Tiberias : excavations in the house of the bronzes : final report

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Publications of THE INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

4

b

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QEDEM Monographs of the Institute of Archaeology THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

48 Editorial Board

A. Belfer-Cohen, N. Goren-Inbar, S. Gorodetsky, E. Hovers, Z. Weiss, S. Zuckerman

2008

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Published with the assistance of

Les Amis Belges de l'Université Hébraïque de Jérusalem

Photographs: Gabi Laron Cover photographs: Gabi Laron

Plans: Maria Caplan, Alexander Pachuro Digital processing of plans: Dov Porotsky Drawings: Tania Gorenstein, Julia Rudman Book design: Noah Lichtinger

©

Copyright by the Institute of Archaeology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel ISSN 0333-5844

Printed by Old City Press, Jerusalem

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Yizhar Hirschfeld and Oren Gutfeld

TIBERIAS:

EXCAVATIONS IN THE HOUSE OF THE BRONZES Final Report, Volume I

Architecture, Stratigraphy and Small Finds

With contributions by

Ariel Berman, Gabriela Bijovsky, Shulamit Hadad, Elaine A. Myers, Matthew J. Ponting, Moshe Sade, Anna de Vincenz

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CONTENTS

List

of

Illustrations

Color

Preface

-

Yizhar

Plates

Hirschfeld

and

Oren

Gutfeld

Chapter 1. Stratigraphy and Architecture - Yizhar Hirschfeld and Oren Gutfeld

Chapter 2. The Scientific Analysis and Investigation of from

Chapter

3.

Tiberias

The

Coins

-

-

Gabriela

Appendix:

4.

Chapter

The

5.

Pottery

Glass

Bijovsky

J.

-

Ponting

Ariel

Berman

Analysis

Ponting

Assemblages

Vessels

J.

and

Chemical

Matthew

Chapter

Matthew

-

Anna

de

Shulamit

Vincenz

Hadad

Chapter 6. Bone, Metal, Stone and Glass Objects - Anna de Vincenz

Chapter

Chapter

7.

8.

Archaeozoological

Two

Shell

Finds

Finds

-

-

Moshe

Elaine

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A.

Sade

Myers

of

the

A

Yizhar Hirschfeld, 1950-2006

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

COLOR PLATES

Fig. 1.23. The living quarters in the southern part of the

Pl. IA: The excavation site at the foot of Mt. Berenice,northern looking building, looking east (p. 20).

Fig. 1.24. Section C-C, looking south (p. 20).

southwest (p. XIII).

PL IB: The excavation, looking northwest (p. XIII). Fig. 1.25. The middle room and the courtyard, looking north

21). PL IIA: The House of the Bronzes, looking west (p. (p. XIV). PL IIB: Hoard A, looking east (p. XIV).

Fig. 1.26. The House of the Bronzes, looking west (p. 22).

Pl. IIC: Hoards B and C, looking west (p. XIV). Fig. 1.27. Section D-D, looking south (p. 23).

Pl. IIIA: Bronze vessels in Hoard B (p. XV).

Fig. 1 .28. Hoard A (L.525) as found in situ in the corner of the

looking east (p. 24). PL HIB: Removing bronze vessels from Hoard B (p.room, XV). PL UIC: Vessels from the hoard in the Institute ofFig. Archaeology 1.29. Section E-E, looking north (p. 24).

(p. XV).

Fig. 1.30. Section G-G, looking north (p. 25).

PL IVA: Byzantine coins from the hoard (p. XVI).

Fig. 1.31. Section F-F, looking north (p. 25).

PL IVB: Fragment of marvered glass bowl (No. 38) (p. XVI).

Fig. 1.32. Wall 67 containing two small storage jars, looking

PL IVC: Fragment of lustre-painted glass bowl (No. 39) (p. XVI).

north (p. 26).

Fig. 1.33. Hoard C (L.576) and the stone slab that covered it

PL IVD: Wheel-cut glass bottle (No. 97) (p. XVI).

when it was exposed (p. 26). Fig. 1.34. The smithy and the storage jar in which Hoard C

CHAPTER 1

was found, looking west (p. 27).

Fig. 1.35. Hoards C (above) and B (below), looking west (p. Fig. 1.2. General view of the site, looking south (p. 3). 27). Fig. 1.1. Map of ancient Tiberias (p. 2).

Fig. 1.3. Staff members of the excavation (p. 3).

Fig. 1 .36. The courtyard of the House of the Bronzes and Hoard

B (L.575), looking north (p. 27). Fig. 1 .4. General view of the site at the foot of Mount Berenice, looking west (p. 4).

Fig. 1.37. Hoard B at the time of its exposure (p. 28).

Fig. 1.38. Fig. 1.5. Schematic plan of the Early Islamic remains (p.The 5).removal of the bronze artifacts from Hoard B Fig. 1.6. General view of the remains, looking south (p. (p. 6).28).

Fig. 1.7. Section A-A, looking west (p. 7).

Fig. 1.39. Hoard B, view into the storage jar (p. 28).

Fig. 1.8. Detailed plan of the remains (p. 8).

Fig. 1.40. The courtyard in the south of the House of the

Bronzes, looking north (p. 29). Fig. 1.9. Walls and installations from the Umayyad-Abbasid

periods, looking east (p. 9).

Fig. 1.41. Plan and section of courtyard L.557 (p. 29).

Fig. 1.10. Installation L.567, looking south (p. 9). Fig. 1.42. Reconstruction of tabun in courtyard L.557, looking Fig. 1.11. The course of the street, looking southeast (p.north 10).(p. 29). Fig. 1.12. Channel L.537 below the course of the street, looking CHAPTER north. Visible in the top left part of the photograph is 2

ceramic pipe L. 1 16 (p. 11).

Fig. 2.1. Scatter-plot of zinc against tin by artifact type (p. 40).

Fig. 2.2. Scatter-plot of lead against tin by manufacturing Fig. 1.13. The remains to the west of the street, looking west

(p. 12).

technique (p. 42).

Fig. 1.14. The water tower, looking west (p. 12).

Fig. 1.15. Paving L.118 in the water tower, looking south

(p. 13).

Fig. 2.3. Scatter-plot of zinc against tin by manufacturing technique (p. 43). Fig. 2.4. Scatter-plot of antimony against cobalt by artifact

Fig. 1.16. The southern room of the northern building on the

upper terrace, looking north (p. 14).

Fig. 1.17. Section B-B, looking west (p. 15). Fig. 1.18. The Portico House, looking south (p. 15). Fig. 1.19. Staircase W.ll and stone floor L.131 to the left of

type (p. 45). Fig. 2.5. Scatter-plot of arsenic against antimony by artifact

type (p. 46). Fig. 2.6. Scatter-plot of the first two principal components using

minor and trace elements with the objects categorized according to cluster analysis (p. 46).

W.7, looking west (p. 17).

Fig. 1.20. Channel L.538, looking west (p. 17). Fig. 1.21. The remains to the east of the street, looking east

(p. 18).

Fig. 2.7. Back-scattered scanning electron micrograph of 575:71/1 (p. 47). Fig. 2.8. Secondary electron scanning electron micrograph of

Fig. 1.22. The northern building, looking south (p. 19).

SEM4 (p. 47). IX

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 2.9. Copper-rich portion of the copper-tin phase PL 4.13. diagram Early Islamic pottery: buff ware water-jugs (p.

127).

(p. 48). Fig. 2. 10. Optical micrograph of SEM36 etched with alcoholic ferric chloride (p. 48). Fig. 2.11. Optical micrograph of SEM36 etched with alcoholic

PL 4.14. Early Islamic pottery: buff ware pitchers (p. 128).

PL 4.15. Early Islamic pottery: buff ware large vases (p. 129). PL 4.16. Early Islamic pottery: buff ware jugs (p. 129).

ferric chloride (p. 48) Fig. 2.12. Secondary electron micrograph of a portion of the

PL 4.17. Early Islamic pottery: buff ware storage jars (p. 130).

PL 4.18. Early Islamic pottery: buff ware handles and

turnings from 575:85 (p. 49).

Fig. 2.13. Pieces of scrap: a) bucket "folded packets" 99, 100

and 102; b) decorated piece 97 (p. 51).

Fig. 2.14. Scrap "folded packet" 103: a) folded; b) opened

decorations (p. 131). PL 4.19. Early Islamic pottery: miscellaneous buff ware items

(p. 133). PL 4.20. Early Islamic pottery: Coptic glazed bowls (p. 134).

out (p. 52).

Fig. 2.15. Drawing of tripod showing sample locations (p. 53).

