Amphorae unearthed during excavations at the Roman Baths and Olive Market sites in Tarsus provide significant insights into the city's maritime trade with various regions. These amphorae, mostly dating to the Roman and Late Antique periods, shed light on the commercial connections the Cilician port city of Tarsus maintained with various centres across the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Seas. Among the amphorae found at the Roman Baths and Olive Market are examples produced in Egypt and Palestine in the eastern Mediterranean region. The Egyptian amphorae are of types AE 5/6 and AE 7, represented by fragments of rim-neck, neck-shoulder-body, and body-base sections. Based on comparison, these are dated to the 6th and 7th centuries AD, with type AE 5/6 amphorae being more numerous. The other group consists of Late Roman 4 amphorae of Palestinian origin, identified as rim, handle and base fragments. Found at both sites, they belong to the A2 and B1 variants of the LR 4 amphorae. Amphorae of this group were dated between the second quarter and the end of the 5th century AD, as well as to the late 5th and first half of the 6th centuries AD. Wine was exported to Tarsus in these Egyptian and Palestinian amphorae. The latest examples are dated to the mid-7th century AD, around the time of the Arabian-Byzantine Wars, during which Tarsus was captured by the Arabians.
This article examines cylinder seals bearing genuine and pseudo-cuneiform inscriptions from the southern Levant, situating them within the wider glyptic traditions of Bronze Age Western Asia. Seals with authentic inscriptions attest to links with literate administration, whereas pseudo-inscribed examples engage with the symbolic authority of script in non-semantic ways. These artefacts were intentionally created to appropriate the visual prestige of cuneiform in contexts where its semantic content was inaccessible. Drawing on archaeological provenance and comparative iconography, the study demonstrates how these seals functioned as instruments of cultural negotiation, enabling communities to express status, legitimacy and participation in inter-regional networks. Spanning the Middle Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period, the corpus reflects changing social and political contexts. The article argues that pseudo-cuneiform seals constitute a distinct tradition, originating in the Middle Bronze Age and linked to northern Levantine and Old Assyrian styles, and their analysis offers insights into the social life of script and into the negotiation of identity and authority in the southern Levant during the Bronze Age.
This article presents a 7th-century BCE stamp seal from Tel Hadid, central Israel, crafted from mother-of-pearl - a material previously undocumented in the southern Levantine stamp seal corpus. Recovered from a late Iron Age context associated with Assyrian-period occupation, the artefact bears an engraved scene identified as a variant of the crescent-on-standard emblem linked to the moon god of Harran. The study situates the object archaeologically, analyses its iconography, and reconstructs its manufacturing sequence through microscopic and elemental examination. The technological evidence indicates a multi-stage production process: a nacreous blank was perforated using controlled bi-directional rotary drilling and subsequently engraved with a fine-pointed implement, as demonstrated by incision stratigraphy and metal residues confined to the engraved lines. While the perforation reflects controlled engagement with the mechanical properties of nacre, the engraved surface exhibits greater variability in incision morphology, underscoring the constraints imposed by the laminated substrate. The seal thus demonstrates how a recognized colonial motif was materially articulated within a western Assyrian provincial context, while also providing a rare opportunity to examine the practices and constraints of seal engraving on a nacreous.
The renewed 'Tall Dayr 'Alla Temple' project aims to re-examine the impressive remains of a series of Late Bronze Age (LBA) temples at the site of Tall Dayr 'Alla in the Jordan Valley. A first season was carried out in 2022, which revisited parts of the sequence excavated by H. J. Franken over two field seasons in 1961 and 1964. By combining newly digitized archival materials from these excavations with renewed archaeological fieldwork, the 2022 season sought to clarify certain inconsistencies in Franken's 1992 publication of the temple sequence and, through targeted radiocarbon sampling, to resolve questions regarding the site's chronology and the end of the LBA. This project produced a revised stratigraphy for the LBA temples, gained new insights into their construction and identified evidence for a sustained use of the unique Deir 'Alla script.
This paper evaluates the 'En Hazeva and Tell el-Kheleifeh Iron Age fortresses within a broader chronological and historical context. Occupying strategic locations that dominated the two outlets of the Arabah Valley, the construction of the fortresses was likely driven by the wealth generated from the Arabian trade network. Their monumental scale suggests that a royal power with strong political influence over the Arabah Valley down to its southernmost end at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, initiated their building and operated them. In addition to their functional duties, these building projects were designed to serve as symbols of power and control. Recent radiocarbon measurements establish the foundation date of the 'En Hazeva fortress in the first half of the 8th century BCE, before the period of Assyrian hegemony in the southern Levant, and it is therefore argued that their construction was the initiative of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
The heritage of the recent and contemporary past has become a major area of study for historical archaeologists, architectural historians and heritage professionals. Yet the industrial heritage of the Middle East has been comparatively little studied despite the very significant role the extraction of oil has played in the region's modern history: the early history of oil extraction is inseparable from the imperialist and colonial history the region experienced. Like other parts of the historic environment, this built heritage is under increasing pressure from natural decay, lack of care and ongoing development, it has, however, received considerably less attention. This paper seeks to address this gap by examining the As-Safawi H5 pumping station in eastern Jordan, built during the British Mandate era as part of the Kirkuk-Haifa pipeline. Using a multi-method approach that integrates archival research, site surveys, aerial documentation and community engagement, the study provides the first comprehensive record of the station's architecture and its influence on Transjordan's military-political architecture and urban development. The study innovatively situates industrial heritage within the intersecting frameworks of historical, industrial and contemporary archaeology, heritage studies and Middle Eastern geopolitics, revealing how colonial-era infrastructure has shaped, and continues to shape, Jordan's socio-political and urban landscapes. The findings highlight the need for further documentation and conservation, underscoring Transjordan's role as a strategic corridor in regional industrial and political development.
