Archaeology, Epigraphy, Philology

Abstract

Archaeology, Epigraphy, Philology Christopher T. Begg, Joseph E. Jensen, and Victor H. Matthews 901. [Khirbet Beit Bassa] Ibrahim Abu Aemar, "Archaeological Excavations at Khirbet Beit Bassa, Palestine," NEA 81 (2018) 250-58. A hilltop site, Khirbet Beit Bassa is located about three kilometers southeast of Bethlehem. The results of surveys and archaeological excavations at the site indicate that it was inhabited during the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods, and for a time in the Ottoman period. Architectural remains include a subterranean rock-cut tomb, ground graves, a wine press, residential structures, cisterns, and a khan. Many parts of the site have been exposed to destruction and vandalism by looters and by urban development and agricultural activities. This study focuses on presenting the results of archaeological excavations conducted at the site in 2009 and 2010. [Adapted from published abstract—V.H.M.] 902. [Megiddo] Matthew J. Adams, "The Egyptianized Pottery Cache from Megiddo's Area J: A Foundation Deposit for Temple 4040," TA 44 (2017) 141-64. In 1996, a cache of 16 Egyptianized vessels were unearthed at Megiddo by the Tel Aviv University Megiddo Expedition. The corpus's stratigraphy was difficult to ascertain since the discovery was made early on during the renewed excavations at the site, and the ceramic typology could not be readily assessed due to the apparently specialized function of the vessels. A.'s paper reconsiders the cache in light of the now definitive stratigraphical evaluation of Area J while also reexamining the unpublished excavation records from the square in which it was found. A. concludes that the cache was a foundation deposit related to Temple 4040 and that both the former and the latter should be redated to the Intermediate Bronze Age on the basis of Egyptian ceramic parallels and the new High Chronology for the Early Bronze Age. See also #969. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 903. Aviad Agam and Ran Barkai, "Small Flake Acheulian: Further Insights into Lithic Recycling at Late Acheulian Revadim, Israel," TA 45 (2018) 170-92. The multilayered Lower Paleolithic Late Acheulian site of Revadim has yielded rich lithic assemblages, including dozens of hand axes. These lithic assemblages for the most part reflect a predominance of flake-production technologies and flake tools, as is the case in many other Acheulian localities as well. This study presents the results of an analysis of Layer C3 at Revadim, focusing on several newly explored aspects of the production of small, sharp flakes involving lithic recycling. Against this background, we propose definitions of new typo-technological categories of cores-on-flakes and small flakes produced from cores-on-flakes. We also present a typo-technological analysis of the tool types identified in the C3 assemblage and address the question of the degree of homogeneity of the flint types used for the manufacture of these small, sharp flakes. Our results lead to the conclusion that the technological repertoire of Late Acheulian hominins was more complex than is generally recognized and that production of small flakes was an integral component of Lower Paleolithic technologies and activities. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 904. [Khirbet el-Lauz] Salah Hussein Al-Houdalieh, "Khirbet el-Lauz Revisited: Lessons from the Renewed Destruction of a Vulnerable Heritage Site," NEA 81 (2018) 244-49. The author describes the recent, renewed vandalizing of the site of Khirbet el-Lauz on the West Bank. In so doing, he stresses the role of the general public in protecting the [End Page 306] archaeological resources located in Area C, as well as the importance of raising awareness among school-age students to get them engaged in safe-guarding archaeological sites, and offers some recommendations for reducing the looting of antiquities in the Palestinian territories. [Adapted from published abstract—V.H.M.] 905. [Megiddo; "Sign of Tanit"] Eran Arie, "The Earliest Known 'Sign of Tanit' Revealed in the 11th Century BCE Building at Megiddo," TA 46 (2017) 61-71. During the 2008 excavation season at Megiddo, a small copper alloy object was uncovered in a clean, early Iron I context. The artifact is the earliest "sign...