PL 4.21 . Early Islamic pottery: two-color splashed-and-mottled

Fig. 2.16. Drawing of furniture leg showing sample locations

PL 4.22. Early Islamic pottery: polychrome splashed-and-

(p. 53).

bowls (p. 136). mottled bowls (p. 137).

Fig. 2.17. Box-and- whisker plot showing the relative cobalt concentrations in the artifacts that were sampled from

PL 4.23. Early Islamic pottery: polychrome splashed-andmottled bowl with sgraffito decoration (p. 139).

PL 4.24. Early Islamic pottery: monochrome glazed bowls,

several locations (p. 54) Fig. 2.18. Scatter-plot of zinc against tin by Arabic/Persian

yellow (p. 141). PL 4.25. Early Islamic pottery: monochrome glazed bowls,

alloy name (p. 57).

green (p. 142). CHAPTER 3

PL 4.26. Early Islamic pottery: monochrome glazed bowls with

PI. 3.1. Isolated coins (p. 64). PL 3.2. Coins from the hoard (p. 66).

sgraffito decoration (p. 142).

PL 4.27. Early Islamic pottery: green glazed pot (p. 143).

PI. 3.3. Coins from the hoard (p. 67).

PL 4.28. Early Islamic pottery: glazed jugs (p. 144).

PI. 3.4. Coins from the hoard (p. 68).

PL 4.29. Early Islamic pottery: purple alkaline glazed vessels

PI. 3.5. Coins from the hoard (p. 69).

(p. 144).

PI. 3.6. Coins from the hoard (p. 70).

PL 4.30. Early Islamic pottery: tin glazed bowls (p. 144).

PI. 3.7. Coins from the hoard (p. 71).

PL 4.31. Early Islamic pottery: imitation Chinese bowl (p. 145).

PI. 3.8. Coins from the hoard (p. 72).

PL 4.32. Early Islamic pottery: luster glazed bowls (p. 146). Fig. 3.1. Breakdown of the hoard according to numismatic PL 4.33. Early Islamic pottery: slip-painted and glazed bowls

groups (p. 73). Fig. 3.2. Scatter-plot of zinc against tin (p. 104).

(p. 147).

Fig. 3.3. Scatter-plot of arsenic against cobalt (p. 104).

PL 4.34. Early Islamic pottery: imported glazed bowls (p. 148).

CHAPTER 4

PL 4.35. Early Islamic pottery: glazed cooking pots (p. 151).

PI. 4.1. Roman pottery (p. 108).

PL 4.36. Early Islamic pottery: black burnished bowl and

Kerbschnitt bowl (p. 151). PI. 4.2. Byzantine pottery: African Red Slip Ware (p. 109).

PL110). 4.37. Early Islamic pottery: sphero-conical objects (p. PI. 4.3. Byzantine pottery: Late Roman C Ware (p. 152). PI. 4.4. Byzantine pottery: Cypriot Red Slip Ware (p. 111). PI. 4.5. Byzantine pottery (p. 115).

PL 4.38. Early Islamic pottery: lamps (p. 155).

PI. 4.6. Byzantine lamps (p. 116).

PL 4.38. Early Islamic pottery: lamps (cont.) (p. 157).

PL 4.38. Early Islamic pottery: lamps (cont.) (p. 158). PI. 4.7. Early Islamic pottery: coarse ware bowls (p. 117).

4.39. Miscellaneous ceramic object (p. 161). PI. 4.8. Early Islamic pottery: coarse ware pithoi PL and basins

(p. 119).

PL 4.40. The pithoi of the metalware hoard (p. 162).

PL 4.9. Early Islamic pottery: gray ware pithoi and basins

Fig. 4. 1 . Polychrome splashed-and-mottled bowl with sgraffito

decoration (PL 4.23:1) (p. 140).

(p. 120). PL 4.10. Early Islamic pottery: coarse ware storage jars (p. 123).

Fig. 4.2. Polychrome splashed-and-mottled bowl with sgraffito

PL 4.11. Early Islamic pottery: buff ware bowls and basins

Fig. 4.3. Base of luster glazed bowl (PL 4.32:3) (p. 146).

Fig. 4.4. Large lamp (PL 4.38:22) (p. 159).

(p. 125). PL 4.12. Early Islamic pottery: buff ware small vases and juglets (p. 126).

decoration (PL 4.23:4) (p. 140).

Fig. 4.5. Miniature lamp (PL 4.38:23) (p. 159).

Fig. 4.6. Stamp (PL 4.39:5) (p. 161).

X

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 4.7. Incised sherd (PL 4.39:6) (p. 161).

Fig. 5.4. Mold-blown bottle (No. 93) (p. 171).

CHAPTER 5

Fig. 5.6. Bottle 97 as found in situ, within a bucket inside a

Fig. 5.5. Wheel-cut bottle (No. 97) (p. 173).

PL PL PL PL

5.1. 5.2. 5.3. 5.4.

Nos. Nos. Nos. Nos.

1-13 (p. 182). 14-24 (p. 183). 25-39 (p. 184). 40-61 (p. 185).

PL PL PL PL

5.5. 5.6. 5.7. 5.8.

Nos. Nos. Nos. Nos.

62-84 (p. 186). 85-102 (p. 187). 103-118 (p. 188). 119-134 (p. 189).

cooking pot, in the hoard of metal vessels (p. 173).

Fig. 5.7. Decoration? (No. 135) (p. 175). CHAPTER 6

PL 6.1. Bone and metal objects (p. 193). PL 6.2. Stone objects (p. 194). PL 6.3. Stone objects and beads (p. 195). PL 6.4. Architectural fragments (p. 196).

Fig. 5.1. Marvered bowl (No. 38) (p. 169). Fig. 5.2. Lustre-painted bowl (No. 39) (p. 169).

CHAPTER 8

Fig. 5.3. Plain bottle (No. 45) (p. 170).

Fig. 8.1. Shells A, B (p. 201).

XI

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Pl. IA: The excavation site at the foot of Mt. Berenice, looking southwest.

PI. IB: The excavation, looking northwest.

XIII

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Pl. IIA: The House of the Bronzes, looking west.

PI. IIB: Hoard A, looking east.

Pl. IIC: Hoards B and C, looking west.

XIV

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PL IIIA: Bronze vessels in Hoard B.

PL HIB: Removing bronze vessels from Hoard B.

PL UIC: Vessels from the hoard in the Institute of Archaeology.

XV

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Pl. IVA: Byzantine coins from the hoard.

Pl. IVB: Fragment of marvered glass bowl (No. 38).

Pl. IVC: Fragment of lustre-painted glass bowl (No. 39).

Pl. IVD: Wheel-cut glass bottle (No. 97).

XVI

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PREFACE

This volume is the first of the two-volume

Berman. Matthew J. Ponting studied the chemical

final report of the excavations of the House of theof metalwork hoard and the anonymous follis coins. The pottery and miscellaneous small finds the Bronzes. The current volume presents the architecture and stratigraphy, as well as a scientific were studied by Anna de Vincenz. The glass objects

analysis of the Fatimid metalwork hoard discovered were studied by Shulamit Hadad. The animal in the excavations and studies of the other finds. The were studied by Moshe Sade. Finally, two remains

shells were studied by Elaine A. Myers. metalwork hoard itself will be published by Elias Khamis in the near future as Volume II.

The salvage excavation was conducted in

The conservation, X-ray photography and cleaning of the artifacts were performed by

the southern part of the sewage plant in Tiberias the Conservation Laboratory of the Institute of in order to free the area for the construction of

Archaeology under the directorship of Miriam

a modern sewage plant. The excavation was Lavi

and with the aid of Claudia Shenkar and

conducted on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology Ravit Lin. Some of the artifacts were cleaned in

of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under thethe laboratories of the Israel Museum and by Orna direction of the present authors, and was financedCohen, to whom we are indebted. The drawings by the Tiberias municipality. The area supervisors of the artifacts are by Tania Gorenstein and Julia were Tomer Goldstein, Roni Amir and MenachemRudman.

Rogel. The measurements and drawings are the We would like to thank the translators of much work of Maria Caplan and Alexander Pachuro.of this report, Robert Amoils, Hani Davis, Rachel The digital processing of the plans was carried outLaureys-Chachy and especially Viviana Moscovich,

by Dov Porotsky. The photographs were taken bywho was intensively involved in the completion of

Gabi Laron. The finds were recorded by Rachelthe catalogue of the metalwork hoard. Our sincere Merchav. The excavation's administrator was

thanks to Sue Gorodetsky, who edited and produced this volume. Moshe Gur-Arieh. Special thanks are due to David

We wish to thank the Institute of Archaeology Yaluz, director of the water and sewage department

the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the in the Tiberias municipality, for his greatly of valued assistance.

