A salvage excavation was conducted in March–April 2000 north of Qibbuz Senir (A-3214*; map ref. NIG 26352/79452; OIG 21352/29452), prior to the construction of a new neighborhood. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Upper Galilee Regional Council, was directed by Y. Stepansky, with the assistance of A. Hajian (surveying), R. Graff (drafting), H. Tahan (drawing), D. Syon (numismatics), E. Altmark (metallurgical laboratory), M. Hartal, I. Shaked and H. Abu ‘Uqsa (ceramic reading) and Z. Nitzan (metal detection).
Two excavation areas (A and B) were opened on a low terrace after building remains were exposed, while backhoe diggings were carried out. Area A was located at the northern side of the terrace and consisted of four squares, wherein the remains of a building compound that was probably used for burial and dated to the Roman period, were revealed. Potsherds dating to the Hellenistic, Early Islamic and Crusader-Ayyubid periods were collected as well. Area B was located at the southern end of the terrace, 35 m south of Area A. A single square was excavated, including building remains from the Roman period.
Area A (Fig. 1). A stone structure (3.8 × 4.0 m; Fig. 2) in the center of what remained from a built compound was uncovered. The structure consisted of two rectangular cells (Loci 10, 14) that were probably used for burial. The lower part of the structure was hewn in bedrock (min. height 0.85 m) and the upper part was built of four courses of travertine blocks that were finely dressed along their inner face (average dimensions 0.3 × 0.4 × 0.4 m). The western wall of Cell 10 slightly inclined outward, perhaps a result of ground shifting after its construction. Three small niches that served as steps were installed in the western wall of Cell 14. Burial remains were not discovered in the cells and it seems that these are still buried in the soil below the level that was excavated.
To the east and north of the structure segments of two walls (W500, W501) were exposed. They were built of two rows of roughly hewn travertine blocks, with a core of soil fills and small stones (average width 0.8 m). The walls were set on a foundation of small fieldstones that was placed on bedrock. Thirteen meters of W500 were revealed and it was preserved 0.3–0.7 m high. The entire length of the wall was damaged, probably due to agricultural work. Stones were arranged as headers and stretchers in severak sections of the wall. The wall continued to the east, beyond the intersection with W501; therefore, another burial structure may existed to the east of W501, which has not yet been detected. Ten meters of W501 were cleared and it was preserved a single course high (0.3 m). The western face of W501 was smoother than the easterm one. The manner in which the walls intersected indicated taht they were probably constructed at the same time.
A few of the ceramic finds in the area dated to the Late Hellenistc period (2nd–1st centuries BCE; Fig. 3:1–4). Most of the pottery fragments dated to the Roman period (1st–4th centuries CE; Fig. 3:5–21) and there were several pottery fragments from the Early Islamic and Crusader-Ayyubid periods as well. The finds from the Hellenistic period included fragments of mortaria (Fig. 3:1), jars (Fig. 3:2, 3) and the base of a bowl decorated with stamped leaf impressions (Fig. 3:4). The Roman-period finds included fragments of deep bowls, similar to the Shihin-type kraters from the 2nd century CE (Fig. 3:5, 6), bowls that were commonly found in Banias in the 2nd–4th centuries CE (Fig. 3:7–10), a Kefar Hananya bowl (Type 1A: 1st–3rd centuries CE; Fig. 3:11), Kefar Hananya cooking pots (Type 3A: 1st centurt BCE–2nd century CE; Fig. 3:12; Type 4C: 2nd–4th centuries CE; Fig. 3:13, 14), an amphora (Fig. 3:15), jars (Fig. 3:16–20), such as an eastern Terra Sigillata jar from the Early Roman period (Fig. 3:16) and Iturean jars from the Late Roman period (Fig. 3:17, 18, 20), as well as a knide-pared lamp (Fig. 3:21).
Four bronze coins (Table 1) were retrieved from the excavation area; two were from the Early Roman period and the other two, from the Mamluk period, were surface finds.
Table 1. Area A: Numismatic finds
Ruler
|
Mint
|
Date
|
Type
|
IAA No.
|
Aretus IV
|
|
9 BCE–40 CE
|
Double cornucopia
|
88493
|
Augustus Festus Procurator
|
Jerusalem
|
59 CE
|
Palm branch
|
88492
|
Barquq (first reign)
|
Damascus
|
1382–1389 CE
|
Star of David
|
88495
|
Barquq (second reign)
|
Tripolis
|
1390–1399 CE
|
Inscription
|
88496
|
The finds from the excavation were mixed; no sealed loci were discerned and therefore, it was impossible to ascertain the time when the structure was built. It is however, reasonable to assume that the structure was built during the 1st–4th centuries CE, since most of the finds in the area were ascribed to this time, and probably at the beginning of the period as implied by the coins from the Early Roman period. Possibly later, in the Late Roman period, the site continued to serve for burial or for cultic rituals that were associated with the process. The scant ceramic finds from the Hellenistic period may indicate a possible agricultural activity that preceded the construction at the site.
In the past, M. Hartal found a similar burial compound in Banias, c. 1 km northeast of the site. There were seven parallel, rectangular burial cells aligned north–south; the cells were plundered and contained a few finds dating to the 3rd–4th centuries CE (ESI 16:5–7). The two compounds demonstrate a tradition of magnificent funerary structures that existed in the region during the Roman period. It should be noted that numerous burial caves and hewn cist graves that belonged to the large, Roman-period cemetery of Banias had previously been discovered on the slope of the hill, to the west of the excavation area.
Some 70 m north of Area A, several architectural elements, including the fragment of a decorated monumental pediment and column drums were recovered from a stone clearance heap that was piled up in the 1970s. These elements join others that were collected in the vicinity in the past, and since it was an extensive burial ground it seems these elements belonged to a mausoleum that has yet to be located.
Area B (Fig. 4). Remains of a wall (W600) and several floors that had at least two construction phases were unearthed. The wall (exposed length 5 m, width 0.6 m) was built of dressed travertine blocks and preserved a single course high (0.3 m). In the early phase the wall was built of a single row of stones (W600A). To this phase two pebble floors were also ascribed; one floor (L55) was c. 5 cm lower than the other (Loci 54, 56) and apparently earlier as well. The upper floor was probably a repair of the lower one. The remains of the early phase seem to belong to a pool that may have been used for storing water. In the later phase the wall was made thicker by adding another row of stones (W600B), which damaged the pebble floors. A floor of soil and small stones traced in several places above the upper pebble floor, and a square stone that was probably used as a column base were attributed to the late phase. It seems that in this phase another building, whose function remains unclear, was constructed in this spot.
No ceramic finds were found on the floors. The soil fill that covered the building remains contained a few fragments of pottery vessels from the Hellenistic period and many from the 1st–2nd centuries CE, including a bowl (Fig. 3:22) and a cooking pot (Fig. 3:23), as well as three bronze coins (Table 2), one from the 1st century CE, the second from the 2nd century CE and the third was illegible. Judging by the finds it seems that both phases of the building dated to the 1st–2nd centuries CE.
Table 2. Area B: Numismatic finds
Ruler
|
Mint
|
Date
|
Type
|
IAA No.
|
Autonomous
|
Paneas
|
169 (?) CE
|
Syrinx Pipes of Pan
|
88494
|
Autonomous
|
Sidon
|
1st century CE
|
War galley
|
88497
|