The survey was divided into two stages; in the first, a systematic survey was performed by a three member team and remains were documented; in the second stage, trial trenches were dug for the purpose of locating and identifying the extent of the remains underground, particularly north and west of the Qibbuz. Areas for quarrying, burial and installations, utilized by important sites located nearby, were documented. In addition, it was determined that the southern hill of Qibbuz Megiddo is a multi-period archaeological site and remains on it range in date from the Roman period to the modern era. A Middle Bronze Age site, situated next to a source of water in Nahal Qini, was documented southwest of the Qibbuz.
 
Field Survey
The survey was performed in the planned expansions east, north and west of the Qibbuz, within the precincts of the Qibbuz and in areas contiguous with the regions slated for future development (Table 1; Fig. 1).
 
The Eastern Expansion Areas. Potsherds, roof tiles and fragments of glass vessels dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods were gathered on the eastern slopes of the Qibbuz. Three concentrations of building stones and architectural items (Fig. 1: 1, 2, 11, 12, 15, 16) were documented, including a stone seat and cornice (0.5×0.7 m; Fig. 2). The items might have been used in a nearby amphitheater that extended across a minimum area of 50×70 m (Figs. 1: 17; 3) or in another building. The amphitheater is located at the foot of the Qibbuz’ soccer field; its western part was covered with soil fill in recent years. A cave opening (Fig. 1: 18) and ten rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 3–10, 13, 14) were also documented.
 
The Northern Expansion Areas. Fragments of pottery vessels dating to the Bronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk and Ottoman periods were documented on a hilltop between the Qibbuz and Tel Megiddo and along its northern and western slopes. A rectangular shaft that is at least 2 m deep was noted; it was probably used as an entrance to a tomb (Figs. 1: 20; 4). In addition, blocked cave openings (Fig. 1: 21, 26, 27, 32, 45), stone heaps (Fig. 1: 46–50), construction lines that are probably boundary walls, perhaps a building or a road (Fig. 1: 43, 44) and rock-hewn installations (Fig. 1: 22, 25, 30–32, 39) were documented. An installation (?), cupmark, channel and rock-cuttings were identified next to Installation 25. Due to the conditions in which the survey was performed, it was only possible to identify some of the installations; Installations 30 and 32 are believed to be small extracting installations or bodedot. Seventeen stone quarrying clusters were also documented (Fig. 1: 19, 20, 23–25, 28, 29, 33–38, 40–42, 51; Fig. 5).
 
The Western Expansion Areas. Pottery from the Persian, Roman and Byzantine periods was gathered along the western fringes of Qibbuz Megiddo and on leveled ground northwest and west of it. The top of a wall (Fig. 1: 62), two caves with collapsed openings (Fig. 1: 52, 59) and six rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 53–58) were documented. Concentrations of masonry stones and architectural elements were also noted at the gate of the Qibbuz (Fig. 1: 60, 61).
 
The Built-up Area of the Qibbuz and nearby Areas to the Northeast that are Contiguous with the Development Areas
Installations (Fig. 1: 63, 70), burial caves (Fig. 1: 73, 74) and a blocked opening of a cave (Fig. 1: 75) were documented on the northern hill of the Qibbuz. Eleven rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 64–69, 71, 76–79) were documented; a hewn game board is located next to Rock-cutting 79. A potsherd scatter that mainly includes fragments from the Roman and Byzantine periods was identified (Fig. 1: 72). Wall remains (Fig. 1: 80–83) and potsherds dating to the Bronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk, Crusader and Ottoman periods were documented on the southern hill of the Qibbuz.
Rock-cut cist graves (Fig. 1: 93, 110), a burial cave (Fig. 1: 88), hewn shafts, perhaps for burial (Fig. 1: 91, 94, 105–107) and other caves with blocked openings (Fig. 1: 104, 108) were documented on the hill northeast of the Qibbuz, along a dirt road leading to the modern cemetery. In addition, rock-hewn installations (Fig. 1: 85–87, 94–98) were documented and cupmarks were identified alongside Installations 95–97. Rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 89, 90, 92, 101, 102, 110–115), stone heaps (Fig. 1: 99, 100, 109) and a wall (Fig. 1: 103) were identified. Bronze Age potsherds (Fig. 1: 84) were documented near the modern cemetery.
 
