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114 INTRODUCTION The excavated areas (Map Ref. 14075/15170) are situated at ca. 55.55 m a.s.l. on Tel Lod which is located some 200 m southwest of the Ayalon River and only 10 km from the western slopes of the Judaean hills. This mound lies in the transitional zone between the Shephelah and the coastal plain of Israel in the Mediterranean climatic zone. Tel Lod is located north of the old city, in an area that is mostly occupied by modern buildings. Numerous salvage excavations have been carried out previously in this area (Gopher and Blockman 2004; Kaplan 1977; 1993; van den Brink 2002; Yannai and Badihi, forthcoming; Yannai and Marder 2000) (Fig. 1). Material culture remains dating to periods spanning the Neolithic to recent times have been unearthed in the course of these investigations. Area D of the present project is bordered by the 1996 excavation area of Yannai and Badihi on the south, while Area I lies ca. 30 m south of van den Brink’s area (Fig. 2). Fig. 1: Excavations at Lod (after Gopher & Blockman 2004). Prior to the construction of a new residential project in the Neve Yaraq neighbourhood of Lod, a salvage excavation (License No. B-280) was undertaken in December 2003 by the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University. The site was divided into two separate areas, D and I, which were excavated independently. Excavation of Area D was directed by Danny Rosenberg. Yitzhak Paz and Assaf Nativ directed the work in Area I and Ronen Eran was responsible for the administration in both areas. Contributions to this report were made by D. Porotzki and Y. Smertenko who drew the plans, A. Speshilov and R. Penchas who drew the finds and I. Rosenberg who compiled and edited all the figures. R. Pelta and Y. Wiener restored the pottery retrieved. Scientific analyses were carried out by A. Nativ (petrography) and G. Bar-Oz and N. Raban- Gerstel (archaeozoology). EXCAVATIONS AT LOD NEOLITHIC AND CHALCOLITHIC REMAINS AND AN EGYPTIAN PRESENCE IN THE EARLY BRONZE AGE Yitzhak Paz, Danny Rosenberg and Assaf Nativ Fig. 2: Schematic plan showing Areas D and I.
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INTRODUCTION
The excavated areas (Map Ref. 14075/15170) are situated at ca. 55.55 m a.s.l. on Tel Lod which is located some 200 m southwest of the Ayalon River and only 10 km from the western slopes of the Judaean hills. This mound lies in the transitional zone between the Shephelah and the coastal plain of Israel in the Mediterranean climatic zone. Tel Lod is located north of the old city, in an area that is mostly occupied by modern buildings.
Numerous salvage excavations have been carried out previously in this area (Gopher and Blockman 2004; Kaplan 1977; 1993; van den Brink 2002; Yannai and Badihi, forthcoming; Yannai and Marder 2000) (Fig. 1). Material culture remains dating to periods spanning the Neolithic to recent times have been unearthed in the course of these investigations. Area D of the present project is bordered by the 1996 excavation area of Yannai and Badihi on the south, while Area I lies ca. 30 m south of van den Brink’s area (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1: Excavations at Lod (after Gopher & Blockman 2004).
Prior to the construction of a new residential project in the Neve Yaraq neighbourhood of Lod, a salvage excavation (License No. B-280) was undertaken in December 2003 by the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University. The site was divided into two separate areas, D and I, which were excavated independently. Excavation of Area D was directed by Danny Rosenberg. Yitzhak Paz and Assaf Nativ directed the work in Area I and Ronen Eran was responsible for the administration in both areas. Contributions to this report were made by D. Porotzki and Y. Smertenko who drew the plans, A. Speshilov and R. Penchas who drew the finds and I. Rosenberg who compiled and edited all the figures. R. Pelta and Y. Wiener restored the pottery retrieved. Scientific analyses were carried out by A. Nativ (petrography) and G. Bar-Oz and N. Raban-Gerstel (archaeozoology).
EXCAVATIONS AT LODNEOLITHIC AND CHALCOLITHIC REMAINS AND AN EGYPTIAN PRESENCE IN
THE EARLY BRONZE AGE
Yitzhak Paz, Danny Rosenberg and Assaf Nativ
Fig. 2: Schematic plan showing Areas D and I.
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STRATIGRAPHY
Four 5x5 m squares were excavated in 5 or 10 cm splits (Fig. 3). Five undisturbed Pottery Neolithic loci (Loci 116, 121, 124, 123 and 125) and a single Chalcolithic locus (Locus 122) were defined. All the material from these contexts was sieved through a 2.4 mm mesh.
Most of the area excavated was covered with 1-2 m of sediments and fill, containing material dating from the Pottery Neolithic (Fig. 4) through modern times overlying a sandy dune. Between these fills, some very limited traces of living surfaces and installations were discerned, including a sewage installation made of stones, a small mould-like installation made of clay and a few mud bricks. A nearly complete burial jar dating to the Middle Bronze Age (not illustrated) was found near the northwestern corner of Square D2, ca. 2 m below the present surface. It lay on its side with the opening facing east and contained poorly preserved human bones. This jar, as well as other sherds of bowls, kraters and storage jars found in fills and disturbed contexts, all date to the MBIIA
period (Beck 2000a). The jar has parallels in Tombs 490 and 2172 at Tel Aphek (Yadin and Kochavi 2000:157) but, unlike those, at Lod no burial offerings accompanied the human bones.
SQUARE D1
LOCUS 121In the southern part of Square D1 was a layer of brownish-grey soil from 25 to 50 cm thick. Its upper part was disturbed by Bronze Age and later material and it overlay Pit 124 (Figs. 5, 6) which was dug into the dune. This layer produced pottery, flint and stone items as well as a few animal bones.
LOCUS 124 A pit was discovered when the baulk between Squares D1 and D2 was removed, and excavated in 5 cm splits. It is oval in plan (Figs. 5, 6), 100-110 cm long, ca. 50-60 cm wide and 80-85 cm deep. Pit 124 was covered by the accumulations of Locus 121 and appears to have been dug into the dune either before or during the initial stages of that phase. While most of the sediment in the pit is brown-grey in colour, a thin layer (5-10 cm thick) was discerned at the base and appears to be an accumulation of organic residues. The pit was fully excavated, with most of the archaeological material (pottery, f lint and stone) retrieved from its lower part. No animal bones were retrieved.
Fig. 3: Plan of Area D.
Fig. 4: Fragment of a Lodian bowl from a mixed context.
AREA D
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SQUARE D3
LOCUS 116 This locus is characterized by grey-brown condensed matrix about 80 cm thick. The topmost 10-15 cm contained mixed archaeological material dating to the Bronze Age and Late Neolithic, below which only Pottery Neolithic material was found. This grey-brown material overlies a thick reddish-brown burnt-clay surface situated directly on the sand dune (Figs. 7, 8). Analysis by A. Bahar of the Kimmel Centre for Archaeological Science in the Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, suggests an alluvial origin for the clay horizon which is 20-25 cm thick and stretches from the northern baulk due south, covering an area of more than 4m2. Within the clay matrix, the negatives of what appear to be twigs and branches used to consolidate the clay were discerned (Fig. 9). While the upper face of the surface is quite flat, the reverse side is less even. Such clay surfaces are an unusual feature in Pottery Neolithic sites, and although the possibility that it was some kind of pavement could not be ruled out, it may be suggested that it is actually
a fallen roof. Three observations strengthen this notion. Firstly, soot marks were observed mainly on the lower face of the surface, suggesting that the fire originated from below, presumably from a wooden structure or construction beams. Secondly, the upper face of the surface is relatively even and levelled, while its lower sections bear marks of branches and twigs. Finally, the presence of pottery, flint and stone artefacts as well as a few animal bones below it (Locus 125) may suggest that this is the remains of a living surface, rather than an underlay for a floor.
Fig. 5: Section through south baulk of Square D1.
Fig. 6: South baulk of Square D1 showing Loci 121 and 124.
Fig. 7: View of the northern part of Square D3 showing the clay surface..
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LOCUS 125 This locus encompasses the material found beneath the thick clay surface discovered below Locus 116 and on top of or partly embedded in the dune. Only a few pottery, f lint and stone items and scanty remains of animal bones were found here.
LOCUS 123 This is a small area found at the southwestern corner of Square D3 (Fig. 10). It is about 1-1.2 m2 and lies in a shallow depression (35-45 cm deep)
some 90 cm below the base of the level containing Lodian material. The clay surface found below Locus 116 did not reach this part of the square, ending about 30-40 cm north of Locus 123. The feature has a dark brown matrix, penetrating into the dune. It contained 15 unworked stones (ranging between 5 and 20 cm across), two fragments of mudbrick, a few pottery sherds, lithic material, groundstone items and sparse animal bones.
SQUARE D4
LOCUS 122 This round pit, about 50-60 in diameter and 60-70 cm deep, was dug into the sandy dune from a badly disturbed brown-grey layer (Fig. 11). The grey to dark red sediments contained flint, pottery and groundstones items and a few animal bones. The pit was fully excavated in 5 cm splits, using one-half of it as a control. In contrast to Pit 124 where most of the archaeological material came from the lower part, here the finds were spread more evenly throughout the fill.
Fig. 8: View of the clay surface in Square D3.
Fig. 9: Fragment of clay surface showing negative imprint of organic material.
Fig.10: Locus 123 looking west.
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POTTERY
LOCUS 121Only a few plain body sherds with coarse fabric and grog and straw as temper were found. Although it can not be stated with any degree of certainty as there were no indicative sherds, it seems that they are of Neolithic origin.
LOCUS 124Twenty-eight pottery sherds and fragments were found in Pit 124. These include plain body sherds (n=22), a painted body sherd (n=1), a handle (n=1) and rims (n=4). Fig. 12:1 is a cream-coloured bowl with coarse whitish inclusions in the fabric. It has a tapering rim and remnants of a handle. Fig. 12:2 is a bowl made of brown clay with fine inclusions. It has a rounded rim. The upper part of the wall is slightly thickened. Fig. 12:4 is a krater made of cream-coloured clay with light coloured temper. Soot is present on the outside. Fig. 12:5 is the upper part of a typical Lodian/Jericho IX jar made of cream-coloured clay and fine fabric (cf. Garfinkel 1999:87-93; Gopher and Blockman 2004:Fig. 10:1-2; Kaplan 1977:Fig. 4:5; Kenyon and Holland 1982:Fig. 17:12). The opening
is 15 cm in diameter and the straight neck measures 6.5 cm from shoulder to rim. There is a knob 2.5 cm in diameter attached to the shoulder where it joins the neck. The knob protrudes 1.6 cm from wall. Traces of the attachment process (pressing) of the knob are visible. The join between shoulder and neck is marked by a small shallow groove. The maximum wall thickness, measured at the shoulder, is 2 cm. There was also a fragment of a knob handle, pierced before firing (Fig. 12:3), and a body sherd bearing remnants of brown paint.
LOCUS 116 Only a few plain coarse body sherds were found, probably of Pottery Neolithic origin. However, the upper part of the fill yielded a mixture of Early and Middle Bronze Age material.
