

Surface east of W310

III

3063

E27

3040

Surface east of W 310

III

3064

D29

3021

Combined into L3021

IV–III

3065

E26

3046

Surface south of W313; in Northern Area H

III

3066

D28

3036

Combined into L3036

IV

3067

D28

3036

Combined into L3036

IV

3068

E28

3054

Surface east of W310

III

3069

E26

3046

Mudbrick debris below topsoil; in Northern Area H

III(?)

3070

E27

3063

Surface make-up

III

3071

E26

3061

Surface and surface make-up west of W313; in Northern Area H

III

3072

D–E29

-

Balk removal

-

3073

C26

-

Surface east of W311; in Northern Area H

III

3074

C25

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris; in Northern Area H

-

3075

E27

3057

Combined into L3057

III

3076

D26

3061

Surface; in Northern Area H

IV

3077

D28

-

Combined into L3036.

IV

3078

E27

3070

Surface make-up and probe down to basal dune

IV–III

3079

C26

3073

Surface make-up; in Northern Area H

III

3080

C29

3055

Combined into L3029

III

3081

E28

3054

Surface west of W310; equals L3027

III

3082

D28–29

-

Balk removal

III(?)

3083

C30

3045

Infant burial

II(?)

3084

D28

3077

Combined into L3036

IV

3085

C29

3019

Surface to north of W317

III

3086

D28

3077

Combined into L3036

IV

3087

D26

3076

Surface make-up; in Northern Area H

IV

3088

D26

3087

Combined into L3087; in Northern Area H

IV

3089

E27

3057

Surface make-up

III

3090

D26

3087

Combined into L3087; in Northern Area H

IV

3091

B26

3058

Surface with small stones; in Northern Area H

III

3092

B25

-

Topsoil removal and surface(?); in Northern Area H

III(?)

3093

C26

3087

Surface; in Northern Area H

IV

3094

D28

-

Combined into L3036

IV

3095

D28

3084, 3086

Floor within Silo 3095

IV

3096

E26

3078

Surface(?); in Northern Area H

IV

3097

E28

3081

Debris below surface

IV(?)

3098

C26

3076

Surface and surface make-up; in Northern Area H

IV

3099

D26

3090

Probe into basal dune below surface; in Northern Area H

IV

3100

E26

3096

Surface make-up; in Northern Area H

IV

3101

E28

3097

Surface and surface make-up

IV

289

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

3102

-

-

Unused locus number

-

3103

D25

3056

Surface(?) on basal dune(?); in Northern Area H

IV

3104

B26

3091

Combined into L3091; in Northern Area H

III(?)

3105

D28

3095

Combined into L3095

IV

3106

E26

3100

Probe into basal dune; in Northern Area H

-

3107

E28

3068

Surface; equals L3101

IV

3108

C25

3074

Surface; in Northern Area H

IV

3109

B25

3092

Probe down to basal dune; in Northern Area H

IV–III

3110

D25

3056

Surface(?) basal dune; in Northern Area H

IV

3111

D29

3012

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

I)?(

3112

B26

3104

Surface make-up; in Northern Area H

III

3113

E28

3101

Combined into L3101

IV

3114

B26

3112

Surface and surface make-up; in Northern Area H

IV

3115

C25

3108

Surface make-up; in Northern Area H

IV

3116

E28

3113

Combined into L3101

IV

3117

B25

-

Balk removal with mixed debris; in Northern Area H

-

3118

D29

3111

Debris next to W322 and below

V–IV

3119

B26

3091

Combined into L3112; in Northern Area H

III

3120

B26

3119

Debris within pit; in Northern Area H

I

3121

B25

3092

Floor within Building H1; in Northern Area H

IV

3122

B25

3092

Debris above surface north of W323; in Northern Area H

IV

3123

B25

3117

Debris within pit; in Northern Area H

II(?)

3124

D26

3099

Combined into L3099; in Northern Area H

IV

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

217

D6

205

Surface north of W20

IIIB

218

D6

217

Surface east of W23 and W24; equals L7094 in Area M

IV

219

C5

200

Surface make-up

IIIA

220

C4

-

Topsoil removal and debris of ash and burnt mudbrick west of W31

IIIA

221

B9

-

Surface; in Area M

IIIA

222

E6

214B

Surface make-up

IV

223

C5

219

Debris above habitational surface west of W20

IIIB

224

E6

202

Surface north of W21

IIIB

225

F6

-

Topsoil removal and surface with mudbrick collapse east of W28

III

226

D12

216

Debris of habitational level with decayed mudbrick; in Area M

IIIB(?)

227

E6

206, 224

Surface south of W29

IV

228

B9

-

Topsoil removal and surface within apse of W25; in Area M

IIIA

229

C5

223

Surface with decayed mudbrick west of W20

IIIB

230

C5

223

Surface west of W26 and W27

IIIB

231

E6

208

Surface south of W21

IIIA

Area B

290

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

232A

F5

-

Topsoil removal and surface with mudbrick debris west of W28

IIIA

232B

F5

232A

Surface west of W28

IIIB

233A

F6

-

Topsoil removal and surface with mudbrick debris west of W28

IIIA

233B

F6

233A

Surface west of W28

IIIB

234

C4

220

Surface with ash and burnt mudbrick west of W31

IIIA

235

B9

221

Surface below base of W25; in Area M

IIIB

236

C5

230

Surface with much ash east of W27

IIIB

237

C5

229

Surface make-up

IIIB

238

D12

226

Laminated debris of habitation level on basal dune; in Area M

IV(?)

239A

C4

220

Combined into L234

IIIA

239B

C4

239A, W31

Surface with ash

IIIB

240A

F6

225

Combined into L249

IV

240B

F6

240A

Basal dune

V

241

C5

236, W27

Debris within pit

IV

242

F5

-

Topsoil removal and debris east of W28

-

243

B9

235

Debris of dark ash and laminations of habitation level; in Area M

IV–IIIB

244

D5

209

Surface east of W20 and W40

IIIB

245

C4

234, W31

Surface with ash and burnt mudbrick

IIIB

246

D2

-

Topsoil removal around W30

-

247

B9

243

Surface of laminated debris; in Area M

IV

248

F5

232

Surface

IV

249

F6

233

Surface

IV

250

C4

245

Basal dune

V

251

D2

246

Surface south of W32, W36 and W30

IIIB

252

F4

-

Topsoil removal around W28

-

253

E5

-

Topsoil removal and surface with stones and ash

IIIA

254A

E4

-

Topsoil removal and surface

IIIB(?)

254B

E4

254A

Surface

IV

255

D6

207

Surface make-up south of W20 and W40

IIIB

256

D5

244

Surface with mudbrick debris

IV

257

F4

252

Surface south of W33

IIIB

258

D5

244

Surface with mudbrick debris

IV

259

D2

246

Surface east of W30

IIIB

260

D2

259

Surface above basal dune

IV

261

D6

255

Surface below W20

IV

262

F5

248

Basal dune

V

263

D2

260

Basal dune

V

264

D2

251

Surface above basal dune

IV

265

F6

249

Surface make-up

IV

266

D4

-

Topsoil removal and burnt mudbrick debris above smelting installations

IIIA

291

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

267

F4

252

Basal dune

V

268

E5

253

Surface make-up

IIIB

269

D2

251

Surface above basal dune

IV

270

D3

-

Topsoil removal

-

271

F4

252

Combined into L257

IIIB

272

E5

268

Surface above basal dune

IV

273

D4

266

Debris of burnt mudbrick and ash around smelting installations

IIIB

274

F4

257

Surface north of W33 and W28

IIIB

275

D3

270

Surface with debris of burnt mudbrick and ash near smelting installations

IIIB

276

D2

251

Surface between W35 and W30

IIIB

277

F2

-

Topsoil removal and surface south of W36

IIIA

278

F2

277

Debris north of W36

IIIB(?)

279

D3

270

Debris of burnt mudbrick and ash above smelting installations

IIIA

280

E2

-

Topsoil removal and surface with decayed mudbrick south of W36

IIIB

281

E5

253

Surface west of W34

IIIB

282

E5

272

Debris within pit

IV

283

E5

272

Debris within pit

IV

284

E4

254B

Debris within pit

IV

285

F2

277

Surface south of W36

IIIB

286

D5

244

Debris within burnt mudbrick installation

IIIB

287

F3

-

Topsoil removal and surface west of W38

IIIA

288

E2

-

Topsoil removal and surface north of W36

IIIB(?)

289

D3

279

Surface with burnt mudbrick and ash around smelting installations

IIIB

290

F2

278

Combined into L294

IV

291

D3

275

Surface make-up near smelting installations

IIIB

292

D5

-

Storage jar partially embedded in W20

II

293

E2

288

Surface above basal dune

IV

294

F2

285

Surface above basal dune

IV

295

E2

280

Surface above basal dune

IV

296

C3

W37

Topsoil removal and surface above basal dune

IIIB(?)

297

C2

-

Topsoil removal and surface south of W30

IIIB(?)

298

E3

-

Topsoil removal and surface

IIIA

299

F3

287

Debris above surface west of W39

IIIB

300

C3

-

Surface with burned ash and mudbrick west of W37

IIIA

301

E2

-

Infant burial in storage jar embedded in W36

II

302

E3

298

Surface

IIIB

303

E6

231

Combined into L208

IIIA

304

D6

-

Infant burial in storage jar partially embedded in W20

II

305

D6

-

Infant burial in storage jar partially embedded in W20

II

306

D5–6

-

Child burial covered by ceramic fragments, partially embedded in W20

II

307

F3

299

Surface

IIIB

292

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

308

C2

-

Topsoil removal and debris west of W30

IV–IIIB

309

C3

300, W37

Surface with ash

IIIB

310

D5

256

Surface

IV

311

F3

-

Topsoil removal and surface east of W38

IIIB(?)

312

C2

297

Surface make-up

IV–IIIB

313

E3

302

Surface

IIIB

314

D5

310

Debris on ashy layer within basal dune

V

315

C2

-

Topsoil removal and surface west of W30

IIIB(?)

316

F3

311

Surface above basal dune

IV

317

C–D4

-

Debris of burnt mudbrick above smelting installations

IIIA

318

E3

302

Surface above basal dune

V–IV

319

E4

254B

Debris within probe on basal dune

IV

320

E6

303, 231

Combined into L208

IIIA

321

E2

293

Debris within pit

IV

322

E6

231, 320

Surface south of W21

IIIB

323

F3

-

Infant burial in storage jar, partially embedded in W38

II

324

F3

-

Large holemouth-jar fragment adjacent to W38

IIIB

325

C3

-

Probe into burnt mudbrick debris near metallurgical installations

III

326

E6

322

Surface

IV

327

E6

222

Debris within pit

IV

328

C–D/3–4

317

Surface around smelting installations

IIIB

329

D5

314

Basal dune on brown marly layer

V

330

D5

329

Sterile brown marly layer

Pre-V

331

F2

287

Surface west of W38

IIIB

332

F5

-

Child burial in a pit

II

333

E6

231

Debris within pit full of small stones

IIIA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

400

A–B8

-

Probe into light brown matrix

I

401

E4

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

402

E5

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

403

E8

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

404

D4

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

405

D8

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

406

D8

405

Debris below topsoil

I

407

D8

405

Surface south of W41

I

408

E5

402

Disturbed debris below topsoil

I

409

D8

405

Disturbed debris west of W41

-

410

E8

403

Surface north of W44

I

411

E4

401

Mixed debris below topsoil

I(?)

412

D4

404

Mixed debris below topsoil

I(?)

413

D4

404

Mixed debris below topsoil

I(?)

Area C

293

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

414

E8

410

Surface make-up

I

415

D8

406

Surface(?) south of W41/W44

I

416

E8

414

Probe into sterile sand dune below surface

-

417

E5

408

Surface south of W43

I

418

E8

403

Surface south of W44

I

419

D8

406

Combined into L415

I

420

D8

409

Combined into L409

(?)

421

D7–8

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

422

E4

411

Surface

I

423

D8

415

Surface make-up

I

424

E5

408

Surface north of W43 and west of W46

I

425

E8

410

Combined into L410

I

426

D4

413

Robber trench

(?)

427

D–E5

-

Debris below topsoil

-

428

C–D8

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

429

E4

411

Surface

I

430

C–D8

428

Debris below topsoil

I

431

E4

429

Surface make-up

I

432

E4

422

Surface make-up

I

433

E4–5

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

-

434

D–E5

427

Basal dune west of W43

(?)

435

D7–8

421

Debris north of W45

I

436

E4–5

433

Stone pavement

I

437

D7–8

435

Combined into L435

I

438

E8

425

Combined into L414

I

439

D8

405, 407

Surface make-up

I

440

E5

417

Surface make-up

I

441

E5

424

Combined into L424

I

442

E5

408

Combined into L440

I

443

E8

418

Surface make-up

I

444

E4–5

411

Combined into L436

I

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

500

B11

-

Topsoil removal

-

501

B12

-

Topsoil removal

-

502

C11

-

Topsoil removal

-

503

C12

-

Topsoil removal

-

504

D11

-

Topsoil removal and debris on surface

II

505

B11

500

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

-

506

C11

-

Surface

IIIA

507

E18

-

Topsoil removal

-

508

B12

501

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

-

509

E18

507

Debris outside of Granary 511

-

510

C12

503

Surface

II

Area D

294

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

511

E18

507

Floor within Granary 511

III(?)

512

D10

-

Topsoil removal and surface

II

513

E18

511

Section through floor of Granary 511

III(?)

514

D11

-

Combined into L504

II

515

D10–11

-

Topsoil removal and debris on W50

-

516

C11

506

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

517

C12

510

Debris within pit

II

518

C12

510

Debris within pit

II

519

C11

516

Surface south of W51

IIIB

520

E18

507

Topsoil removal west of Granary 511

-

521

C12

510

Surface

IIIA

522

C–D11

-

Topsoil removal

-

523

-

-

Cancelled

-

524

D10

512

Surface and surface make-up

II

525

-

-

Cancelled

-

526

D10

-

Debris within Byzantine well

I

527

C–D11

522

Debris between W53 and W158

III–II

528

C10

-

Topsoil removal and exposure of top of W156

-

529

D10

524

Surface east of W50

II

530

D11

504

Surface and surface make-up west of W50

II

531

D11

530

Floor within Structure D7

IIIA

532

C12

521

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

533

C12

532

Debris below surface make-up down to basal dune

IV–III

534

D10

529

Surface and surface make-up east of W50

II

535

C11

519

Surface and surface make-up south of W51

IIIB

536

D10

529

Surface and surface make-up east of W55

IIIA

537

C10

528

Surface north of W156

IIIA

538

C11

535

Thin layer of debris on sterile basal dune

IV

539

D10

536

Surface

IV

540

C10

537

Surface and surface make-up north of W156

IIIA

541

C10

528

Debris above surface south of W156

III(?)

542

C–D11

527

Debris

III(?)

543

C10

540

Surface

IV

544

C10

541

Surface south of W156

IIIA

545

D–E11

542

Surface between W53, W57 and W50

II

546

C10

544

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

547

C10

543

Surface and surface make-up north of W156

IV

548

D10

539

Surface and surface make-up north of W156

IV

549

D10

548

Debris below base of W156, down to sterile basal dune

V

550

C–D10

547

Debris below base of W156

V

551

D–E11

545

Floor within Structure D7

IIIA

552

-

-

Unused locus number

-

553

D9

-

Topsoil removal

-

554

E10

-

Topsoil removal

-

555

E6

-

Topsoil removal

-

556

E10

554

Surface east of W50

II

295

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

557

D9

553

Surface

II

558

C9

-

Topsoil removal

-

559

E9

-

Topsoil removal

-

560

D8

-

Topsoil removal

-

561

E7

-

Topsoil removal

-

562

C9

558

Debris above surface and W160

III(?)

563

E8

-

Topsoil removal

-

564

E8

563

Surface

II

565

E6

555

Debris on W62

II(?)

566

D9

557

Surface with dark ash debris and surface make-up

IIIA

567

E9

559

Surface

II

568

E7

561

Combined into L1030

IIIA

569

E9

567

Surface make-up

II

570

E10

556

Surface make-up and debris above surface east of W161

IIIA–II

571

C–D9

-

Topsoil in balk removal

-

572

C9

562

Floor in western portion of Building D8

IIIA

573

E9

569

Surface with dark ash debris

IIIA

574

E11

-

Topsoil removal

-

575

C8

-

Topsoil removal

-

576

C9–10

-

Balk removal

-

577

E7

568

Combined into L1030

IIIA

578

C–D9

566

Combined into L1000

IIIB

579

E6

565

Surface north of W162

II

580

C8

575

Floor within eastern portion of Building D8

IIIA

581

E11

574

Surface

II

582

D8

560

Surface

II

583

E8

564

Debris between W164 and W163

IIIA

584

C9–10

562

Surface with dark gray debris between W160 and W156

IIIA

585

C9

572

Floor make-up within western portion of Building D8

IIIA

586

E6

579

Surface make-up north of W162

II

587

E6

586

Surface south of W165

IIIA

588

C9

585

Stone pavement within Building D8

IIIB

589

E8

564

Surface make-up on W163 and W164

II

590

E7

577

Debris north of W163

IIIA(?)

