Iej 55 - 2005

NOTES AND NEWS
Author(s): Amnon Ben-Tor, Myriam Rosen-Ayalon, Katya Cytryn-Silverman, Zeev Weiss,

Gwyn Davies and Jodi Magness
Source: Israel Exploration Journal, Vol. 55, No. 2 (2005), pp. 209-230
Published by: Israel Exploration Society
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27927109
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NOTES AND NEWS
EXCAVATIONS AND SURVEYS housed at the ETAP hotel, Yessud Ha
Macalah.
TelHazor, 2005* In June 2005, UNESCO declared Hazor
a 'World Heritage' site.
The sixteenth season of the 'Selz Founda
tion Hazor Excavations in Memory of The Excavations
Yigael Yadin' took place between 21 June Work focused on two areas: A-4 and A-5
and 2 August 2005. The excavations are (fig-1).
sponsored by the Philip and Muriel Berman
Center for Biblical Archaeology at the He Area A-4
brew University of Jerusalem and by the Is This area is divided into two sections: a
rael Exploration Society. The expedition southern and a northern one.
benefitted from the financial assistance of
the Antiqua Foundation (Geneva, Switzer Southern section. ? The Iron Age (tenth
land), the Edith and Reuben Hecht Fund, the
century BCE) remains uncovered in 2004
late Reginald David Benjamin and Esme
were removed. These were sunk to a great
Marion Benjamin of Perth, Western Austra
lia, J.P. Rosen, New York, and individual
donors. The excavations take place in the
Hazor National Park and receive full coop
eration from the National Parks Authority.
The expedition numbered some 60 par
ticipants. In addition to the permanent staff,
these included groups from the Associates
for Biblical Research from the U.S. (led by
A.L. Fuller and G. Franz), the Adventist
Theological Institute at Cernica, Romania
(let by T. Aldea) and from the Southern Ad
ventist University in Tennessee (led by M.
Hasel). Volunteers from the U.S., Canada
and Europe (Belgium, England, France,
Germany and Sweden) and students of ar
chaeology from the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem also took part in the excavations.
Area supervisors were: D. Ben-Ami, as
sisted by S. Kiselevitz (Area A-4), and D.
Zigler, assisted by V. Avrutis and A.
Melamed (Area A-5). The team also in
cluded: R. Bonfil (surveying and drafting);
M. Cimadevilla (photography); R. Elitzur;
O. Cohen, assisted by I. Strand (restoration
and preservation); and S. Yadid and I.
Strand (administration). The expedition was
* Cf. IEJ 54 (2004): 230-235.
209
NOTES AND NEWS 219
Sepphoris (Sippori), 2005 Evyasaf and N. Vilozny (area supervisors),