LOCUS 125Some 20 plain body sherds were found below the clay surface. Most of these are light in colour (white-yellow) and made of coarse fabric with chaff temper. Similar material is characteristic of the Lodian pottery assemblage found during previous excavations at Lod (Goren 2004:51).
LOCUS 123The 64 pottery sherds found in this restricted area include plain body sherds (n=46); slipped body sherds (n=9); bases (n=2); rims (n=5) and two items defined as varia. Eight of the body sherds have red-brown slip on the inner face only, while one is slipped inside and out. The bases include a f lat base and a disc base. Fig. 12:6 is a pithos made of brown clay with relatively large white inclusions. It has a flat slightly protruding rim and the wall is smoothed inside and out. Three bowls were identified. Two are made of light cream clay, one having a straight wall and a rounded rim. Fig. 12:7 is a rim fragment of a slightly closed bowl made of light clay and coated with red-brown slip both internally and externally. A krater fragment is made of brownish-cream clay with a flat rim and a straight wall.
Fig. 11: Locus 122 looking east.
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Fig. 12: Selected pottery from Neolithic contexts. Locus 124: 1-2) Bowl; 3) Handle; 4) Krater; 5) Jar. Locus 123: 6) Pithos; 7) Bowl.
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Fig. 13: Selected pottery from Chalcolithic contexts. Locus 122: 1) Painted sherd; 2) Spout; 3) Handle; 4-5) Bowls; 6) Pedestal base; 7) Bowl; 8) Holemouth jar; 9-13) Jars.
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LOCUS 122The pottery assemblage of this locus consists of 190 sherds and large vessel fragments. These include plain body sherds (n=156); slipped body sherds (n=2); painted body sherds (n=4); a grooved body sherd (n=1); neck fragments (n=3); spout (n=1); bases (n=9); handles (n=2); rim fragments (n=11) and a fragment, possibly originating from a pedestal base. Most of the body sherds are made of cream-coloured clay. Occasionally combing is present on brown-yellowish clay fragments, probably belonging to one of the conjoined vessels (see below). The slipped shreds are treated both internally and externally with red and orange slip. The painted sherds have red paint on the outer surface (n=2). One bears red painted designs both inside and outside, while Fig. 13:1 has a design of stripes. There is a single sherd with shallow grooves. The three neck fragments have no surface treatment. Fig. 13:2 is a spout made of light-coloured clay with black grits. The spout’s diameter where it joins the vessel body is 4.5 cm, narrowing to 3.2 cm at the opening. It is 2.4 cm long and its maximum thickness (near the join) is 0.6 cm. This probably belongs to a basin, such as the one found at Giv >at ha-Oranim (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.5:2). The two handles found include a loop handle and a lug handle (Fig. 13:3). The latter is placed on a red slipped sherd, made of light-coloured clay with black inclusions. The handle which curves upwards from the vessel body is 5.7 cm wide, 2 cm long and 1.7 thick. Most bases are f lat. Three of the bases mentioned should probably be attributed to bowls, one with an ‘S’ shaped profile like the goblet reported from Giv >at ha-Oranim (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.2:15-16) and a slightly curved bowl (Fig. 13:4, 5). The bowls have a relatively small base (one has a string cut-mark) and both bear a red-painted pattern inside and outside. One base fragment comes from a V-shaped bowl and another (Fig. 13:6) is probably the lower part of a pedestal, made of light clay. The latter was constructed from three attached lumps and has a f lat base. This may well be similar to item found at Giv >at ha-Oranim
(Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.8:11) and Abu Matar (Commenge-Pellerin 1987:22:7, 9). The rim fragments of three bowls made of brown or grey clay are badly preserved. One (Fig. 13:7) comes from a V-shaped bowl. The three holemouth jars found are made of cream-coloured clay with medium-sized black grits (Fig. 13:8 ). Rims are tapering or rounded. Some smoothing is visible and one fragment bears traces of red paint on the outer surface. Five necked jars were identified. Fig. 13:9 is a fragment of a large jar with a f laring outward-rolled rounded rim and is covered with comb marks on the outside. This jar was petrographically analyzed (Table 1:3). The clay was identified as belonging to Group 3 (below) and was probably collected from a source further east. The remaining jars from this pit include a fragment of a jar made of cream clay and black grits with a typical out-folded thumb-impressed rim (Fig. 13:10). One necked jar made of orange clay has a f lat rim and the neck is 4.5 cm from shoulder to rim (Fig. 13:11). Another (Fig. 13:12) made of cream clay tempered with black grits has a straight neck 2.8cm high. The last jar (Fig. 13:13), also made of cream clay tempered with black grits, has a short splayed neck.
PETROGRAPHY
Five samples were chosen for petrographic analysis (Table 1). These include four Neolithic Lodian vessels, three of which originate from Pit 124 and one from an unreliable context (Locus 115) although typologically diagnostic. The fifth sample was taken from a Chalcolothic jar originating from Pit 122. Three petrographic groups were distinguished, two of which are attributed to the Neolithic pottery and one to the Chalcolithic jar.
GROUP 1
This group is characterized by a carbonaceous matrix, slightly foraminiferous, bearing partial optical orientation. The silt size component includes quartz along with minor additions of minerals from
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basaltic origin (mica, feldspar). The inclusions include vegetal material, grog and coastal sand. The clay is readily identified as Taqiya marl (Goren et al.2004: 256-257; Bentor 1966: 72-73). Its appearance along with coastal sand points toward an origin in the region of the lower Shefela. The nearest combinations of these two features is located approximately 10 km south-east of Lod in the vicinity of Gezer (Sneh et al. 1998). The recurring presence of grog and vegetal material within the matrix clearly indicate a systematic technological procedure, and should be regarded as temper.
GROUP 2Only one sample is attributed to this group. It is characterized by calcareous, silty (~3%), and slightly foraminiferous matrix. The relative proportion of the coarse grain component is very high, approximately 20%, and is comprised almost exclusively of chalk. Alongside the chalk, in significantly smaller numbers, quartz sand, rounded limestone and a mollusc are found. The silty nature of the clay and the poorly sorted inclusions suggest an origin of this group from soil, most probably rendzina. Rendzina soil is found 5 km to the east of Lod upon the moderate chalk hillocks of the lower Shefela (Ravikovitch 1969). It is not clear, however, to what extent do the chalk inclusions constitute a natural component of this clay. While intentional addition of such large amounts of chalk to clay, as well as the actual working of the clay, demands a relatively large expense of energy, it seems more likely that this is the case rather than the highly uncommon occurrence of such a combination naturally.
GROUP 3This group is related to the single Chalcolithic jar sampled for this study. It is constituted of highly foraminiferous marl, to which rounded quartz, angular and sub-angular geode quartz, limestone, chalk and possibly chalcedony are accompanied. Despite the rather large variety of inclusions they are all present in relatively small numbers and all together they occupy only approximately 3% of the assemblage. This assemblage of inclusions seems to point toward an origin further east than those of the groups discussed above. Geode quartz and chalcedony are features characteristic of the Cenomanian-Turonian formations, outcropping on the western flanks of the Judaean Mountains (Sneh et al. 1998). It is therefore likely that the clay for this group was collected further inland.
SUMMARYThe results of the current petrographic analysis are in almost full accordance with those previously conducted for the nearby excavation of a Lodian occupation (Goren 2004; Gopher and Blockman 2004). There the dominant paste used for pottery production was formed from Taqiya marl to which vegetal material and grog were added. Alongside this group a minor occurrence of another paste originating from rendzina soil was also noted (ibid.:Table 1). A similar pattern was noted in the pottery of Area D (below) with regard to Groups 1 and 2 respectively. Nevertheless, the paste associated with rendzina soil is somewhat different. It seems a systematic addition of chalk was involved, which implies a qualitatively different involvement with the paste. However, more cannot be suggested in this regard based upon the currently available data.
TABLE 1: INDEX OF PETROGRAPHIC SAMPLES FROM LOD AREA-DNo. Locus Type Matrix Inclusions Identification
1 115 Bowl Calcareous, foraminiferous
Quartz, vegetal material Taqiya + vegetal materialRendzina
2 124 Bowl Calcareous, silty Chalk, limestone, molluscs Rendzina+ground chalk3 122 Jar Foraminiferous marl Quartz, nari, geode quartz Senonian marl (?)4 124 Jar Calcareous Quartz, vegetal material, grog Taqiya + vegetal material + grog5 124 Krater Calcareous Quartz, vegetal material, grog Taqiya + vegetal material + grog
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THE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGE
LOCUS 121The flint assemblage of this layer consists of 113 items, usually made of light grey to dark brown flint and only rarely on a translucent-brown flint. Flakes dominate the assemblage (51.8% of the debitage and tools). Only a single blade (1.7% of the debitage and tools) and two primary elements (flakes) were retrieved. Core technology also demonstrates preference for flake production (78.5% of the core assemblage) where these are usually amorphous, ranging between 2-5 cm across with one striking platform (Fig. 14:6). In addition, three small bladelet cores were found in the lower part of this level, all characterized by a single striking platform. Two of these are made of brown, semi-translucent flint and one is made of grey flint, partly covered with cortex. Only one of these could be classified as pyramidal (Fig. 14:7). The two core trimming elements found include a single overshot and core tablet. Tools form a small group in the assemblage (15.5% of the debitage and tools). They include three retouched flakes, one retouched item classified as varia, and a single sickle blade fragment. The latter is a small, distal fragment of a thin denticulated sickle blade, possibly burnt. Four scrapers, one of which has its laterals retouched and is made on a thick, brown flint flake were also retrieved.
LOCUS 124The small assemblage found in this pit (n=12) includes items made on brown and grey flint. These are comprised of a primary-element blade and an overshot, two cores and two items characterized as tools. Four flakes and two fragments were also found. At least one of the flakes seems to have been burnt or heated. The cores include a quasi-pyramidal flake core (4 cm across), characterized by two striking platforms placed at 90o to each other and (Fig. 15:1) and an amorphous flake/bladelet core with two striking platforms ( Fig. 15:2). The tools are comprised of a scraper and a fragment of an item (knife?) made on grey siliceous
flint (Fig. 15:3). This item has a shaped back, and its “cutting edge” was shaped by pressure flaking applied to the dorsal side of the fragment.