591

E8

589

Surface south of W163

IIIA

592

E9

573

Combined into L573

IIIA

593

E11

581

Surface and surface make-up

II

594

C8

580

Floor and floor make-up within eastern portion of Building D8

IIIA

595

E6

565

Floor within structure of W162

II

596

D8

582

Combined into L597

IIIA

597

D8

582

Surface on W156

IIIA

598

D6

-

Topsoil removal

-

599

D8

597

Surface make-up on W156

IIIA

1000

D9

584

Surface with dark brown debris between Building D8 and W156

IIIB

296

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1001

E8

591

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

1002

G9

-

Topsoil removal

-

1003

G8

-

Topsoil removal

-

1004

G7

-

Topsoil removal

-

1005

G6

-

Topsoil removal

-

1006

H9

-

Topsoil removal

-

1007

H8

-

Topsoil removal

-

1008

H7

-

Topsoil removal

-

1009

H6

-

Topsoil removal

-

1010

C8

594

Stone pavement within Building D8

IIIB

1011

F10

-

Surface and surface make-up south of W171

IIIA

1012

F11

-

Surface

IIIA

1013

E9

592

Combined into L573

IIIA

1014

D7

-

Topsoil removal

-

1015

D7

1014

Surface

II

1016

E7

577

Surface and surface make-up south of W163

IIIA

1017

E9

592

Combined into L573

IIIA

1018

F9

-

Debris

III–II

1019

C8

1010

Stone pavement within Building D8

IIIB

1020

E6

587

Surface and surface make-up south of W165

IIIA

1021

E6

595

Surface with debris east of W162

II

1022

F9

1018

Debris

III–II

1023

D8

599

Surface with dark ash debris and surface make-up south of W156

IIIB

1024

D8

599

Debris to the north of W156

IV–IIIB

1025

F8

-

Topsoil removal

-

1026

F8

1025

Surface and surface make-up

II

1027

D6

598

Surface on W156

IIIB

1028

D7

1015

Surface make-up

II

1029

C8

575

Surface(?) east of Building D8

III

1030

E7

1016

Combined into L1016

IIIA

1031

D9

1000

Combined into L1000

IIIA

1032

F8

1026

Surface within Structure D6

IIIA

1033

D9

566

Surface north of W156

IIIB

1034

D9

1033

Surface and surface make-up north of W156

IIIB

1035

D8

1023

Surface between W156 and W181

IV

1036

E7

1030

Surface and surface make-up north of W156

IIIB

1037

D7

1028

Surface south of W156

IIIB

1038

F6

-

Topsoil removal

-

1039

D7

1037

Surface make-up south of W156

IIIB

1040

D8

1035

Surface make-up between W156 and W181

IV

1041

E8

1001

Surface and surface make-up north of W167

IV

1042

F6

1038

Debris

III–II

1043

D6

1027

Surface south of W156

IV

1044

D8

1040

Surface and surface make-up

V

1045

E8

1041

Surface and surface make-up

V

297

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1046

D6

1043

Surface and surface make-up south of W156

IV

1047

E6

595

Floor make-up within structure of W162

II

1048

E10

570

Surface and surface make-up east of W161

IIIA

1049

F11

1012

Surface make-up

IIIA

1050

F10

1011

Debris above surface

IIIB–A

1051

G8

1003

Debris

-

1052

F10

1011

Combined into L1050

IIIB–A

1053

F7

-

Surface

II

1054

D12

-

Surface

II

1055

F8

1032

Surface make-up

IIIB

1056

G6

1005

Debris above surface and walls

II(?)

1057

E10

1048

Surface with dark ash debris east of W168

IIIB

1058

G8

1051

Debris—unclear stratification

-

1059

F11

1049

Surface

IIIB

1060

C8

1029

Probe down to surface

IV

1061

H9

-

Topsoil removal

-

1062

H10

-

Topsoil removal

-

1063

H11

-

Topsoil removal

-

1064

G11

-

Topsoil removal

-

1065

H12

-

Topsoil removal

-

1066

G12

-

Topsoil removal

-

1067

F13

-

Topsoil removal

-

1068

E13

-

Topsoil removal

-

1069

H15

-

Topsoil removal

-

1070

H16

-

Topsoil removal

-

1071

D9

1031

Combined into L1031

III

1072

D7

1039

Surface and surface make-up south of W156

IV

1073

D9

1034

Surface north of W156

IVA

1074A

D9

1073

Surface north of W156

IVB

1074B

D9

1074A

Packed kurkar surface

V

1075

F8

1032

Debris within stone installation

IIIA(?)

1076

F8

1055

Combined into L1055

IIIB

1077

E8

1001

Mudbrick debris. Combined into L1001

IIIB

1078

E8

1001

Surface make-up on W167

IIIB

1079

E7

1036

Surface south of W167

IV

1080

F7

1053

Surface and surface make-up

II

1081

F8

1076

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

1082

E7

1078

Surface north of W167

IV

1083

E8

1077, 1001

Surface south of W167

IV

1084

D9

-

Surface between W156 and W181

IV

1085

E9

1017

Surface

IIIB

1086

F12

-

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

1087

E11

593

Floor within Structure D7

IIIA

1088

D9

1084

Surface make-up between W156 and W181

IV

1089

E12

-

Topsoil removal and debris

-

298

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1090

F10

1104

Dark brown debris within pit

IIIB

1091

G10

-

Surface

IIIA

1092

E6

565

Dismantlement of W162

II

1093

E6

1092

Combined into L587

IIIA

1094

E6

1020

Surface between W156 and W182

IV

1095

F8

1081

Surface

IV

1096

E11

1087

Floor and floor make-up within Structure D7

IIIA

1097

F10

1090

Combined into L1090

IIIB

1098

F11

1059

Combined into L1059

IIIB

1099

F12

1086

Surface

IIIB

1100

E11

1096

Floor with dark ash debris within Structure D7

IIIB

1101

F11

1059

Dark brown debris within pit

IIIB

1102

F12

1099

Surface and surface make-up on basal dune

IIIB

1103

D12

1054

Surface make-up and debris

III–II

1104

F10

1101

Debris above surface north of W168

IIIB(?)

1105

H16

1070

Debris

-

1106

G10

1091

Surface make-up

IIIA

1107

H11

1063

Surface with dark ash debris and surface make-up

IIIA

1108

H10

1062

Surface with dark ash debris and surface make-up

IIIA

1109

H9

-

Topsoil removal and debris

-

1110

E6

1020

Combined into L1020

IIIA

1111

H15

1069

Debris

-

1112

E9

1085

Combined into L1085

IIIB

1113

G10

1106

Surface with dark ash debris on basal dune

IIIB

1114

H10

1108

Surface with dark ash debris on basal dune

IIIB

1115

H11

1107

Surface with dark ash debris and surface make-up on basal dune

IIIB

1116

H9

1109

Debris

-

1117

E6

1094

Surface and surface make-up

IV

1118

E9

1112

Surface make-up

IIIB

1119

F10

1104

Surface with dark ash debris east of W168

IIIB

1120

F10/11

-

Balk removal

-

1121

G9

1002

Debris

-

1122A

E9

1118

Combined into L1118

IIIB

1122B

E9

1122A

Surface

IVA

1123

H10

1114

Dark debris within pit

IIIB

1124

G11

1064

Surface and surface make-up

III

1125

E10

1057

Combined into L1057

IIIB

1126A

E9

1122B

Surface

IVB

1126B

E9

1126A

Kurkar surface

V

1127

E6

1117

Surface and surface make-up

V

1128

E10

1125

Surface and surface make-up east of W168

IIIB

1129

F10

1097

Combined into L1090

IIIB

1130

H9

1116

Floor within Structure D6

IIIA

1131

G9

1121

Debris above floor

IIIA(?)

1132

E12

1089

Surface on basal dune west of W172

IIIB

299

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1133

F11

1059

Surface and surface make-up on basal dune

IIIB

1134

G6

1056

Surface north of W177

IIIA

1135

G6

1056

Surface and stone pavement west of W175

II

1136

G6

1135

Surface make-up west of W175

II

1137

H9

1030

Floor within Structure D6

IIIB

1138

G6

1136

Surface north of W180

IIIA

1139

G9

1131

Floor within Structure D6

IIIA

1140

G9

1139

Floor within Structure D6

IIIB

1141

G6

1136

Surface south of W177

IIIA

1142

G9

1140

Floor make-up within Structure D6

IIIB

1143

H9

1137

Floor make-up within Structure D6

IIIB

1144

H9

1137

Surface make-up north of W179

IIIB

1145

G6

1138

Debris

III(?)

1146

C9

588

Probe down to surface

IV

1200

E5

-

Topsoil removal

II(?)

1201

D5

-

Topsoil removal

-

1202

D4

-

Topsoil removal

-

1203

D5

1201

Debris

II

1204

E4

-

Debris above surface

II(?)

1205

D4

1202

Debris on W122

II(?)

1206

E3

-

Debris above surface

II(?)

1207

D3

-

Topsoil removal

-

1208

E5

1200

Surface

II

1209

E4

1204

Surface

II

1210

E3

1206

Surface

II

1211

D3

1207

Debris above W120

-

1212

D4

-

Combined into L1205

II(?)

1213

E4

-

Surface

II

1214

F4

-

Surface

II

1215

D3

-

Combined into L1211

-

1216

D5

1203

Debris

IIIA

1217

E5

1208

Debris

IIIA

1218

E3

-

Combined into L1210

II

1219

D4

1205, 1212

Surface

II

1220A

E4

1209, 1213

Surface west of W121

IIIA

1220B

E4

1220A

Surface and surface make-up west of W121

IIIB

1221

D3

1211

Surface and surface make-up north of W120

II

1222

D5

1216

Debris

IIIB

1223

E5

1217

Debris

IIIB

1224

D3

1211, 1215

Surface south of W120

II

1225

E4

1209, 1213

Surface

II

1226

F4

-

Combined into L1243

II

300

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1227

E3

1210, 1218

Surface make-up

II

1228

D4

1219

Surface make-up

II

1229

D5

1222

Combined into L1317

IV

1230

E5

1208

Mudbrick debris

III(?)

1231

E5

1223, 1230

Surface

IV

1232

D2

-

Surface

II

1233

D1

-

Surface

II

1234

F4

1214

Surface make-up

II

1235

F3

-

Debris above surface

II(?)

1236

E2

-

Debris above W144

II(?)

1237

D3

1221

Floor and floor make-up within Structure D4

IIIB

1238

D3

1224

Debris on W123

II(?)

1239

D4

1228

Combined into L1273

IIIB

1240

D1

1233

Surface make-up

IIIA–II

1241

D3

1224

Debris below surface make-up

III–II

1242

D2

1232

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

1243

F4

1226

Debris on paved installation W125

II

1244

E1

-

Debris above surface

II

1245

F3

1235

Surface

II

1246

G4

-

Debris above surface

II(?)

1247

E2

1236

Debris on W144

II(?)

1248

F4

1234

Surface and surface make-up west of W121

IIIB

1249

F2

-

Topsoil removal

II(?)

1250

D1

1294

Surface

IV

1251

D2

1242

Surface

IIIB

1252

E1

1244

Surface

II

1253

H4

-

Surface

II

1254

G4

1246

Surface

II

1255

F4

1234

Combined into L1234

II

1256

D1

-

Surface

II

1257

E2

-

Combined into L1236

II(?)

1258

D1

1240

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

1259

H4

1253

Surface make-up

II

1260

D1

1256

Combined into L1240

IIIA–II

1261

E1

1252

Surface

IIIA

1262

D1

1260

Combined into L1240

IIIA–II

1263

H4

-

Combined into L1253

II

1264

G4

-

Surface

II

1265

F3

1245

Surface make-up

II

1266

D1

1258

Surface make-up west of W147

IIIB

1267

H4

1281

Debris above surface

IIIA(?)

1268

E1

1261

Surface make-up

IIIA

1269

H4

1259, 1267

Combined into L128

IIIA

301

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1270

D1

1266

Surface west of W147

IIIB

1271

G4

1254, 1264

Combined into L1264

II

1272

F4

1255

Debris north of W139

III–II

1273

D4

1228

Surface and surface make-up south of W149

IIIB

1274

D2

-

Debris

II(?)

1275

E1

1261

Combined into L1268

IIIA

1276

E1

1275

Surface

IIIB

1277

D1

1233

Combined into L1240

III–II

1278

D1

1277, 1262

Combined into L1258

IIIA

1279

D1

1278

Debris above surface

III

1280

E1

-

Combined into L1244

II

1281

H4

1269

Floor within room of Structure D9

IIIA

1282

E2

1257

Surface

II

1283

D1

1279

Surface

IIIB

1284

F4

1272

Debris north of W121 and W139

III

1285

D1

1240

Combined into L1240

IIA–II

1286

F3

1265

Combined into L1289

IIIA

1287

G4

1271

Combined into L1264

II

1288

E4

1225

Floor within Structure D4

IIIA

1289

F3

1265

Floor within Structure D4

IIIA

1290

D3

1221

Combined into L1237

IIIB

1291

E2

1282

Surface make-up and debris below

III–II

1292

H5

-

Surface east of W134

II

1293

E1

1280

Combined into L1252

II

1294

D1

1285

Floor within Structure D3

IIIB

1295

D1

1266

Surface

IV

1296

G3

-

Debris above surface

II(?)

1297

H5

1292

Surface make-up east of W134

II

1298

D2

1251

Surface

IV

1299

E1

1293

Combined into L1261

IIIA

1300

F3

1265

Debris north of W140

IIIA(?)

1301

F2

1249

Debris above surface

II(?)

1302

H5

1297

Debris above surface in Structure D9

IIIA

1303

G4

1271

Debris above surface

III–II

1304

H5

1297

Floor within room of Structure D9

IIIA

1305

H5

1297

Floor within room of Structure D9

IIIA

1306

D4

1239

Surface north of W156

IV

1307

E1

1293

Debris above surface

IIIA

1308

F2

1301

Surface

II

1309

E3

1227

Debris

III–II

1310

D5

1222

Debris within pit cutting into W156

IIIB

1311

D5

1222

Debris within pit cutting into W156

IIIB

1312

D5

1222

Debris within pit cutting into W156

IIIB

1313

F3

1289

Floor within Structure D4

IIIB

302

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1314

F3

1289

Combined into L1349

III

1315

E1

1307

Surface

IIIA

1316

E1

1315

Surface make-up

IIIA

1317

D5

1229

Surface north of W156

IV

1318

G4

1303

Surface

IIIA

1319

G3

1296

Debris above surface east of W137

II(?)

1320

G3

1296

Combined into L1325

II

1321

F3

1289

Combine into L1313

IIIB

1322

E1

1316

Surface west of W147

IIIB

1323

E1

1322

Surface make-up west of W147

IIIB

1324

E1

1323

Combined into L1323

IIIB

1325

G3

1320

Surface west of W137

II

1326

G3

1319

Surface east of W137

II

1327

G3

1320

Shallow pit with small ceramic vessels sunk in L1325 surface

II

1328

G3

1320

Shallow pit with small ceramic vessels sunk in L1325 surface

II

1329

F3

1314

Combined into L1349

III

1330

H5

1292

Combined into L1297

II

1331

G3

1325

Surface make-up west of W137

II

1332

F2

1308

Surface make-up and debris

III–II

1333

E3

1309

Combined into L1309

III–II

1334

D2

1298

Surface

V

1335

E1

1323

Combined into L1336

IV

1336

E1

1335

Surface east of W148

IV

1337

D2

1334

Surface make-up

V

1338

D2

1337

Basal dune

Pre-V

1339

H5

1330

Debris

III–II

1340

H5

1330

Mudbrick pavement within Granary 1340

IIIA

1341

E3

1333

Floor within Structure D4

IIIA

1342

E4

1288

Probe into floor make-up east of W121

IIIA

1343

H5

1340

Probe below mudbrick pavement with Granary 1340

IIIA(?)

1344

F3

1265

Storage jar sunken into floor

IIIA

1345

E5

1231

Surface make-up

IV

1346

H5

1339

Combined into L1305

IIIA

1347

H5

1339

Floor within room of Structure D9

IIIA

1348

G4

1271

Debris south of W136

III(?)

1349

F3

1329

Dismantlement of W138

III

1350

G3

1331

Floor within Structure D4

IIIB

1351

D4

1228

Combined into L1306

IV

1352

H4

1281

Floor make-up within room of Structure D9

IIIA

1353

G4

1318

Surface with dark ash debris south of W155

IIIB

1354

E2

1291

Surface east of W145

IIIA

1355

G4

1353

Surface make-up south of W155

IIIB

1356

E2

1354

Debris

IIIB(?)

1357

F2

1332

Surface

IIIB

303

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

1358

E2

1356

Combined into L1368

IV(?)