Israel Exploration Society for their support and

We are grateful to several people who contributedassistance. to this report. The study and publication of the metal

artifacts were carried out by Elias Khamis with the aid of Roni Amir and Viviana Moscovich. The coins

were identified by Gabriela Bijovsky and Ariel

Yizhar Hirschfeld and Oren Gutfeld Summer 2004

XVII

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CHAPTER ONE

STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Yizhar Hirschfeld and Oren Gutfeld

INTRODUCTION

the end of the Fatimid period. The alluvial soil above these remains has accumulated since this part of the

city was abandoned in the twelfth century. The archaeological excavation was conducted in

the southern part of the sewage treatment plant located within the ancient city of Tiberias during

STRATIGRAPHY

the fall of 1998 (Figs. 1.1-1.3). The site lies ca. 300 m west of the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee at the Although the excavation area was fairly limited in

foot of Mount Berenice, at an elevation size of 185 m (roughly 500 m2), four archaeological strata distinguished (Figs. 1.5,1 .6). They are briefly below modern sea level (Israel Grid map were reference characterized here in the order of excavation, i.e., 242440/201075). The excavation site is close to the center of

from top to bottom.

the Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic city of Tiberias. Some 250 m to its south is the Roman

STRATUM I

The surface stratum is dated to the medieval period theater, and ca. 200 m to its southeast the public (twelfth-fourteenth centuries CE). Meager finds, bathhouse. Next to the bathhouse are a large pottery sherds, of this period were revealed. public building (probably a mosque) and part mainly of From these we learn that the area had effectively the main colonnaded street {cardo) that passed

been abandoned by that time. through the city from south to north (Hirschfeld

1993: 1464-1470). The southern continuation of STRATUM II the street was discovered during the exposure of the

The stratum containing the principal finds is dated to city's southern gate, ca. 600 m south of the sewage

plant (Foerster 1993: 1470-1473). To the west the of Fatimid period (tenth-eleventh centuries CE). In the site is Mount Berenice, on whose summit are it were revealed the remains of structures arranged along both sides of a street that cuts through the area fortifications of the Byzantine period and a church

on a northwest-southeast axis. Below the street we dating from the reign of Justinian (527-565 CE) discovered water systems: a drainage channel (see (Hirschfeld 2004). Between the mountain and the below, L. 1 35) and a ceramic pipe leading water from excavation area passes the aqueduct that conveyed northwest to southeast. On the west side of the street water to the city's reservoir, known as "the Dona

Gracia pool" (Winogradov 2002: 295-304).

were a square structure interpreted as a water tower,

Because of the site's location at the foot of Mount a courtyard, the "Portico House" and living quarters. Another building, comprising a courtyard and three Berenice, the ground surface slopes naturally from west to east. The soil is alluvial and mixed with talus rooms that served as living quarters, was partially revealed to the east of the street. To the south of this deposited at the foot of the mountain (Fig. 1 .4). Some

0.5 m below the surface level were found stratified courtyard house we exposed a building containing a courtyard, a room and a storeroom. In this structure remains dating from the Roman-Byzantine period to i

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.1. Map of ancient Tiberias.

we found three pithoi containing a hoard of Towards more than the

end of the Fatimid period

a thousand bronze items. Consequently, residential we called structures were destroyed and the

the structure the House of the Bronzes* (Hirschfeld was completely abandoned. From the large p

and Gutfeld 1999: 102-107).

of rubble covering the courtyards of the ho and their rooms, we believe that the destruc

Strictly speaking, the material from which wasthese caused items by

an earthquake. Another indica

were made should be referred to as "copper of this is alloy." the fissures in the walls of the water This type of metal is traditionally referred to other in the tower and structures. After the destruction

archaeological literature as "bronze," and we have

of the buildings, the place remained desolate

retained this term in general references to the hoard. In

and the years fact, almost all of these objects turned out toover be made of brass. The chemical composition of the

below in Chapter 2.

the structures were covered

by dark alluvial soil mixed with fieldstones hoard is discussed (Fig. 1.7).

2

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.2. General view of the site, looking south.

Fig. 1.3. Staff members of the excavation: from left to right, Rachel Merchav, Tomer Goldstein, Oren Gut Amir, Moshe Gur-Arieh. 3

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.4. General view of the site at the foot of Mount Berenice, looking west.

STRATUM III

DESCRIPTION OF THE REMAINS

Below the walls of the Stratum II structures

were found walls from the Umayyad-Abbasid The following section contains a detailed description, periods (ca. eighth-tenth centuries CE). There in order from early to late, of the architectural remains is no significant hiatus between this stratum and found in the excavation.

the Fatimid stratum, and the walls of the private STRATUM IV: THE ROMAN-BYZANTINE

domiciles and the streets continued to exist from

one to the other. The finds of this period includedPERIOD (Fig. 1.8)

many pottery vessels, glass vessels and coins.

Remains belonging to a period earlier than the Islamic period were found only in two places. While

STRATUM IV

their precise dating is unclear, they are sealed by

Below the remains of Strata II and III wasfills a very of the Early Islamic period and thus probably thick (ca. 3 m) layer of debris and alluvium, belong beneath to the Roman or Byzantine period. which were revealed a few remains of the Roman-

In Square D/5, the top of W.26 was revealed

Byzantine period. Only a small part of the walls some 4 m below the surface at an elevation of was exposed, and it is therefore difficult to assess -191.76. This wall runs from northwest to southeast their character. Pottery vessels and coins from theand has an orientation similar to that of the wall period were also retrieved. These finds are of greatabove it (W. 1). It is built of two courses of boulders

significance, since they demonstrate that Roman- (0.5 X 0.4 m in size) and is preserved to a height of Byzantine Tiberias extended westward as far as the0.8 m. It is probably the foundation of a wall that foot of Mount Berenice.

has not survived. This particular wall was dated by

4

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1 .5. Schematic plan of the Early Islamic remains. The Umayyad-Abbasid remains are cross-hatch remains are in solid black.

5

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.6. General view of the remains, looking south.

centuries the fill next to it (L. 170), which was dated fromCE), the were revealed beneath the remain

from first century BCE to the sixth century CE.the Fatimid period (Fig. 1.9). The remains o In Square F/5, an installation (L. 155) thismeasuring stratum were exposed in the area to the east

therevealed street, mainly below the Stratum II L.560, th 1 X 0.75 m, which was not completely and

courtyard of the house to the north of the House of t whose purpose is unclear, was exposed. It consists

at anatelevation of -189.80 (L.533, 534). of two thin walls at right angles to Bronzes, one another an elevation of -189.48. The walls are ca. 0.2 m

thick and built of two courses of fieldstones. Their

In Squares D-E/6-7, we exposed three wall

that are notably thicker than the walls from th

orientation differs from that of the wall above them, Fatimid period, ranging in thickness from 0.8 m and they apparently form a corner of an installation. to 1 m. These walls are well built of small and The fill removed from the installation dates from

medium-sized fieldstones bonded by hard gray

the first century BCE to the fifth century CE.

mortar. Some of the stones facing the outside are dressed. W.72 runs east-west and abuts W.55 on

STRATUM III: THE UMAYYAD-ABBASID

the south. Two courses are preserved to a height of

PERIODS (Fig. 1.8)

0.5 m. The wall is 1 m thick and 3 m long. W.75

in a north-south direction. Four courses are A number of walls and installations, whichruns cannot be

linked up to form a defined structure andpreserved are datedto a height of 0.8 m. The wall is 0.8 m

thick and 2.5 m long. W.78 runs in a north-south to the Umayyad-Abbasid periods (ca. eighth-tenth 6

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.7. Section A-A, looking west. 7

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.8. Detailed plan of the remains.

8

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Two parallel north-south walls, W.61 and W.68, were revealed to the north of and at right angles to

W.72. They are built of two courses of mediumsized fieldstones measuring 0.2 x 0. 1 m. These walls

are 0.55 m thick and approximately 1 m long.

Installation L.567, which is circular and built of medium-sized fieldstones, was revealed to the south of W.72. Its internal diameter is 1.15 m and

its depth ca. 1.8 m, the base being at an elevation

of -192.03. This installation is unplastered and apparently served for storage (Fig. 1.10). The top of W.73 was exposed in the southern part of Square D/7, at an elevation of -190.12. The wall runs in an east-west direction and is built of

Fig. 1.9. Walls and installations from the Umayyadsmall and medium-sized fieldstones. Only two

Abbasid periods, looking east.

courses are preserved. A column drum 0.4 m in diameter, standing on its base, was revealed at the wall's western end.

The few architectural remains exposed do not provide an architectural picture of the area in the

Umayyad-Abbasid periods; Nevertheless, they seem to be sections of structures with courtyards

and various installations that served mainly as domiciles.