LOCUS 116Two hundred and forty five chipped stone items were found in Locus 116. Because the upper part of the locus was disturbed by Bronze Age activity the material cannot be securely attributed to a single cultural unit. Raw materials here vary in quality and colour, ranging from grey-light brown to dark grey and dark brown with very few items made of semi-translucent flint. Primary elements account for only 0.6% of the debitage and tools. This suggests that most initial reduction was done elsewhere. The ratio of flake to blade/bladelet is 6:1 and this corresponds well with the core reduction technology. Core trimming elements (n=32; 19% of the debitage and tools) comprised of sixteen core tablets, four overshots, five crested blades and seven core trimming items catalogued as varia. Flake oriented technology is the most dominant technology evident. Cores (n=24) comprise 14.2% of the debitage and tools, which are dominated by amorphous flake cores, usually smaller than 30 mm across and with a single striking platform (n=13). Medium and large amorphous flake cores (30-60 mm, and larger than 60 mm across, respectively) are found as well, but in lesser numbers (n=6, 4, respectively, usually with a single striking platform).A single bladelet core was also found. The tools comprise 30.1% of the debitage and tools, consisting mainly of retouched flakes (39% of the tool assemblage). The rest include four retouched blades, a single retouched bladelet, and a retouched primary element blade. Also included here are denticulated (n=3), scrapers (n=5) a single retouch fragment, sickle blades fragments (n=4), two bifacials including a pillow-shaped, partly bifacially flaked item (Fig. 14:1), a single borer (Fig. 14:2) and six items classified as varia.
LOCUS 125Eighteen flint items were found below the clay surface. These include cores (n=3), tools (n=4), a
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Fig. 14: Selected f lint items from Neolithic contexts. 1) Bifacially f laked item (L. 116); 2) Borer (L. 116); 3) Core (L. 125); 4) Adze/axe (L. 125); 5) Bifacially f laked item (knife?) (L. 125); 6-7 Cores (L. 121)
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Fig. 15: Selected f lint items from Neolithic contexts. 1-2) Cores (L. 124); 3) Bifacially f laked item (knife?) (L. 124); 4) Bladelet (L. 123); 5) Core (L. 122)
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blade segment, flakes (n=5) and fragments (n=5). One of the cores is large with single striking platform bearing flake and blade scars (Fig. 14:3). Two additional flake core fragments were also found in this locus. The four tools found include a retouched flake, a retouched blade and two bifacials. These consist of a partly polished axe/adze made of brown flint (Fig. 14:4) an elongated bifacial (knife?) item made of brown burnt flint (Fig. 14:5).
LOCUS 123The lithic material includes 49 items, mostly made of grey and grey-brown flint. Primary element flakes comprised 18% of both tools and debitage while flakes comprise 36.4% of the tools and debitage. The flake oriented industry could also be recognized in the cores, where the two cores found are a flake core and a flake core fragment. The whole example is 4.5 cm across, badly weathered with one striking platforms. The two core trimming elements found are a single overshot and a crested blade (of bladelet size). Two additional bladelets were also found. One of these is made on a brown-transparent flint and still bears some of its orange
cortex (Fig. 15:4). The four tools found (18.2% of both tools and debitage) include a retouched flake, a small scraper and two retouched fragments.
LOCUS 122The lithic assemblage of this pit contained 48 artefacts. These include four primary element flakes (12.9% of both debitage and tools), seventeen flakes (54.8% of both debitage and tools), a single core tablet, four cores (12.9% of both debitage and tools) and five tools (16.2% of both debitage and tools). The cores include two medium sized (3-6 cm across), amorphous cores and two core fragments, all made of grey-brown flint. The whole cores, found in the western part of the pit, exhibit scars of both flake and bladelet and have two striking platforms (Fig. 15:5). The five tools found are a retouched flake, a retouched fragment, a burin and two items classified as varia. These are a fragmentary borer-like item and a thick flake made on cherty flint. The latter has an adze shape, but it is unifacial flaked (on most of its circumference) and may have functioned as a massive scraper.
TABLE 2: BREAKDOWN OF FLINT ASSEMBLAGE
Type Locus 116 Locus 125 Locus 121 Locus124 Locus 123 Locus 122N % N % N % N % N % N %
Primary elements – Flakes
1 0.6 2 3.4 4 18.2 4 12.9
– Blades 1 10Flakes 52 30.8 5 38.6 30 51.8 4 40 8 36.4 17 54.8Blade 8 4.7 1 7.7 1 1.7Bladelets 1 0.6 2 9.1
Core Trimming Elements
32 19 2 3.4 1 10 2 9.1 1 3.2
Cores 24 14.2 3 23 14 24.2 2 20 2 9.1 4 12.9Tools 51 30.1 4 30.7 9 15.5 2 20 4 18.2 5 16.2
Sub-Total 169 100 13 100 58 100 10 100 22 100 31 100
Chunks 74 5 53 2 21 17Chips 2 2 6
Total 245 18 113 12 49 48
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THE GROUNDSTONE ASSEMBLAGE
LOCUS 124Two stone items were found in Pit 124. These include a fragment of a grinding tool and a stone fragment bearing pitting marks. Both items were retrieved from the lower part of the pit. The grinding tool (Fig. 16:5) is a fragment of a rectangular item made of an undetermined raw material. The exact function of this item in the grinding process is unclear. The laterals are cut or flaked perpendicular to the flat grinding surface. The grinding stone was broken transversally and its end is rounded almost with a pointed edge. A white-cream limestone pebble (not illustrated) measuring 11.4 x 10.3 x 6.5 cm bears pitting marks, concentrated in a limited area (3.5 x 4 cm) over one facet. The pitting marks fractured the characteristic shiny patina that covers most of the fragment, and though limited, this pitting suggests that this pebble may have used as an anvil.
LOCUS 116A single stone fragment was found in the fills above the clay surface. This has one surface showing grinding marks.
LOCUS 125Five stone items were retrieved from this locus; all came from beneath the clay surface, partly sunk in the dune. They include a fragment of grinding slab/bowl, a mano (processor, active upper grinding tool), an unidentified grinding tool, a single pestle and a disc/whorl (possibly spindle whorl). The grinding slab (Fig. 16:1) is thin (2-3 cm thick) with a smoothed circumference and unshaped underside. The top is smooth, shallow, and slightly concave. Soot marks are visible on part of its non-active facet as well as on part of the tool active facet. The slab is broken across its width. The mano (Fig. 16:2) is made of limestone; it was found whole (12.4 cm long, 9.7 cm wide, 6.7 cm thick and weighs 1.3 kg). It is oval in plan and high plano-convex in cross-section. The mano was shaped through pecking which is still visible all around and the upper part has smooth patches. The
active facet is smooth and flat to slightly convex in cross-section. The third grinding tool fragment has a single surface bearing grinding marks and it is made of coarse beach rock. It is 2.6 cm thick and highly fragmented. Though this item has a clear grinding surface, it is too small to enable a secure decision as to its primary function as upper or lower grinding tool. The pestle fragment (Fig. 16:3) is an opposite-end fragment (opposite to the main active end) of a transversally broken pestle made of compact basalt. The diameter near the opposite-end is 2 cm and the max diameter is 4.1 cm across. It is conical in plan, round in section and is shaped by both pecking and smoothing. The opposite-end is rounded and somewhat polished/smoothed, hinting that the pestle may have been operated using its narrow end in a rotary crushing movement in a cuphole or a small mortar. The disc/whorl (Fig. 16:4) is made of an undetermined whitish raw material, most probably hard limestone. It is round (4.3 cm diameter and 0.9 cm thick) and bears a central perforation (0.8 cm in diameter). It seems that the perforation was obtained by drilling, as rotational drilling marks are still visible. The perforation was made from one side only, as opposed to the common bi-conical drillings known to shape many such items. The surface of the whorl is damaged by one large scar, left from the detachment of a f lake from one of the disc facets. Smaller chipping scars are also present on the edge of the disc, some on the large scar edge. The rest of the surface is smooth and sometimes polished; it is covered with striation marks and some black substance.
LOCUS 123The stone assemblage of this locus includes eight items. These are comprised of a segment of grinding slab, a mano, two hammerstones, a flake and three items classified as varia. The grinding slab (not illustrated) is made of beach rock and while one surface is smooth and flat the other is rougher and shows traces of soot marks. The mano (Fig. 17:1) is a fragmented
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Fig. 16: Selected stone items from Neolithic contexts: 1) Grinding slab (L.125); 2) Mano/processor (L. 125); 3) Pestle (L. 125); 4) Spindle whorl/perforated disk (L. 125); 5) Grinding stone (L. 124).
example made of an undetermined raw material (possibly limestone). It has an oval outline (ca. 17 x 19 x 4 cm) and is plano-convex in section. The circumference is rounded and the active end is flat. Flaking and pecking were employed for the shaping of this item and a black substance covers parts of it. The two hammerstones are made of grey flint and while one is more damaged and characterized by its squarish form (6.4 x 4.9 cm, 350 g); the other is of a more globular form. The diameter of the latter is 6.3 cm and it weighs 450 g (Fig. 17:2). Both are
battered all around and it is likely that the squarish hammerstone was also used as a core. A single, elongated limestone flake (1.3x5.5x2.2 cm) was found (Fig. 17:3). Though the original blank of this or the purpose of its detachment is not clear, it is evident that it was deliberately flaked. The flake bears a few scars on the dorsal face and shows traces of a bulb of percussion. The three items defined as varia include a small, flaked limestone fragment; an elongated limestone pebble that was cut at both ends and a chipped
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Fig. 17: Selected stone items from Neolithic and Chalcolithic contexts: 1) Mano/processor (L. 123); 2) Hammerstone (L. 123); 3) Flake (L. 123); 4) Grinding slab (L. 122) ; 5) Chipped disc (L. 122).
limestone pebble. The elongated pebble has a round section and parts of the circumference, of both ends, are chipped or flaked. The other pebble is also chipped and has a squat, axe-like shape. The purpose of these items, their production or shaping are unclear, though they may be connected to a flaked limestone industry combining both groundstone and chipped stone technologies.
LOCUS 122The small assemblage found in this pit comprises three artefacts: a broken grinding slab/bowl and two items classified as varia. Only a small part of the original grinding bowl was found (Fig. 17:4). This is made of porous beach rock and has a shallow concave upper surface, smoothed with a rounded circumference.
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Possible pecking/chiselling marks are noted on the outer/lower face. The two items classified as varia include a f laked stone fragment made of undetermined hard grey raw material and a chipped disc (Fig. 17:5). The latter is a broken, round and flat limestone pebble with chipped circumferences. This item may well be related to the stone discs industry, known from the Levant, attributed to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic culture (Rosenberg et al. forthcoming). It is evident though, that after this item was broken, there was an attempt to rejuvenate it, turning it to a massive scraper, as can be deduced from the coarse f laking marks present on one of the large scars.
SUMMARY
In Area D, the Lodian/Jericho IX culture is repre-sented by a layer limited in extent (Locus 121) and by a single pit (Locus 124). The only vessel typical of this phase, a jar (Fig. 12:5), was found at the base of the pit. The diameter of this pit is much smaller than those of the refuse pits found in previous excavations 100 m to the north (Gopher and Blockman 2004). Pit 122 is the only feature found in Area D which can be attributed to the Chalcolithic period. The content of this pit is limited, though here deposition of grinding equipment is also evident as in Pit 124.