1359

G4

1355

Combined into L1355

IIIB

1360

E3

1341

Floor make-up within Structure D4

IIIA(?)

1361

G3

1350

Floor make-up within Structure D4

IIIB

1362

G4

1359

Surface

IV

1363

E5

1345

Probe below surface down to basal dune

IV(?)

1364

G4

1362

Surface and surface make-up down to basal dune

IV

1365

H4

1352

Surface east of W135

IIIB

1366

F3

1313

Floor make-up within Structure D4

IIIB

1367

-

-

Cancelled

-

1368

E2

1358

Debris above floor within Structure D1

IV(?)

1369

H5

1304, 1305

Ceramics on surface and surface make-up

IIIA

1370

H5

1347

Combined into L1347

IIIA

1371

F3

1366

Floor within Structure D2

IV

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

600

J8

-

Topsoil removal

601

J8

600

Fill within Feature 18

602

J8

600

Fill within Feature 19

603

K21

-

Topsoil removal

604

J8

601

Debris below Feature 18

605

K1

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

606

L14

-

Topsoil removal and basal dune

607

K21

603

Surface between W64 and W63

608

K21

603

Surface west of W63

609

K21

603

Surface north of W63

610

I22

-

Topsoil removal and debris on habitation level

611

J22

-

Topsoil removal and debris on habitation level

612

K22

-

Topsoil and debris on habitation level

613

-

-

Unused locus number

614

-

-

Unused locus number

615

-

-

Unused locus number

616

K22

612

Habitation make-up

617

I22

610

Basal dune

618

H22

-

Topsoil removal

619

I21

-

Topsoil removal

620

J21

-

Topsoil removal and debris on habitation level

621

H22

618

Debris on habitation level

622

K22

616

Probe into sterile matrix

623

I21

619

Debris above habitation level

624

J20

-

Topsoil removal

625

I20

-

Topsoil removal and debris on habitation level

626

J22

611

Habitational make-up

Area E

304

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

627

H22

621

Habitational make-up

628

I22

617

Combined into L617

629

J22

626

Probe into basal dune

630

J20

624

Debris on habitation level and make-up

631

J18

-

Topsoil removal

632

I21

623

Debris on habitation level

633

H22

627

Probe into basal dune

634

J18

631

Basal dune

635

H18

-

Topsoil removal

636

J21

620

Habitation make-up

637

I20

637

Habitation make-up

638

J20

630

Basal dune

639

H18

635

Basal dune

640

G18

-

Topsoil removal

641

I20

637

Basal dune

642

I21

632

Debris within pit

643

J21

636

Combined into L661

644

G16

-

Topsoil removal

645

E12–13

-

Topsoil removal around Features 1, 2 and 3

646

G11

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 5

647

-

-

Unused locus number

648

-

-

Unused locus number

649

F9

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 7

650

G9

-

Topsoil removal around Features 8, 9 and 10

651

F8

-

Topsoil removal around Features 11 and 12

652

F7

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 14

653

H6

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 15

654

F4

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 16

655

H18

639

Combined into L639

656

J18

634

Combined into L634

657

G18

640

Basal dune

658

G16

644

Basal dune

659

F4

654

Topsoil removal around Feature 16

660

F7

652

Topsoil removal around Feature 14

661

J21

643

Debris within pit

662

G11

646

Topsoil removal around Feature 5

663

F7

652

Topsoil removal around Feature 14

664

H6

653

Topsoil removal around Feature 15

665

F7

652

Topsoil removal around Feature 14

666

G9

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 8

667

F10

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 6

668

H/34

-

Topsoil removal around Feature 17

305

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Area F Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

700

-

-

Topsoil removal

701

-

700

Probe into basal dune

702

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

703

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

704

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

705

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

706

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

707

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

708

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

709

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

710

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

711

-

700

Burial deposits within cist

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

801

F3

-

Topsoil removal

-

802

G4

-

Topsoil removal

-

803

G1

-

Topsoil removal and debris

-

804

G1

803

Debris within upper portion of Unclear

IV(?)

805

G3

-

Topsoil

-

806

G4

802

Mixed debris east of W81

IV–IIIB

807

H3

-

Topsoil removal

-

808

H2

-

Topsoil removal

-

809A

G2

-

Topsoil removal and surface

IIIA–I

809B

G2

809A

Surface

IIIB

810

F2

-

Topsoil removal

-

811

G1

803

Sterile sand of basal dune around Pit 1439

Pre-IV

812

H3

807

Fill of topsoil within intrusive pits

-

813

G3

805

Fill of topsoil within intrusive pits

-

814

G4

802

Surface and surface make-up west of W81

IIIB–A

815

G2

809B

Surface

IV

816

G3

805

Surface west of W81

IIIB

817

F4

-

Topsoil removal

-

818

F3

801

Surface between W85 and Granary 833

IV–IIIB

819

E2

-

Topsoil removal

-

820

E3

-

Topsoil removal

-

821

E2

819

Accumulation on habitation surface

IIIB–A

822

H2

808

Surface

IIIA

823

F4

817

Debris

IV–I

824

E2

819

Floor within Building G1

IIIA

825

E3

820

Floor within Building G1

IV

826

H2

808

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

827

G4

814

Fill below surface on basal dune

IIIB

Area G

306

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

828

E–F2

-

Topsoil removal

-

829

E–F2

828

Floor with Building G1

IIIA

830

H3

807

Surface east of W81

IIIA

831

D2

-

Topsoil removal

-

832

H3

830

Combined into L830

IIIA

833

F3

801

Debris within Granary 833

IIIB

834

H4

-

Topsoil removal

-

835

H4

834

Surface and surface make-up south of W96

IIIB

836

F2

810

Surface east of W82

IIIB

837

E1

-

Topsoil removal

-

838

E1

837

Debris next to W85

IV–IIIA

839

D2

831

Debris below topsoil

-

840

F3

833

Floor make-up with mudbrick fragments within Granary 833

IIIB

841

F3

840

Debris within upper portion of Silo 869

IV–IIIB

842

G–H2

-

Topsoil removal

-

843

G–H2

842

Debris in open area west of W88

IIIB–A

844

G–H2

842

Debris in open area west of W88

IIIB–A

845

G3

816

Surface make-up west of W81

IIIB

846

F3–4

-

Topsoil removal

-

847

E1–2

-

Topsoil removal and debris

-

848

E1–2

-

Topsoil removal and debris

-

849

D2

839

Habitation surface around mudbrick Granary 865

IV–IIIB

850

D2

839

Upper portion of debris within installation

IV(?)

851

I2

-

Topsoil removal

-

852

I2

851

Surface

IIIA

853

H2

822

Surface make-up

IIIA

854

G–H3

-

Topsoil removal

-

855

F1

-

Topsoil removal

-

856

F–G3

887

Topsoil removal and debris

-

857

F1

855

Disturbed debris on habitation surface

IV(?)

858

G–H3

854

Debris east of W81

IV–IIIA

859

F2

836

Combined into L873

IV

860

G–H3

854

Debris

IV–I

861

I3

-

Topsoil removal and debris within pits

I

862

H3

830

Surface make-up east of W81

IIIA

863

F1

857

Section into basal dune below and outside Building G1

IV(?)

864

E–F2

829

Floor within Building G1

IIIB

865

D2

850

Lower portion of debris within Granary 865

IV

866

F1–2

-

Trial trench near continuation of W85

IV–I

867

J2

-

Topsoil removal

-

868

I3

861

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

869

F3

841

Floor of mudbrick material within Silo 869

IV

870

G–H2

815, 843

Surface make-up

IV

871A

J2

867

Surface and surface make-up south of W94

IIIA

871B

J2

871A

Surface south of W94

IIIB

307

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

872

F2

836

Surface make-up east of W82

IIIB

873

F2

872

Surface east of W82

IV

874

D2

865

Section through floor of mudbrick material within Granary 865

IV

875

I2

852

Surface make-up

IIIA

876

F2

873

Surface make-up east of W82

IV

877

J1

-

Topsoil removal

-

878A

J1

877

Surface and surface make-up west of W90

IIIA

878B

J1

878A

Surface and surface make-up west of W90

IIIB

879

K2

-

Topsoil removal

-

880

J1

877

Combined into L878A

IIIA

881

I1

-

Topsoil removal

-

882

I2

875

Surface east of W92

IIIB

883

I3

868

Surface east of W105

IIIB

884

F3

818

Probe next to outer face of W83/W103

IV–IIIB

885

K2

879

Surface south of W94 and west of W93

IIIA

886A

I1

881

Surface

IIIA

886B

I1

886A

Surface make-up

IIIB–A

887

F–G3

856

Probe adjacent to Silo 869

IV(?)

888A

K2

879

Surface and surface make-up south of W94 and east of W93

IIIA

888B

K2

888A

Surface south of W94

IIIB

889

P3

-

Topsoil removal

-

890

P4

-

Topsoil removal

-

891

O3

-

Topsoil removal

-

892

O4

-

Topsoil removal

-

893

N3

-

Topsoil removal

-

894

N4

-

Topsoil removal

-

895

M3

-

Topsoil removal

-

896

M4

-

Topsoil removal

-

897

P3

889

Surface

IV

898

P4

890

Debris above surface north of W101

IV(?)

899

O3

891

Debris

IV–IIIB

900

O4

892

Surface

IV

901

N3

893

Probe into disturbed debris

IV–I

902

N3

893, 901

Surface

IV

903

N4

894

Surface

IV

904

M3

895

Surface

IV(?)

905

M4

896

Sterile basal dune

-

906

M4

896

Debris within pit

IV(?)

907

O–P3

891

Combine into L991

IV

908

P5

-

Topsoil removal

-

909

O5

-

Topsoil removal

-

910

N5

-

Topsoil removal

-

911

M5

-

Topsoil removal

-

912

H3

862

Floor within Building G2

IIIB

308

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

913

K3

-

Topsoil removal

-

914A

J2

871B

Surface make-up south of W94

IIIB

914B

J2

914A

Surface south of W94

IV

915

J3

-

Topsoil removal

-

916

I3

883

Surface make-up east of W105

IIIB

917

H3

832, 858

Surface west of W84

IIIB

918

J1

878B

Surface west of W90

IV

919

J1–2, J–K2

-

Topsoil removal

-

920A

K3

913

Debris

IIIB–A

920B

K3

920A

Surface

IV

921

I1

886B

Surface north of W92

IIIB

922

I2

882

Combined into L936

IIIB

923

H–I3

-

Topsoil removal

-

924

H4

835

Surface south of W96

IV

925

H–I2

-

Topsoil removal

-

926

L2

-

Topsoil removal

-

927

J1

878B

Combined into L918

IV

928A

J3

915

Surface

IIIA

928B

J3

928A

Surface

IIIB

929

H–I2

925

Debris

IIIA(?)

930

H–I3

923

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

931

M2

-

Topsoil removal

-

932

L2

926

Floor within eastern addition to Building G3

IIIA

933

K1

-

Topsoil removal

-

934

K4

-

Topsoil removal

-

935

J3

928B

Surface

IV

936

H–I2

853, 929

Floor within Building G2

IIIB

937

H–I/3–4

-

Topsoil removal and debris

IV–I

938

K1

933

Floor within Building G3

IV

939

L2

926

Surface south of W95

IIIA

940

M2

931

Surface

IIIA

941

H–I3

912, 930

Floor make-up within Building G2

IIIB

942

K2

879

Floor within Building G3

IIIA

943

L2

939

Surface make-up south of W95

IIIA

944

K–J1

877, 933

Floor within Building G3

IIIA

945

K–L2

-

Balk removal

IIIB–I

946

I3

916

Surface east of W105

IV

947

H–I3

936

Combined into L936

IIIB

948

O2

-

Topsoil removal

-

949

N2

-

Topsoil removal

-

950

N2

849

Surface

IIIB

951A

M2

940

Surface

IIIB

951B

M2

951A

Surface

IV

952

L2

-

Topsoil removal

-

953

E–F2

864

Floor make-up within Building G1

IIIB

954

O2

948

Surface and surface make-up south of Structure G4

IIIB

309

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

955

L1

952

Floor and floor make-up within eastern addition to Building G3

IIIA

956

K2

942

Floor make-up within Building G3

IIIA

957

I2

882

Surface make-up east of W92

IIIB

958

H2

826

Surface and surface between W88 and W84

IIIB

959

E–F2

953

Floor within Building G1

IV

960

E–F2

953

Floor within Building G1

IV

961

N1

-

Topsoil removal

-

962

N2

950

Debris within lined pit

IIIB

963

H2

958

Surface and surface make-up west of W84

IV

964

N2

950

Probe into debris within pit

IV(?)

965

F3

869

Floor make-up and sterile soil within Silo 869

IV

966

P2

-

Topsoil and debris within pit

I

967

O1

-

Topsoil removal

-

968

O1

967

Disturbed debris

IV–I

969

N1

961

Disturbed debris

IV–I

970

H4

924, 937

Surface make-up south of W96

IV

971

P2

966

Debris

IIIB(?)

972

K–L1

-

Topsoil removal and debris

-

973

P2

966, 971

Surface south W99

IIIB

974

O3

899

Surface northwest of Granary 991

IV

975

N1

961

Combined into L969

IV–I

976

M2

951B

Surface make-up

IV

977

K–L1

972

Debris

IIIA(?)

978

Q2

-

Topsoil removal

-

979

O2

954

Surface south of W97

IV

980

R2

-

Topsoil removal

-

981

R2

980

Debris

IV–IIIA

982

Q2

978

Debris

IV–IIIA

983

P2

971

Floor within Structure G4

IIIB

984

N1

969

Disturbed debris

IV–I

985

O–P3

-

Balk removal

-

986

L–M1

-

Balk removal

IV–I

987

S2

-

Topsoil removal

-

988

S2

987

Debris

IV–IIIA

989

P2

983

Floor make-up within Structure G4

IIIB

990

O–P2

-

Topsoil in balk

-

991

O–P3

907, 985

Floor of mudbrick material within Granary 991

IV

992

O2

979

Surface make-up south of W97

IV

993

I2

957

Trial section through Stratum IV floor down to basal dune

IV(?)

994

I3

916

Debris within pit

IIIA

995

H3

941

Probe below Stratum III level down to Stratum IV floor and basal dune

IV

996

K1

944

Floor make-up within Building G3

IIIA

997

U2

-

Topsoil removal

-

310 Locus

AMIR GOLANI

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

998

U2

997

Debris

IV–IIIA

999

T2

1401

Topsoil removal

-

1401

T2

999

Debris

IV–IIIA

1402

Q2

982

Debris

IV–IIIB

1403

O1–2

-

Balk removal

IIIB–I

1404

K1

996

Floor and floor make-up within Building G3

IIIB

1405

H2

947

Floor make-up within Building G2

IIIB

1406

O5

909

Debris above surface

IV

1407

N5

910

Surface north of W101

IV(?)

1408

M5

911

Surface

IV(?)

1409

H2

1405

Floor within Building G2

IV

1410

K1

1404

Floor within Building G3

IV

1411

O4

900

Surface make-up

IV

1412

P4

898

Surface north of W101

IV

1413

P5

908

Surface south of W101

IV

1414

H3

941

Floor within Building G2

IV

1415

O6

-

Topsoil removal

-

1416

O6

1415

Debris

IV–I

1417

L1

955

Floor and floor make-up within eastern addition to Building G3

IIIB

1418

O5

1406

Surface north of W101

IV

1419

O5

1418

Surface make-up north of W101

IV

1420

P5

1413

Surface make-up south of W101

IV

1421

K2

956

Probe to locate southern portion of W98

IV–IIIB

1422

Q4

-

Topsoil removal

-

1423

Q4

1422

Debris

IV–I

1424

Q3

-

Topsoil removal

-

1425

P4

898

Surface south of W101

IV

1426

Q3

1424

Debris

IV–IIIB

1427

L–M1

-

Surface east of W102

IIIB

1428

Q3

1426

Surface north of W101

IV

1429

L1

1417

Debris within installation

IV

1430

L1

1417

Surface east of W98

IV

1431

Q3

1426

Surface south of W101

IV

1432

U2

998

Debris

IV–IIIA

1433

G2

870

Debris within pit

IV

1434

G2

870

Debris within pit

IV

1435

G2

870

Debris within pit

IV

1436

G2

870

Debris within pit

IIIB

1437

F1

863

Child burial in holemouth jar

IV

1438

F1

863

Debris within pit

IV

1439

G1

803

Debris within pit

IV

1440

G1

804

Debris within pit

IV

1441

G2

815

Ṭabun

IV

1442

K1

1404

Round mudbrick installation

IV

311

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Area H Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

4000

B23

-

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion within pit

I

4001

C22

Topsoil removal and debris

II)?(

4002

C24

-

Topsoil removal and dark debris

II)?(

4003

B23

-

Topsoil removal and surface(?)

II

4004

C23

-

Topsoil removal and debris

II)?(

4005

B24

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

4006

B22

-

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

I)?(

4007

C22

4001

Surface north of W400

II

4008

C22

4001

Surface east of W400

II

4009

B24

4005

Debris

IV)?(

4010

B22

-

Topsoil removal and stone pavement

II

4011

B22

-

Stone pavement(?)

