Palaeobotanical Remains from Mount Ebal

Abstract

Analysis of palaeobotanical material from Mount Eballocated in the hill country of Manasseh near Shechem (central Samaria) provides valuable information regarding the past vegetation and macroclimate of this region. The botanical samples came from two strata of the Iron Age I site excavated by Adam Zertal (1986-1987). Carbonized wood samples and charred fruit stones were collected from II loci. Charred pieces of wood of 1-1.5cu. cm. were aspirated in absolute alcohol for 90 minutes, dipped in methyl-benzoate-celloidin for 24 hours, transferred to benzene for 20 minutes and finally to 50-550C paraffin for 96 hours. Blocks we,~eprepared and cross sections as well as longitudinal, tangential and radial sections of 10-12micron thickness were made with a microtome. After deparaffination, sections were mounted in Canada balsam. Anatomical identification of the wood was made from these sections. Samples taken from live trees of known species were used for reference. Charred fruits and seeds were identified morphologically by comparison with recent fruits and seeds. Four species of trees from the Mount Ebal site were identified: Amygdalus communis (almond), Olea europaea (olive), Pistacia palaestina (terebinth) and Quercus calliprinos (Kermes oak). The stones were of almonds and olives (Table 1). Quercus calliprinos and Pistacia palaestina are two of the main constituents of the Mediterranean maquis. This plant association characterizes the Mediterranean hill belt from the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights in the north to the Hebron hills in the south. Olea europaea is one of the most typical Mediterranean tree species. Single trees growing naturally and groves of olive trees occur all over the Mediterranean hilly region of the country, but most trees are either cultivated or escapes. Amygdalus communis grows today in some open steppe forests in the Mediterranean zone of the eastern Galilee, Mount Gilboa and eastern Samaria. This type of woodland has been severely damaged by man, and only a few stands remain. Like olive trees, this species has also been cultivated since ancient times, and it is therefore questionable if it is indigenous (Zohary 1959; 1972). Judging by the results of our analyses, it may be assumed that the vegetation of Mount Ebal in Iron Age I was a typical maqui of Quercus calliprinos Pistacia palaestina. The olives and almonds were most probably cultivated in the environs of the site. Central Samaria is a typical Mediterranean region. The summit of Mount Ebal attains the height of 940 m. above sea-level. Considering the elevation and the amount of precipitation, which is above 700 mm. mean annual rainfall, one would expect to find in Central Samaria a typical Mediterranean maqui. In spite of these ecological conditions,