TABLE 3: BREAKDOWN OF GROUNDSTONE ASSEMBLAGE
Locus Flake Grinding- slab/Bowl
Grinding Varia
Mano Pestle Hammer-Stone*
Discs/ Whorl
Varia Total
116 1 1125 1 1 1 1 1 5124 1 1 2123 1 1 1 2 3 8122 1 2 3Total 1 3 3 2 1 2 1 6 19
TABLE 4: GROUNDSTONE TYPE AND RAW MATERIAL
Material Locus Basalt Limestone Beach-rock Flint Undetermined Total
Flake 123 1 1Grinding- slab/bowl 125 1 1
11
123 1122 1
Grinding Varia 116 1 111
125 1124 1
Mano 125 1 11123 1
Pestle 125 1 1Hammer-Stone 123 2 2Disc/Whorl 125 1 1
Varia124 1 1
32
123 3122 1 1
Total 1 9 3 2 4 19
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AREA I
Excavation in this area was restricted to two 5 x 5 m squares (Fig. 18). A layer of modern debris approximately one metre thick was removed by a bulldozer. Below this a 4.5 - 5 m accumulation of archaeological strata was dug by hand down to virgin soil. Nine archaeological strata were discerned (Fig. 19). No stratum that can be assigned to the Neolithic period was detected although some pottery sherds of this period were found. It is of interest to note that Neolithic strata were distinguished ca. 100 m south of this area, in Area D (above), and 30 m to its north (van den Brink 2002:286).
TABLE 5: STRATIGRAPHY OF AREA I
Stratum I Building remains of the Late Byzantine periodStratum II A ca. 1 m thick layer of sandy material, in which pottery sherds from the Early and
Intermediate Bronze Age as well as the Byzantine period, were found. This stratum partly represents natural accumulation that post-dates the Early Bronze Age settlement
Stratum III Walls and floors of a late EBIb occupationStratum IV Wall and floors of a late EBIb occupation, including Egyptian pottery sherdsStratum V Floors and a large pit of the late EBIb occupation with major Egyptian material culture
remainsStratum VI Walls and floors of the EBIb occupation, completely devoid of any Egyptian remainsStratum VII Walls and floors of the Chalcolithic periodStratum VIII Floor with rich occupation level of the Chalcolithic periodStratum IX Wall fragments and slight remains of the Chalcolithic period, directly on virgin soil
Fig. 18: Plan of Area I.
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Fig.
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STRATA IX-VII: CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD
ARCHITECTURE
STRATUM IXThe remains of this stratum lay on virgin soil. In Square I1, a brick element 1 x 0.4 m long (W552), running northwest-southeast, was found. A few Chalcolithic sherds were collected on each side of the wall. In Square I2 was a pit at levels 49.50-48.17 containing Chalcolithic pottery. The pit was sealed by the plaster floor of Stratum VIII.
STRATUM VIIIUndisturbed remains of Stratum VIII were found only in Square I2 where a rich occupation level was discerned between levels 49.80-49.50 (Loci 545+548). A thick white plaster floor sealed the Stratum IX pit to create one flat surface. On this a large amount of pottery, mainly storage vessels, was found in situ, all belonging to the Chalcolithic period. Stratum VIII yielded the largest amount of pottery collected in this area (even though not restorable). Even though no architectural remains from this stratum were detected, it seems to represent the most substantial occupation at the site during the Chalcolithic period.
STRATUM VIIIn Square I2 the northern half of a round or oval feature (W543), 1.6 m in diameter, (an installation?) was found attached to the southern section (Fig. 20). It had one course of small stones (10 x 15, 15 x 15 cm). Some Chalcolithic pottery sherds were collected in and around the structure.
POTTERY The pottery retrieved from Strata IX-VII appears to belong to a single Chalcolithic horizon, designated late Chalcolithic (Fig. 21). The majority of vessels came from Loci 545 and 548 of Stratum VIII. The remainder came from other well-defined loci, but in much smaller quantities. The sherds were poorly preserved. The repertoire is rather limited, and the number of indicative sherds is by no means comparable to the vast quantity of body sherds. The almost complete absence of characteristic Chalcolithic vessels such as churns and cornets is remarkable. The assemblage as a whole was made from the same light buff or orange clay, with many large inclusions. The firing was generally poor, resulting in brittleness of the fabric. The bulk of the pottery was made up of large coarse vessels, mainly storage jars and pithoi.
BOWLS The V-shaped bowl with straight sides and a sharp rim is the predominant type (Fig. 21:1-3). It is important to note the absence of red painted decoration on the rims – a common Chalcolithic feature. This type of bowl, without any decoration, is abundant at Giv >at ha-Oranim, in the vicinity of Lod (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.2:1-8) and also at sites in the Beersheba region, like Abu Matar (Commenge-Pellerin 1987:Fig. 17:13). An incision which may be a potter’s mark appears on one of the bowls (Fig. 21:2). A possible variant of the V-shaped bowl has slightly rounded walls (Fig. 21:4). It was also found at Giv >at ha-Oranim (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.4:3). A distinctive type of bowl that was found at Tel Lod is small and carinated (Fig. 21:5). It is made of well-levigated clay and well fired. Carinated bowls were also found at Giv >at ha-Oranim (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.2: 13, 15).
Fig. 20: Wall 543 in Square I2, looking west.
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Fig. 21: Chalcolithic pottery.
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KRATERS These deep vessels with straight or rounded walls usually have an inverted rim (Fig. 21:6-7). The former was slipped on both the inside and the outside and the other had small ledge handles very close to the rim. This type was found at the Beersheba sites like Abu Matar (Commenge-Pellerin 1987:Fig. 22:2), at Ghassulian Gerar sites (Gilead 1995:Fig. 4.2:7) and also in the Jordan valley at Neve-Ur (Garfinkel 1999:Fig. 127:11).
HOLEMOUTH JARS A very common pottery type that was probably used for cooking as well for storage has a plain sharp rim (Fig. 21:8-14). It is common at Chalcolithic sites like Giv >at ha-Oranim near Lod (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.10), as well as in the south at sites like Abu Matar (Commenge-Pellerin 1987:Fig. 28), Bir es-Safadi (Commenge-Pellerin 1990:Fig. 41) and the Gerar sites (Gilead 1995:Fig. 4.14:9-14).
STORAGE JARS
It seems that most body sherds that were found on floors of Loci 545 and 548 belong to storage vessels. Storage jars were generally medium-sized
vessels with plain or thickened everted rims (Fig. 21:15-18). Similar jars come from Giv >at ha-Oranim (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.12), Abu Matar (Commenge-Pellerin 1987:Figs 30, 32), Bir es-Safadi (Commenge-Pellerin 1990:Figs. 44-46) and Gerar (Gilead 1995:Fig. 4.16:1-4).
PITHOI
These large crude vessels with thick walls made of clay with large inclusions were rather poorly fired (Fig. 21:19-20). Their short everted rims were mainly of the ‘pie-crust’ type. Pithoi with pie-crust rims were found near Lod at Giv >at ha-Oranim (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.15, except No. 3), Ben-Shemen (Garfinkel 1999:Fig. 171:7) and also in the Beersheba region at Abu Matar (Commenge-Pellerin 1987:Fig. 33:6) and Bir es-Safadi (Commenge-Pellerin 1990:Fig. 35:7).
JUG This small vessel was made of the same buff-yellowish clay from which storage vessels were constructed (Fig. 21:21). Unlike them, it has very thin walls and its dimensions allow it to be defined
FIGURE 21: CHALCOLITHIC POTTERY FROM AREA I
No. Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Bowl 5191 545 VIII Buff clay, large black grits2 Bowl 5188 545 VIII Buff clay, large black grits, potter mark 3 Bowl 5189 540 VII Orange clay, black grits, well fired4 Bowl 5191 545 VIII Buff clay, black grits5 Bowl 5189 540 VII Buff clay, black grits6 Krater 5192 545 VIII Buff clay, red wash (in and out), small ledge handles7 Krater 5217 540 VII Buff clay, black grits, ledge handles8 Holemouth jar 5194 545 VIII Grey clay, large black grits9 Holemouth jar 5191 545 VIII Buff clay, black grits10 Holemouth jar 5191 545 VIII Buff clay, black grits11 Holemouth jar 5194 545 VIII Buff-grey clay, black grits12 Holemouth jar 5195 545 VIII Buff-grey clay, black grits13 Holemouth jar 5192 545 VIII Brown clay, black grits14 Holemouth jar 5191 545 VIII Buff-grey clay, black grits15 Jar 5188 545 VIII Buff-yellowish clay, black grits16 Jar 5195 545 VIII Orange clay, red slip17 Jar 545 VIII Buff clay, large black grits, badly fired18 Jar 5185 540 VII Buff clay, black grits, 'pie crest' rim19 Pithos 5194 545 VIII Buff clay, black grits, 'pie crest' rim20 Pithos 5195 545 VIII Buff clay, large black grits21 Jug 545 VIII Buff clay, well fired22 Incised sherd 5189 540 VII Grey clay23 Incised sherd 5189 540 VII Buff clay
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as a jug. Similar vessels are known at Chalcolithic sites in central Israel, and are classified as jars (Scheftelowitz and Oren 2004:Fig. 3.12:6).
CORNETS
An unusual phenomenon is the almost complete absence of cornets in the ceramic assemblage of Lod. Only one small (ca. 0.5 cm long) fragment of a cornet was found. This very typical late Chalcolithic vessel has been reported from Giv >at ha-Oranim (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.6).
INCISED SHERDS Incisions were detected on several sherds (Fig. 21:22-23). While unusual on Chalcolithic pottery (Garfinkel 1999:273-275), incised patterns on rims and other vessel parts are known from Giv >at ha-Oranim, in the close vicinity of Lod (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.10:7, 8). It seems that the incisions found on the pithoi from Giv >at ha-Oranim had a significance other than decorative (Scheftelowitz 2004:Fig. 3.15:2, 3.4:10), and this may also be the case for those from Lod.
SUMMARY
Large storage vessels make up over 50% of the Chalcolithic pottery assemblage retrieved. Bowls represent only a small portion (less than 10%). The picture presented at Lod, altough very limited in scope, is strikingly different from that found at Giv >at ha-Oranim, where most of the reliable loci contained over 50% of bowls, up to 70%-80% of the assemblage at some loci (Scheftelowitz 2004:57-58). At Grar and Abu-Matar bowls also predominate in the repertoire, although not so markedly as at Giv >at ha-Oranim. At Grar they form ca. 40% of the assemblage and at Abu-Matar between 33%-37%. At Grar cornets constitute 14% of the assemblage, while at Abu-Matar as well as at Lod and Giv >at ha-Oranim they are almost completely absent (see Gilead 1995:Table 4.3; Commenge-Pellerin 1987:Tableau 2, 7). To sum up, the Chalcolithic ceramic assemblage found at Lod represents the late Chalcolithic horizon. The limited range of pottery types at Lod is unusual, but the very small area excavated may
explain this deficiency. It is possible that more extensive exposure of the area would have yielded a richer assemblage of the Chalcolithic period.
THE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGEThe Chalcolithic strata yielded 94 items including debris, debitage and tools originating from seven uncompromised loci (540, 545, 549, 550, 551, 553, 554). The material was not sifted, and the small scale of both excavations and finds permits a general discussion only.