STRATUM II: THE FATIMID PERIOD (Fig. 1.8)

Fig. 1.10. Installation L.567, looking south.

The main street

The street extends across Squares D-E/F-5 and is bounded on the west by W.52, W.16 and W.l,

direction and abuts W.62 to its west. The wall isand 0.85on the east by W.50 and W.51 (Fig. 1.11). The

street is 3-5 m wide and ca. 20 m long. Although m thick and 1.5 m long. On its southern part stands the a column with a diameter of 0.31 m; however, width the varies in accordance with the location the houses, the course of the street is generally column appears to postdate the wall and toof derive

uniform from the courtyard-house phase, which is dated to and uninterrupted, apparently testifying

to the existence of a municipal authority. The

the Fatimid period. Installation L.562 was revealed to the east of

course of the street, which runs from northwest to

W.78, at an elevation of -190.00. Most of it remains southeast, corresponds to the general orientation

of is Mount Berenice. Along the street, close to its hidden in the northern baulk of Square D/7. This a circular installation built of small fieldstones and

western side (at the foot of W.52 and W.l), we

coated with gray hydraulic plaster. It is ca. 1 .5 m in revealed a ceramic pipe (L. 116) that led water from

diameter and approximately 0.5 m deep, the base the northwest (elevation -187.36) to the southeast being at an elevation of -190.46. This installation is(elevation - 1 88.5 1 ). These elevations, sloping from possibly a basin. A jug dated to the Abbasid period north to south, apparently represent the level of

(Reg. No. 5458) was found in it.

the street, which has not been preserved here. The 9

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CHAPTER ONE

crumbling light gray plaster containing small grits.

Four of the covering stone slabs are preserved above

the southern part of the channel. They measure 0

X 0.6 m and are 0. 12 m thick. The channel's internal

width is ca. 0.4 m, its overall width is ca. 1 m an

its height is 0.4 m; the slope is from north (-189.60)

to south (-190.00). This channel, which apparent drained rainwater, testifies that the location of t

street took into account the city's need for drainage

This is particularly important in Tiberias becau

of the steep topography of Mount Berenice and t

sudden downpours that occur in the area The draina

channel is another indication of urban continuity fro

the Roman-Byzantine period through the less we

known Umayyad-Abbasid and Fatimid periods.

Construction methods in the Fatimid period Most of the walls of the Fatimid period are built

a similar manner, with their outer faces being built

of large fieldstones (0.3 x 0.3 x 0.25 m) and the

inner faces consisting of small fieldstones (0.15

0.15 x 0.1 m). The walls are generally 0.5 m thick

The wall foundations, built of large fieldstones, a

0.8-1 m thick. Depending on the topography, the

Fig. 1.11. The course of the street, looking southeast.

foundations may be as deep as 2 m. The doorjamb

are built from dressed stones. While most of the pipe is built of segments covered by gray hydraulic

rooms arepipe roughly square in plan, the walls are plaster containing small stones and gravel. The usually not exactly at right angles to one another. probably conveyed drinking water from the water floors are generally made of tower to its north (see below). A system The of structures' pipes beaten earth and are not well preserved. We found supplying water would have called for constant only one plaster maintenance, attesting to the efficient functioning of floor (L. 1 34), of poor quality. More

durableperiod. stone paving, consisting of small pebbles the municipal authority during the Fatimid (L. 1 3 1 along and L.534) or polygonal stone slabs (L. 158), In L. 113 and L.114, which were excavated was revealed in the courtyards. Only one pavement the course of the street, we found coins dating from

consisting of rectangular, well-dressed stone slabs the mid-third century CE (Reg. No. 208), the late (0.55 and x 0.4 the m) was encountered. It belonged to the fourth century CE (Reg. Nos. 179 and 120), early fifth century CE (Reg. No. 211). water tower and perhaps reflects public construction standards. The Portico House, to the south of the water Two staircases, tower, abuts it in a way that causes a broadening of the first (W. 1 1 ) to the south of the Portico House and the second descending from the the street. The broadened area (L.145) is bounded

entrance in W.5 1 to the courtyard of the House of by W.16 on the west and W.2 on the north. the Bronzes, On the eastern side of the street's southern part, were revealed. The stairs were built on a core ofover fieldstones and cement. The treads, 0.8 m parallel to W.51, a channel (L.537) preserved are built from well-dressed basalt stones; each a length of 7.75 m was exposed (Fig.wide, 1.12). This

is 0.2 m channel runs parallel to the street andstair is built ofhigh and 0.28 m deep, measurements enable easy two rows of medium-sized fieldstones that bonded by ascent. The existence of the staircase 10

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.12. Channel L.537 below the course of the street, looking north. Visible in the top left part of

is ceramic pipe L.116.

designated W.ll indicates that at least some tower ofisthe bounded by W.l on the east, W.2 on the domestic structures were two stories high. south, W.l 7 and W.22 on the west, and W.l 2 on the north. The water installations exposed during theW.l and W.2 are 0.7-0.8 m thick and

are built of ashlars on their outer face. Projecting excavation are channels covered by stone slabs from the of W.l is a square pillar (0.75 x (L.163) and possibly also beneath paving L.145, center a gutter (L. 1 35) connected with a water channel, 0.55 m), and probably a built to counter the pressure of

the earth to the west of the wall (Fig. 1.14). The segmented ceramic pipe (L. 116). The light-colored, friable plaster used for the water installations high standard is of of construction is an indication of

the structure's public character. W.2 consists of six

poor quality.

courses of dressed basalt stones (0.15 x 0.1 m), The remains to the west of the street (Fig. 1.13)

interspersed with small fieldstones. The interior of the tower is divided into four

The water tower

rooms by two walls, W.6 and W.8. These walls, of

In its northern section, the street is bounded

which only the foundations are generally preserved,

by the eastern wall (W.l) of a square structure are built of small fieldstones (0.15 x 0.1 m). Only measuring 7 x 7 m, located in Squares E-D/4-5. in the northeastern room (L. 1 1 8), measuring 2.25 This structure, identified by us as a water tower, x 1 .4 m, is the floor preserved, at an elevation of was apparently the first to be erected in the area -185.71. On the floor, built of basalt stone slabs of and preceded the street, since the walls bounding excellent quality (Fig. 1.15), a decorated cornice the latter relate to those of the tower. The water

(Reg. No. 1412) was found. The level of floor 11

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.13. The remains to the west of the street, looking west.

L.118 is 1.6 m higher than the conjectured lev

of the street that passed to its east. The fill (L.15

beneath floor L.118 is dated to the Fatimid perio

The floors in the other rooms of the tower, whi

have not survived, were probably made of beate

earth. The structure stood on a slope and the wa

in its eastern part served as retaining walls for t fill below its floors.

A channel (L.135) leading out of the structure

through W.l was revealed below the floor level the northeastern room. The channel, 0.15 m wid

has a plastered base sloping downward to the eas

The channel may connect with pipe L. 1 1 6 or other

channels that supplied water to the area. If this

was a system supplying drinking water, it probably

originated from the Berenice aqueduct that passe

ca. 10 m to the west, at a level higher than t

plane of excavation. Other evidence supporti

this assumption was found in the structure to th

west of the water tower, where a channel led wat

from the west (-184.91) to the east (-185.37; s

below). A water tower ( castellum aquae) is rarel ' Fig. 1.14. The water tower, looking west.

encountered and is indicative of a well-organize

12

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.15. Paving L. 118 in the water tower, looking south.

erected to relieve the earth pressure from municipal authority. The channels and ceramic apparently pipes the west, like the pillar revealed on W. 1 (see above). that possibly led water to the municipal fountains support our interpretation of the structure.

