Yotvata : The Ze'ev Meshel Excavations (1974-1980) / Lily Singer-Avitz and Etan Ayalon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Singer-Avitz, Lily, author.

Ayalon, Etan, author.

Series:

Monograph series of the Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute.

Monograph Series of the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Excavations (Archaeology)--Israel--Yoṭvatah.

Excavations (Archaeology).

Iron age--Israel--Yoṭvatah.

Iron age.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

University Park, Pennsylvania : Eisenbrauns, [2022]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

This book presents the final report of the excavations at Yotvata, the largest oasis in the Arabah Valley, conducted by the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University in 1974-1980 under the direction of Dr. Zeʾev Meshel. The report covers two central sites: a fortified Iron I site and an Early Islamic settlement. The Iron I remains consist of an irregular casemate wall surrounding a courtyard. The location of this site suggests that the settlement was established in order to protect the water sources and to overlook and supervise the nearby crossroads. Based on the relative proximity of the site to Timna, it may be concluded that the oasis formed the main source of water and wood for the population involved in copper production in that region.The rich finds uncovered at the Early Islamic settlement--including a large courtyard building and a nearby bathhouse, among other structures--point to habitation from the end of the seventh to the early ninth century CE. The proximity of the settlement to a sophisticated irrigation system (qanat) and the administrative/economic ostraca discovered at the site suggest that it served as the center of an agricultural estate owned by an elite Muslim family. Among the unique finds is a large assemblage of locally produced, handmade pottery, which is thoroughly studied here.The findings from the excavations at the Yotvata oasis have made a major contribution to the study of Early Islamic settlement and material culture in the greater Arabah region and beyond.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: THE YOTVATA OASIS

SECTION I YOTVATA HILL THE IRON I "FOR TRESS" AND OTHER REMAINS

PART I THE SITE IN CONTEXT

CHAPTER 2 YOTVATA: A "FORTRESS" ON A ROAD JUNCTION

PART II ARCHITECTURAL REMAINS

CHAPTER 3 THE EXCAVATIONS AND ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS

PART III ARTIFACTS

CHAPTER 4 THE POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE OF THE IRON I

CHAPTER 5 PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE IRON I POTTERY

CHAPTER 6 THE CERAMIC FINDS FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB

CHAPTER 7 THE CHIPPED ST ONE COLLECTIONS: LITHIC PERSPECTIVES ON AN OASIS SITE IN THE ARABAH

CHAPTER 8 SHELL ARTIFACTS

CHAPTER 9 TWO BONE OBJECTS

CHAPTER 10 OSTRICH EGGSHELLS

CHAPTER 11 GROUND STONE TOOLS

CHAPTER 12 WORKED WOODEN OBJECTS FROM THE IRON I

CHAPTER 13 A WOOD COFFIN FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB

CHAPTER 14 CORDS AND BASKETRY FROM THE IRON I AND TEXTILES FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB

PART IV ECOFACTS

CHAPTER 15 ARCHAEOBOTANICAL REMAINS FROM THE IRON I "FORTRESS" AND THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB

CHAPTER 16 CHARCOAL SAMPLES FROM THE CHALCOLITHIC/EARLY BRONZE I SETTLEMENT

CHAPTER 17 DENDROARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE COFFIN FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB

CHAPTER 18 IRON I AND CHALCOLITHIC/EARLY BRONZE I F AUNA

CHAPTER 19 RADIOCARBON DATES

PART V CONCLUDING REMARKS

CHAPTER 20 MAṢṢEBOTH (STANDING STONES) IN GATES

CHAPTER 21 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

ADDENDUM LATER EXCAVATIONS IN THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB

LIST OF LOCI

SECTION II THE EARLY ISLAMIC SETTLEMENT

PART VI ARCHITECTURAL REMAINS

CHAPTER 22 ARCHITECTURE AND STRATIGRAPHY

PART VII ARTIFACTS

CHAPTER 23 THE POTTERY

CHAPTER 24 PERFECTING LOCAL PRODUCTION OF DESERT POTTERY: PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF EARLY ISLAMIC WARES

CHAPTER 25 STONE AND METAL OBJECTS

CHAPTER 26 GLASS FINDS

CHAPTER 27 THE OSTRACA

CHAPTER 28 THE COINS

CHAPTER 29 TEXTILES, TEXTILE IMPRESSIONS AND A PLAIT

PART VIII ECOFACTS

CHAPTER 30 IDENTIFICATION OF DYES

CHAPTER 31 ARCHAEOBOTANICAL REMAINS FROM THE EARLY ISLAMIC SITE

CHAPTER 32 FAUNAL REMAINS

CHAPTER 33 MOLLUSCS

PART IX CONCLUDING REMARKS

CHAPTER 34 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

LIST OF LOCI

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781646022601

1646022602

OCLC:

1380733617