DEBITAGE AND DEBRIS Most of the Chalcolithic finds are made of grey or brown raw material of various qualities including scarce items made on highly silicious translucent material. A few items show clear evidence of being burnt.Cores (n=13) are usually amorphous f lake cores characterized by one striking platform (Fig. 22:1), as well as a few core fragments . One item was classified as core on flake and two are f lake\bladelet cores (both found in Locus 550). The cores ranges from 2.7 cm to nearly 6.5 cm and one of these was also used as a hammerstone, still bearing much of its battered white cortex. Core trimming elements (n=13) include core tablets (n=3), crested blades (n=3), overshots (n=2) and five items classified as varia.Debitage is dominated by flakes (n=20; 21.27%). Also found are three items classified as primary elements f lakes, a single blade and a single blade bearing cortex over more then two-thirds of its dorsal face (primary element blade). The ratio of f lakes to blades in the debitage is thus 11:1 though the proportion in the primary elements group alone is by far lower (3:1). Debris includes chunks (n=16) as well as a single chip.Tools (n=26, 27.66% of the assemblage) include mostly retouched flakes (n=11, 42.3% of the tool assemblage) including two items with cortex covering more then two third of their dorsal face. A single broken rectangular item, possibly a sickle blade, with pressure retouch cover its circumferences on both faces, but with no gloss or sheen, was also found (Locus 554, Fig. 22:5). Nevertheless, this
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Fig. 22: Chalcolithic flint assemblage from Area I.
seems to be a reminder of the Pottery Neolithitc occurrence found nearby (Gopher and Blockman 2004; van den Brink, Forthcoming a and b) and not part of the Chalcolithic industry present. A single retouched blade was found (Fig. 22:3). This belongs to the so-called Canaanean blade industry, and it is a proximal fragment made of good quality brown f lint with two ridges on its dorsal face and retouch covering its lateral sides. A small, curved bladelet made of high quality brown-transparent f lint was found (Fig. 22:4). The bladelet is whole, and the distal end still bears cortex. The retouch is uneven and the scars
on the dorsal face suggest that the core reduction was bi-polar. Three scrapers were found made on various raw materials. One of these is made on a thin brown flint flake with a curved retouched side Fig. 22:2). Also found are small coarse denticulates (n=2), retouched fragments (n=5) and two items classified as varia.
STONE ASSEMBLAGEA single stone item was retrieved from designated Chalcolithic loci (Fig. 30:1). This is a basalt fragment of an upright bowl slightly converging near the rounded rim.
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TABLE 6: BREAKDOWN OF THE CHALCOLITHIC FLINT ASSEMBLAGE
Debitage N %
Primary Elements Flake 3 3.2Primary Elements Blades 1 1.07Flakes 20 21.27Blades 1 1.07Core Trimming Elements 13 13.82Cores 13 13.82Sub Total 51DebrisChunks 16 17.02Chips 1 1.07Sub Total 17Tools 26 27.66Total 94 100
TABLE 7: CHALCOLITHIC FLINT TOOLS
Tools N %Sickle blade 1 3.84Scrapers 3 11.52Retouched blades and bladelets
2 7.7
Retouched flakes 11 42.3Denticulates 2 7.7Fragments 5 19.24Varia 2 7.7Total 26 100
STRATA VI-III: EARLY BRONZE AGE 1B
ARCHITECTURE
STRATUM VIStratum VI was detected throughout the excavated area. The thickness of its deposits was ca. 0.3 m, from 50.44 (top of walls) to 50.21/50.16 (floor levels). The main features of the stratum were: (Figs. 18, 19)W536 – A 0.7x0.2 m wall fragment running north-
south, very badly built of one course of s mall size stones (0.1x0.2 m.).
W525 – A 0.9x0.35 m wall fragment, running east-west, made of one course of small stones. It may have been connected to W536 to create
some kind of a structure. Between the two wall fragments, Locus 537 is packed earth floor on which lay EBIb pottery.
Locus 539 – was excavated in Square I2 on top of a plaster/packed earth floor, occupation level, containing ash layers and EBIb pottery. The eastern section of the square clearly shows the way Stratum V ‘Egyptian’ pit cuts through Locus 539.
The most noteworthy feature of the stratum concerns its related pottery. The typological aspects and the cultural significance of the phenomenon will be discussed below, but it is important to point out here the remarkable absence of foreign pottery types in the assemblage. It indicates that this stratum represents a phase of the EBIb before there was an Egyptian presence at Tel Lod. This state of affairs is similar to that found by van den Brink and defined as Stratum IVb (2002:289-290).
STRATUM VThe most substantial EBIb stratum was distinguished throughout the excavated area. No walls were found within the two squares, but a rich occupation level (ca. 0.3 m. thick) with large quantities of pottery and other evidence of human activity could be traced. In Square I1, a plaster floor at a level of 50.80-50.76 was discerned. On it lay pottery and a crucible (Locus 517). In Square I2, an occupational level (51.05-50.71) was found, containing large amounts of burnt material and animal bones (Locus 522). The northern half of the square was occupied by a large pit (Locus 544), almost 1 m deep (50.71-49.74), that cut through earlier EBIb and Chalcolithic strata (Fig. 19). The pit was filled with burnt material, bones and pottery. Besides typical local EBIb pottery similar to that found in all four Early Bronze Age strata, Stratum V yielded quite large amounts of Egyptian and ‘Egyptianized’ pottery (see below). In fact, the vast majority of this foreign pottery came from this stratum (27 of a total of 40 sherds, 67.5%). It seems clear that Stratum V represents the zenith of Egyptian presence in this part of the mound.
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STRATUM IVStratum IV remains were chiefly encountered in Square I2. A large segment (1.6x0.4 m) of a stone wall (W519) running north-south, built of one course of small stones (0.1x0.1), was found connected with an occupation (Loci 518, 521) that was probably based on a plaster floor (detected at the eastern section). The thickness of the stratum is only 9 cm (51.14-51.05), containing EBIb local pottery, and also some Egyptian sherds. It seems that this stratum represents a decline in the Egyptian presence at the site.
STRATUM IIIThe most substantial architecture was found within this stratum. The thickness of the level was more than 0.5 m, from top of wall W513 (51.77), to f loor levels (51.28-51.30). An impressive architectural element was the segment of a massive mudbrick wall (W513), found running northwest-southeast. Its dimensions were 1 x 0.9 m. It was comprised of two faces of bricks, (two size variants appear, one of 0.3 x 0.4x 0.1 m and the other 0.2 x 0.3 m). The wall was preserved to a height of ca. 0.4 m (4 courses). East of the wall, a pavement made of small stones (Locus 514) represents the occupation level that was connected to it. In Square I2 a 2.4 m long and 0.7 m wide segment of a stone wall (W512) was exposed. It runs east-west and was built of one course of medium-sized stones (0.2 x 0.2) with rubble fill. Connected to it was an occupation layer (Locus 516) that contained local EBIb pottery. Only three Egyptian sherds were found in Stratum III. It is not clear whether they were original or intrusive, but it seems that this stratum represents a post-Egyptian occupation at this location.
POTTERYThe local ceramic repertoire that characterizes all four EBIb strata shares the same typological traits. No clear change was detected in the assemblage between the four strata, except for the frequency of certain types. The local EBIb assemblage will, therefore, be analyzed as one unit. The types that appear in EBIb local pottery are:
HEMISPHERICAL BOWLS These small plain bowls generally made of buff clay were not well fired (Fig. 23:1). Such vessels were very popular throughout the Land of Israel during the EBI. In the vicinity of Lod, they were common at Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 39:1-4) and Aphek (Beck 2000b:Fig. 8.2:20-22).
DEEP OPEN BOWLS These small and medium-sized vessels had rather thick walls compared to the plain hemispherical bowls (Fig. 23:2-6). They were found at sites near Lod like Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 39: 7) and Aphek (Beck 2000b:Figs. 8.1:3, 8; 8.2:23).
INVERTED RIM BOWLS These were not common, only a few examples being found at Lod (Fig. 23:7). Only a few specimens were found during our excavation. At Aphek the type was also quite rare (Beck 2000b:Fig. 8.3:3, 5).
KRATERS These large deep vessels (Fig. 23:8-9), which usually have in-turned rims, were not found in large numbers at Lod and only one was published from Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 39:10). Fig. 23:9 has a hammer or ledge rim – also not common in the Lod valley (cf. Tel Dalit; Gophna 1996:Fig. 39:12).
PLATTER BOWLS Platters are completely absent from the ceramic assemblage at Lod. However, platter-bowls (Fig. 23:10) like those found at Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 39:11, 13) do occur. These are relatively deep vessels with in-turned rims.
HOLEMOUTH JARS This is the most common vessel at the site. It seems that holemouth jars at Lod were made from two types of ware, the more abundant being a brown to grey clay which is typical of the site’s vicinity (see petrographic analysis below). The other ware is buff clay mixed with many large black (basaltic?) inclusions. The holemouth jars made of this clay were red slipped and there are only a few of them. They are most common in the northern regions of the Land of Israel, and their appearance at Lod may
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indicate trade routes of the EBIB. Morphologically, there are many rim variants among holemouth jars. Plain rims (Fig. 24:1-13) are common at Lod. They
had a smooth outer face (without ridges or ribs), and thickened or plain inner face. In most cases they were made of brown-grey clay and were not slipped. The rims were rounded or slightly sharpened. Some (Fig. 24:6, 12)) had a cut rim, a feature that is more at home in EBII-III contexts for instance at >Ai (Callaway 1980:Fig. 88:8). Holemouth jars with a plain rim, red-washed or without any decoration, are common during the EBIb in the central coastal region of Israel at sites like Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 41:2, 4, 5) and Aphek (Beck 2000b:Fig. 8.1:15-28).
With plastic decoration (Fig. 24:14) is made of buff clay with a plastic rope application. It was found in a secure EBIb context. As a rule rope decoration is more frequent in the EBII (e.g. at Tel Dalit, Gophna 1996:Fig. 52:3, 4).
Rims with a pronounced ridge or rib (Fig. 25) are mostly made of greyish-brown clay. They are heavy and crude vessels with thickened rims. Usually they were not slipped but in some cases had a red wash. It seems that this variant was mainly used as a cooking vessel, judging from soot marks found on many of the rims.
Such vessels were very popular at sites like Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 41:1, 3, 8) and Shoham (Gophna, personal communication) during the EBIb and may be regarded as the hallmark of the period in this area. At Tel Lod there are several sub-types:
a. A thickened rim with a barely discernable ridge (Fig. 25:1-6).
b. A rim with a furrow rather than a rib (Fig. 25:7). This sub-type may represent a degeneration of the pronounced rib during the very end of EBIB and continue into the beginning of EBII.
c. A thin rim of a deep narrow holemouth jar, which would be smaller than most others (Fig. 25:10-11).
d. A thickened bulbous rim with a pronounced ridge (Fig. 25:12-16). This is the most common sub-type.