II

4012

B22

4010

Debris above surface

IIIA)?(

4013

C22

4001

Surface south of W400

II

4014

B24

4005

Floor within Building H1

IV

4015

C23

4004

Surface

II

4016

C24

4002

Surface

II

4017

C23

4015

Surface make-up

II

4018

B24

4009

Surface and surface make-up west of W421

IV

4019

B24

4005

Surface and surface make-up east of W421

IV

4020

C24

4016

Surface make-up

II

4021

C24

4020

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

4022

C23

4017

Surface

IIIA

4023

C22

4008

Combined into L4036

IIIA

4024

B21

-

Topsoil removal and surface

II

4025

C23

4022

Surface make-up

IIIA

4026

C23

4022

Combined into L4025

IIIA

4027

C23

4022

Surface

IIIA

4028

D23

-

Topsoil removal and surface

II

4029

B22

4012

Combined into L4035

IIIA

4030

C24

4021

Debris within pit; donkey burial(?)

IIIB

4031

B23

4003

Surface make-up and probe down to basal dune

IV–IIIA

4032

C21

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris above surface

II(?)

4033

D24

-

Topsoil removal and surface

II

4034

B21

4024

Surface make-up

III–II

4035

B22

4029

Combined into L4047

IIIA

4036

C22

4023

Surface

IIIA

4037

C22

4013

Combined into L4036

IIIA

4038

C21

4032

Surface

II

4039

B23

4031

Surface

IIIA

4040

B22

4035

Probe into surface make-up down to basal dune

IV–IIIA

4041

C21

4038

Surface make-up

II

4042

B21

4035

Combined into L4047

IIIA

4043

D24

4033

Surface make-up

III–II

312

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

4044

D21

-

Surface and surface make-up

II

4045

D24

4043

Surface

IIIA

4046A

D24

4045

Surface

IIIB

4046B

D24

4046A

Surface

IV

4047

B21

4042

Surface

IIIA

4048

C21

4041

Surface

IIIA

4049

B24

4014

Floor make-up within Building H1

IV

4050

B21

4047

Probe into surface make-up down to basal dune

IV–III

4051

C21

4048

Surface make-up

IIIA

4052

C21

4051

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

4053

D20

-

Topsoil removal and surface(?)

II

4054

C21

4048

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

4055

D23

4028

Surface

IIIA

4056

C20

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

4057

C21

4054

Probe into light brown debris down to basal dune

IV(?)

4058

B21

4047

Surface make-up

IIIA

4059

B20

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

4060

D23

4028

Combined into L4055

IIIA

4061

B20

4059

Surface north of W407

IIIA

4062

C20

4056

Debris on fill of pit

II

4063

D21

4044

Combined into L4081

IIIA

4064

D21

4044

Combined into L4081

IIIA

4065

B19

-

Surface and surface make-up

II)?(

4066

D19

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II

4067

C20

4062

Fill within pit

II

4068

D21

-

Combined into L4081

IIIA

4069

B21

-

Mudbrick and potsherd installation

IIIA

4070

C21

-

Pithos within pit

IIIA

4071A

C19

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

4071B

C19

4071A

Surface

IIIA

4072

D20

4053

Debris within refuse pit

IIIA

4073

B20

4061

Surface make-up

IIIA

4074

C21

-

Combined into L4058

IIIA

4075

B21

4047

Surface make-up around Installation 4069

IIIA

4076

D20

4072

Combined into L4072

IIIA

4077

B20

4073

Probe into light brown debris and basal dune

IV–IIIB

4078

D21

4063

Debris within pit(?)

IIIA

4079

D20

4076

Combined into L4072

IIIA

4080

B20

4077

Basal dune

IV–IIIB

4081

D21

-

Surface

IIIA

4082

C20

4067

Probe into light brown debris

III(?)

4083

B18

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

4084

C18

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

4085

D20

4079

Base of pit and basal dune

IV–III

4086

C20

4082

Continuation of probe down to basal dune

IV–III (?)

313

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

4087

D19

4066

Surface

IIIA

4088

D18

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

4089A

D19

4087

Surface

IIIB

4089B

D19

4089A

Debris below surface on basal dune

IV–IIIB

4090

D21–22

-

Balk removal and exposure of W402

IIIA–II

4091

B19

-

Surface between W417 and W416

IIIA

4092

C19

4071

Surface

IIIA

4093

B17

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

4094

C17

-

Topsoil removal and debris

II(?)

4095

B19

-

Surface north of W420

IIIA

4096

B19

-

Surface

IIIB

4097

B19

4091

Surface

IIIB

4098

C19

-

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

4099

A19

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

4100

D17

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II–I(?)

4101

C18

4084

Mudbrick debris above surface

IIIA(?)

4102

B19

-

Surface

IIIB

4103

D21–22

-

Mudbrick debris next to W402

IIIA

4104

C22

4036

Probe into and below surface make-up

IIIB–A

4105

C16

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

4106

C18

4101

Surface between W403 and W404

IIIA

4107

C22

4104

Probe below surface make-up down to basal dune

IIIB(?)

4108

C18

4084

Surface west of W404

IIIA

4109

B18

4083

Surface

IIIA

4110

B19

4097

Combined into L4097

IIIB

4111

C18

-

Probe west and below base of W404

IV–IIIB

4112

B19

-

Combined into L4095

IIIA

4113

C17

4094

Surface west of W403

IIIA

4114

B18

4109

Surface make-up

IIIA

4115

C18

-

Surface between W403 and W404

IIIB

4116

C19

4071

Combined into L4092

IIIA

4117

B19

4096

Probe below L4096 down to basal dune

IV–III

4118

B19

4110

Combined into L4119

IIIB

4119

B19

4118

Debris within pit

IIIB

4120

B18

4114

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

4121

B19

4119

Combined into L4119

IIIB

4122

C18

-

Combined into L4111

IV–IIIB

4123

C17

4113

Combined into L4113

IIIA

4124

B18

4120

Debris within Silo 4124

IIIB

4125

C18

4108

Surface make-up west of W404

IIIA

4126

C18

4125

Combined into L4111

IV–IIIB

4127

A19

4099

Debris around stones

III–II

4128

B17

4093

Surface west of W411

IIIB

4129

C17

4123

Surface west of W405

IIIB

4130

C18

4126

Combined into L4132

IIIB

314

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

4131

D18

4088

Combined into L4134

IIIA

4132

C18

4126

Debris within base of Silo 4124

IIIB

4133

C17

4123

Surface between W405 and W403

IIIB

4134

D18

4131

Surface

IIIA

4135

D17

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

4136

B16

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

4137

D16

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

4138

D18

-

Debris within pit

IIIA

4139

B15

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

4140

D18

4134

Surface south of W412

IIIB

4141

C17

4133

Probe below surface down to basal dune

IV

4142

C15

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

4143

C18

4126

Fill at base of foundation trench east of Silo 4124

IIIB

4144

D18

4138

Surface

IIIB

4145

C18

4132

Combined into L4132

IIIB

4146A

B16

4136

Surface south of W415

IIIA

4146B

B16

4136

Surface north of W415

IIIA

4147

D18

4144

Surface

IV

4148

C18

4118

Debris within pit between W405 and W404

IIIA(?)

4149

D18

-

Probe below surface down to basal dune

IV

4150

C16

4105

Dark debris below topsoil

IIIA–II

4151

B17

4128

Surface make-up

IIIB

4152

C18

4148

Combined into L4111

IV–IIIB

4153

D17

4135

Surface

IIIA

4154

B17

4151

Probe into debris above surface

IV–IIIB

4155

C17

4094

Debris east of W403

IIIB–A(?)

4156

B17

4154

Surface

IV

4157

B16

4146B

Surface make-up

IIIA

4158

B17

-

Debris east of W411

IIIB(?)

4159

C17

4155

Combined into L4155

IIIB–A(?)

4160

B17

4156

Surface make-up on basal dune

IV

4161

C14

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

4162

D15

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris; in Area M

III–II(?)

4163

C 15

4142

Combined into L4142

II(?)

4164

C16

4150

Surface

IIIB

4165

B16

4157

Combined into L4157

IIIA

4166

C16

4164

Surface make-up

IIIB

4167

B15

4139

Surface

IIIA

4168

D16

4137

Mixed debris

IIIA–II

4169

B16

4165

Surface

IIIB

4170

C16

4166

Child burial covered by ceramic fragments

IIIB

4171

D17

4153

Debris

IIIB

4172

C16

4166

Infant burial in holemouth jar

IIIB

4173

B15

4167

Surface make-up

IIIA

4174

C16–17

-

Balk removal

IIIB–A

315

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

4175

C16

4166

Infant burial covered by ceramic fragments, partly below W413

IIIB

4176

B16

4169

Surface make-up

IIIB

4177

C15

4163

Mixed debris

III–II

4178

C16

4166

Combined into L4166

IIIB

4179

D17

4171

Probe into surface make-up down to basal dune

IV–IIIB

4180

C16–17

-

Balk removal

IIIB–A

4181

D18

-

Trim of southern face of W408

III(?)

4182

C16

4178

Surface(?)

IV

4183

D16–17

-

Balk removal on W409

III–II

4184

D15

4162

Combined into L4162

II(?)

4185

B15

4173

Debris above surface

III–II

4186

C15

4177

Surface

IIIB

4188

D16

4168

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

4189

C16

4182

Surface make-up on basal dune

IV

4190

B15

-

Combined into L4194

IIIB

4191

C17–18

-

Combined into L4094

II(?)

4192

D16

4188

Surface

IV

4193

B15

4185

Surface north of W413

IIIB

4194

B15

4190

Surface south of W413

IIIB

4195

B–C16

-

Balk removal and exposure of W413

III(?)

4196

C16

4166

Child burial covered by ceramic fragments, partly below W413

IIIB

4197

C16

-

Mudbrick debris south of W410

IIIB

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

2027

I5

-

Surface(?)

II(?)

2028

I4

-

Debris south of W208

III–II(?)

2039

I4

2028

Debris above surface south of W208

III(?)

2040

I4

2039

Combined into L2098

III

2044

I4

2039

Surface south of W208

III

2045

I5

2027

Debris above floor north of W208

III)?(

2048

I5

2045

Floor and floor make-up within Structure I1

III

2049

I–J/4–5

-

Balk removal

-

2051

H5

-

Surface(?) west of W211 and on W215

III

2054

H4

-

Debris above surface

III–II)?(

2056

H5

2051

Combined into L2051

III

2059

H4

2054

Surface west of W213

III

2061

J4

-

Surface between W214 and W218

III

2062

J3

-

Surface

III)?(

2063

J3

-

Surface to east of W214

III

2067

H5

2056

Surface east of W215

IV

2068

H4

2059

Surface make-up

III

Area I

316

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

2069

J4

2061

Debris above surface east of W214

III)?(

2072

J3

2062

Surface west of W214

III

2073

J4

2069

Combined into L2094

IV

2074

H4

2068

Surface east of W215

IV

2075

H5

2067

Combined into L2088

IV

2076

I6

-

Debris

III)?(

2077

H3

-

Debris on stone rubble of W213

III)?(

2078

I4

-

Debris above surface east of W213

III)?(

2079

J4

2069

Surface east of W214

III

2080

H4

2074

Surface make-up and probe down to basal dune

IV

2081

H–I5

-

Balk removal

-

2082

I3

-

Debris above surface

III)?(

2083

H–I4

-

Balk removal

-

2084

J2

-

Debris above surface

III)?(

2085

J3

2072

Surface make-up

III

2086

H–I5

2081

Floor within Structure I1

III

2087

I6–5

2076

Floor(?) within Structure I1

III

2088

H5

2067

Surface make-up

IV

2090

H–I5

-

Infant burial in storage jar atop W211

II

2094

J4

2079

Probe below base of W216

IV

2095

H5

Probe below surface down to basal dune

IV

2096

H3

2077

Combined into L2077

III)?(

2097

H–I5

2086

Combined into L2087

III

2098

I4

2078

Surface make-up south of W208

III

2099

J3

2072

Debris within W217

III

2100

J2

2084

Surface east of W214

III

2101

H5

2088

Combined into L2088

IV

2102

H5

-

Combined into L2088

IV

2103

J5

-

Debris

III)?(

2104

I2

-

Debris above surface

III)?(

2105

J4

2061

Surface between W216, 214 and 218

III

2106

J3

2063

Surface make-up

III

2107

I3

2082

Surface west of W214

III

2108

I4

2098

Probe below base of W208 down to surface

IV

2109

I2

2104

Surface

III

2110

J2

2100

Probe below base of W214 down to basal dune

IV

2111

J3

2106

Debris

IV)?(

2112

J4

2105

Surface make-up

III

2113

H3–4

-

Balk removal

-

2114

J4

2061

Surface make-up

III

2115

I4

2108

Surface make-up

IV

2117

H–I3

-

Balk removal

-

2118

I2

2109

Surface make-up

III

2119

I2

2109

Debris

III)?(

2120

I3

2107

Surface make-up

III

317

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

2121

H3

2096, 2096

Dismantlement of stone collapse from W213

III

2122

H5

-

Combined into L2051

III

2125

H3

2121

Combined into L2129

III

2126

I2

2109

Combined into L2118

III

2129

H3

2125

Surface with destruction debris east of W213

III

2131

I–J2

-

Balk removal

-

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

2001

G20

-

Debris—unclear stratification

-

2002

G19

-

Debris—unclear stratification

-

2003

F15

-

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

I(?)

2004

G19

2002

Debris—unclear stratification

-

2005

F11

-

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

I(?)

2006

G19

2004

Probe—unclear stratification

-

2007

G19–20

2002, 2001

Floor within Granary 2007

IIIA

2008

E13

-

Mudbrick debris above surface

IIIA(?)

2009

F11

-

Debris above surface south of W205

IIIA

2010

E13

2008

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

2011

E14

2008

Floor within Granary 2011

IIIA

2012

F12

-

Topsoil removal and definition of Granary 2015

III–II

2013

E11–12

-

Surface

II

2014

E14

-

Debris above surface north of Granary 2011

IIIA(?)

2015

F12

2012

Floor within structure (granary?) bounded by W203

IIIA

2016

F13

-

Topsoil removal and surface south of Granary 2018

IIIA

2017

G20

-

Combined into L2001

-

2018

E–F13

2016

Floor within Granary 2018

IIIA

2019

H19

-

Debris—unclear stratification

-

2020

H19

-

Debris—unclear stratification

-

2021

F13

2016

Surface and surface make-up east of Granary 2018

IIIA

2022

E–F14

-

Surface east of W207

IIIA

2023

E11

2013

Surface north of W205

IIIA

2024

E15

-

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

-

2025

E13–14

-

Debris west of Granary 2011

IIIA

2026

F17

-

Combined into L2030

IIIA

2029

F11

2009

Surface between W203 and W205

IIIA

2030

F17

2026

Floor within Granary 2030

IIIA

2031

E17

-

Mixed and unstratified debris west of Granary 2030

-

2032

F11

-

Surface southeast of W205

IIIA

2033

F11

2029

Combined into L2064

IIIB

2034

F12

2012

Surface east of W203

IIIA

2035

F12

2015

Combined into L2037

IIIB

Area J

318

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

2036

E16

-

Mixed and unstratified debris west of Granary 2030

III(?)

2037

F12

2015

Floor make-up within Granary 2015 and floor south of W209

IIIB–A

2038

F12

2034, 2015

Upper portion of debris within pit

II

2041

F12

2034

Surface north of W209. Cut by Stratum II pit, L2038/2065

IIIB

2042

G12

2012

Debris above surface next to W203 and W212

IIIA(?)

2043

F16

-

Surface south of Granary 2030

IIIA

2046

E16

2036

Mixed and unstratified debris west of Granary 2030

-

2047

E11

2023

Surface make-up

IIIA

2050

F17

-

Surface north of Granary 2030

IIIA

2052

F–G12

2042

Combined into L2053

IIIA

2053

F12

2042

Surface north of W203

IIIA

2055

E11

2047

Surface

IIIB

2057

E11

2055

Surface make-up on basal dune

IIIB

2058

G12

2042

Surface southeast of Granary 2015 and W212

IIIA

2060

G12

2058

Combined into L2058

IIIA

2064

F11

2029

Surface south of W209

IIIB

2065

F12

2038

Lower portion of debris within pit

II

2066

F13

2021

Surface south of W204

IIIB

2070

F13

2021

Surface make-up

IIIB

2071

F14

2022

Surface

IIIB

2089

FI 3

2070

Fill below surface make-up on basal dune

IIIB(?)

2091

F14

2071

Surface make-up and descent into basal dune

IIIB

2092

E14

2014

Surface and surface make-up north of Granary 2011

IIIA

2093

E14

-

Mixed debris and topsoil intrusion

I(?)