The southern room (L. 165) is bounded on the north by W. 19, on the east by W. 17, on the south by W. 1 8,

and on the west by W.13; it measures 3.25 x 2.3 m The structure to the west of the water tower To the west of the water tower the excavations

(internal measurements) (Fig. 1.16). Floor L.165,

revealed the foundations of another structure, which runs up to W. 19 from the south, was revealed in on the northern part of the room, at an elevation of bounded by W. 12 on the north, W. 17 and W.22 -184.47, ca. 1.25 m above the floor levels in the the east, W.18 on the south, and W.13 and W.23

water tower. On this floor, made of red beaten on the west. The structure, which measures 6.75

X 4 m, is divided into two rooms by W.19. earth, The was found a complete cooking pot dated to the Fatimid period (Reg. No. 1202). northern room (L.161), bounded by W.12 on the north, W.22 on the east, W.19 on the south, andOnly the western face of W.17 was exposed, W.23 on the west, is a corridor of some kind, 1 .4abutting m floor L.165. The wall is preserved to a

wide and ca. 2.5 m long (internal measurements). height of 2.65 m. Its upper part consists of two and below them are six courses of the W.12 is built of large fieldstones (0.6 x 0.4 m);courses its foundation widens on the north. W.22, which runs foundation, which project ca. 0.2-0.25 m from the

in a northwest-southeast direction, is possibly wall the itself. W. 1 8 joins the southern end of this wall continuation of W.17. It is built of fieldstones and

at a right angle. The top of W. 1 8, at an elevation incorporates well-dressed stones laid as headersof -185.30, is lower than the level of floor L.165

and stretchers. Projecting eastward from the wall (-184.47); it appears to be the broad foundation of

is a pillar (0.6 x 0.6 m) built of fieldstones. It wasa wall that joined up with W.17. 13

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.16. The southern room of the northern building on the upper terrace, looking north.

the water tower and to the west of the street. During the excavation of the fill of (L.137 and L. 1 44) to the south of floor L. 1 65 , it became evident Since the courtyard's level (-188.83) corresponds that the foundations of the structure's western to thewalls conjectured street level, we may assume

the courtyard was entered from the street via a (W.13 and W.23) reach a depth of 2 m that below the

doorway, possibly located within the unexcavated floor level, a depth apparently dictated by the site's baulk. The orientation of this structure differs steep topography. A coin dated to the mid-eighth century CE (Reg. No. 262) was found inslightly fill L. from 137, that of the water tower. It abuts the

tower at an acute angle on the south (W.16) while fill L. 144 yielded a coin dated towater 39 CE (Reg.

No. 1395). in a way that causes a widening of the street to its Part of a water channel (L.163) was revealed east (Squares E/4-5). The widened area (L. 145) is W.2 on the north (the southern wall of to the north of the structure, parallel bounded to W.12byand 0.75 m from it. The flow of water in the channel

the water tower) and W.16 on the west. W.16 runs

was from west (elevation - 1 84.9 1 ) to east (elevationfrom northwest to southeast and is 0.5 m thick;

-185.37). The channel is 0.15 m wide and ca. 0.2 seven courses of basalt stones are preserved. The wall's eastern face is built of large stones (0.5 x 0.2 m high; its base and walls are built of fieldstones

X 0.25 m), while the western one contains fairly bonded by friable plaster, and it is covered by small stones (0.15x0.1x0.1 m). This area, located

fieldstone slabs.

in front of the courtyard of the Portico House, has

The Portico House

a coarse stone paving (L.145) at an elevation of

-187.99, which incorporates slabs that possibly The Portico House (Figs. 1.17, 1.18), a large cover a water channel. domicile built next to a courtyard paved with stone

slabs (L. 158), was partially uncovered to the southThe Portico House is located in Squares 14

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.17. Section B-B, looking west.

Fig. 1.18. The Portico House, looking south. 15

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CHAPTER ONE

stones, while E-G/4-5. Since its exposure was not completed, itits western face is built of fieldstones. is difficult to assess the structure's measurements.

The core of the wall is missing. The large pile of

The area excavated by us measures 11.5 x 9 m. rubble found on the courtyard's paving (L.158) This area is bounded by W.2 on the north, W.16 provides further evidence that the Portico House and W.52 on the east, W.7 on the south, and W.21 had a second story, ascent to which was perhaps by on the west. W.52 is probably the continuation ofmeans of the staircase (W. 11) built against W.7, the structure's rear wall (see below). A coin dated to

W.16 to its north. It runs in a northwest-southeast

direction and consists of a single course of partiallythe mid-eighth century was found in L.157 of the

dressed basalt stones, large ones (0.55 x 0.3 x 0.2 portico (Reg. No. 1525). m) on the eastern face and small ones (0.25 x 0.25 x 0.2 m) on the western face.

The rooms to the south of the portico: To the south of the portico we discovered two fairly

Three different components of the building were large rooms that served as living quarters (each

exposed: a courtyard, an portico and rooms servingwith an area of approximately 10 m2); next to them

as living quarters:

was a third room that was only partially exposed.

The courtyard: The courtyard (L.158) is

The rooms' doorways face north, i.e., toward the

located in the northern part of the structure. Its portico. north-south extent is ca. 4 m, but its east-west The eastern room (L.134) is bounded by W.3 extent is unknown since the excavation was not on the north, W.52 on the east, W.7 on the south,

completed. The western excavated part of and theW.4 on the west. Its internal measurements are 3.35 x 3 m and the walls do not meet at exact courtyard is paved with thin basalt slabs of good

right angles. A doorway with well-built jambs was quality. The slabs, which are polygonal in shape revealed in W.3. The threshold, at an elevation and vary in size, are at an elevation of -188.04. The of -188.14, is formed from two stones. The wall courtyard was apparently used for domestic tasks, consists of three courses of partially dressed basalt such as cooking and laundry. A clay oven {tabun), stones and four foundation courses. It was dated 0.6 m in diameter (L. 167), was found in the eastern

part of the courtyard adjacent to W.16. Insideto it the Fatimid period on the basis of sherds from

the wall's foundation trench (L.160). W.7 runs was a large concentration of ash. This tabun was undoubtedly used for the baking of bread and from the northeast to southwest. It is ca. 8 m long, 0.5

m thick, and preserved to a height of 2 m. Five

cooking of food.

The portico: The portico (L. 157) is a semi-open courses of partially dressed basalt stones measuring

0.4 x 0.2 x 0.2 m are preserved. A section of a space in the front of the house, in which various poor-quality plaster floor (L.134) has survived in household activities were focused in antiquity. the room's northwestern corner, at an elevation of This architectural space, 2.4 m deep, had a roof, -188.53. The floor adjoins W.4, the room's western supported by three rectangular pillars on roughly

wall. This wall, running in a northwest-southeast the same axis, which presumably formed the floor

direction, is built of three courses of coarsely of a balcony on the second story. One pillar (W.5) dressed basalt stones and fieldstones. It is 0.5 m is engaged in the eastern wall (W.52) and measures 1 x 0.5 m. The central pillar (W.25), measuring thick and preserved to a height of 0.8 m. 1 x 0.5 m, consists of two courses of roughly The room exposed to the west of the eastern dressed basalt stones measuring 0.45 x 0.25room x (L.168) is bounded on the north by W.320, 0.25 m. Another pillar was probably engagedoninthe east by W.4, on the south by W.7, and on the the structure's western wall. At some stage in the west by W.21. Its internal measurements are 3.9 x 2.9 m, and its walls too do not meet exactly at right building's lifetime, W.24 was built in the western

although the deviation is small. A doorway part of the portico. It probably served as a angles, low 1.3 m wide, with well-built jambs, was revealed in partition/bench or even as a manger. The eastern face of this wall is built of well-dressed basalt

the northern wall (W.20); the threshold is missing.

16

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

A poor-quality earth floor (L.168) was exposed in the room's eastern part, at an elevation of -188.39. In the southern part of the room there are three small

walls at right angles to the southern wall (W.7), which probably formed installations. The area to the west of the portico: To the west of room L. 168 we found walls of another structure

or a room belonging to the Portico House. The most

notable remnant of this structure is W.10, which abuts W.21 on the west. This wall is built of small

fieldstones (0.15 x 0.15 x 0.1 m) and preserved to a height of 1.4 m. Its orientation differs from that

of the southern wall (W.7) of the Portico House, and it is apparently later (at least technically) than

W.21. Although the structure's floor is missing, it was apparently at a higher level than the floor of

the Portico House. Since Squares F-G/3 were not excavated, the western continuation of this structure was not unearthed. The staircase: To the south of W.7 of the Portico

House, in Square G/5, we exposed a staircase (W.ll) ascending from east to west (Fig. 1.19). It is 0.8 m wide and excellently constructed. Only its lowermost two steps are preserved, as well as the core of fieldstones held together by hard, gray Fig. 1.19. Staircase W.ll and stone floor L.131 to the binding material. A coin dated to the sixth century

left of W.7, looking west.

CE (Reg. No. 174) was found on the stone floor (L.131, elevation 188.83) at the bottom of the bronze artifacts opposite the entrance of the House staircase, but cannot be related stratigraphically of the Bronzes from the street raises the question of to the staircase. This floor probably belongs to a whether there is a connection between the houses courtyard bounded by W.7 on the north and W. 19 on either side of the street. The Portico House is well constructed. The on the east. Since the staircase is attached to W.7,

it possibly served as an external staircase leading functional division into a courtyard, a roofed up to the second story of the Portico House or of the structure to its south.