Holemouth jars with red wash. This group (Fig. 26:1-4) appears at first glance to have been imported from more northerly regions but petrographic analysis (below) shows that local raw materials were used in their manufacture. They were made from light buff-pinkish or orange clay with large black inclusions and were decorated with red or brown wash. Similar vessels are very common at EBIb sites in northern Israel, such as Qiriat Ata (Golani 2003:Fig. 4.6), Megiddo (Joffe 2000:Fig. 8.4:1-4) and Beth-Yerah (Getzov et. al. 2001:Fig. 1: 3). Even at Aphek (Beck 2000b:Figs. 8.1:15-26, 8.3:15-24) this type predominates markedly over the brown-grey ware which characterises Lod.
Four body sherds, probably parts of large pithoi, made of buff clay with dark inclusions and bearing Grain Wash decoration were retrieved. Some vessels and sherds with this kind of decoration were also found at Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 44).
STORAGE VESSELS Jars and pithoi appear in fairly large numbers (Fig. 26:5-20). The vessels were made from greyish-brown clay with many large inclusions and were poorly fired. The most abundant rim type for storage jars is a simple everted rim (Fig. 26:5-14), sometimes decorated with red slip, is very common in EBIb assemblages at sites like Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 40:12) and Aphek (Beck 2000b:Fig. 8.3:13). One example (Fig. 26:11) was also burnished. More common for pithoi is a thickened and sometimes profiled rim. This feature is quite at home in central Israel at sites like Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Figs. 40:13, 43:4) and Aphek (Beck 2000b:Figs. 8.3:6, 8.4:25) and also popular further north at Megiddo (Joffe 2000:Fig. 8.4:21). Pithoi with thickened everted rims represent the third type of large storage vessel found at Tel Lod (Fig. 26:19, 20). This type of rim, especially
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the outfolded version, is more at home in EBII-III contexts, for example Stratum II at Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 48:16, 20). On the other hand, its EBIb context in the excavation under discussion is clear, and supported by the fact that a complete vessel with such a rim was found in a secure EBIb context by van den Brink right next to our excavation (van den Brink 2002:Fig. 19.10:9).
AMPHORISKOI A neck fragment of an amphoriskos (Fig. 27:1) with red slip was identified. Such vessels were found in van den Brink’s excavations (2002:Fig. 19.9:10, 11), also in domestic contexts. On the other hand, amphoriskoi were frequent in the burial cave near îorvat Tinshemet (van den Brink and Grosinger 2004:Fig. 3:5-8).
JUGLETS A very small vessel made of pink clay (Fig. 27:2) devoid any decoration was found. A similar vessel was found in a burial cave near îorvat Tinshemet, located ca. 6 km north-east of Tel Lod (van den Brink and Grosinger 2004:Fig. 3:4).
CHALICES Only one small fragment of the base of a vessel that may have been a chalice (Fig. 27:3) was retrieved. Chalice fragments were found at Aphek (Beck 2000b:Fig. 8.2:10).
PIERCED PILLAR HANDLES Two fragments of pierced pillar handles (Fig. 27:4, 5) from large vessels such as kraters or holemouth jars were found. Handles of this kind have been reported from EBIb sites near Tel Lod such as
Fig. 23: Early Bronze Age Ib bowls and kraters from Area INo Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Bowl 5135 532 V Buff clay, grey core, red slip2 Bowl 5180 539 VI Buff clay, grey core, red slip3 Bowl 5117 522 V Buff clay4 Bowl 5085 510 II? Buff clay, grey core5 Bowl 5122 527 V Buff clay, well fired6 Bowl 5117 522 V Buff clay7 Bowl 5117 522 V Orange clay, grey core, red slip8 Krater 5121 526 VI Brown clay, thin walls9 Krater 5122 527 V Buff clay, light grits, red wash10 Platter bowl 5154 532 V Buff clay, well fired, red slip11 Base 5210 549 Buff clay, pronounced base, string cut
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Fig. 24: EBIb holemouth jars from Area I
No Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Holemouth jar 5109 521 IV Grey clay, badly fired 2 Holemouth jar 5110 521 IV Orange clay3 Holemouth jar 5105 517 V Buff clay4 Holemouth jar 5160 532 V Grey clay, large light grits5 Holemouth jar 5102 516 III Buff clay6 Holemouth jar 5130 527 V Buff clay, grey core7 Holemouth jar 5117 522 V Grey clay, badly fired8 Holemouth jar 5113 522 V Brown clay, grey core9 Holemouth jar 5102 516 III Orange clay, grey core10 Holemouth jar 5117 522 V Buff clay11 Holemouth jar 5100 514 III Orange clay, large black grits12 Holemouth jar 5105 517 V Brown clay, large light grits13 Holemouth jar 5154 532 V Grey clay14 Holemouth jar 5132 527 V Grey clay, grey core, plastic decoration
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Fig. 25: EBIb holemouth jars from Area I
No Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Holemouth jar 5132 527 V Brown clay, grey core, soot marks2 Holemouth jar 5108 517 V Grey clay, red wash3 Holemouth jar 5104 518 IV Buff clay, grey core4 Holemouth jar 5154 532 V Brown clay, white grits5 Holemouth jar 5122 527 V Buff clay, grey core, red wash6 Holemouth jar 5132 527 V Buff clay, grey core, red wash7 Holemouth jar 5183 544 V Buff clay, grey core, red wash8 Holemouth jar 5101 510 II? Orange clay, white grits9 Holemouth jar 5184 518 IV Buff clay, grey core, plastic decoration10 Holemouth jar 5157 537 VI Buff clay, grey core, red wash 11 Holemouth jar 5134 526 VI Buff clay, grey core, red wash 12 Holemouth jar 5121 526 VI Buff clay, grey core, brown wash 13 Holemouth jar 5130 527 V Buff clay, grey core, red wash14 Holemouth jar 5134 526 VI Grey clay15 Holemouth jar 5154 532 V Buff clay, grey core, red wash16 Holemouth jar 5154 532 V Brown clay, grey core, red wash17 Holemouth jar 5132 527 V Buff clay, red wash
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Fig. 26: EBIB holemouth jars and storage vessels from Area INo Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Holemouth jar 5110 521 IV Buff clay, grey core, red wash2 Holemouth jar 5085 510 II? Buff clay, grey core, red wash3 Holemouth jar 5106 517 V Orange clay, grey core, brown wash 4 Holemouth jar 5122 527 V Buff clay, black grits, brown-orange wash5 Jar 5136 533 V Brown clay6 Jar 5104 518 IV Brown clay, well fired7 Jar 5100 514 III Buff clay8 Jar 5183 544 V Orange-brown clay, grey core9 Jar 5183 544 V Orange-brown clay, grey core10 Jar 5154 532 V Buff clay, grey core, red wash11 Jar 5134 526 VI Buff clay, orange slip, pattern burnishing12 Pithos 5100 514 III Buff clay13 Pithos 5085 510 II? Orange clay14 Pithos 5110 521 IV Orange clay15 Pithos 5113 522 V Orange-brown clay, grey core16 Pithos Orange-brown clay, grey core17 Pithos 5154 532 V Buff clay18 Pithos 5105 517 V Buff clay, large grits, badly fired19 Pithos 5110 521 IV Grey clay20 Pithos 5110 521 IV Pink clay, well fired
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Aphek (Beck 2000b:Fig. 8.2:11). They are quite common in southern Israel during the EBIb and the type continues well into the EBII. In the vicinity of Lod it has been found at sites like Tel Dalit and Tel Bareqet in EBII contexts (Gophna 1996:Fig. 49:2).
‘LINE GROUP PAINTED WARE’ VESSELS There was a body sherd from a jug or a small jar (Fig. 27:6) made of reddish clay which was coated with lime wash and on which was a painted net
decoration. Such a sherds were found at Tel Dalit (Gophna 1996:Fig. 40:15). It is not clear whether they belong to the ceramic family known as LGPW (Braun 1996:213-215). At any case, the painted sherd represents a different group of vessels, that were probably a kind of prestige artefacts.
HANDLES Ledge handles (Fig. 27:8-13) were very common in EBIb contexts, mainly on large vessels, while lug handles characterized small vessels like amphoriskoi.
Fig. 27: EBIb pottery from Area I (varia)No Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Amphoriskos 5154 532 V Buff clay, red slip2 Juglet 5110 521 IV Pink clay, well fired3 Chalice 5109 521 IV White clay, well levigated, red slip4 Pierced pillar handle 5154 532 V Buff clay, grey core5 Pierced pillar handle 5109 518 IV Buff clay, red wash6 Body sherd 517 V Orange clay, white lime wash, red painted decoration7 Incised sherd 5104 518 IV Buff clay, red wash, incised decoration8 Handle Buff clay, red wash9 Handle 5121 526 VI Buff clay, black grits, red wash10 Handle 5210 549 Buff clay11 Handle 5154 532 V Buff clay12 Handle 5160 532 V Grey clay, red slip13 Handle 5157 537 VI Grey clay, red slip14 Weight ? 5171 527 V Orange clay, white wash, perforated
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Fig. 28: Egyptian pottery from Area INo Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Bowl 5106 517 V Orange clay, grey core, red slip, burnish2 Bowl 5136 533 V Red clay, well fired 3 Jar 5104 518 IV Red clay, well fired, red slip, burnished4 Jar 5104 518 IV Red clay, well fired5 Jar 5183 544 V Greyish clay, well fired, red slip6 Jar 5104 521 IV Brown clay, red core, red slip7 Jar 5223 544 V Red clay, well fired, grey core8 Bread mould Brown clay, badly fired, organic tempers9 Bread mould 5183 544 V Brown clay, badly fired, organic tempers10 Bread mould 5105 517 V Brown clay, badly fired, organic tempers11 Bread mould 5132 527 V Brown clay, black core, badly fired, organic tempers, soot marks12 Bread mould 527 V Brown clay, badly fired, organic tempers
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EGYPTIAN AND EGYPTIANIZED POTTERYWhile local EBIb pottery made up the bulk of the assemblage, even in Stratum V, it was accompanied by Egyptian and Egyptianized types. This distinction refers to the origin of the vessels as well as to their shape. As confirmed by petrographic analysis (below), the former were imported from Egypt whereas the latter were made locally in the Egyptian tradition. The ceramic types in this category are:
BOWLS
Straight-sided medium-sized vessels (Fig. 28:1) made of pinkish clay, slipped and burnished in a light red colour are quite abundant. The type is common at sites like Tel Sakan (de Miroschedji and Sadek 2000:Fig. 2:1), >En-Besor (Gophna 1995:Fig. 4:1, 4), Naúal Tillah (Kansa and Levy 2002:Fig. 12.7:a, b) and Small Tel Malúata (Ilan 2002:Fig. 20.5:1). One sherd from a large open bowl with rounded walls and everted rim (Fig. 28:2) was found. It was made of red clay, well fired and was probably wheel-made. Large bowls of this type were found in the heartland of Egyptian dominance in the south of Israel at sites like >En Besor (Gophna 1995:78).