2116

F14

2091

Child burial in storage jar

IIIB

2123

H20

-

Infant burial covered with ceramic fragments

II

2124

H20

-

Combined into L2123

II

2127

F11

2064

Surface make-up south of W209

IIIB

2128

F13

2021

Infant burial in storage jar

IIIA

2130

F20

-

Storage-jar fragment east and next to Granary 2007

IIIA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

5001

G2

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5002

H2

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5003

I2

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5004

I3

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5005

J2

-

Surface

II

5006

K3

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

5007

K2

-

Surface

II

5008

L2

-

Surface

II

5009

M2

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

Area K

319

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

5010

L3

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

5011

I2

5003

Debris above surface

IIIB(?)

5012

L2

5008

Surface make-up

II

5013

K3

5006

Surface southeast of W501

IIIB

5014

M2

-

Surface

II

5015

L3

5010

Surface and surface make-up

II

5016

K2

5007

Surface make-up

II

5017

K3

5006

Surface northwest of W501

IIIB

5018

J2–3

5005

Surface between W501 and W506

IIIB

5019

I3

-

Surface

II

5020

H2

5002

Debris above surface

III(?)

5021

G2

-

Surface and surface make-up

II(?)

5022

K–L2

5016

Surface and surface make-up south of W506

IIIB

5023

I3

5019

Surface north of W501

IIIB

5024

H2

-

Combined into L5048

IIIB

5025

K2

5016

Probe west of Granary 5026 down to basal dune

IV–III(?)

5026

K2

5016

Floor within Granary 5026

IIIB

5027

L2

5012

Surface

IIIB

5028

J2

-

Surface south of W506

IIIB

5029

I2

-

Surface and surface make-up south of W502

IIIB

5030

H2

5020

Combined into L5048

IIIB

5031

I3

5023

Probe into surface make-up down to basal dune

III

5032

I2

-

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

5033

L3

5015

Surface make-up

II

5034

K3

5017

Surface make-up

IIIB

5035

J2

5028

Combined into L5028

IIIB

5036

M2

5014

Surface

III

5037

L3

5033

Surface

III

5038

K3

5013

Surface make-up

IIIB

5039

K2

5022

Combined into L5055

II

5040

K2

5022

Combined into L5054

II

5041

I2

5029

Combined into L5029

IIIB

5042

I1

-

Floor within Structure K3

IIIB

5043

J3

-

Surface and surface make-up

II

5044

K2

5016

Combined into L5026

III(?)

5045

M2

5036

Surface make-up

III

5046

K2

5022

Surface north of W506

IIIB

5047

L3

5037

Surface make-up

III

5048

H2

5030

Surface between W501 and W506

IIIB

5049

G3

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5050

H3

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5051

I2

5032

Combined into L5032

IIIB

5052

L2

5027

Surface make-up

IIIB

5053

K2

5007

Infant burial in storage jar above Granary 5026

II

5054

K2

5016

Infant burial within cist

II

320

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

5055

K2

5022

Child burial within cist

II

5056

K2

5022

Skull of child adjacent to Burial 5055

II

5057

L2

5027

Debris within pit (silo?)

IIIB(?)

5058

G2

-

Debris—unclear stratification

III–II

5059

G3

5049

Combined into L5071

IIIA

5060

I1

5042

Floor make-up within Structure K3

IIIB

5061

H3

5050

Floor in the entrance of Building K1

IIIB

5062

G2

5058

Surface and surface make-up southwest of W501

IIIB

5063

H2

5048

Child burial

II

5064

G3

5049

Surface west of W511

IIIA

5065

J3

5043

Combined into L5068

IIIB

5066

G1

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5067

H1

5072

Topsoil removal and floor/surface within and without Structure K3

IIIB

5068

J3

5065

Floor within Building K2

IIIB

5069

N4

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris above surface

II(?)

5070

K5

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

5071

G3

5049

Surface east of W511

IIIA

5072

H1

5067

Surface and surface make-up within of Structure K3

IIIB

5073

H1

5067

Surface and surface make-up west of W514

IIIB

5074

K–L2

5022

Infant burial in holemouth jar

II

5075

J3

5065

Combined into L5068

IIIB

5076

K4

-

Combined into L5098

II

5077

K–L2

5016

Infant burial

II

5078

N4

5069

Surface south and west of W513

II

5079

N5

-

Topsoil removal and floor within Building K4

II

5080

H2

5048

Surface make-up

IIIB

5081

K4

5076

Combined into L5098

II

5082

N6

-

Surface east of W516

II

5083

G3–4

5049

Topsoil and balk removal

III(?)

5084

K5–6

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

5085

N4

5078

Surface make-up

II

5086

N2

-

Topsoil removal and surface

II(?)

5087

O4

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II(?)

5088

N5

5079

Floor and floor make-up within Building K4

II

5089

I3

5043

Combined into L5023

IIIB

5090

K4

-

Combined into L5098

II

5091

H3

5061

Combined into L5161

IIIB

5092

G4

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5093

G5

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5094

G4

5092

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

5095

G5

5093

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

5096

J3

5043

Surface and surface make-up north of W508

IIIB

5097

J5

-

Surface

II(?)

5098

K4

5081

Surface

II

5099

N4

5078

Surface and surface make-up north of W513

II

321

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

5100

O4

5087

Surface south of W513

II

5101

J4

-

Surface

II(?)

5102

G6

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5103

K5

5076

Surface with stone and mudbrick debris within Structure D5

II

5104

G4

-

Combined into L5112

IIIB

5105

G5

5095

Surface west of W518

IIIB

5106

N4

5152A

Probe below surface down to basal dune

IV–III(?)

5107

G5

5095

Surface east of W518

IIIB

5108

M5

-

Topsoil removal and surface south of W522

II

5109

G4

5104

Surface and surface make-up west of W518

IIIB

5110

M4

-

Topsoil removal and surface

IIIB

5111

P5

-

Topsoil removal and surface

II

5112

G4

5104

Surface between W520 and W518

IIIB

5113

N5

5088

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

5114

L5

-

Surface

II

5115

G3–4

-

Balk removal

III(?)

5116

G6

5102

Surface east and south of W521

IIIA

5117

M6

-

Topsoil removal and debris above surface west of W516

II(?)

5118

O5

-

Topsoil removal and floor within Building K4

II

5119

G3

5064

Surface west of W501

IIIB

5120

G6

5116

Surface make-up

IIIA

5121

M5

5108

Surface northwest of W522

II

5122

N5

5113

Combined into L5113

IIIA

5123

K5

5103

Probe below W515 down to surface

III

5124

G6

W521

Surface east of W518

IIIB

5125

G6

5120

Surface west of W518

IIIB

5126

M6

5117

Surface west of W516

II

5127

M5

5121

Surface make-up

II

5128

O5

5118

Floor make-up within Building K4

II

5129

K–L2

-

Balk removal

III–II

5130

I4

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5131

O6

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

-

5132

I4

5130

Debris—unclear stratification

II–I

5133

G7

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–I

5134

L5

5114

Surface

III

5135

M5

5127

Surface

IIIB

5136

O5

5178

Floor make-up within Building K4

II

5137

P5

5111

Surface make-up

II

5138

M5

5135

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

5139

G–I/2–3

-

Balk removal

III–I

5140

J2–3

5018

Surface make-up

IIIB

5141

G–H/2–3

-

Balk removal

III–I

5142

P4

5137

Surface and surface make-up south of W525

IIIA

5143

O5

5136

Floor within Structure K3

IIIA

322

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

5144

I2

-

Topsoil and balk removal

III–I

5145

O4

5100

Surface make-up

II

5146

H2–3

5144

Balk removal

III–I

5147

N5

5122

Surface

IIIB

5148

O4

5145

Surface

IIIA

5149

P5

5137

Surface

IIIA

5150

N6

5082

Surface

IIIB

5151

O6

5131

Debris—unclear stratification

-

5152A

N4

5085

Surface south of W528

IIIA

5152B

O4

5148

Surface make-up

IIIA

5153

G7

5133

Debris—unclear stratification

III(?)

5154

O5

5143

Floor within room of Building K4

IIIB

5155

O5

5143

Surface north of W526

IIIA

5156

G2–3

5146

Combined into L5062

IIIB

5157

G–H2

-

Combined into L5048

IIIB

5158

H7

-

Topsoil removal and debris—unclear stratification

III–I

5159

O5

5178

Combined into L5155

IIIA

5160

G3

-

Surface between W530 and W501

IIIB

5161

H3

-

Floor within southern portion of Building K1

IIIB

5162

G7

5153

Surface east of W518 and south of W504

IIIB

5163

H7

5158

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

5164

O5

5155

Floor within Building K4

IIIB

5165

P5

5166

Surface

IIIB

5166

P5

5149

Combined into L5149

IIIA

5167

H3

5161

Combined into L5161

IIIB

5168

G6

5125

Infant burial below surface

IIIB

5169A

O4

5152B

Surface west of W529

IIIB

5169B

O4

5152B

Surface east of W529

IIIB

5170

O5

5164

Probe below surface level into thick debris accumulation

IV–IIIB

5171

O–P4

-

Balk removal

III–II

5172

K4

5098

Surface make-up

II

5173

N6

5082

Debris within oval installation

IIIB

5174

P6

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II

5175

H4

-

Floor within northern apse of Building K1

IIIB

5176

H4

-

Surface north of W520

IIIB

5177

O4

5169A

Surface make-up

IIIB

5178

O5

-

Floor within Building K4

II

5179

O5

5178

Combined into L5155

IIIA

5180

O5

5178

Debris above surface

III–II

5181

L5

5134

Probe below surface down to basal dune

IV–III

5182

O5

5180

Surface west of W524

IIIB–A

5183

M4

5110

Infant burial in storage jar

IIIB

5184

M4

5110

Matrix surrounding Burial 5183; surface make-up

IIIB

323

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Area L Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

6001

P3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6002

O4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6003

O3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6004

O2

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6005

N3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6006

N4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6007

M4

-

Topsoil removal in probe, dark brown debris

II(?)

6008

L3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6009

O3

6003

Surface and surface make-up south of W601

II

6010

K4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6011

O2

6004

Surface with dark brown debris south of W603

II

6012

O2

6004

Infant burial within ceramic vessel

Post-II(?)

6013

O3

6003

Surface with dark brown debris northeast of W627

II

6014

O3

6003

Surface with dark brown debris north of W601

II

6015

O2

6011

Surface make-up

II

6016

N4

6006

Combined into L6059

II

6017

P3

6001

Dark brown debris above surface

II(?)

6018

K4

6010

Dark brown debris

II(?)

6019

L3

6008

Surface with dark brown debris

II

6020

M4

6007

Surface

IIIA

6021

L4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris above surface

II(?)

6022

M3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6023

O4

6002

Combined into L6036

III

6024

K3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris around stones

II(?)

6025

L4

6021

Surface

II

6026

N4

6016

Combined into L6064

III

6027

M4

6020

Combined into L6082

IIIB

6028

O2

6015

Surface make-up and probe below level of W603

II

6029

O3

6009

Surface

III

6030

N4

6026

Surface north of W606

III

6031

M4

6027

Probe into debris of surface(?)

IV

6032

N4

6030

Surface make-up

III

6033

M4

6031

Probe into debris down to basal dune

IV

6034

L3

6019

Floor within Building L3

IIIB

6035

N3

6005

Debris above surface west of W604. Part of the locus combined into L6081

III–II

6036

O4

6023

Surface

III

6037

L3

6034

Floor make-up within Building L3

IIIB

6038

M3

6022

Dark brown debris above surface

II(?)

6039

L4

6025

Debris above floor within Building L3

IIIA(?)

6040

N5

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6041

K3

6024

Surface with dark brown debris

II

6042

J3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6043

I4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6044

N3

6035

Combined into L6081

III

324

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

6045

K–L4

6018

Floor within Building L3

IIIA

6046

K4

6018

Surface south of W605

IIIA

6047

N5

6040

Dark brown debris

II(?)

6048

N3

6035

Surface with dark brown debris

II

6049

L3

6037

Combined into L6178

IV

6050

P3

6017

Surface(?) with dark brown debris

II

6051

M3

6038

Surface with dark brown debris

II

6052

L4

6039

Combined into L6084

IIIA

6053

K4

6045

Combined into L6045

IIIA

6054

K4

6046

Combined into L6046

IIIA

6055

J3

6042

Debris

III(?)

6056

H3

-

Topsoil removal and debris

III–II (?)

6057

F3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6058

N3

6048

Mudbrick debris, combined into L6048

II

6059

N4

6016

Surface(?) with dark brown debris adjacent to W602

II

6060

N5

6047

Debris above surface

III(?)

6061

I4

6043

Debris

III(?)

6062

N4

6059

Combined into L6075

III

6063

K4

6054

Surface south of W605

IIIB

6064

N4

6060

Surface between W606 and W604

III

6065

L4

6052

Debris within pit on W609

IIIA(?)

6066

P3

6050

Dark brown debris

II(?)

6067

K3

6041

Surface make-up

II

6068

F3

6057

Debris above surface

III(?)

6069

N4

6062

Combined into L6075

III

6070

N3

6035

Surface make-up

III

6071

N5

6064

Combined into L6077

III

6072

K4

6063

Combined into L6046

IIIA

6073

F3

6068

Surface with ash

III(?)

6074

M4

6020

Surface and a portion of a stone pavement

IIIA

6075

N4

6096

Surface south of W606

III

6076

K4

6072

Combined into L6063

IIIB

6077

N5

6060

Surface east of W607

III

6078

N3

6070

Combined into L6070

III

6079

N3

6078

Upper portion of debris within Granary 6079

IV–III

6080

N5

6071

Surface(?) west of W607

III

6081

N3

6048

Surface

III

6082

M4

6074

Surface east of W609

IIIB

6083

N3

6058

Combined into L6081

III

6084

L4

6052

Floor within Building L3

IIIA

6085

M3

6051

Debris above surface

III(?)

6086

N3

6083

Combined into L6121

IV

6087

N5

6060

Surface east of W611

IV

6088

N–O4

-

Topsoil removal, definition of top of W602

II(?)

6089

M3

6085

Surface

III

325

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

6090

N5

6087

Surface make-up

IV

6091

N5

6077

Surface make-up

III

6092

K3

6067

Surface adjacent to W610 and northwest of W610

IIIA

6093

K–L3

6024

Floor within Building L3

IIIB

6094

L4

6084

Floor within Building L3

IIIB

6095

N5

6091

Combined into L6109

IV

6096

N3

6081

Mudbrick debris within upper portion of pit(?)

III

6097

K4

6053

Combined into L6045

IIIA

6098

N5

6095

Combined into L6109

IV

6099

N4

6075

Surface west of W611

IV

6100

N3

6081, 6096

Surface make-up

III

6101

K3

6092

Surface and surface make-up west of W637

IIIB

6102

F3

6073

Surface make-up(?)

III(?)

6103

N4

6099

Surface make-up west of W611

IV

6104

K3

6101

Surface, surface make-up and probe down to basal dune

IV

6105

L–M4

-

Balk removal

-

6106

K–L4

-

Upper portion of balk removal

II(?)

6107

G4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6108

F3

6102

Light brown loose debris on basal dune

IV(?)

6109

N5

6080

Surface to west of W611

IV

6110

I4

6061

Debris west of Building L2

IV–III

6111

L5

-

Topsoil removal

II(?)

6112

L4

6094

Probe below Stratum III level

IV

6113

J3

6055

Surface north of W614

IV

6114

L–M4

6105

Balk removal on W609

-

6115

L–K4

6106

Debris in balk removal

IIIA(?)

6116

N3

6096

Lower portion of debris within pit(?)

IV–III

6117

J3

6055

Combined into L6163

IV

6118

I3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6119

N4

6099

Combined into L6103

IV

6120

O2

6015

Child burial within storage jar below W603

II

6121

N3

6100

Surface between W615 and Granary 6079

IV

6122

L–M4

6114

Surface to east of W609

IIIA

6123

J4

-

Topsoil removal and surface(?) with dark brown debris

II(?)

6124

G4

6107

Dark brown debris

II(?)

6125

E4

-

Topsoil removal and debris

III–II(?)

6126

K3

6092

Surface make-up northwest and adjacent to W610

IIIA

6127

H3

6056

Probe into debris—unclear stratification

IV–III(?)

6128

K3

6126

Surface north of W613

IV

6129

I4

6061

Combined into L6134

IV

6130

I4

6110

Surface west of W616

IV

6131

G4

6124

Brown debris

III(?)

6132

N3

6079

Debris in probe down to base of Granary 6079

IV–III

6133

D3

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris of unclear stratification

III–II

326

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

6134

I4

6129

Floor within Building L1

IV

6135

G4

6131

Light brown loose debris above basal dune

IV(?)

6136

E4

6125

Debris—unclear stratification

III–II(?)

6137

I4

6134

Probe into floor make-up within Building L1 down to basal dune

IV

6138

L3

6049

Dark brown debris east of W612

II

6139

I3

6118

Debris above surface

III–II

6140

H3

6127

Debris—unclear stratification

V–IV(?)

