The excavation was carried out along the eastern fringes of the tell. Two adjacent areas were excavated (Fig. 1) and three trenches, cut during the development work, were cleaned. Remains of buildings that dated to the end of the Byzantine period were exposed. Previous excavations c. 80 m southwest of the current one had exposed remains of impressive buildings and polychrome mosaics that dated to the sixth–seventh centuries CE; according to their excavators these buildings were part of a settlement that also included Christian residents (HA-ESI 115). Tombs, a large winepress and a church with decorated polychrome mosaic floors, which dated to the end of the Byzantine period, had been excavated in the past c. 70 m southeast of the current excavation; according to the excavator the church was part of an extensive building complex, possibly a monastery (HA-ESI 114).

The Southern Area (Fig. 2). Remains of a large building that was founded on bedrock were exposed beneath a thick layer of clayey soil (c. 1 m). The building, generally aligned northeast-southwest, included a central wall (W30) that was abutted from the south by four walls (W42, W43, W49, W56). It is possible that these walls were part of a more extensive complex that extended to the southwest, but was destroyed by development work and its remains were discerned in the trenches (below). Another wall (W31) abutted W30 from the north. Wall 31 was abutted from the west by Wall 44 and together they formed a room (L32), whose western part was not excavated. The finds in this area included fragments of Cypriot bowls (Fig. 3:1, 2), bowls from Asia Minor (Fig. 3:5, 6), a Cypriot pithos with a combed decoration (Fig. 3:16), northern black jars (Fig. 3:17), a fragment of a marble table (Fig. 3:29) and fragments of glass vessels (see below) that dated to the Byzantine period (sixth–seventh centuries CE).

 

The Northern Area. Scant remains of walls, which were apparently related to the remains of the building uncovered in the southern area, were exposed. Three walls (W29, W47 and W48) in the southern part of this area probably delimited a rectangular room (Loci 25, 45; Fig. 4), together with W44 from the southern area. A pink earthen floor was discovered in the center of the room. A wall (W55) in the western part of the area, whose direction coincided with the general orientation of the building in the southern area, was exposed. Meager remains of another wall (W58) were discerned north of W29. A section of a water channel (W57; length c. 3.5 m; Fig. 5), oriented southeast-northwest, was revealed in the northwestern corner of the area. The bottom of the channel was composed of flat ashlar stones and its two sides were built of dressed stones. A fragment of a bowl from Asia Minor (Fig. 3:7), which dated to the Byzantine period (fifth–sixth centuries CE), was discovered in the channel.

The ceramic finds recovered from the excavation dated to the Byzantine period (sixth–seventh centuries CE) and included fragments of bowls from Asia Minor (Fig. 3:8), African bowls (Fig. 3: 9, 10), locally produced bowls (Fig. 3:12), cooking kraters (Fig. 3:13, 14), black northern jars (Fig. 3:18–20), amphorae (Fig. 3:23, 24) and northern Bet She’an-type lamps (Fig. 3:26–28).

 

Section 1-1 (Figs. 6, 7). A layer of dark brown heavy clay soil (L22) was documented at the bottom of the trench. Above it was a layer of soil that contained potsherds (L23; thickness c. 0.3 m). These two deposits were severed by the foundation of a wall (W46), aligned northwest- southeast and preserved three courses high. Above the two deposits and the wall was another layer of light colored soil that contained different size stones (L63; thickness c. 0.5 m). It is possible that this upper layer was part of the destruction level of the buildings that stood at the site. Potsherds that dated to the Byzantine period (sixth–seventh centuries CE) were collected from the trench, including fragments of Cypriot bowls (Fig. 3:3, 4), an African cooking krater (Fig. 3:15) and an amphora (Fig. 3:25).

 

Section 2-2 (Figs. 8, 9). A level of dark brown heavy clayey soil (L60) was noted at the bottom of the trench. Above it, a polychrome mosaic floor (L1) that was founded on gray soil was documented. Floor 1 abutted a wall (W50) that was mostly robbed and only its foundation was preserved. An accumulation of soil and stones (L28) was discerned above Floor 1. Superposing this accumulation was a layer of gray soil mixed with fieldstones (L69; possibly collapse), similar to L63 in Section 1-1. The surface, which was overlain with modern refuse, was exposed above L69. Meager remains of another mosaic floor (L2) that was slightly higher than Floor 1 were traced on the other side of W50 and probably abutted it. Ceramic finds that dated to the sixth–seventh centuries CE were found above and below the floors and included fragments of an African bowl (Fig. 3:11) and black northern jars (Fig. 3:21, 22). Two coins were recovered from L28; one dates to the reign of Justin II (572/73 CE) from the mint in Constantinople (IAA 115149) and the other dates to the time of Maurice Tiberius (584/85 CE) and is also from the mint of Constantinople (IAA 115148). Two decorated bronze artifacts that were part of a chain from a lamp (polykandelon; Fig. 10) were found in the robber trench of W50 (L35).

 

Section 4-4 (Fig. 11). A layer of heavy clay soil (L66) was recorded at the bottom of the trench. Above it was a layer of light brown soil fill that varied in thickness (L65; thickness 0.3–0.4 m). A white earthen floor (L3; thickness c. 4 cm) was noted above L65 and it seems that Floor 3 was the continuation of a Floor 53, whose meager remains were discovered on the surface to the west, in the southern area of the excavation. Overlaying Floor 3 was brown soil mixed with various size stones (L64; thickness c. 0.81 m). The surface, which was overlain with modern refuse, occurred in the upper part of the trench.

 

Yael Gorin-Rosen

 

Some 160 fragments of glass vessels were discovered in the excavation, a third of which were identified and dated. Most of the vessels dated to the Byzantine period, primarily to its latter part. The vessels included several large bowls with a broad rim that was folded over crudely several times, a few wine goblets with a hollow base-ring and one fragment of a wine goblet body that was mold blown in twisted rib pattern. Also discovered was a large quantity of bowl lamps that have a solid cylindrical stem, whose bottom part is pinched to form beads of sorts. The design of these lamps is very similar and they were probably made in a glass workshop that operated at the site. An undecorated fragment of a kohl bottle that is similar to kohl bottles recovered from various excavations at the site was found. In addition, numerous fragments of relatively thick, rectangular glass window panes were discovered. Along with the vessels was a large quantity of glass vessel manufacturing debris, including small chunks of raw glass, droplets of hot glass that cooled in various shapes, as well as deformed glass vessels that included a lamp stem damaged during production.

Remains of a glass industry that were discovered in previous excavations clearly demonstrated the existence of this industry at the site. All the types of vessels uncovered in this excavation are known from earlier excavations at the site and from other sites. The glass artifacts in the current excavation are in keeping with those found in other excavations at the site.

 

The remains discovered in the excavation seem to be part of a large central building, only a small section of which was exposed. The building is dated to the end of the Byzantine period (sixth–seventh centuries CE), based on the finds. The walls exposed in the excavation appear to be just foundations and therefore no floors that abutted them were discovered, other than in the trenches. The finds show that the building remains were part of the same settlement whose remains had been exposed in previous excavations at the site.