A. Ecker and D. Ein-Mor (assistant area su
pervisors), A. Iamim (surveying and draft
The Hebrew University expedition at
ing), G. Laron (photography), B. Johnson
Sepphoris resumed its excavations this sum
(pottery), M. Haber (find registration) and
mer after a three-year hiatus. The 2005 ex
M. Subhi (administration). Members of the
cavation season was sponsored by DO AR
Israel Museum laboratories joined the expe
Litigation Consulting and the Hertha
dition for the last week of the dig to help
Stanger Charitable Trust in loving memory
with the restoration of some of this season's
of Noam Shudofsky, and by the Hebrew
finds. The expedition enjoyed the ongoing
University of Jerusalem. The excavation,
support and help of Mr. B. Shalev, who has
which took place between June 26 and July
been involved in developing the park for
22, 2005, was directed by Z. Weiss (the He
many years, and assistance was also pro
brew University of Jerusalem) and was con
vided by the Israel Nature Parks Authority.
ducted in two parts of the Lower City of
Sepphoris (fig. 1 ).
Area 77.1: The Decumanus
Approximately 45 people took part in the
excavation, including Hebrew University In this area, in the centre of the Lower
students participating in an academic pro City, 30 m. east of the colonnaded street's
gramme, a group of high school students intersection, another section of the
from Hoshaya, local volunteers and hired la decumanus (c. 26 m. long), dating from
bourers. The staff included: O. Gutfeld (as the Roman-Byzantine period, was
sistant to the excavation director), R. unearthed. Its rectangular stone-slab
220 NOTES AND NEWS
Fig. 1. Sepphoris 2005: general plan of Lower City
pavement was almost entirely preserved located at a certain point on the southern
(fig. 2). The width of the street between side of the pavement tapers to 5 m. (fig.
the sidewalks is 6 m.; the width of a recess 3). A narrow probe (3 1 m.) conducted on
the western side of the recess, adjacent to the sidewalk, which was not well pre
the stone pavement, revealed some walls served. The stylobate lining the street was
whose relationship to the street and the robbed and only the plaster bedding, but
immediate environs is not yet clear. not the mosaic, remains of the southern
Enlarging the area in the coming season sidewalk. A water pipe made out of clay
will allow us to determine these walls' drums, running in an east-west direction,
context, date and function. was found under the southern sidewalk.
On the northern side of the street, the A 1.8x2 m. probe conducted beneath
expedition uncovered the continuation of the stone pavement of the decumanus re
the steps running parallel and adjacent to vealed two successive layers pre-dating
the ancient thoroughfare. Two, or possibly the street; their precise date and use, how
three, steps led to the northern sidewalk, ever, cannot be determined at this point.
which was higher than street level. This The upper layer is composed of plaster
sidewalk followed the line of the street, and two stone slabs, while the lower one is
leading in antiquity to an as yet simply plastered. The 14 stone slabs that
unexcavated building north-east of the were removed to conduct the probe were
main intersection of the colonnaded later returned to their original position.
streets in the Lower City. South of the A sequence of several plaster layers
street we uncovered the continuation of above the main thoroughfare was found
222 NOTES AND NEWS
Fig. 3. The decumanus (view to the west); steps visible on northern side of the
decumanus; note recess on the south
NOTESAND NEWS 223
along the decumanus. In between there The abundant and diverse architectural
was a shallow accumulation of debris that remains found south of the street and its
varied in composition from one layer to sidewalk can be divided stratigraphically
the next. The existence of several layers into several phases. Although further ex
above the decumanus pavement clearly cavation is necessary here in order to clar
indicates that the route was in continuous ify their context, date and use, the finds
use throughout the Islamic period, albeit uncovered this year suggest that several
on higher levels. Excavations north and significant architectural changes were
south of the street uncovered some walls, made in the layout of the immediate area.
the continuation of which was exposed in A beautifully constructed stylobate
the adjacent area in previous seasons. The running east-west and parallel to the line
later walls were constructed of ashlar of the street is the earliest architectural
stones in secondary use. The northern feature unearthed in the area. The
wall was built on the second step, whereas stylobate and the above-mentioned recess
the southern one was built along the north of it (at a distance of 5 m.) lie paral
robbed stylobate. The walls unearthed this lel to one another and share a common
season, together with those found in pre axis. This may very well indicate that
vious years, apparently belong to rooms these two features belonged to a single
and shops that encroached upon the Ro structure located next to the decumanus,
man-Byzantine street. This phenomenon possibly an entrance into a larger Early
was known in other cities in the region, Roman compound in the area. Traces of
where, by the end of the Byzantine or the such a structure were found in excavations
early Islamic period, private construction from previous years; this question, how
reduced the size of the designated public ever, awaits clarification in the next exca
area from earlier periods. vation season.
Room constructed in phase 2, south of decumanus
224 NOTES AND NEWS
Two rooms, their floors and walls floor with a simple geometric design was
coated with an uninterrupted layer of fine uncovered on the northern edge of the
plaster, were constructed in a later period central square; this, together with another
over the stylobate, and they concealed it section found in the previous season, be
well (fig. 4). The two rooms, opening onto longs to a larger mosaic carpet that once
the southern sidewalk, presumably belong covered the southern aisle of the court
to a larger row of shops (phase 2) along yard. The new mosaic also contained the
the decumanus, built over earlier remains. beginning of a Greek inscription, whose
Later on, the shops were covered with dirt continuation is still buried beneath the
and another plaster layer (phase 3) was eastern baulk and will be excavated next
placed on top of it. This most probably be year.
longed to the church south of the Four rooms arranged in two rows were
decumanus that was excavated in past discovered in the area between the
years. A lime kiln found close to the sur colonnaded courtyard and the street south
face, but which nevertheless cut through of it. All but one room had plaster floors;
earlier remains, represents the fourth and in most cases, only robbed trenches
final phase in this area. enabled us to follow the line of the walls.
It seems that the northern rooms opened
Area 67.4: Private Housing onto the courtyard, while the southern
The other area excavated this summer is two were oriented southward, most