‘WINE JARS’ These medium to large vessels (Fig. 28:3-7) made of highly-fired greyish clay usually have a flaring rim and are lightly burnished. One example has red slip on the rim. Wine jars were reported from van den Brink’s excavation (van den Brink 2002:290, Fig. 19.13:1, 3-6) and from other sites such as >En-Besor (Gophna 1995:Figs. 8:3, 4; 9:6-11), Naúal Tillah (Kansa and Levy 2002:Fig. 12.3), Tel Erani (Yeivin 1961:Pl. VII), Small Tell Malúata (Ilan 2002:Figs. 20.6, 20.7) and Tel Sakan (de Miroschedji and Sadek 2000:Fig. 2:8, 9, 12). Storage vessels with a ‘gutter’ rim (Fig. 28:7) were found at Tel Ma >ahaz (Amiran and van den Brink 2001:Fig. 3.7:6-8) and >En Besor (Gophna 1995:Fig. 8:3).
CYLINDRICAL JARS These jars (not illustrated) made of well-levigated and well-fired clay had thin walls and were said to
have contained perfumed oils or cheese (Gophna 1995:81). No rims of these vessels were found in our excavation or in that adjacent to it (van den Brink 2002:290; Fig. 19.13:13-16). Nevertheless, the sherds with a straight profile retrieved clearly come from vessels of this type, well known from sites like >En-Besor (Gophna 1995:Fig. 7), Tel Erani (Yeivin 1960:Pl. 23:c/d), Naúal Tillah (Kansa and Levy 2002:Fig. 12.1:d) and Tel Sakan (de Miroschedji and Sadek 2000:Fig. 2: 7).
BREAD MOULDS It seems that this vessel type (Fig. 28:8-12), though foreign to local Canaanite tradition, was manufactured by Egyptian potters in Canaan using local clay but employing Egyptian techniques like the use of straw temper. Bread moulds were popular at sites where there was an Egyptian presence as at >En-Besor (Gophna 1995:Fig. 2), Tel Ma>ahaz (Amiran and van den Brink 2001:Fig. 3.2:9-11), Naúal Tillah (Kansa and Levy 2002:Fig. 12.9) and Tel Sakan (de Miroschedji and Sadek 2000:Fig. 2:5).
STATISTICS OF EBIB POTTERY Although all pottery collected during the excavation of Area I was counted, the discussion below includes only that from Strata III-VI. Egyptian and ‘Egyptianized’ pottery is discussed as a single unit since both are foreign to the local ceramic tradition. The repertoire of local pottery at Lod is quite typical of EBIb sites. The most common ceramic type is the holemouth jar, a phenomenon well known throughout the Land of Israel during the EBIb. Of a total of 334 local diagnostic sherds, 104 were holemouth jars (31%). Storage jars and pithoi represent 9.9% of the total diagnostic count. Bowls comprise 4.8%. The 39 ledge handles found comprise 11.7% of diagnostic sherds. The vast majority of the EBIb pottery of Strata III-VI is local. Only 2% (40 sherds out of a total of 1850) were Egyptian or Egyptianized. However, the ratio of Egyptian pottery changes with stratigraphy (Table 8). The most popular Egyptian/Egyptianized vessel is the bread mould, comprising 52.5% of the foreign
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pottery. Jars constitute 25% of the total, 12.5% are bowls and the remainder are non-diagnostic sherds.In order to get as accurate a picture as possible, the proportion of Egyptian and Egyptianized pottery was calculated against the total number of sherds as well as against the number of indicative sherds. Table 8 demonstrates that Strata V and IV represent the highest rates of foreign pottery in relation to local ceramics. The highest frequency of Egyptian pottery was found in Pit 544, where it comprises 3% of the total count and no less than 17% of indicative sherds. In Stratum V Egyptian pottery comprises 2.4% of the total sherd count and 14.6% of the indicative sherds, while in Stratum IV it comprises 2.8% of the total count and 9.4% of indicative sherds. Furthermore, Stratum V yielded 27 of the total 40 Egyptian sherds retrieved, while Stratum IV yielded only 7. Thus the the former stratum represents the most substantial Egyptian presence in this part of the site. The ratio of Egyptian pottery in Strata V-IV is remarkable especially in comparison to Strata VI and III where foreign pottery represents between 0.9-1.3% of the total count. It is quite clear that these strata represent pre-Egyptian and post-Egyptian phases of the settlement respectively.
PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED POTTERY
Nine vessels were sampled for petrographic analysis, all taken from strata containing Egyptian pottery in an attempt to elucidate the nature of the Egyptian presence at Lod. Generally speaking, the petrographic analyses conducted for vessels derived from Area I accord well with the results of the analyses previously conducted by Porat (2002) for
a nearby excavation. These samples were found to represent five mutually exclusive groups regarding provenance and composition.
GROUP 1: NILE CLAY This group is characterized by a clayey and silty matrix (~10%), containing predominantly quartz and opaque minerals, and in lesser, though still substantial amounts, minerals of igneous origin such as mica, feldspar and olivine. Coarser inclusions are comprised mostly of remains of organic material, in the form of elongated pores, occasionally containing phytolith strands. Nevertheless they occupy only a marginal portion of the overall volume, amounting to approximately 1%. One sample (No. 3) attributed to this group diverges from this pattern in the presence of additional inclusions, namely coastal sand and lime inclusions. Under the present circumstances, however, it cannot be determined whether this is due to variation in procurement patterns and provenance or to intentional addition of temper.
GROUP 2: LOESS Three samples are attributed to this group (Nos. 7, 8, 9), all derived from the same type of vessel – ‘bread moulds’. The matrix is calcareous and extremely silty (20%-30%). The silt size component is composed predominantly of badly sorted quartz and of calcareous nodules. Basaltic minerals are also present in significantly smaller numbers. These include feldspar, olivine and mica. The coarse-grain component is invariably composed of vegetal material, often in the form of elongated pores in which phytolith strand are frequently preserved. To the vegetal material, in varying quantities, quartz and lime sand is usually accompanied along with
TABLE 8: STATISTICAL ASPECTS OF EGYPTIAN/EGYPTIANIZED POTTERY AT LODStratum % of total
sherd count% of diagnostic per stratum
No. of sherds
Bread moulds Jars Bowls
III 0.3 1 2 1 1IV 2.8 9.4 7 4 3V 2.4 14.6 27 17 6 4VI 0.9 3 2 1Unknown 3
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minor occurrences of flint and calcite. In one case (No. 9) a large piece of kurkar was found as well. Such sediment is found along the Besor River and the very southern portion of the coastal plain. This area is in close proximity to the coastal sand dunes and the kurkar ridges.
GROUP 3: TAQIYA MARL
One sample are attributed to this group (No. 5). The matrix is calcareous and slightly foraminiferous, bearing low percentage of silt size quartz and iron oxides (<1%), along which shale fragments are occasionally accompanied. The coarse grain component is comprised of a variety of rocks and minerals: limestone, chalk, quartz, geode quartz and possibly also vegetal material probably as a result of incorporating wadi sand into the paste. This group is readily identifiable as Taqiya marl which outcrops at a distance of approximately 10 km from the site. The rocks and minerals comprising the temper are present along the courses of the various streams draining the Judaean Mountains and the Shefelah.
GROUP 4: ANATOLIA/AMUQ?
The matrix of the single sample constituting this group is ferruginous and silty (~5%). The non-plastic ingredients are mostly comprised of serpentine, angular and sub-angular quartz grains, some of which are fragmented into secondary sectors, and calcareous rocks. These are accompanied by mica, iron-oxides, feldspar and calcite. Serpentine is an alteration product of olivine and pyroxene which are the main constituents of ultra-basic rocks such as peridotite. These rocks
are characteristic of ophiolitic conditions, whence pieces of oceanic crust have been relocated to land. An origin prone to such tectonic processes is also suggested by the quartz bearing secondary sectors which is a common trait of metamorphic rocks. A geological setting of the sort suggested by this sample is altogether absent from the Southern Levant and may be found either in Anatolia and the Amuq or the Cypriote Troodos Mountains.
GROUP 5: MOZA MARL
A single sample is attributed to this group which is identified as Moza marl, the distribution of which is known from the central mountain ridge area (Sneh et al. 1998). It is characterized by highly calcareous matrix with relative abundance of iron oxide pellets. The coarse grain component is composed chiefly of grog and ground calcite. Fine dolomitic sand can be identified in some of the grog pieces which have turned isotropic due to second firing.
SUMMARY
The current petrographic analysis focused its attention on elucidating the nature of the typologically foreign elements, especially those of supposedly Egyptian origin. Besides a single exception all vessels can be regarded as importations, most of which clearly originate either from Egypt proper or from the Besor area (see Gophna 1995). Furthermore, despite the need for a larger sample size, the results of the current analysis suggest a close correlation between the bread moulds and the Besor area. The presence of an Egyptian bakery at that location seems hardly to be a coincidence.
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THE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGE The Early Bronze Age strata yielded 94 chipped lithic items originating from 16 uncompromised loci (508, 509, 510, 511, 518, 520, 521, 522, 523, 526, 527, 530, 531, 532, 533 and 544). Raw material includes beige, brown and grey colours usually of medium to good quality. Exceptions are the high-quality dark tabular flint characteristic of two items and a large piece of a low-quality watered flint.
DEBITAGE AND DEBRIS Core technology is flake oriented. The cores (n=15) are mostly large to medium (3-7.5 cm across) amorphous flake cores (n=6) usually with one striking platform. Also present a small flake/bladelet core (Fig. 29:2) with two striking platform placed at 90 degrees to each other, a single core made on a flake and seven core fragments. Core trimming elements comprehends of nine core tablets, three crested blades and three items that were classified as varia.
Flakes (n=20) and primary elements flakes (n=4) dominate the debitage (over 40%) with blades (n=3) and bladelet (n=1) comprise of less than 7% of the debitage. Debris includes 16 amorphous fragments.
TABLE 10: BREAKDOWN OF THE EARLY BRONZE AGE FLINT ASSEMBLAGE
Debitage N %Primary Elements Flake 4 4.25Flakes 20 21.27Blades 3 3.19Bladelets 1 1.06Core Trimming Elements 16 17.03Cores 15 15.96Sub Total 59DebrisChunks 16 17.03ChipsSub Total 16Tools 19 20.21Total 94 100
TABLE 9 : RESULTS OF PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
No. Locus Type Matrix Silt Temper 1 Temper 2 Temper 3 Origin
1 514 Bowl Ferruginous Serpentine, quartz, iron oxides, olivine
Serpentine Chalk Mica, feldspar, quartz
Amuq?