Table 1. The Survey Finds (Fig. 1)
 
Survey Site
Map Reference
Description
1
217524/720425
Architectural elements
2
217534/720439
Architectural elements
3
217552/720458
Cave
4
217544/720464
Quarry
5
217551/720477
Quarry
6
217508/720498
Quarry
7
217456/720460
Quarry
8
217435/720461
Quarry
9
217427/720463
Quarry
10
217430/720468
Quarry
11
217407/720454
Architectural elements
12
217401/720461
Architectural elements
13
217522/720533
Quarry
14
217569/720530
Quarry
15
217583/710505
Architectural elements
16
217598/720510
Architectural elements
17
217539/720722
Amphitheater
18
217481/720703
Quarry, opening of cave
19
217055/721000
Quarry
20
217058/720991
Quarry and square shaft
21
217077/720998
Cave
22
217059/721008
Extracting installation
23
217070/721009
Quarry
24
217077/721014
Quarry
25
217091/721005
Installation (?), cupmark, channel and rock-cuttings
26
217085/720990
Cave
27
217084/720986
Cave
28
217095/720971
Quarry
29
217079/720967
Quarry
30
217088/720968
Extracting installation—‘bodeda’
31
217101/720971
Installation (?)
32
217111/720975
Cave and installation
33
217111/720999
Quarry
34
217113/721017
Quarry
35
217129/721017
Quarry
36
217139/721017
Quarry
37
217143/721052
Quarry
38
217144/721060
Quarry
39
217128/721064
Installation (?)
40
217157/721057
Quarry
41
217188/721021
Quarry
42
217191/721012
Quarry
43
217253/720994
Longitudinal stone heap (wall? building?)
44
217254/720997
Longitudinal stone heap (wall? building?)
45
217252/720962
Cave
46
217287/720931
Stone heap
47
217311/720909
Stone heap
48
217322/720896
Stone heap
49
217328/720883
Stone heap
50
217350/720907
Stone heap
51
217141/720978
Quarry
52
216997/720820
Cave
53
216995/720859
Quarry
54
217005/720858
Quarry
55
217013/720912
Quarry
56
217014/720937
Quarry
57
217018/720945
Quarry
58
217037/720963
Quarry
59
217043/720951
Cave
60
216976/720619
Architectural elements
61
216985/720595
Architectural elements
62
216965/720445
Wall
63
217131/720703
Installation (?)
64
217128/720739
Quarry
65
217193/720868
Quarry
66
217167/720887
Quarry
67
217119/720933
Quarry
68
217116/720924
Quarry
69
217108/720924
Quarry
70
217087/720910
Installation (?)
71
217074/720892
Quarry
72
217068/720866
Sherd scatter
73
217053/720853
Tomb
74
217045/720843
Burial cave
75
217039/720820
Cave
76
217031/720811
Quarry
77
217025/720789
Quarry
78
217039/720769
Quarry
79
217017/720716
Rock-cutting and hewn game board
80
217178/720123
Wall
81
217187/720122
Wall
82
217133/720129
Wall
83
217147/720125
Wall
84
217521/720970
Potsherd scatter
85
217461/720983
Extracting installation
86
217461/720972
Extracting installation
87
217462/720966
Extracting installation
88
217468/720967
Burial cave
89
217446/720967
Quarry
90
217442/720960
Quarry
91
217447/720956
Hewn shaft
92
217452/720948
Quarry
93
217452/720920
Rock-cut tomb
94
217447/720911
Rock-cutting and reservoir (water?), installation (?)
95
217435/720923
Cupmark
96
217429/720928
Cupmark
97
217429/720935
Cupmark
98
217423/720946
Extracting installation
99
217389/720891
Stone heap
100
217401/720844
Stone heap
101
217417/720834
Quarry
102
217420/720843
Quarry
103
217437/720845
Wall
104
217447/720861
Quarry
105
217483/720862
Shaft (tomb?)
106
217515/720869
Shaft (tomb?)
107
217523/720873
Shaft (tomb?)
108
217538/720877
Cave
109
217531/720860
Stone heap
110
217530/720854
Rock-cuttings and tomb
111
217528/720847
Quarry
112
217548/720846
Quarry
113
217555/720863
Quarry
114
217537/720829
Rock-cuttings
115
217531/720825
Rock-cuttings
 
 
Trial Trenches (Table 2; Fig. 6)
The survey finds show that the rocky slopes north, northwest and southeast of the Qibbuz were used for burial and installations. To delineate the ancient areas northwest, north, west and southwest of the Qibbuz, underground examinations were carried out. Potsherds from the Roman and Byzantine periods were found in the upper layer of soil in the trial trenches (Trenches 1–34; each 5 m long, 0.6 m wide; Trenches 35–40: each 10 m long, 0.6 m wide).
 
Seven trenches (Fig. 6: 25–31) were excavated in the northern expansion to determine the depth of the soil and boundaries of the areas with rock-cuttings and installations in this region. The examinations revealed a shallow layer of soil on top of the bedrock that contained potsherds, mainly from the Roman and Byzantine period.
 