in the south-eastern part of the Lower probably serving as shops fronting the
City, next to a road running east-west and street.
parallel to the decumanus to its north. Additional architectural elements were
Additional sections, on the southern side found in the areas east and west of the four
of the Roman residence excavated in pre rooms. A cistern and a water channel were
vious years, were uncovered this season. excavated in the eastern area, near a pool
An analysis of the remains exposed thus unearthed in the previous season, al
far indicates that this house was built on though it is not yet clear whether the three
two construction levels. Evidently, the facilities functioned together in the build
rooms on the bottom level surrounded a ing. A long and narrow room, equal in
colonnaded courtyard with an ornamental length to the two rows of rooms, was ex
fountain, a common feature in opulent cavated on a lower level west of these ar
houses of the Roman period. Various chitectural elements. Cut partly in
rooms in the structure had mosaic pave bedrock and paved with well-cut ashlars,
ments while others had plaster floors. The it gave direct access from the street into
mosaics, which are severely damaged, the colonnaded courtyard (fig. 6). A chan
include simple geometrical and colored nel running north-south and cut partly in
designs. This house resembles others bedrock was found between the entrance
excavated at the site and represents pri room and the adjacent rooms to the east. It
vate architecture at its best in the second appears to have been used for draining
and third centuries CE. into the street the water that had accumu
Several squares south of the colon lated in the colonnaded courtyard south
naded courtyard were opened this season, ward. At a later stage, the entire room was
aiming to verify the layout of the southern covered with cut stones laid directly on its
wing and its relationship to the adjacent floor. Although such platforms have been
street (fig. 5). A small section of a mosaic found elsewhere on the site, the use and
AREA 67.4 \\ u / //__C^L?_\
Fig. 5. Plan of sections excavated on south side of Roman residence, in Area 67.4
^ SEPPHORIS X V<^/^^'|
END OF 2005 SEASON ^ ^ ^^ ^/
226 NOTES AND NEWS
Fig. 6. Eastern view of entrance room; in foreground: original pavement and stones laid
directly above; in upper right-hand corner of southern square: channel draining colon
naded courtyard toward the street
date of this particular stone layer is not yet room; its relationship to the Roman build
clear. ing, however, has not yet been deter
Another large room, with a plastered mined. Several bricks were inserted on its
floor, was unearthed west of the entrance western edge. At a later stage, the walls
inside the room were built with stones in
secondary use, reducing its size.
Several architectural elements found in
some rooms were later additions imple
mented in the Roman building's second
stage. A destruction layer comprising bro
ken stones of various types and sizes cov
ered the remains in the area of the Roman
residence. Construction dating from the
later Byzantine and early Arab periods
was found throughout the area, above the
building's ruins. Although much less im
posing in their appearance, these remains
indicate the ongoing use of the area in
later periods as well.
Small Finds
A large number of coins, pottery and other
small finds was collected in these two
areas. Of great importance is a small box,
most probably an incense burner, found in
the decumanus, which is carved in lime
Fig. 7. Ram(?) depicted on broken side of stone and bears decorations of various
limestone box images on its sides. Traces of red indicate
NOTES AND NEWS 227
that the box was partly or even fully pearance of the former with the tree in its
painted. Although only half the box was background conjures up the image of a
found, it has no parallel in the region. cross. Similar depictions of the animal
A crucified figure is represented on the with the tree in the background were
only complete side of the box; a satyr found, for example, on several mosaic
playing a musical instrument and a danc pavements decorating churches in Jordan,
ing maenad appear on one of the broken giving visual expression to the Christian
sides, while a bull or ram with a tree in the interpretation of the biblical story. Such a
background is depicted on the other (fig. combination of religious and secular
7). This animal, which seems to be caught themes on one object is characteristic of
in the thicket and hovering above the the iconography of Byzantine art.
ground, is reminiscent of the Christian
rendering of the sacrifice of Isaac; the ap Zeev Weiss
* * *
show true2004*
The Roman Fort at Yotvata, orientation to the ca
points. In 2003, work focused
A second season of excavations wasof
south-east corner con
the fort. This
ducted between 1-30 June
two2004
mainin the Late levels: an
occupation
Roman fort at Yotvataoccupation
(Ein Ghadian, map 1) at c.
level (level
ref. 1543 9217), some 40 (above
km. north of Eilat.
sea-level) dating from th
The excavations, directed by U.
Islamic Avner
period (thecentury-fi
(seventh
Arava Institute), G. Davies (Florida
of the eighthInterna
century), and a low
tional University) and J. Magness
pation (Univer
level (level 2) at c. 76.5 m
sity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill), were
end of the 2003 season we thought
funded by the Eilot Regional Council, the
lower level represented the origin
Jewish community of Toronto and the Foun
pation of the fort, but the 2004 dis
dation for Biblical Archaeology (North
disprove this.
Carolina). The staff included T. Levine (reg
istrar and pottery conservator), N. Bierling
The South-east Corner of the Fort (figs.
(photographer), J.S. Bucko (surveyor), B.R.
McCane (field supervisor)1-2)and E. Stegmaier
(artist). By the end of 2003, two rooms along the
south wall of the fort (W501) had been
The Excavations (fig. 1) exposed in the south-east corner of the
The fort is a standard quadriburgium, its fort, revealing four steps of a stone stair
four projecting corner towers oriented case abutting the inside of the fort wall at
towards the cardinal points. For the sake a right angle. In 2004, U. Avner super
vised excavations in a room to the west of
of clarity we refer to the south corner
tower as the 'south-east' corner tower, the the staircase (L2028); his results will be
south-east wall of the fort as the 'east' published separately. Excavations east of
wall, the south-west wall of the fort as the the staircase revealed an open courtyard
'south' wall, and so on. All site plans (L2030) in front of the entrance to the
south-east corner tower. Two additional
stone steps were uncovered at the base of
* Cf. lEJ 54 (2004): 256-261. the staircase, turning a 90? angle into the

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NOTES AND NEWS

Author(s): Amnon Ben-Tor, Myriam Rosen-Ayalon, Katya Cytryn-Silverman, Zeev Weiss,

* Cf. IEJ 54 (2004): 230-235.

Sepphoris (Sippori), 2005 Evyasaf and N. Vilozny (area supervisors),

Fig. 1. Sepphoris 2005: general plan of Lower City

Room constructed in phase 2, south of decumanus

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