2 Ferruginous silty
Quartz, mica, feldspar, olivine
Vegetal material
Nile clay
3 544 Jar Ferruginous silty
Quartz, mica, feldspar, olivine
Vegetal material
Quartz Lime Nile clay
4 517 Base Calcareous, foraminifers
Iron oxides Ground calcite
Grog Chalk, shale Taqiya + ground calcite + grog
5 532 Holemouth Calcareous, foraminifers, iron ooliths
Quartz Limestone Chalk Quartz, geode quartz,
Taqiya + wadisand
6 521 Jar Ferruginous silty
Quartz, mica, feldspar, olivine
Vegetal material
Angular iron oxides
Nile clay
7 517 Bread mould Ferruginous silty
Quartz, mica Vegetal material
Quartz Lime, flint Loess + vegetal material
8 527 Bread mould Ferruginous silty
Quartz, mica, olivine
Quartz Vegetal material
Lime Loess + vegetal material +coastal sand
9 544 Bread mould Ferruginous silty
Quartz, olivine, feldspar
Kurkar Vegetal material
Lime, quartz Loess + vegetal material +kurkar
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TOOL TYPOLOGY A single sickle blade was found within the Early Bronze Age strata (Fig. 29:1). This is an entire f lat rectangular sickle of semi-translucent f lint made on a proximal blade fragment and bears f lat and pressure retouch on three sides. The active end is denticulated and sheen can be seen on both faces. It is typical of the Lodian/Jericho IX culture of the Pottery Neolithic of the southern Levant and probably came from the nearby settlement (Gopher and Blockman 2004). Scrapers (n=5) include both items made on flake and fragments as well as a single fragment of a tabular scraper (Fig. 29:3) characterized by its high quality flint and whitish cortex. A single fragment made of the same raw material was found in the same locus (Locus 518). Two denticulates, one burin (Fig. 29:4) and a single borer made on a flake were recovered. Two retouched blades were found, one of
which is probably a sickle blade fragment though no sheen was observed. Five retouched flakes were found and two items were classified as varia. The small EB assemblage is characterized by flake oriented technology, well demonstrated both by debitage and tools. The extent of the excavation prevents elaboration on the nature of the lithic industry though it does suggest that use of various raw materials for the production of mainly ad hoc tools at the site.
TABLE 11: EARLY BRONZE AGE FLINT TOOLS
Tools N %Sickle Blade 1 5.26Scrapers 5 26.3Retouched Blades 2 10.54Retouched Flakes 5 26.3Burins 1 5.26Denticulates 2 10.54Borer 1 5.26Varia 2 10.54Total 19 100
Fig. 29: Flint assemblage from Area I.
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STONE OBJECTS
Four stone items were found in EB strata. They are a grinding stone fragment, an adze/axe, a bowl and a hammerstone. A very fragmentary shallow grinding board with a thick base (Fig. 30:2) is made of limestone and its upper face is slightly concave. The adze/axe (Fig. 30:3) made of unidentified raw material is 7.3 cm long, 3.7 cm wide at the active end and 1.8 cm wide at the butt. It is 2.5 cm thick and has an uneven convex section suggesting this was probably used as adze. Both active end
and butt were chipped after the final shape of the tool was completed. The fragment of a V-shaped bowl (Fig. 30:4) is made of fine-grained basalt and has a tapering rim. The bowl was pecked into shape and is smoothed both inside and outside. The hammerstone (Fig. 30:5) is made of siliceous white-grey limestone. It is cuboid with rounded edges and covered with battering marks. It seems that this tool was at least partly modified prior to its use as a hammerstone. The hammerstone is 6.4 x 6.1 cm and weighs 400 g.
Fig. 30: Stone objects from EBIb strata in Area I
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STRATUM II
A sandy layer, at least 1 m thick that covered both squares was dug to a level of 51.77. It contained mixed pottery from different periods: Early Bronze (Loci 505 and 507), Intermediate Bronze and Byzantine. At the bottom of this sandy layer, was a small pit (Locus 508) containing some EB pottery sherds. It seems that it cannot be assigned to any clear stratigraphic stratum and may represent a post-EBI squatter phase.
STRATUM I
Stratum I occupation level was badly disturbed by modern refuse pits and other building activities. A fragment of a 0.8 x 0.35 stone wall (W506) was found in the northern section of Square I1. It had two courses of medium-sized stones, and its direction was probably north-south. Connected to the wall was a floor at a level of 52.82 (Loci 502 and 504) with late Byzantine pottery on it (Fig.31).
Fig. 31: Byzantine pottery from Area INo Type Reg. No. Locus Stratum Description 1 Bowl 5020 502 I Red clay, imprinted decoration2 Bowl 5014 504 I Red clay, red slip3 Bowl 5006 502 I Red clay4 Krater 5013 502 I Red clay 5 Krater 5013 502 I Red clay6 Jar I Red clay7 Jar 5020 502 I Red clay8 Amphora 5006 502 I Red clay
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CONCLUSION
The excavations reported here, covering an area of 150 m2, produced a jigsaw puzzle of settlement history. In Area D, the earliest settlement evidence dates to the Neolithic period. A Chalcolithic pit found in Area D may reflect a larger settlement which is better preserved in Area I. The EBIb settlement marked by the remains of four strata making up more than 1.5 m of accumulation in Area I left almost no trace in Area D. Thus it is evident that Tel Lod is not a typical mound formed by the accumulation of occupation debris from settlements built one on top of the other in the same place over the centuries. Rather, various parts of this area were inhabited in different periods. Lodian/Jericho IX (late eighth, early seventh millennium BP) inhabitants appear to be among the earliest occupants of this part of the dune, choosing the banks of the Ayalon River as a suitable site for settlement. It would seem that a large settlement flourished at Lod during the late Chalcolithic period. This is borne out by recent excavations conducted north and west of our excavated area (van den Brink 2002; Yannai and Marder 2000). However it was only in Area I that building remains were unearthed in a clear stratigraphic sequence of three phases. This accumulation seems to represent the most substantial settlement of the Chalcolithic period so far encountered in the environs of Lod which was part of a thriving settlement pattern characterized by sites which spread throughout the Land of Israel, including the Jordan Valley and the Golan. In the central coastal plain sites like Bene-Berak, Azor, Givatayim and Tel Aviv were well known to research, and recent excavations at sites like Giv >at ha-Oranim, Kafr Ana and Lod (Gophna and Tsuk 2005) added to the accumulated data. The
concentration of Chalcolithic sites along the main riverine systems that reach the Mediterranean was already demonstrated by Gophna (1974:Pl. 24). In Area I the four strata representing the EB1b reflect a settlement sequence in which a substantial Egyptian entity existed side by side with local Canaanite habitation. The results of the excavation demonstrate that the Egyptian presence at the site was rather short lived, sandwiched between two strata containing only local Canaanite EB1b material finds. In other words, Egyptian occupation began here in the course of the EBIb and was abandoned before the period ended. The cultural and chronological horizon that characterizes this phase belongs to the later part of the Naqada III horizon, parallel to Dynasty 0 in Egypt (Hartung 2002:Fig. 27.9). While ample evidence of Egyptian settlement in and around the vicinity of Lod has been reported (van den Brink 2002, Yannai and Marder 2000), the particular part of the site presented in this report is so far unique in that living floors have been discerned. These permit greater accuracy in pin-pointing the phase within the Early Bronze Age when the Egyptian presence was strongest. The site seems to have been used sporadically in the later part of the Early Bronze Age and there is evidence of some sort of activity during the MBIIA. After this it is appears to have been abandoned until the Byzantine period.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We greatly appreciate the helpful comments of Prof. R. Gophna, Drs. E. van den Brink and E. Braun who visited the site during the excavations and examined the pottery. Our thanks to E. Yannai and E. van den Brink for permitting us to read their as yet unpublished reports.
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A small assemblage of 117 complete and fragmentary animal bones was recovered from the combined excavated areas (Table 1).
METHOD
Identified bone elements were soaked in 5% acetic acid, washed and dried slowly. Each bone was coded in Excel worksheet according to area of excavation, locus, and basket. Recorded elements were inspected for cut marks, burning and other macroscopic bone surface modifications, such as signs of animal activity (Lyman 1994). Bone remains were identified to bone element and species using the comparative collection of the Laboratory of Archaeozoology, University of Haifa. The relative abundances of the different taxa were quantified using the number of identified specimen (NISP) for each taxon together with the minimum number of individuals (MNI) from which the remains could have originated (Table 2). These values were calculated using the assumptions described in Klein and Cruz-Uribe (1984). Age at death was analyzed based on epiphyseal closure and tooth wear (Klein and Cruz-Uribe 1984).
RESULTS
The faunal remains from Areas D and I represent domesticated livestock. The bone assemblage is comprised predominantly of cattle (Bos Taurus), sheep and goat (Ovis/Capra) and to a lesser extent domestic pig (Sus scrofa). The equid remains most probably represent the domestic ass (Equus asinus). Butchery marks were found on cattle (n=4), sheep and goat (n=2) and pig remains (n=1) from Area I. Signs of burning were observed on a single cattle footbone from Area I.
The assemblage contained a large proportion of immature pigs, lower proportions of immature sheep and goats and relatively high proportion of prime-adult cattle. The high juvenile ratio of pigs suggests that they were slaughtered primarily for their meat while sheep and goats were used for secondary products such as milk and/or wool. Similarly, the low rate of young cattle suggests milk or labour exploitation.
TABLE 1: DISTRIBUTION OF FAUNAL REMAINS
Area Locus Reg. No. Bones/ Basket
Bones/ Locus
Bones / Area
D 116* 1167 1 13
27
116* 1212 2116* 1251 5116* 1258 5121* 1237 1 1122* 1211 6122* 1231 1123* 1224 5 12123* 1228 1 1
I 510# 5095 3 3
90
520# 5151 8 8521# 5127 4521# 5139 5 9522# 5124 8 10522# 5146 1522# 5165 1524# 5140 2 2526# 5144 1 4526# 5148 3527# 5162 5 15527# 5168 10529# 5177 2 2531# 5143 1 1532# 5173 3 3540* 5193 6 12540* 5221 3540* 5226 3544# 5206 2 2545* 5196 7 16545* 5201 4545* 5203 3545* 5206 2550* 5213 3 3
* Chalcolithic; # EBIb
APPENDIX 1: FAUNAL REMAINS
Guy Bar-Oz and Noa Raban-Gerstel
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TABLE 2: NUMBER OF IDENTIFIED SPECIMENS (NISP) AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS (MNI) OF EACH TAXON REPRESENTED IN AREA I
Cattle Sheep/goat Swine Equus sp.
Head: Skull Horn 1 Maxilla Mandible Mandible condyle 2 Mandible fragments 1 Teeth 3 7 5 2Body: Atlas Ver: Cervical 6 1 1 Ver: Thoracic 1 Ver: Lumbar 3 1 Rib frag. 1 3 Forelimb: Scapula 3 2 Humerus 3 3 2 Radius 3 Ulna 2 Metacarpus 3 2 Hindlimb: Pelvic acetabulum 3 Femur 1 1 3 Tibia 1 1 Astragalus 7 1Calcaneum 2 Coboid 1 Metatarsus 2 1 Toes: Phalanx 1 3 Phalanx 2 2 1 Phalanx 3 1 Metapod cond. Long bone Unidentified long bones
NISP 46 28 15 3 92%NISP 50% 30% 16% 3% 100%MNI 4 4 2 1 11
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157
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