6141

E4

6136

Debris—unclear stratification

IV–III(?)

6142

D3

6133

Mixed debris on basal dune

IV–III (?)

6143

E4

6141

Debris on basal dune

IV(?)

6144

H3

6140

Probe into basal dune

V–IV(?)

6145

G4

6135

Light brown loose debris on basal dune—unclear stratification

IV(?)

6146

L5

6111

Debris above surface

IIIA(?)

6147

M3

6089

Surface make-up

III

6148

J4

6123

Surface east of W631

III

6149

C4

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris of unclear stratification

III–II(?)

6150

I4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6151

L3

6138

Combined into L6093

IIIB

6152

I3

6139

Surface north of W617

IV

6153

I3

6139

Surface northwest of W636

III

6154

M3

6147

Debris—unclear stratification

IV–III

6155

S4

-

Topsoil removal and brown debris

III(?)

6156

R3

-

Topsoil removal and surface(?) with dark brown debris

II(?)

6157

Q4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6158

J4

6148

Debris within Building L2

III

6159

C4

-

Mixed debris on basal dune—unclear stratification

IV–III(?)

6160

K5

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6161

L5

6146

Surface southeast of W618

IIIA

6162

L5

6146

Floor within Building L3

IIIB

6163

J3

6117

Floor within Building L1

IV

6164

M2

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6165

T3

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6166

I4

6150

Floor within Building L2

III

6167

J3

6163

Floor make-up within Building L1down to basal dune

IV

6168

L5

6161

Surface southeast of W618

IIIB

6169

J4

6148

Floor within Building L1

IV

6170

K–L4

6053

Floor within Building L3

IIIB

6171

K5

6160

Surface southwest of W622

IIIA

6172

I4

6150

Combined into L6179

III

6173

I3

6153

Surface west of W614 and adjacent to W617

IV

6174

I4

6166

Surface west of W616

IV

6175

M2

6164

Debris on W620

III

6176

T3

6165

Brown debris—unclear stratification

III(?)

327

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

6177

K5

6171

Surface west of W624

IIIB

6178

K3

6093

Surface southeast of W620

IV

6179

I4

6172

Surface west of W619

III

6180

L3

6151

Combined into L6178

IV

6181

K–L3

6151

Combined into L6178

IV

6182

M2

6175

Surface north of W620

IV

6183

I4

6179

Surface make-up west of W619

III

6184

J–K3

-

Upper portion of balk removal

III–II

6185

K4–5

-

Upper portion of balk removal

-

6186

M2

6182

Surface make-up and probe down to basal dune

IV

6187

K4–5

6185

Debris west of W622

IIIA(?)

6188

K3

W610

Debris below W610 and west of W620 down to basal dune

IV(?)

6189

M3

6147

Mudbrick debris

III(?)

6190

L2

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6191

J4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6192

K–L4

-

Balk removal

-

6193

U4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris

II(?)

6194

S4

6155

Brown debris on basal dune—unclear stratification

III(?)

6195

R3

6156

Combined into L6156

II(?)

6196

Q4

6157

Debris—unclear stratification

III(?)

6197

-

-

Cancelled

-

6198

K4–5

6192

Surface west of W624

IIIB

6199

K–L5

-

Upper portion of balk removal

II(?)

6200

A4

-

Topsoil removal and dark brown debris; see Southern Area H, Sq E18

II(?)

6201

R3

6195

Surface on basal dune north of W623

III(?)

6202

L2

6190

Surface north of W628

III

6203

R3

6195

Surface and surface make-up on basal dune south of W623

III(?)

6204

U4

6193

Brown debris on basal dune—unclear stratification

III(?)

6205

J4

6191

Debris above surface

III–II

6206

K–L5

6199

Debris in balk removal

IIIA(?)

6207

L2

6202

Surface north of W620

IV

6208

T3

6176

Brown debris on basal dune—unclear stratification

III(?)

6209

V3

-

Topsoil removal

-

6210

K–L5

6206

Surface south of W618 and W624

IIIB

6211

L2–3

-

Balk removal, dark brown debris on W628

II(?)

6212

L5

6146

Combined into L6210

III

6213

L2–3

6211

Balk removal, definition of W628

III(?)

6214

L2–3

6213

Mixed debris

IV–III

6215

A4

6200

Surface with dark brown debris; see southern Area H, Sq E18

II

6216

A4

6215

Combined into L6217; see Southern Area H, Sq E18

IIIA

6217

A4

6216

Surface north of W408; see Southern Area H, Sq E18

IIIA

6218

A4

6216

Debris to south of W408; see Southern Area H, Sq E18

III

328

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

6219

J4

6205

Surface east of W631

III

6220

J4

6205

Surface east of W629

IV

6221

N3

6100

Surface with mudbrick debris between Granary 6079 and W615

IV

6222

J–K3

6184

Combined into L6128

IV

6223

A4

6217

Surface north of W408; see Southern Area H, Sq E18

IIIB

6224

K4

6076

Surface make-up south of W605

IIIB

6225

M3

6189

Mudbrick debris

IV(?)

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

7000

D8

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7001

B8

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7002

B7

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7003

C7

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7004

D7

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7005

C9

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7006

C8

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7007

B8

7001

Surface

IIIA

7008

B8

7001

Combined into L7007

IIIA

7009

C8

7006

Mudbrick debris

III–II)?(

7010

D8

-

Surface

IIIA

7011

C9

7005

Surface

IIIA

7012

D7

7004

Surface

IIIA

7013

C9

7011

Surface make-up

IIIA

7014

B8

7000

Combined into L7007

IIIA

7015

C9

7013

Surface

IIIB

7016

D7

7012

Surface make-up

IIIA

7017

B8

7008

Surface make-up

IIIA

7018

D8

7010

Surface make-up

IIIA

7019

D8

7018

Surface

IIIB

7020

D7

7016

Combined into L7016

IIIA

7021

B8

7017

Combined into L7017

IIIA

7022

C8

7009

Surface north of W703

IIIA

7023

C8

7009

Surface south of W703

IIIA

7024

C9

7015

Surface

IIIB

7025

B8

7021

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB

7026

C9

7024

Surface

IV

7027

D8

7019

Combined into L7019

IIIB

7028

D8

7027

Surface make-up

IIIB

7029

C9

7026

Surface make-up

IV

7030

D7

7020

Surface south of W709

IIIB

7031

D8

7028

Debris above surface

IV–IIIB

7032

C8

7009

Surface northwest of W706

IIIA

7033

C7

7003

Surface

IIIA

Area M

329

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

7034

C6

-

Topsoil removal and surface

IIIA)?(

7035

C7

7033

Surface make-up

IIIA

7036

D8

7031

Surface south of W707

IVA

7037

C8

7032

Surface make-up

IIIA

7038

D8

7036

Combined into L7036

IVA

7039

D7

7020

Surface south of W704

IIIB

7040

D8

7036

Combined into L7036

IVA

7041

C7

7035

Combined into L7035

IIIA

7042

B8

7029

Surface

IV

7043

D8

7040, 7038

Surface make-up

IVA

7044

B8

7042

Combined into L7042

IV

7045

D7

7020

Surface north of W704 and W709

IIIB

7046

C8

7037

Surface

IIIB

7047

C7

7041

Surface

IIIB)?(

7048

C6

7034

Surface east of Granary W710

IIIB

7049

D7

7045

Surface make-up

IIIB

7050

C8

7032

Combined into L7032

IIIA

7051

C8

7046

Combined into L7046

IIIB

7052

C8

7046, 7051, 7050

Surface make-up

IIIB

7053

C7

7047

Surface

IIIB

7054

C7

7047

Combined into L7053

IIIB

7055

B7

7002

Surface and surface make-up

IIIA

7056

D7

7039

Surface make-up

IIIB

7057

C8

7052

Combined into L7052

IIIB

7058

D7

7056

Combined into L7056

IIIB

7059

C8

7037, 7046

Child burial covered with ceramic fragments

IIIA

7060

C8

7057

Combined into L7076

IVA

7061

C7

7053, 7054

Debris above surface

IV–IIIB

7062

C8

7052, 7057

Combined into L7052

IIIB

7063

C8

7062

Combined into L7052

IIIB

7064

D7

7058

Combined into L7075

IV

7065

C7

7053, 7054

Debris above surface

IV–IIIB

7066

C6

7048

Surface make-up

IIIB

7067

C7

7065

Debris above surface west of W705

IV)?(

7068

C6

7048

Floor within Granary 7068

IIIB

7069

C8

7060, 7063

Combined into L7076

IVA

7070

D10

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II–I

7071

C10

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II–I

7072

B10

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

330

AMIR GOLANI

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

7073

C11

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II–I

7074

B11

-

Topsoil removal

II)?(

7075

D7

7064

Surface and surface make-up east of W708

IV

7076

C8

7069, 7063, 7103

Surface between W707, W712 and W714

IVA

7077

C7

7047

Combined into L7047

IIIB)?(

7078

C8

7076

Surface make-up

IVA

7079

D7

7049

Combined into L7049

IIIB

7080

D8

7010

Combined into L7018

IIIA

7081

D7

7079

Debris within installation

IIIB

7082

C6

7066

Floor within Building M1

IV

7083

D7

7079

Surface outside and below installation; combined into L7075

IV

7084

B7

7055

Surface

IIIB

7085

C7

7061

Combined into L7118

IVA

7086

C8

7022

Surface make-up

IIIA

7087

D9

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7088

C6

7082

Combined into L7082

IV

7089

C8

7086

Combined into L7046

IIIB

7090

C8

7089

Combined into L7046

IIIB

7091

C6

7066

Combined into L7094

IV

7092

C8

7023

Surface make-up

IIIA

7093

C8

7092

Mudbrick debris combined into L7092

IIIA

7094

C6

7091

Surface and surface make-up; equals L218 in Area B

IV

7095

C6

7066

Combined into L7094

IV

7096

C8

7093

Surface; equals L7046

IIIB

7097

D8

7080

Surface

IIIB

7098

C7

7077

Surface

IIIB

7099

B7

7084

Surface and surface make-up

IV

7100

C8

7006, 7009

Dismantlement of W703

IIIA

7101

C8

7100

Surface make-up and surface below W703

IIIB–A

7102

C8

7101

Combined into L7052

IIIB

7103

C8

7101

Surface

IVB

7104

C6

7066

Surface west of W705

IV

7105

D8

7097

Surface make-up

IIIB

7106

D8

7105

Surface

IVA

7107

D11

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II–I)?(

7108

C12

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7109

B12

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

II)?(

7110

C13

-

Topsoil removal and surface(?)

IIIA)?(

7111

B13

-

Topsoil removal and debris above surface

III–II

7112

D13

-

Topsoil removal and mixed debris

III–II)?(

7113

D8

7106

Surface to south of W707

IVB

7114

C7

7098

Surface make-up

IIIB

7115

C10

7071

Debris below topsoil

III–II(?)

331

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Locus

Square

Locus Above

Description

Stratum

7116

C8

7078

Surface south of W707 and below W714

IVB

7117

B10

-

Debris above surface

IIIA)?(

7118

C7

7114

Floor within Building M1

IVA

7119

D8

-

Combined into L7106

IVA

7120

D9

7087

Floor within Granary 7126

IIIA

7121

C8

7103

Combined into L7103

IVB

7122

D9

7087

Surface surrounding Granary 7126

IIIA

7123

C10

7115

Debris—unclear stratification

IIIA)?(

7124

D10

7070

Debris below topsoil

III–II

7125

D11

7107

Debris below topsoil; exposure of top of W724 and W725

III)?(

7126

D9

7120

Floor with light gray debris within Granary 7126

IIIB

7127

B11

7074

Debris below topsoil

III–II

7128

C10

7123

Mudbrick debris above surface

IIIB)?(

7129

D9

7122

Surface

IIIB

7130

C12

7108

Surface(?)

IIIA)?(

7131

B10

7117

Surface and surface make-up south of W715

IIIB

7132

B11

7127

Debris above surface

IIIA)?(

7133

C7

7118, 7085

Floor make-up within Building M1

IVA

7134

D9

7129

Surface and surface make-up

IV–III

7135

B11

7127

Combined into L7132

IIIA)?(

7136

D8

7106

Combined into L7106

IVA

7137

C8

7102

Surface make-up north of W707

IV–IIIB

7138

B10

-

Surface and surface make-up north of W715

IIIB

7139

C7

7133

Floor within Building M1

IVB

7140

C10

7128

Surface

IIIB

7141

C11

7073

Surface

IIIB

7142

B11

7132, 7135

Surface west of W716

IIIA

7143

C12

7108

Surface and surface make-up

IIIB)?(

7144

C13

7110

Surface

IIIB)?(

7145

C14

4162

Surface

IIIB

7146

B8

7014

Combined into L7007

IIIA

7147

B12

7109

Surface(?)

IIIA)?(

7148

C11

7141

Surface and surface make-up north of W717

IV

7149

D9

7134

Surface

IV

7150

C13

7144

Debris

IV)?(

7151

C 13

7144

Combined into L7150

IV)?(

7152

C12

7143

Surface and surface make-up north of W719

IV

7153

C12

7143

Surface and surface make-up south of W719

IV

7154

B11

7142

Surface and surface make-up west of W716

IIIB

7155

B12

7147

Surface west of W716

IIIB

7156

B11

7154

Surface(?)

IV

7157

D9

7149

Surface and surface make-up

IV

7158

-

-

Unused locus number

-

7159

D9

7126

Surface and surface make-up

IV

332

AMIR GOLANI

Wall List Area A Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

1

E32–33

Stone

-

-

20 × 10 × 15

Outer(?( wall of Structure A1

III)?(

2

B–C/27– 28

Stone and mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 25 × 10 30 × 25 × 10

20 × 10 × 15

Granary wall

III

3

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

5

E33

Stone

-

-

20 × 10 × 15

Outer (?) wall of Structure A1

III)?(

6

B–C27

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 25 × 10 30 × 20 × 10

30 × 20 × 18 20 × 17 × 15

Courtyard wall

III

7

B27–29

Stone and mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

30 × 20 × 20 20 × 15 × 17

Courtyard wall

III

8

B–C28

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 25 × 10 30 × 25 × 10

-

Partition wall within compound

III

9

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

10

D21–22

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Granary wall(?)

IIIB

11

B–C27

Mudbrick

Brown to orangebrown

20 × 25 × 10 20 × 50 × 10

-

Silo wall

IV

301

D29

Stone and mudbrick(?)

-

-

30 × 25 × 20 17 × 15 × 15

Courtyard and wall of Building A2

III

302

D–E27

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 25 × 10

-

Courtyard wall

III

303

D29

Stone

-

-

21 × 13 × 15 16 × 12 × 10

Outer(?) wall of Building A2

II

304

C30

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

46 × 25 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building A2

III

305

E29

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

48 × 26 × 10

-

Unclear

III

306

D27

Mudbrick

Dark gray

Unclear

-

Partition wall within courtyard

III

307

E29

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

-

-

Unclear

III

308

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

309

C–D29

Stone

-

-

16 × 13 × 11 25 × 20 × 15

Outer building(?) wall

II

310

E27–29

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 25 × 10 25 × 15 × 10

40 × 27 × 18 25 × 20 × 15

Courtyard wall

III

311

C26

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

20 × 10 × 10

-

Unclear; in Northern Area H

III

333

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

312

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

313

E26

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

27 × 10 × 10

-

Unclear; in Northern Area H

III

314

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

315

D28

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

25 × 27 × 10 28 × 17 × 10

-

Silo wall

IV

316

E–D/29– 30

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 30 × 10

Outer wall of Building A2

III

317

B–C29

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 20 × 10

-

Courtyard wall

III

318

D31

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

25 × 20 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building A2

III

319

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

320

B25

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

20 × 15 × 10

-

In Northern Area H

III

321

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

322

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

323

B25

Mudbrick

Light brown

40 × 30 × 10

-

Continuation of W401; in Northern Area H

IV

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

20

C–D5, D6

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 25 × 12 24 × 20 × 10

20 × 13 × 10 30 × 25 × 15

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

21

E6

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 25 × 12 24 × 20 × 10

20 × 13 × 10 30 × 25 × 15

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

22

D5

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

50 × 30 × 10

-

Partition wall within compound

IIIA

23 (=708)

D6

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

Unclear

-

Wall of Building M1; in Area M

IV

24

D6

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

53 × 22 × 10 35 × 22 × 10

-

Wall of Building M1; in Area M

IV

25

B9

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

18 × 17 × 12

-

Silo(?) wall; in Area M

III

26

C5

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

15 × 10 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

27

C5

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

15 × 10 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

28

F4–6

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

44 × 23 × 12 27 × 20 × 11

35 × 20 × 15 20 × 14 × 11

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

29

E6

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

Unclear

-

Unclear

IV

30

C–D2

Stone

-

-

58 × 24 × 15 10 × 8 × 5

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

31

C4

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

15 × 13 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IIIA

Area B

334

AMIR GOLANI

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

32

D2

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Screen(?) wall

IIIB

33

F4

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Screen(?) wall

IIIB

34

E5

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Screen(?) wall

IIIB

35

D2

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Partition wall within compound

IIIB

36

E–F2

Stone

-

-

36 × 16 × 12 15 × 14 × 5

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

37

C3

Mudbrick

Reddish brown

30 × 24 × 10 17 × 15 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IIIA

38

F3

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

23 × 19 × 10

48 × 25 × 8 12 × 9 × 7

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

39

F3

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

25 × 20 × 10

-

Partition wall within compound

IIIB

40

D5–6

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 25 × 10

-

Partition wall within compound

IIIB–A

41

C–D/3–4

Mudbrick

Burnt

Unclear

-

Installation wall

IIIB–A

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

41

D8

Stone

-

-

15 × 12 × 9 30 × 30 × 15

Building(?) wall

I

42

D4

Compacted earth, plaster and shells

-

-

-

Robber trench(?)