To the west of the staircase is a small, narrow room bounded by W.7 on the north, W.52 on the east, and W.9 on the west. It is ca. 1.3 m wide and more than 3.5 m long. This room was not excavated

and is located under the baulk. It was drained by a

channel (L.538) ca. 0.2 m wide that runs beneath W.52 to the southern end of the main street (Fig.

1.20). Hidden in the channel were four bronze weights (Reg. No. 5093), other pieces of metal, and

a coin dated to the mid-eighth century (Reg. No. 5286). The location of the channel containing the Fig. 1.20. Channel L.538, looking west. 17

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.21. The remains to the east of the street, looking east.

foundations ca. 10 cm from the wall's width portico and rooms used as living quarters points project to on its western side. W.51, located to the south of a developed housing culture that is in keeping with

the archaeological baulk, is ca. 11.5 m long and the organized urban character of the remains. 0.6 m wide. It is built of small and medium-sized The remains to the east of the street

fieldstones bound by small stones and earth. Large,

partially dressed fieldstones were placed in the The remains of two structures (Fig. 1.21) were upper part of the walls. partially revealed in the area to the east of the street: the structure in which the bronze hoards were found

(the House of the Bronzes) and a courtyard houseThe northern courtyard house The northern courtyard house is located in Squares to its north. These two structures are separated from

D-E/6-7 (Fig. 1.22). It consists of a courtyard, one another by a continuous east-west wall (W.67) in which no doorways were found. It thus seemspaved with plaster and pebbles, and three rooms that the buildings were not connected, although thisthat served as living quarters to its south; a small

is not entirely certain since a baulk ca. 2 m widepart of another room was revealed to the northwest remained unexcavated between these structures.

of the courtyard.

Both structures are bounded on the southwest by the The courtyard (L.560, L.554): The courtyard

is defined by W.55 and W.62 on the north and by continuous wall (W.50 and W.51) that runs along on the south. The walls do not meet at right the street. W.50 was exposed over a length of 6 W.57 m; giving the courtyard an irregular shape. The it is 0.9 m wide and preserved to a height of 1.9 angles, m. The wall is built of large fieldstones, dressed on thecourtyard's bedding, which was not fully excavated,

consists of small fieldstones held together by outer face and bound by small stones and earth. Its 18

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.22. The northern building, looking south.

plaster. The floor level is not uniform: the elevation part of the courtyard, adjacent to the corner formed

in the western L.554 is -189.60, and in the eastern by W.55 and W.62.

L.560 it ranges from -189.74 to -189.77.

The living quarters: Three rooms that served

Imbedded in the courtyard's floor were a number as living quarters, entered from the courtyard via

of coins from the Umayyad and Abbasid periods doorways in W.57, were revealed to the south of (Reg. Nos. 5333, 5214, 5252). This courtyard may the courtyard (Fig. 1.23). On the south these rooms have originated in the Umayyad-Abbasid periods are probably closed off by W.67, which partly lies and continued in use in the structure of the Fatimid beneath the baulk separating the northern building from the House of the Bronzes. No floors were period. It appears to have been unroofed. The east-west W.55 is built on top of the Stratum found in these rooms (Fig. 1.24). III W.61, W.68, W.72 and W.78. It consists of two The western room (L.533) was only partly

faces of medium-sized fieldstones (0.35 x 0.3 x exposed. Its walls are not at right angles to one 0.15 m), with earth mixed with gravel and many another, giving it a trapezoid shape. Its width ranges

pebbles between them. The wall is 4.85 m from long 2.35 m to 1.6 m, and its estimated length is ca.are 3.5 m. The room's western wall (W.50) is the and 0.6 m thick, and its eight to nine courses preserved to a height of 1.5 m. In contrast to W.57, eastern boundary of the street that crosses the area.

no doorways leading into the courtyard were found A doorway in W.56 connects the western room and in it. At its eastern end, W.55 turns northward and the middle room (L.559). The wall is built of large

is designated W.62.

and medium-sized fieldstones bonded by pebbles,

A column was discovered in secondary small use, stones and earth. Five courses of the wall standing on the Stratum III W.78, in the northern and two courses of its foundation are preserved to 19

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CHAPTER ONE

a height of 1.8 m. Another doorway was reveale in the room's northern wall (W.57). Both thresho

are built of small fieldstones and pebbles, packe close together and leveled. No floor was found the room. The fill excavated here contained a coin

dated to the second half of the fourth century CE.

The middle room (L.559) is 3.75 m long (between

W.57 and W.67) and 2.2 m wide (Fig. 1.25). The northern part of W.60 was revealed between W.56

and W.58. This wall (W.60) consists of only two courses and postdates the original construction of the

rooms in the house; it possibly belongs to Stratum

I. In the room's northern wall (W.57 is a doorway connecting it with the courtyard. The doorway has a

long, narrow threshold (lx 0.25 m). This room too lacked a clear floor and the fill in it yielded two coins:

one of Anastasius I from the early sixth century CE (Reg. No. 5480) and the other, a half follis, also from

the sixth century (Reg. No. 5443). Of the eastern room (L.555), only the northern

(W.57) and the western wall (W.58) were revealed. W.58, consisting of six courses of medium-sized fieldstones (0.4 x 0.25 m), is preserved to a height

of ca. 2 m. In the northern wall (W.57) there is a wide doorway with a long, narrow threshold (0.65 Fig. 1.23. The living quarters in the southern part of the northern building, looking east.

x 0.15 m).

The House of the Bronzes The remains of the House of the Bronzes (Squares

F-G/6-7) include a triangular, two-roomed unit (L.535, L.566), a courtyard (L.569, L.572), and a unit (L.557), probably another courtyard, to its south (Figs. 1 .26, 1 .27). The House of the Bronzes

was only partially excavated and extends beyond

the eastern limit of the excavation (Squares F-G/8). The courtyard was entered from the street via a doorway in W.5 1 . Because of the topography

here, the level of the threshold (-191.15) is 1.9 m higher than that of the courtyard (-189.21). This difference in height is overcome by a flight of six stairs, 0.8-1 m wide. The staircase is bounded on

the north by W.66, the southern wall of the main

room, and on the south by two column drums in secondary use. The walls of the structure are built

of undressed basalt stones and are preserved to a Fig. 1.24. Section C-C, looking south.

height of at least 2 m. From the courtyard, located

20

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.25. The middle room and the courtyard, looking north.

structure's southwestern wall (W.51) and its in the eastern part of the structure, onethe turns westward to the main room, to the rear (west) of wall (W.67), a large pithos (L.525) was northern which is a storeroom.

found in situ (Figs. 1.28-1.30). The pithos, with a

of 0.85 m and a height of 1 . 1 m, contained A triangular unit consisted of two rooms, diameter a

storeroom (L.535) in the rear and a room (L.566) some 350 bronze artifacts (Hoard A). The pithos that we termed the "smithy." The storeroom, locatedwas found intact, standing on the beaten-earth floor in the northwest corner of the House of the Bronzes, and supported by a low curving wall (W.70) that had has an area of 4 m2. It was entered from L.566 to

been built specially for this purpose. W.70 is 1.9 m

its east via a doorway 0.55 m wide and 0.9 m high, long, 0.5 m wide, and preserved to a height of 0.6 which is fully preserved, in W.54. One had to stoopm. It is built of small and medium-sized fieldstones

to pass through the low doorway. W.54 runs in a (0.16 x 0.12 m). Two coins were found in L.535: north-south direction and is very well preserved toone, a Byzantine- Arabic anonymous follis, is dated a height of 2 m. It consists of two faces: the interior to 650-680 CE (Reg. No. 5056), while the other

(east) face is built of dressed stones measuring 0.2 is Umayyad (pre-reform) and is dated to the late X 0.5 m, while the exterior (west) face is made up seventh century CE (Reg. No. 5336).

of medium-sized fieldstones (0.3 x 0.2 m). The

The smithy (L.566): This trapezoid room has

dressed stones are laid in organized courses, andan area of ca. 7 m2. On its floor, made of beaten

between them is a binding material composed earth (L.566), were found a bronze ingot and seven of earth mixed with pebbles and gravel. At thelarge handles of bronze bowls (at an elevation of storeroom's western end, in the corner formed by -191.20). Patches of mud plaster were discerned 21

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.26. The House of the Bronzes, looking west.

southern wall (W.66). This wall is built of medium on its northern wall (W.67). After the plaster was

sized (0.26 X 0.24 m) and small (0.12 x 0.1 m) removed, two intact storage jars were revealed, which had been inserted in the wall fieldstones during its held together by earth and small stones. construction. Within one of them (L.574) werewas discerned in the inner (wester A collapse

found many pieces of bronze (Reg. part No. of 5624), the wall.