Despite extensive documentation of conflict-related heritage destruction in Syria, little attention has been paid to areas beyond active combat zones. This study addresses that gap by examining the condition of archaeological sites in the coastal Governorate of Tartus - an understudied region with evidence of occupation from the Palaeolithic to the Medieval period, yet with fewer than 5% of its sites systematically excavated. Through the combined analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery and ground verification, the research identifies key damage drivers: agricultural expansion, urban growth due to war-related displacement, illicit excavations facilitated by governance instability, and earthquake-related impacts. Mechanized ploughing and greenhouse construction emerge as the most widespread threats. The findings underscore the need to integrate remote sensing with field surveys to capture the full scope of heritage degradation and to inform future conservation strategies in Tartus and other overlooked regions of Syria.
This study uses comparative evidence and geographic information systems (GIS) to evaluate the plausibility of various competing hypotheses about the location of the missing temple of Elagabal in Roman Emesa (modern Homs). It explores the extent to which integrative methods can supplement our knowledge of a site where archaeological and geographical data is scant. Although the location of the monumental temple in Emesa can only be verified by archaeological excavations, the methods utilized within this study indicate that the Homs citadel is the likeliest location of the temple.
The identification of the site mentioned in the medieval (12th-14th century) sources as the castle of Celle in the Crusader Lordship of Transjordan has long been debated among scholars. A recent archaeological survey at the site of Khirbat as-Sila' in the Taf & imacr;la region (Jordan) has now firmly established, through a study of documentary sources and material culture, and by placing the site in its specific context of studies, that Celle, a castle of major importance, was located there. This identification significantly contributes to revising a long-established theory about the role of Transjordan and its castles as a frontier of the Latin kingdom. It also confirms the significance of creating regional chronologies for several categories of material culture and of their use in determining the chronology of sites in Jordan and other areas of the broader Levant.
During the Nabataean and Roman periods, in the semi-arid environment of ancient Petra, the inhabitants created sophisticated water systems that not only ensured survival but also supported a luxurious way of life. A number of these systems, consisting of run-off collection and spring-water conduits, expertly crafted into the surrounding sandstone ranges and the city itself, have been documented. Recent surveys during the Urban Development of Ancient Petra Project on the north-western outcropping of Jabal al-Madhbah have uncovered new insights into the 'Ain Braq aqueduct, revealing that this water system was far more complex than previously thought. Contrary to prior belief, the aqueduct featured not one, but two distinct conduits that brought water into the city in successive phases: the first, a pressurized lead-pipeline, supplied the large reservoir on az-Zantur hill, while the second, a series of open channels and terracotta pipes, transported water over a stone-built substructure to a small distribution box with two outlets. In addition, the research area also displays a large quantity of structures related to runoff-catchment and redistribution. These discoveries enhance our understanding of Petra's advanced hydraulic engineering and urban planning, opening the door for further investigation.
The first evidence for the use of Lesbos marble in Jordan, at the Decapolis city of Abila, is introduced and the diffusion of this marble throughout the southern Levant is discussed. In addition to their identical macroscopic characteristics to Lesbos marble, the two columns uncovered in the basilica of Area G were identified using microscopic, mineralogical and isotopic (13C and 18O) analysis. The most likely source of the two columns, according to the analytical data, is the Karyni quarry on Lesbos Island, Greece. The findings present new evidence about the wide diffusion, reuse and distribution of Lesbos marble during the Roman and Byzantine periods in the southern Levant. Likely, the low cost, white-grey colour and high demand for marble were the main reasons for the diffusion of this particular marble during the Roman period.
This study explores knowledge transmission between communities of practice in the Late Bronze Age southern Levant, with particular attention to the pottery-making communities of the Judean Shephelah. The analysis focuses on bowls, employing petrography, techno-stylistic analysis and typology on a total of 66 complete specimens. Tel Azekah serves as the central case study, and the results are compared to assemblages from Tell es-Safi/Gath, Lachish, Beth Shemesh and Tel Batash. The findings revealed shared pottery-making technologies alongside site-specific practices. While the general technique of wheel-coiling was identified across all sites, two cha & icirc;ne op & eacute;ratoires were distinguished, which differ in the application of the base. The method employed by the potters of Tell es-Safi/Gath and Lachish, where vessels were cut off the turning device with a string, points to the presence of Egyptian technological elements in the practice of these communities. This technology served as a boundary object that passed between the interrelated Canaanite and Egyptian potters' communities. The evidence indicates that knowledge transmission occurred through direct interactions, such as apprenticeship or inter-marriage, rather than mere observation. The findings reflect the complex relationships between the Canaanite city-states and the Egyptian imperial system during the Late Bronze Age and complement current understanding, which mainly focuses on the elite caste of society.