Nine trenches were opened in the northwestern expansion (Fig. 6: 1–6, 32–34). Potsherds were found on the surface (max. depth c. 1 m) in the area northwest of the Qibbuz. Natural soil (max. depth 2.65 m) was documented below this level. The field sherds found in the upper layer of soil were dated to the Roman and Byzantine periods and included roof tiles. 
 
Seventeen trenches were excavated in a narrow strip that extended north of Nahal Qini, in the agricultural fields west and southwest of the Qibbuz (Fig. 6: 7–23). Archaeological remains were exposed in Trenches 8 and 9, among them stones and potsherds dating from the Roman–Byzantine periods to the modern era (max. depth 1.2 m). A surface leveled layer (max. depth 1.1 m) with finds from the Byzantine, Crusader and Mamluk periods was documented in Trench 10; a crushed chalk floor (thickness c. 10 cm; Fig. 7), which contained potsherds from the Middle Bronze Age, was exposed at a depth of 1.2 m. Potsherds dating to the Roman, Crusader and Mamluk periods were found in the surface layer of Trenches 11 and 12; a level of crushed chalk devoid of potsherds was found at a depth of c. 1.2 m.  Stones and potsherds from the Roman and Byzantine periods (max. depth 1 m), probably architectural remains or tombs, were found in Trenches 13, 15, 17, and 18.
 
Six trenches were excavated on the northern hill (Fig. 6: 35–40). Rock-cutting clusters were documented in Trenches 35, 36, and 39; the depth of the bedrock beneath the surface varies (1–2 m). Furthermore, potsherds dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods were found. 
 
A single trial trench (Fig. 6: 24) was excavated on the southern hill and gray soil (max. depth 0.9 m) that contained potsherds from the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods was exposed. At a depth of 0.95 m, a number of superposed layers of crushed chalk alternating with levels of gray soil were exposed; these layers were documented to a depth of 2.6 m below the surface and they contained similar ceramic material, mainly from the Early Islamic period. Below these layers, gray soil and potsherds from the Byzantine period were documented to a depth of 2.1 m, where the top of an ashlar-built wall was identified.
 
Table 2: The Trial Trenches (Fig. 6) 
Trench No.
Map Reference
Depth (in meters)
1
216961/720744
2.65
2
216943/720603
0.95
3
216884/720565
1.3
4
216862/720446
2.1
5
216867/720363
1.25
6
216889/720358
2.0
7
216875/720290
1.3
8
216919/720288
2.8
9
216902/720182
1.35
10
216906/720114
3.2
11
216892/720111
0.55
12
216911/720051
0.9
13
216893/720053
2.2
14
216863/720049
0.65
15
216907/720004
2.1
16
216875/720005
0.6
17
216890/719972
0.5
18
216891/720926
0.5
19
216870/720926
2.9
20
216888/720878
2.5
21
216917/720476
1.1
22
216927/720422
0.95
23
216933/720504
0.95
24
217127/720277
2.1
25
217354/720912
0.5
26
217345/720920
0.5
27
217277/720983
0.55
28
217229/721010
0.6
29
217174/721028
0.55
30
217124/721020
1.8
31
217091/721040
1.0
32
217035/721042
2.3
33
216978/721016
2.8
34
216963/720951
2.9
35
217049/720782
2.0
36
217105/720874
1.8
37
217169/720925
0.5
38
217255/720832
0.6
39
217145/720853
1.2
40
217254/720519
2.3
 
 
The survey showed that the northern hill of Qibbuz Megiddo and its northern and western slopes were used mainly for quarrying and burial. The installations indicate the residents’ livelihood at the time and it is likely that this area, close to Tel Megiddo, fulfilled a variety of needs throughout long historical periods. The northeastern, eastern and southeastern slopes of the Qibbuz were part of an extensive site, which had an amphitheater that might have been used by the residents of Legio and Maximianopolis. The southern area of the Qibbuz, facing Nahal Qini, is a large archaeological tell where finds from the Middle Bronze Age to the Ottoman period were documented. Architectural remains and pottery from the Middle Bronze Age were found on the northern bank of Nahal Qini, southwest of Qibbuz Megiddo. Potsherds dating to the Bronze Age were found on the fringes of the Qibbuz cemetery, southwest of Tel Megiddo.
The survey finds supplement our information about the archaeological remains in the Legio-Megiddo region, around Qibbuz Megiddo, and further contribute to the recognition of the important historical sites in its vicinity.
 
 

 
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Tepper, Y. 2002. Lajjun – Legio in Israel: Results of a Survey in and Around the Military Camp Area. In P. Freman, J. Bennett, T.F. Zbigniew and B. Hoffmann, eds.. Proceedings of the XVIIIth International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies. Amman, September 2000 [Limes XVII; BAR I.S. 1084 (1)]. Pp. 231–242.
Tepper Y. 2003. Survey of the Legio Region. HA-ESI 115:29*–31*.