In the center of the room, below the floor in while the other storage jar was empty (Figs. 1.31,

we revealed a basalt slab (at an elevatio 1.32). W.67 is built of two rows of L.570, large and

medium-sized fieldstones, the outer faces whichthat covered the mouth of a storage j of of -191.72)

are roughly dressed. Since a large part of in this situ wall (L.576). This storage jar had a diameter o is located within the baulk separating the ofa height of 0.7 m (Figs. 1.33-1.35). 0.5 House m and

the Bronzes from the courtyard house to its north, contained some 20 bronze vessels including jugs

it was not fully exposed.

two oil lamps, ca. 250 kilograms of bronze scra

A doorway 0.8 m wide leads into the and courtyard some 57 anonymous folles among other coi

to the east through the eastern wall (W.65). (Hoard C). Another anonymous follis (Reg. N This north-south wall is built of variously sized 5627) was found in the fill around the storage fieldstones and many dressed stones (L.577). measuring

0.62 X 1.24 m. Its southern part abuts the The room's courtyard (L.569 and L.572): The house 22

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.27. Section D-D, looking south. 23

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CHAPTER ONE

below a baulk in this area, on the west by the easte

wall of the smithy (W.65), and on the south by W.6

and W.69. The latter walls are in fact a single w

forming an angle. The walls are built of medium

sized fieldstones and dressed stones, mainly

the side facing north. The walls are preserved to height of ca. 1.5 m.

Much bronze scrap was found on the courtyard

beaten floor, at an elevation of -191.15. Below th

floor, close to the doorway providing access to t

main room, we uncovered the top of a large stora

jar (L.575) at an elevation of - 1 9 1 .40. Its mouth w

covered by a flat basalt stone. This storage jar, 0.

m in diameter and 0.9 m high, contained hundre

of different bronze artifacts (Hoard B) (Fig 1.36-1.39). Its top had been broken deliberate to enable the insertion of the bronze artifacts.

Among the objects crammed into the storage jar was a pottery jug full of bronze scrap and a bronze cooking pot, heavily soot-marked, which contained

an intact glass bottle.

After the fill around the pithos (L.572) had been excavated and the vessel had been removed, a complete very large pottery lamp (Reg. No. 5623) Fig. 1 .28. Hoard A (L.525) as found in situ in the corner of the room, looking east.

was found beneath it (see Chapter 4).

The courtyard to the south of the House of courtyard, which is located in the eastern the Bronzes part of(Figs. 1.40-1.41). To the south of remains described above, a structure (L.557), the structure, is irregular in shape. It the is probably bounded on the north by W.67, whichprobably is hidden a courtyard, was partially exposed. The

Fig. 1.29. Section E-E, looking north. 24

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.30. Section G-G, looking north.

with plaster at an elevation of -190.43. A tabun, 0.5

m in diameter, was built into the northern part of

the floor (Fig. 1.42). Its base is at an elevation of - 1 9 1 .25 . A plastered ledge, W.7 1 , presumably used as

a work surface, was revealed in front of W.5 1 on the

southwest. It is 2.7 m long and ca. 1 .2 m wide. SUMMARY

The excavations carried out in Tiberias to date have yielded five hoards, all of them dated to the Fatimid

period. The excavations conducted by Gideon Foerster in 1973-1975 in the southern part of the city revealed a pithos containing a hoard of gold jewelry and coins from the tenth-eleventh centuries

CE (Foerster 1977: 87-91). The pithos was found Fig. 1.31. Section F-F, looking north.

beneath the floor of a domicile containing dyeing installations. Two further hoards were found in

1989 during the excavations of Alexander Onn in part of the city (Onn 1992: 166-167; courtyard is bounded in its northern part the by northern the

Brosh southern walls of the courtyard of the House of 1998: 1-9), when two pithoi containing the Bronzes (W.63 and W.69), on the southwest silver by and gold coins and rich, stylish gold jewelry found under the floors during the excavation W.51, and on the south by W.74. L.557 iswere paved 25

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.32. Wall 67 containing two small storage jars, looking north.

Fig. 1.33. Hoard C (L.576) and the stone slab that covered it when it was exposed. 26

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.34. The smithy and the storage jar in which Hoard C was found, looking west.

Fig. 1.36. The courtyard of the House of the Bronzes and west. Hoard B (L.575), looking north. Fig. 1.35. Hoards C (above) and B (below), looking 27

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CHAPTER ONE

Fig. 1.37. Hoard B at the time of its exposure.

Fig. 1.38. The removal of the bronze artifacts Hoard B.

Fig. 1.39. Hoard B, view into the storage jar. 28

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Fig. 1.40. The courtyard in the south of the House of the Bronzes, looking north.

Fig. 1.42. Reconstruction of tabun in courtyard L.557, looking north.

of a domicile. The fourth hoard was discovered in

the excavations of Yizhar Hirschfeld at the sewage

plant in 1989-1990, ca. 80 m to the north of the present excavation (Hirschfeld 1989/90: 107-108); bronze artifacts similar to those in our hoard were

Fig. 1.41. Plan and section of courtyard L.557. found in a water cistern. 29

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CHAPTER ONE

collection It thus seems that the Fatimid period was one ofof bronze artifacts remains an open instability, and that poor security induced question. several We are probably dealing with a prosperous craftsman who was engaged in both processing and people to conceal their possessions. The hoards' trading of metal artifacts. From an analysis of the owners were prevented from returning to reclaim

styles of the artifacts and their sources, we learn their treasures, perhaps by hostile acts that led to their of the hoard owner's international commercial death and those of their relatives. Another possibility

is that the hoards were buried when an earthquake connections. The finding of indubitably Byzantine coinsby bearing destroyed the buildings, as may be indicated the the figure of Jesus, which were about

to beof melted large piles of rubble covering the courtyards the down with much scrap bronze, may houses and their rooms and the fissures in the walls

also reflect links between the Christian community

of the water tower and other structures.

and the hoard's owner, and suggest that he himself

The richness of the hoards, particularly the was not a Christian and did not attribute religious amazing collection of bronze artifacts revealed in our importance to these coins. The excavations excavations, reflects the prosperity of Tiberias during conducted on the summit of Mount Berenice the Fatimid period. This conclusion is in accord with

revealed a large Byzantine church that was erected

the architectural remains from this period, which in the sixth century and continued in existence up point to orderly urban planning and a high standard

to the Crusader period (Hirschfeld 2004). The finds

of living. The residential structures revealed in our on Mount Berenice illustrate the strength of the

excavations, as well as in those mentioned above,

Christian community in Tiberias under Islamic rule.

testify to a period of economic prosperity. Tiberias,

In any event, it is clear that the owner of the hoard

which was the capital of the northern province of hid his merchandise with the intention of returning

the Land of Israel {J und al-Urdunn), is described and reclaiming it. However, this intention was never as a fortified city. Travelers who reached the area, realized. From the date of the latest coins found in

such as the Muslim geographer Nāsir Khusraw in

the hoard, it seems likely that the craftsman hid the

1047, describe the markets of Tiberias, its numerous

bronze artifacts in advance of the Seljuq invasion

domiciles and its entertainment facilities along the in 1077. Thus the hoard remained concealed for another millennium until it was uncovered in our

shore of the Sea of Galilee.

The identity of the person who concealed the

excavations.

REFERENCES

in the Holy Land, Vol. 4. Jerusalem: 1464-1470. Brosh, N. 1998. Two Jewelry Hoards from Tiberias. Hirschfeld, Y. 2004. Excavations at Tiberias, 1989-1994 'Atiqot 36: 1-9. Foerster, G. 1977. The Excavations at Tiberias. (IAA Reports 22). Jerusalem. Hirschfeld, Y. and Gutfeld, O. 1999. Discovery of a Qadmoniot 38-39: 87-91 (Hebrew). Foerster, G. 1993. Tiberias. In: E. Stern (ed.). The New

Fatimid Period Bronze Vessel Hoard at Tiberias.