Synagogues in late antique Palestine remained in use for extended periods with only minor alterations made to the original structure, while others underwent at least two distinct building phases marked by significant changes in the floor plan and interior design. Earthquakes are often cited as the primary reason for replacing one synagogue with another, but it is argued that some, or parts of, buildings were intentionally dismantled and replaced by larger structures to meet the growing needs of a community. This pattern appears in synagogues throughout the region, including the 5th-century synagogue at Huqoq, the focus of this article. Contrary to the excavators' claim that the synagogue had been abandoned for centuries before the medieval construction, it is argued that it was deliberately dismantled and replaced by a larger structure in the Byzantine period to accommodate the growing needs of the community. Below is a methodological inquiry into the use of archaeological tools relating to the art, architecture, stratigraphy and chronology of the Huqoq synagogue. Its findings have broader implications for other synagogues in the region and beyond.
In the past, Levantine dolmens were often explored and excavated in isolation, with no consideration being given to their connections with nearby contemporary permanent settlements. Jebel al-Mutawwaq, one of the largest and best-preserved Early Bronze Age I (EB I) sites in the Transjordanian Highlands, could help clarify the significance of the distribution of these monumental above-ground tombs. Three dolmen fields were found in the area around the settlement: a settlement easily recognizable by its surrounding wall, built sometime between the EB IA and the EB IB phases, c. 3200 BC. Analyses of the topography and urban planning suggest that the distribution of the tombs was connected to the pathways and roads/streets leading to the main gates of the settlement. Moreover, excavation of the dolmens has shown that tombs located closer to the large EB IB city seem to relate to more important people compared to tombs built away from the site. The megalithic monumental family tombs in Jebel al-Mutawwaq mark out the urban landscape and reflect a society that grew in complexity at the end of the 4th millennium BC.
Thin-walled cooking pottery represents a distinctive category of ceramic material linked to culinary practices in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Roman period. Archaeological evidence has identified its production centres in regions such as Cyprus, the Levant and Syria. This study focuses on one of the groups of thin-walled cooking pottery recovered from the Agora in Nea Paphos, Cyprus. A macroscopic analysis of the assemblage reveals a standardized production process, with manufacturing dated to the 6th and 7th centuries CE. The homogenous fabric composition observed across the samples suggested a shared source of the raw materials, most likely originating from southern Asia Minor. Cilicia is proposed as a key centre for both the manufacturing and distribution of these ceramics, reflecting its strategic role in regional trade and cultural exchange. The findings from the Agora in Nea Paphos indicate that the production and distribution of this group of thin-walled cooking pottery were closely tied to intensified inter-regional interactions between south-western Cyprus and the southern coastline of Asia Minor during this period.
The palmette, a representation of the sacred tree, was a prevalent motif in the southern Levant, often associated with divinity and royal authority. Its earliest attestations in Iron Age Judah date to the late 9th century BCE. The motif became increasingly prominent during the 8th-7th centuries BCE, appearing on monumental architecture and ivory carvings. This paper reassesses previously published artefacts to explore the palmette's evolution in Judah, focusing on the influence of Assyrian imperial encounters. It argues that interactions between the Judahite elite and the Assyrian Empire reshaped the meaning and function of local symbols, leading to the adoption of the palmette as a marker of royal power. The study suggests a further transformation amid shifting political and ideological conditions, reflecting internal struggles. By analysing archaeological and artistic evidence, this paper situates the palmette within the broader geopolitical and cultural transformation of Iron Age Judah.
Early surveyors, including Schumacher and Glueck, described a vast dolmen field on the Irbid plateau, rivalling the size of the largest concentrations of dolmens elsewhere in the Levant. This area also features a dense cluster of mounded sites, suggesting that this was a well-occupied settlement landscape in the mid to late 4th millennium BCE. Yet our understanding of these settlement and funerary landscapes, and the relationships between them, is limited. The once-extensive dolmen field has been largely destroyed, and the only stratified sequences of late prehistoric occupation across the plateau come from two small soundings at Tell Irbid and Tell esh-Shi'ir. This paper compiles data from historical sources and presents the most complete picture for the distribution of dolmens west of Irbid. It then interrogates these data according to a 'settlement-geology' model that explains the distribution of dolmens by their proximity to Early Bronze I (EB I) settlement sites within specific geological domains. Finally, it considers the 'great dolmen-field' as a visible and enduring collective cemetery that exerted a centripetal force drawing the surrounding EBI communities together through the shared use of a contiguous mortuary landscape.