(?)

43

E5

Stone, compacted earth, plaster and shells

-

-

16 × 14 × 9 12 × 12 × 10

Robber trench(?)

I

44

E8

Stone

-

-

34 × 24 × 13

Building(?) wall

I

45

D7–8

Stone

-

-

16 × 10 × 8

Building(?) wall

I

Area C

46

E5

Stone

-

-

10 × 8 × 6

Building(?) wall

I

47

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

48

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

49

E8

Compacted earth and plaster

-

-

5×5×5

Robber trench(?)

I

335

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Area D Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

50

D11

Stone

-

-

-

Building wall

II

51

C11

Stone

-

-

-

Wall of Structure D7

IIIB–A

52

C–D/10– 11

Stone

-

-

-

Well shaft

I

53

D–C11

Stone

-

-

-

Building(?) wall

II

54

E18

Mudbrick

Brown cream-gray

40 × 30 × 10

-

Granary(?) wall

IIIB(?)

55

D10

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Structure D7

IIIA

56

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

57

D11

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

40 × 30 × 10

-

Building(?) wall

II

58

Orange-brown

30 × 25 × 10

-

Building(?) wall

IIIB–A

-

-

Unclear

II

D–C11

Mudbrick

120

D3

Stone

121

E–F4

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

80 × 30 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D4

III–II

122

D4

Stone

-

-

-

Unclear

II

123

D3

Stone

-

-

-

Unclear

II

124

D–E1

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

35 × 15 × 10

-

Bench(?) within Structure D3

IIIB–A

125

F4

Stone

-

-

Pavement of installation

II

126

H4

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

30 × 50 × 10

-

Outer(?) wall of Structure D9

IIIA

127

H4

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

30 × 45 × 10

-

Outer(?) wall of Structure D9

IIIA

128

H4

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

30 × 45 × 10

-

Wall of Structure D9

IIIA

129

H5

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

30 × 45 × 10

-

Room(?) wall of Structure D9

IIIA

130

H5

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

30 × 45 × 10

-

Wall of Structure D9

IIIA

131

H5

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

Unclear

-

Granary

IIIA

132

H5

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

Unclear

-

Combined into W131

IIIA

133

H5

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

Unclear

-

Combined into W131

IIIA

134

H5

Stone

-

-

-

Unclear

II

135

H4

Stone

-

-

-

Wall of Structure D5

IIIB

136

G4

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

Unclear

-

Wall of Structure D4(?)

IIIB–A

137

G3

Stone

-

-

-

Unclear

II

138

F–G3

Mudbrick

Brown

60 × 30 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D4

IIIB–A

139

F4

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

30 × 30 × 10

-

Wall of Structure D4

III–II

140

F3–4

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

60 × 30 × 10

-

Wall of Structure D4

IIIA

336

AMIR GOLANI

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

141

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

142

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

143

F3

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

40 × 25 × 10

-

Wall of Structure D4(?)

IIIB

144

E2

Stone

-

-

-

Building wall

II

145

E2

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

Unclear

-

Unclear

IIIA

146

D1

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

50 × 50 × 10 80 × 40 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D3

IIIB–A

147

D–E1

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

75 × 30 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D3

IIIB–A

148

E1

Stone(?) and mudbrick

Light brown

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Structure D1

IV

149

D3–4

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

40 × 35 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D4

IIIB–A

150

E1–2

Stone(?) and mudbrick

Light brown

Unclear

-

Partition wall(?) within Structure D1

IV

151

E2

Stone(?) and mudbrick

Light brown

70 × 30 × 10(?) 60 × 40 × 10(?)

-

Outer wall of Structure D1

IV

152

E5

Mudbrick

Light brown

40 × 30 × 10

-

Unclear

IV

153

F4

Stone

-

-

-

Wall of Structure D4(?)

IIIB

154

E1–2

Stone(?) and mudbrick

Light brown

70 × 30 × 10 60 × 40 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D1

IV

155

G4

Stone and mudbrick

Cream-gray

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Structure D5(?)

IIIB

156

C10, D4–9

Stone and mudbrick

Orange-brown

40 × 65 × 10 38 × 62 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IV–III

157

E3

Stone

-

-

-

Outer (?) wall of Structure D4

IIIA

158

E3

Stone

-

-

-

Outer (?) wall of Structure D4

IIIA

159

F3

Stone and mudbrick

Brown

45 × 40 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D2.

IV

160

C8–9, D9

Stone and mudbrick

Light cream-gray and orange-brown

40 × 30 × 10 30 × 30 × 10

-

Building D8

IIIB–A

161

E10

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Structure D7, continuation of W55

IIIA

162

E6

Stone

-

-

-

Installation(?)

II

163

E7–8

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

60 × 30 × 10 50 × 30 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D6

IIIA

164

E–F8

Mudbrick and stone

Brown-gray

60 × 30 × 10 50 × 30 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D6

IIIA

165

E6

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

Unclear

-

Wall of Structure D6(?)

IIIA

337

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

166

E–F8

Stone

-

-

-

Wall of installation(?)

IIIA(?)

167

E7–8

Mudbrick

Light brown

Unclear

-

Enclosure(?) wall

IV

168

E10

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

60 × 40 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D7

IIIB–A

169

E8, G–H9

Stone and mudbrick

Light cream-gray

-

-

Retaining(?) wall of Structure D6

IIIB–A

170

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

171

F10

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

60 × 40 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIA

172

E12

Stone and mudbrick

Orange-brown

60 × 40 × 10

-

Outer wall of Structure D7

IIIB–A

173

E6

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

Unclear

-

Unclear

IIIA

174

G–H9

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

40 × 25 × 10 30 × 25 × 10

-

Outer(?) wall of Structure D6

IIIA

175

G6

Stone

-

-

-

Unclear

II

176

G–H9

Mudbrick and stone

Brown

50 × 30 × 10 40 × 30 × 10

-

Wall of Structure D6

IIIB

177

G6

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

Unclear

-

Unclear

IIIA

178

H9

Stone and mudbrick

Light brown

60 × 30 × 10

-

Building(?) wall

IV

179

H9

Stone and mudbrick

Light cream-gray

50 × 30 × 10 40 × 30 × 10

-

Retaining(?) wall of Structure D6

IIIB–A

180

G6

Mudbrick

Brown-gray

70 × 40 × 10 40 × 40 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIA

181

D8–9

Stone

-

Unclear

-

Building(?) wall

IV

182

E6

Stone

-

Unclear

-

Building(?) wall

IV

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

63

K21

Stone

-

-

-

Unclear

Unclear

64

K21

Stone

-

-

-

Unclear

Unclear

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

81

G–H4

Stone

-

-

-

Boundary wall

IIIB–A

82

F2–3

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Building G1

IV–IIIA

83

F/34

Mudbrick

Light cream-brown with many white calcite concretions

30–40 × 20–25 × 5–8

-

Granary wall

IIIB

84

H2–3

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Building G2

IV–IIIB

85

E2

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Building G1

IV–IIIA

Area E

Area G

338 Wall

AMIR GOLANI

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

86

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

87

G2

Mudbrick

Dark gray

20 × 30 × 6

-

Partition(?) wall

IIIA

88

G/H2

Mudbrick

Light cream-brown with many white calcite concretions

25–30 × 50– 55 × 7–10

-

Boundary wall

IIIB–A

89

D2

Mudbrick

Light brown

40–35 × 25–20 × 10

-

Granary wall

IV–III

90

J12

Stone foundation

-

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building G3

IV–IIIA

91

O–P/3–4

Mudbrick

Light brown

40–35 × 25–20 × 10

-

Granary wall

IV– IIIB(?)

92

I2–3

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Building G2

IV–IIIB

93

K2

Stone

-

-

-

Wall of Building G3(?)

IIIA

94

J–K2

Stone foundation

-

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building G3

IV–IIIA

95

L2

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Building G3, addition

IIIB–A

96

H3

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Building G2

IV–IIIB

97

O–P2

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Structure G4

IV–IIIB

98

K–L1

Stone foundation

-

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building G3

IV–IIIA

99

P2

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Structure G4

IV–IIIB

100

N–P5, P4

Stone

-

-

-

Enclosure wall (?)

III(?)

101

M–P5, P4, Q3

Mudbrick

Light brown

25 × 45–50 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IV

102

L1

Stone

-

-

-

Outer wall of Building G3, addition

IIIB–A

103

F3–4

Mudbrick

Light brown

20–25 × 25–30 × 10

-

Silo wall

IV

104

H2

Mudbrick

Light brown

Unclear

-

Partition wall within Building G2

IIIB

105

I3

Stone

-

-

-

Bench(?) outside and adjacent to Building G2

IV–IIIB

106

E2

Stone and mudbrick

Light brown

20–25 × 25–30 × 10

-

Partition wall within Building G1

IV–IIIA

339

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Area H Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

400

C22

Mudbrick

Red-brown

30 × 15 × 10

-

Unclear

II

401

B24

Mudbrick

Light brown

30 × 16 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building H1

IV

402

D21–22

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

28 × 20 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIA

403

C17–18

Mudbrick and Stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

35 × 25 × 10

15 × 10 × 10

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

404

C18

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

60 × 30 × 10

-

Enclosure wall(?)

IIIA

405

C17–18

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

35 × 25 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

406

B–C18

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

37 × 30 × 10

-

Silo wall

IIIB

407

B20

Mudbrick

Light Brown

20 × 15 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIA

408

D–E18

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

35 × 25 × 10

20 × 10 × 10

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

409

C–D/16– 17

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

35 × 25 × 10

15 × 25 × 10

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

410

C16

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

60 × 25 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

411

B17

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

Unclear

-

Unclear

IIIB

412

D18

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 25 × 10

10 × 10 × 10

Partition wall within compound

IIIB–A

413

B15–16

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

35 × 25 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

414

D16

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 25 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

415

B16

Stone

-

-

50 × 40 × 20

Unclear

IIIA

416

B19

Mudbrick

Brown

28 × 18 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIA

417

B19

Mudbrick

Brown

28 × 18 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIA

418

B19

Mudbrick

Brown

Unclear

-

Unclear

IIIA

419

C16

Stone

-

-

30 × 25 × 20 15 × 10 × 10

Unclear

IIIA

420

B19

Mudbrick

Brown

25 × 20 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIA

421

B24

Mudbrick

Light brown

30 × 16 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building H1(?)

IV

422

D17

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 25 × 10

10 × 10 × 10

Partition wall within compound

IIIB–A

340

AMIR GOLANI

Area I Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

208

I5–4

Stone

-

-

33 × 26 × 13 13 × 10 × 15 26 × 16 × 17

Courtyard and Structure I1 wall

III

210

I5

Stone

-

-

35 × 9 × 15 14 × 16 × 15

Outer (?) wall of Structure I1

III

211

H5

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 40 × 10

-

Outer (?) wall of Structure I1

III

213

H3–4

Stone

-

-

24 × 15 × 15 47 × 25 × 20

Courtyard wall

III

214

J2–4

Stone

-

-

26 × 20 × 20 17 × 10 × 13

Courtyard wall

III

215

H4–5

Mudbrick

Light brown-gray

24 × 50 × 10

-

Enclosure(?) wall

IV

216

J4

Stone

-

-

25 × 18 × 16 40 × 17 × 20

Courtyard wall

III

217

I–J3

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

17 × 21 × 10

32 × 20 × 15

Partition wall within courtyard

III

218

J4

Stone

-

-

32 × 36 × 30 14 × 15 × 13

Partition wall within courtyard

III

219

H5

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

33 × 27 × 10

-

Unclear

III

220

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

221

H5

Stone

-

-

16 × 20 × 15 35 × 12 × 15

Unclear

IV

222

I2–3

Stone

-

-

32 × 20 × 15

Partition wall within courtyard

III

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

201

G19–20

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 18 × 10

-

Granary wall

IIIA

202

E13–14

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

20 × 12 × 10

-

Granary wall

IIIA

203

F–G12

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Granary(?) wall

IIIA

204

E–F13

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

26 × 10 × 10

-

Granary wall

IIIA

205

E–F11

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

50 × 40 × 10

30 × 20 × 20 50 × 30 × 20

Enclosure wall

IIIA

206

F16–17

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

20 × 70 × 10 23 × 24 × 10

-

Granary wall

IIIA

Area J

341

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

207

E–F14

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

27 × 25 × 20

Enclosure wall

IIIA

209

F11–12

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

20 × 10 × 20 25 × 10 × 20

Unclear

IIIB

212

G12

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

15 × 9 × 10

Enclosure wall

IIIA

223

E16–17

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Enclosure wall

IIIA

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

501

G–K3

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

50 × 30 × 10

30 × 20 × 20 15 × 15 × 15

Enclosure wall

IIIB

502

H–I2

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

50 × 30 × 10

30 × 20 × 20 15 × 15 × 12

Wall of Structure K3(?)

IIIB

503

K2

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

45 × 30 × 10

-

Granary wall

IIIB

504

G7

Stone

-

-

15 × 15 × 10

Enclosure wall

IIIB

505

G3

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

20 × 15 × 10

-

Screen wall

IIIB

506

H–L3

Mudbrick and stone

Light brown

Unclear

30 × 20 × 20 20 × 20 × 15

Enclosure wall

IIIB

507

K3

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Enclosure wall

IIIB

508

I–J3

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building K2

IIIB

509

I1

Stone

-

-

15 × 15 × 14

Outer wall of Structure K3(?)

IIIB

510

N6

Stone

-

-

55 × 40 × 15

Wall of Building K4(?), unclear

II

511

G3

Stone

-

-

25 × 20 × 20 15 × 15 × 13

Unclear

IIIA

512

P5 north balk

Mudbrick

-

Unclear

-

Wall of Building K4(?)

IIIA

513

N–P4

Stone

-

-

30 × 20 × 15 15 × 15 × 13

Outer(?) wall of Building K4

II

514

H1

Stone

-

-

30 × 15 × 15 15 × 15 × 12

Outer wall of Structure K3(?)

IIIB

515

K5

Stone

-

-

30 × 20 × 15 20 × 15 × 13

Outer(?) wall of Structure K5

II

516

N6

Stone

-

-

30 × 20 × 15 20 × 15 × 13

Outer(?) wall of Building K4(?)