Qadmoniot 118: 102-107 (Hebrew). Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Onn, A. 1992. Tiberias. Excavations and Surveys in Holy Land, Vol. 4. Jerusalem: 1470-1473. Israel 10: 166-167. Hirschfeld, Y. 1989/90. Tiberias. Excavations and Winogradov, Z. S. 2002. The Aqueduct of Tiberias. In: Surveys in Israel 9: 107-108. D. Amit, J. Patrich and Y. Hirschfeld (eds.). The Hirschfeld, Y. 1993. Tiberias. In: E. Stern (ed.). The Aqueducts of Israel. Portsmouth, RI: 295-304. New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations

30

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STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

INDEX OF LOCI

Locus

Square

Stratum

Elevation

(below

sea

level)

Description

of

Locus

101

102

F/5

103

G/4

104

I

G/5

105

I

E-D/5

106

II

F/5

107

F/5

108

F/5

109

E/4

110

G/4

111

F/4

112

I

I

D/4

113

D/5

114

E/5

115

I

II

II

D/4

116

I

D-F/5

117

D/4

118

119

D/4

G/5

120

II

II

II

II

F-G/5

I

121

122

G/3

123

I

F/3

124

G/4

125

II

D-E/4

II

126

127

G/4-5

128

II

E/3

I

129

130

D/5

II

131

132

G/5

133

E/5

134

135

F-G/5

D/4

136

I

I

D-E/4

137

E/3

138

E/4

II

II

II

II

II

139

E/4

140

D/3

II

II

141

142

F-G/5

143

II

F/5

144

E/3

145

146

E-F/4

147

G/4

I

II

148

G/4-5

149

D-E/4

150

151

F/4

G/4

II

II

II

|ll

31

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CHAPTER ONE

Locus

Square

152

Stratum

D/4

153

D/3

154

F/5

D/3

157

F/4

158

sea

level)

Description

I

IV

156

159

(below

185.71-187.01

II

F/3

155

Elevation

1Ī

II

II

F/4

G/3

II

II

160

161

D/3

162

D/5

163

D/3

164

II

D-E/3

165

166

D-E/3

F/5

167

II

G/4-5

F-G/4

170

D/5

171

F/5

172

IV

II

F/3

500

II

II

G/3

173

II

II

E/4

168

169

II

IV

II

II

G/6

I

501

502

E/6

503

D/6

II

504

D/7

II

505

506

F/6

F/6

II

507

D/6

508

G/6

II

509

G/6

II

510

F/6

II

II

511

512

513

F/7

D/7

II

514

515

D/6

516

G/6

517

II

II

F/6

518

519

520

F/6

II

E/6

II

E/6

521

522

F/6

523

E/7

524

525

G/7

F/6

II

II

526

F/6

II

527

F/6

II

528

529

F/6

[F/6

32

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of

Locus

STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE

Locus

Square

530

Stratum

E/6-7

Elevation

531

G/7

II

532

G/7

II

533

D/7

534

535

F/6

536

F/6

539

541

G/7

542

D/6

546

D/6

II

D/6

II

II

E/7

II

II

F-G/6

F/7

F/6

553

III

II

II

E/7

554

II

D-E/7

552

II

D-E/6

II

555

E/7

II

556

F/7

II

557

G/7

II

558

D/6-7

559

E/6-7

560

D/7

561

562

D/7

II

III

F/7

II

D-E/6

565

566

II

II

F/6

563

564

II

II

G/7

551

II

II

544

550

III

II

545

549

Locus

II

G/7

G/7

547

of

II

F/7

548

Description

II

G/6-7

540

543

level)

II

F-G/6

538

sea

III

D/6

F-G/6

537

(below

II

III

F/7

F/7

567

D-E/6

568

D/6

569

III

III

G/7

570

F/7

II

571

F/7

II

II

572

573

574

575

576

577

F/7

F/7

F/7

F/7

33

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CHAPTER TWO

THE SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATION OF

A SELECTION OF THE COPPER-ALLOY METALWORK FROM TIBERIAS

Matthew J. Ponting

Craddock (1979) published "The Copper-alloys The assemblage of metalwork from the three pottery of the Medieval Islamicthe World," based on an storage vessels found at Tiberias represents undisclosed number of analyses of British Museum largest single find of Fatimid-period metalwork pieces; these have more recently been incorporated from anywhere in the world. Consequently, it also

into a larger (149 objects) work of synthesis by represents the single most comprehensive potential

Hook and LaNiece (Craddock et al. repository of information aboutCraddock, eleventh-century 1998). Bothtechniques. these works are unfortunately limited Islamic metalworking technology and bymedieval the scope of the British Museum holdings, which The scientific examination of early Islamic tend to concentrate on "art" pieces from the twelfth metalwork has attracted comparatively little interest

century and later. Nevertheless, the later work when compared to earlier archaeological periods, remains the largest analytical overview of Islamic which is strange considering the cultural importance of Islam as the successor to the classical tradition copper alloys published to date. Other contributions

in the Near East (Craddock 1979). Furthermore,to the field include the analyses of 18 pieces in the the first Islamic dynasties to establish themselves Freer Gallery, Washington, spanning eight hundred within the borders of the previously Greco-Romanyears, published by Atil, Chase and Jett (Atil et al.

world brought with them ideas and influences at 1985) and occasional piecemeal analyses that have every cultural level, which they "welded" to the appeared in other papers dealing primarily with traditions that they found already deeply rooted art-historical topics (such as those in Melikian-

in the conquered areas to produce something Chirvani 1974). Access to suitable material has also presented problems; the holdings of western unique. Studies of Islamic metalwork that contain a

museums (such as the Ashmolean Museum, British

Museum and Freer Gallery) are limited and often significant scientific component are few; the most

biased towards "art" pieces. Excavation of wellnotable is Persian Metal Technology, 700-1300 AD (Allan 1979), which presents the mostdated and provenanced material in the countries of origin has, in the last fifty years or so, been comprehensive and scholarly overview to date. problematic, and is becoming increasingly so. This work is based primarily on the interpretation of contemporary texts, but also draws on over sixty Thus the Tiberias discovery represents an important opportunity to investigate early medieval chemical analyses and numerous observations. Islamic metalwork from a specific location at a However, this study is also geographically limited

time. The study provides an insight into to early medieval Persia, and consequently therespecific is the everyday metalworking practices of a workshop no way of knowing if the findings are applicable

towards the end of the eleventh century in an elsewhere in the Islamic world. In the same year, 35

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CHAPTER TWO

important cultural center that we already know from several was locations, but the statistical analyses

home to Arabs, Christians and Jews (Runciman reported here were carried out using the mean value 1951: 304). The strongly Islamic nature of these of this data, thus yielding only one set of results for hoard is clearly indicated by the Kufic inscriptions each object. The site that was sampled was chosen

on some of the pieces (see above). However, to test hypotheses

regarding fabrication, whether the

Byzantine coins, types that bear a portrait object of Christ was cast in one piece or constructed from two

and a clearly Christian inscription, also or formed more separate a castings. The thin-walled vessels were sometimes too thin for the extraction of drilled

part of the hoard.

In the period between the completion samples, of the and in these cases a cut section was taken study that forms the basis of this paper using anda its fine jeweler's saw. This yielded a piece of metal, part publication, further analyses were conducted on of which, once cleaned of corrosion, be dissolved for ICP-AES. The remainder objects from Tiberias and from othercould Fatimid copper-alloy pieces from assemblages was found thenin mounted in resin and polished to allow optical microscopy and SEM-EDS analyses. Denia (southeast Spain) and from the Serçe Liman

shipwreck (Turkey) as part of a separate project The sample preparation methodology used (Ponting 2004). Reference has been madefor to the thisICP-AES analysis was essentially that subsequent work where appropriate, butdiscussed a certain by Hughes et al. (1976). Approx. 25 mg amount of duplication has been retainedof inthe some drilled (or cut) sample was weighed into pre- weighed sample tubes, 2 ml of aqua regia (1:3) of the general discussions on Islamic metallurgy

where this is important background forwere the added, full and the tube was gently heated to a understanding of the results.

temperature of no higher than 60°C (to prevent loss

of tin). When the sample was completely dissolved,

THE OBJECTS ANALYZED AND

TECHNIQUES USED

the liquid was made up to an approximate volume of

25 ml, and the entire tube and contents reweighed. An accurate dilution factor could then be calculated

the set of weights recorded for each sample. This chapter presents the results of the analysis from of

This was later used to calculate weight percent 103 artifacts from the hoard (a sample of approx. values from the concentration figures measured by 10%), which are listed in Table 2.1. The objects the ICP-AES instrument. were selected to represent as broad as possible a spectrum of artifact types, whilst including The ICP-AES used was a Perkin Elmer Plasma

400 instrument, calibrated using a mixed multiitems of particular art-historical or archaeological element standard that was matrix-matched. Quality interest. The bulk chemical analysis was conducted

control solutions (in conjunction with the quality by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission control software "QC Expert") and Standard spectrometry (ICP-AES) and additional imaging

Reference Materials (SRM) were run every and micro-analyses were performed by scanning ten samples to monitor accuracy and precision. electron microscopy in conjunction with energy Accuracy, based on multiple analyses of the two dispersive analysis (SEM-EDS). X-ray fluorescence SRMs used spread across all analyses, is better than (XRF-EDS) was used for the semi-quantitative analysis of the samples of scrap metal.

8% for all major and minor elements, with the lower

figures generally corresponding to the lower levels Samples for ICP-AES were taken by drilling into

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