II

Area K

342

AMIR GOLANI

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

517

K5–6

Stone

-

-

30 × 20 × 15 20 × 15 × 13

Outer(?) wall of Structure K5

II

518

G4–7

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

25 × 15 × 15 15 × 15 × 10

Enclosure wall

IIIB

519

N4–5

Mudbrick

Brown

Unclear

-

-

IIIB

520

G–H/4–5

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

60 × 40 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building K1

IIIB

521

G6

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray

Unclear

-

Unclear

IIIA

522

M5

Stone

-

-

20 × 15 × 12 15 × 10 × 10

Building(?) wall

II

523

O5

Stone

-

-

15 × 10 × 10

Partition(?) wall within Building K4

II

524

O5

Stone

-

-

50 × 30 × 25 20 × 20 × 17

Building K4 wall

IIIB

525

P4–5

Stone

-

-

30 × 25 × 20

Wall of Building K4

IIIA

526

O5

Stone

-

-

30 × 25 × 25

Wall of Building K4

IIIA

527

P4–5

Mudbrick and stone

Brown

20 × 15 × 10

20 × 20 × 20

Outer(?) wall of Building K4

IIIB

528

N–P4

Stone

-

-

35 × 25 × 15 15 × 15 × 10

Outer wall of Building K4

IIIB–A

529

O4

Mudbrick

Brown

20 × 25 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

530

G–H3

Mudbrick and stone

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

Unclear

25 × 20 × 15 15 × 15 × 13

Outer wall of Building K1

IIIB

531

O5

Stone

-

-

30 × 20 × 15 20 × 15 × 15

Partition wall within Building K4

IIIB

532

N6

Stone

-

-

35 × 25 × 15 20 × 20 × 15

Installation

IIIB

533

P4–5

Stone

-

-

25 × 20 × 20 20 × 15 × 15

Wall of Building K4

IIIA

534

O5

Stone

-

-

30 × 24 × 20 20 × 15 × 15

Wall of Building K4

IIIA

535

P5

Stone

-

-

30 × 20 × 15 20 × 15 × 13

Outer(?) wall of Building K4

II

536

O–P5

Stone

-

-

30 × 25 × 20

Wall of Building K4

IIIA

537

O–P4

Stone

-

-

25 × 20 × 15 20 × 15 × 15

Outer(?) wall of Building K4

II

538

O4–5

Stone

-

-

30 × 25 × 20

Wall of Building K4

IIIA

539

G3–4

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray

Unclear

-

Unclear

IIIA

540

N–04

Stone

-

-

35 × 25 × 15 15 × 15 × 10

Outer(?) wall of Building K4

IIIA

343

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Area L Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

601

O3

Stone

-

-

10 × 8 × 10 15 × 13 × 11

Unclear

II

602

N–O4

Stone

-

-

30 × 28 × 25 18 × 12 × 15

Unclear

II

603

O2

Stone

-

-

44 × 28 × 35 24 × 20 × 22

Unclear

II

604

N3–4

Stone and mudbrick

-

Unclear

46 × 38 × 24 15 × 13 × 14

Unclear

IIIB

605A

K4

Stone

-

-

30 × 26 × 20 56 × 24 × 17

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIA

605B

K4

Mudbrick

Dark Brown

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIB

606

N4

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

20 × 16 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

607

N5

Stone

-

-

28 × 30 × 12 13 × 15 × 10

Unclear

IIIB

608

N3

Mudbrick

Light brown

22 × 18 × 10

-

Granary wall

IV–III

609

L–M4

Mudbrick

Dark brown

30 × 32 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIB–A

610

K3

Stone

-

-

38 × 20 × 17 17 × 12 × 11

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIA

611

N4–5

Mudbrick

Light brown with white chips

30 × 26 × 10 21 × 22 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IV

612

K3

Stone

-

-

32 × 20 × 25 40 × 33 × 37

Unclear

II

613

K3

Mudbrick and stone

Light brown with white chips

Unclear

30 × 25 × 20 15 × 11 × 13

Enclosure wall

IV

614

J3–4

Mudbrick and Stone

Light brown with white chips

13 × 15 × 17

24 × 18 × 10 13 × 10 × 10

Outer wall of Building L1

IV

615

N3

Mudbrick and stone

Light brown with white chips

Unclear

27 × 15 × 20 20 × 15 × 8

Enclosure wall

IV

616

I4

Stone

-

-

31 × 27 × 10 14 × 13 × 10

Outer wall of Building L1

IV

617

I3

Mudbrick on stone foundation

Light brown with white chips

20 × 22 × 10

30 × 20 × 17 12 × 14 × 10

Enclosure wall

IV

618

L5

Mudbrick

Dark brown

25 × 12 × 10 30 × 15 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIB–A

619

I3–4

Mudbrick

Dark brown

34 × 15 × 10 52 × 20 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building L2

IIIB

620

K–L3, L– M2

Mudbrick and stone

Light brown with white chips

Unclear

18 × 12 × 13 35 × 15 × 30

Enclosure wall

IV

621

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

622

K4–5

Stone

-

-

40 × 17 × 19 26 × 15 × 15

Unclear

IIIA

623

R3

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 40 × 10

-

Unclear

III

624

K4–5

Mudbrick

Dark brown

60 × 46 × 10 25 × 25 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIB–A

344

AMIR GOLANI

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

625

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

626

N3

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

45 × 20 × 10

-

Pit(?) wall

IIIB

627

O3

Mudbrick

Brown

30 × 12 × 10

-

Unclear

II

628

L2/3

Stone

-

-

53 × 40 × 30 18 × 10 × 14

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIA

629

J4

Stone

-

-

22 × 13 × 10 16 × 12 × 10

Outer wall of Building L1

IV

630

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

631

J4

Mudbrick

Dark brown

30 × 12 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building L2

IIIB

632

K5

Mudbrick

Dark brown

30 × 40 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

633

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

634

I4

Mudbrick and stone(?)

Light brown

Unclear

Unclear

Partition(?) wall within Building L1

IV

635

K5

Mudbrick

Light brown

40 × 33 × 10

-

Silo(?) wall

IV

636

I–J3

Mudbrick

Dark brown

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building L2

IIIB

637

K3

Mudbrick

Dark brown

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building L3

IIIB

638

K5

Stone

-

-

45 × 35 × 20 60 × 50 × 30

Wall of Building L3(?)

IIIA

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

701

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

702

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

703

C8

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 20 × 15

-

Unclear

IIIA

704

D7

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

35 × 20 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

705

C6–7

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

40 × 20 × 10 35 × 21 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building M1

IV

706

C8

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

24 × 20 × 12

-

Unclear

IIIA

707

C–D8

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

27 × 24 × 10

-

Unclear

IV

708 (=W23)

D6–7

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

Unclear

-

Outer wall of Building M1

IV

709

D7

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with white chips

40 × 18 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB

710

C6

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions; and orange-brown

37 × 20 × 15 33 × 23 × 14

-

Granary wall

IIIB

Area M

345

APPENDIX 3: LOCUS AND WALL LISTS BY AREA

Wall

Square

Material

Mudbrick Type

Mudbrick Size (cm)

Stone Size (cm)

Use

Stratum

711

C6

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

24 × 13 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building M1

IV

712

C8

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

39 × 36 × 10

-

Outer wall of Building M1

IV

713

D9

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions, and orange-brown

40 × 25 × 10

-

Granary wall

IIIB–A

714

C8

Mudbrick

Brown

Unclear

-

Unclear

IVA

715

B10

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

40 × 20 × 10, 30 × 16 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

716

B11–13

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

50 × 35 × 10

-

Enclosure wall

IIIB–A

717

C11

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

32 × 21 × 10

-

Unclear

IV

718

C12

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

37 × 34 × 10

-

Unclear

IV

719

C12

Mudbrick

Orange-brown

45 × 43 × 10

-

Unclear

IV

720

B13

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with white calcite concretions

28 × 23 × 10

-

Partition(?) wall within compound

IIIB–A

721

B13

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

30 × 32 × 10

-

Enclosure(?) wall

IIIB–A

722

B13

Stone

-

-

22 × 18 × 10

Unclear

IIIA

723

-

-

-

-

-

Cancelled

-

724

D11

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

60 × 40 × 10 40 × 40 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB(?)

725

D11

Mudbrick

Light cream-gray with many white calcite concretions

60 × 40 × 10 40 × 40 × 10

-

Unclear

IIIB(?)

726

D9

Mudbrick

Brown to brownorange

Unclear

-

Unclear

IV

IAA R eports

No. 1 G. Avni and Z. Greenhut, The Akeldama Tombs Three Burial Caves in the Kidron Valley, Jerusalem, 1996, 129 pp. No. 2 E. Braun, Yiftah’el Salvage and Rescue Excavations at a Prehistoric Village in Lower Galilee, Israel, 1997, 249 pp. No. 3 G. Edelstein, I. Milevski and S. Aurant, Villages, Terraces and Stone Mounds Excavations at Manahat, Jerusalem, 1987–1989, 1998, 149 pp. No. 4 C. Epstein, The Chalcolithic Culture of the Golan, 1998, 352 pp. + plans. Hardcover. No. 5 T. Schick, The Cave of the Warrior A Fourth Millennium Burial in the Judean Desert, 1998, 137 pp. No. 6 R. Cohen, Ancient Settlement of the Central Negev I: The Chalcolithic Period, the Early Bronze Age and the Middle Bronze Age I (Hebrew, English Summary), 1999, 396 pp. No. 7 R. Hachlili and A. Killebrew, Jericho The Jewish Cemetery of the Second Temple Period, 1999, 202 pp. No. 8 Z. Gal and Y. Alexandre, Horbat Rosh Zayit An Iron Age Storage Fort and Village, 2000, 247 pp. No. 9 U. Dahari, Monastic Settlements in South Sinai in the Byzantine Period The Archaeological Remains, 2000, 250 pp. No. 10 Z. Yeivin, The Synagogue at Korazim The 1962–1964, 1980–1987 Excavations (Hebrew, English Summary), 2000, 216 pp. No. 11 M. Hartal, The al-Subayba (Nimrod) Fortress Towers 11 and 9, 2001, 129 pp. No. 12 R. Gonen, Excavations at Efrata A Burial Ground from the Intermediate and Middle Bronze Ages, 2001, 153 pp. No. 13 E. Eisenberg, A. Gopher and R. Greenberg, Tel Te’o A Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Site in the Hula Valley, 2001, 227 pp. No. 14 R. Frankel, N. Getzov, M. Aviam and A. Degani, Settlement Dynamics and Regional Diversity in Ancient Upper Galilee Archaeological Survey of Upper Galilee, 2001, 175 pp. No. 15 M. Dayagi-Mendels, The Akhziv Cemeteries The Ben-Dor Excavations, 1941–1944, 2002, 176 pp. No. 16 Y. Goren and P. Fabian, Kissufim Road A Chalcolithic Mortuary Site, 2002, 97 pp. No. 17 A. Kloner, Maresha Excavations Final Report I: Subterranean Complexes 21, 44, 70, 2003, 183 pp. No. 18 A. Golani, Salvage Excavations at the Early Bronze Age Site of Qiryat Ata, 2003, 261 pp. No. 19 H. Khalaily and O. Marder, The Neolithic Site of Abu Ghosh The 1995 Excavations, 2003, 146 pp. No. 20 R. Cohen and R. Cohen-Amin, Ancient Settlement of the Negev Highlands II: The Iron Age and Persian Period (Hebrew, English Summary), 2004, 258 pp. No. 21 D. Stacey, Exavations at Tiberias, 1973–1974: The Early Islamic Periods, 2004, 259 pp. No. 22 Y. Hirschfeld, Excavations at Tiberias, 1989–1994, 2004, 234 pp. No. 23 S. Ben-Arieh, Bronze and Iron Age Tombs at Tell Beit Mirsim, 2004, 212 pp.

No. 24 M. Dothan and D. Ben-Shlomo, Ashdod VI: The Excavations of Areas H and K (1968–1969), 2005, 320 pp. No. 25 M. Avissar, Tel Yoqne am Excavations on the Acropolis, 2005, 142 pp. No. 26 M. Avissar and E.J. Stern, Pottery of the Crusader, Ayyubid, and Mamluk Periods in Israel, 2005, 187 pp. No. 27 E.C.M. van den Brink and Ram Gophna, Shoham (North), Late Chalcolithic Burial Caves in the Lod Valley, Israel, 2005, 214 pp. No. 28 N. Getzov, The Tel Bet Yerah Excavations, 1994–1995, 2006, 204 pp. No. 29 A.M. Berlin, Gamla I: The Pottery of the Second Temple Period, the Shmarya Gutmann Excavations, 1976–1989, 2006, 181 pp. No. 30 R. Greenberg, E. Eisenberg, S. Paz and Y. Paz, Bet Yerah: The Early Bronze Age Mound I: Excavation Reports, 1933–1986, 2006, 500 pp. No. 31 E. Yannai, En Esur ( Ein Asawir) I: Excavations at a Protohistoric Site in the Coastal Plain of Israel, 2006, 308 pp. No. 32 T.J. Barako, Tel Mor The Moshe Dothan Excavations, 1959–1960, 2007, 276 pp. No. 33 G. Mazor and A. Najjar, Bet She’an I: Nysa-Scythopolis The Caesareum and the Odeum, 2007, 316 pp. No. 34 R. Cohen and H. Bernick-Greenberg, Kadesh Barnea (Tell el-Qudeirat) 1976–1982, 2007. In 2 parts. Part 1: Text, 410 pp.; Part 2: Plates, Plans and Sections, 332 pp. No. 35 A. Erlich and A. Kloner, Maresha Excavations Final Report II: Hellenistic Terracotta Figurines from the 1989–1996 Seasons, 2008, 208 pp. No. 36 G. Avni, U. Dahari and A. Kloner, The Necropolis of Bet Guvrin—Eleutheropolis, 2008, 238 pp. No. 37 V. Tzaferis and S. Israeli, Paneas I: The Roman to Early Islamic Periods Excavations in Areas A, B, E, F, G and H, 2008, 196 pp. No. 38 V. Tzaferis and S. Israeli, Paneas II: Small Finds and Other Studies, 2008, 256 pp. No. 39 Z. Greenhut and A. De Groot, Salvage Excavations at Tel Moza The Bronze and Iron Age Settlements and Later Occupations, 2009, 363 pp. No. 40 M. Hartal, Paneas IV: The Aqueduct and the Northern Suburbs, 2009, 212 pp. No. 41 N. Getzov, R. Lieberman-Wander, H. Smithline and D. Syon, Horbat Uza, the 1991 Excavations I: The Early Periods, 2009, 168 pp. No. 42 N. Getzov, D. Avshalom-Gorni, Y. Gorin-Rosen, E.J. Stern, D. Syon and A. Tatcher, Horbat Uza, the 1991 Excavations II: The Late Periods, 2009, 232 pp. No. 43 J. Seligman, Nahal Haggit A Roman and Mamluk Farmstead in the Southern Carmel, 2010, 277 pp. No. 44 D. Syon and Z. Yavor, Gamla II: The Architecture, the Shmarya Gutmann Excavations, 1976–1989, 2010, 216 pp. No. 45 A. Kloner, E. Eshel, H.B. Korzakova and G. Finkielsztejn, Maresha Excavations Final Report III: Epigraphic Finds from the 1989–2000 Seasons, 2010, 247 pp. No. 46 Y. Dagan, The Ramat Bet Shemesh Regional Project The Gazetteer, 2010, 360 pp. No. 47 Y. Dagan, The Ramat Bet Shemesh Regional Project Landscape of Settlement From the Paleolithic to the Ottoman Periods, 2011, 356 pp. No. 48 R. Bar-Nathan and W. Atrash, Bet She’an II: Baysān The Theater Pottery Workshop, 2011, 411 pp. No. 49 Y. Alexandre, Mary’s Well, Nazareth The Late Hellenistic to the Ottoman Periods, 2012, 180 pp. No. 50 D. Ben-Shlomo, The Azor Cemetery Moshe Dothan’s Excavations, 1958 and 1960, 2012, 238 pp.

No. 51/1 E.J. Stern, Akko I: The 1991–1998 Excavations, the Crusader-Period Pottery, Part 1: Text, 2012, 192 pp. No. 51/2 E.J. Stern, Akko I: The 1991–1998 Excavations, the Crusader-Period Pottery, Part 2: Plates, 2012, 172 pp. No. 52 D. Ben-Ami, Jerusalem, Excavations in the Tyropoeon Valley (Giv ati Parking Lot) I, 2013, 396 pp. No. 53 Y. Porath, Caesarea Maritima Volume I: Herod’s Circus and Related Buildings Part I: Architecture and Stratigraphy, 2013, 244 pp. No. 54 R. Greenberg, Bet Yerah, The Early Bronze Age Mound II: Urban Structure and Material Culture, 1933–1986 Excavations, 2014, 316 pp. No. 55 E. Yannai and Y. Nagar, Bet Dagan, Intermediate Bronze Age and Mamluk-Period Cemeteries, 2004–2005 Excavations, 2014, 260 pp. No. 56 D. Syon, Gamla III: The Shmarya Gutmann Excavations 1976–1989, Finds and Studies, Part 1, 2014, 260 pp. No. 57 Y. Porath, Caesarea Maritima I: Herod’s Circus and Related Buildings Part 2: The Finds, 2015, 224 pp. No. 58/1 G. Mazor and W. Atrash, Bet She’an III: Nysa-Scythopolis The Southern and Severan Theaters, Part 1: The Stratigraphy and Finds, 2015, 288 pp. No. 58/2 G. Mazor and W. Atrash, Bet She’an III: Nysa-Scythopolis The Southern and Severan Theaters, Part 2: The Architecture, 2015, 382 pp. No. 59 D. Syon, Gamla III: The Shmarya Gutmann Excavations 1976–1989, Finds and Studies, Part 2, 2016, 380 pp. No. 60. M. Hartal, D. Syon., E. Stern and A. Tatcher, Akko II: The 1991–1998 Excavations, the Early Periods, 2016, 242 pp. No. 61. R. Greenberg, O. Tal and T. Da‘adli, Bet Yerah III: Hellenistic Philoteria and Islamic al-Sinnabra, the 1933–1986 and 2007–2013 Excavations, 2017, 230 pp. No. 62. G. Mazor, W. Atrash and G. Finkielsztejn, Bet She’an IV: Hellenistic Nysa-Scythopolis The Amphora Stamps and Sealings from Tel Iztabba, 2018, 196 pp. No. 63. S. Weksler-Bdolah and A. Onn, Jerusalem, Western Wall Plaza Excavations I: The Roman and Byzantine Remains Architecture and Stratigraphy, 2019, pp. 276. No. 64. R. Rosenthal-Heginbottom, Jerusalem, Western Wall Plaza Excavations II: The Pottery from the Eastern Cardo, 2019, 337 pp. No. 65. A. Golani, Ashqelon Barne a, The Early Bronze Age Site I: The Excavations, 2019, 353 pp.