The excavation was conducted in four excavation area (A–D). Areas A–C were opened in the southeast of the kibbutz, comprising 15 excavation squares: Areas A and B comprised six squares each, and Area C had three. Area D was located c. 400 m north of Areas A–C. The remains were dated to the Early Bronze Age II.
 
The location of the excavation squares in Areas A–C (Fig. 2) was determined according to the finds in the trial trenches dug prior to the excavation. Two of the trenches were left open during the excavation, and served as deep sections. The sediment unearthed in these areas was a very sticky, dark brown soil. The basalt bedrock was utilized in the extraction of building material. The archaeological stratum was badly damaged by modern activity; farm buildings had previously been located there, and some of their foundations were identified during the excavation. The damage was particularly severe in Area C, where no architectural remains were found, and only layers of fill containing modern construction debris alongside ancient artifacts were encountered. The archaeological stratum in Areas A and B was identified 0.6–0.7 m below the surface. It was a brittle, brownish-yellow sediment that contained numerous pottery sherds. These areas yielded architectural remains, occupation levels and installations.
Area D yielded only concentrations of worn potsherds, indicating that the area was probably on the outskirts of the settlement in this period.
 
Area A. An archaeological stratum was identified only in the two most northwestern squares: occupation levels with large amounts of pottery but no architectural remains. A small excavation square (2 sq m) was opened to the south of the trial trench, following the identification of a concentration of fired mud-bricks, probably an installation (L111; 0.5 × 1.0 m; Figs. 3: Section 3–3; 4); this is the only built element found in this area. The installation was probably built of mud-bricks. On its east side, the mud-bricks were arranged in a circle (internal diam. c. 0.3 m) and may have encircled a wooden pole or some other element made of organic material. On its west side, clusters of haphazardly arranged mud-bricks were uncovered; these may have been part of the installation that has since disintegrated, and its marerial has been scattered about. A flat stone, possibly a work surface, was incorporated in the northwest part of the mud-brick cluster. A layer of burnt sediment containing charred bones was identified to the north Installation 111.
 
Area B. The archaeological stratum in this area was identified only in the two central excavation squares; the rest of the area contained meager finds and numerous stone collapses, probably attesting to the extensive damage to the site in modern times. A concentration of basalt stones of various sizes was uncovered, possibly part of a paved courtyard (L222; Fig. 5). In the south, the stones form a straight line, implying the presence of an enclosing wall (W218; Fig. 3: Sections 1–1, 2–2). To the southwest of these stones was a slightly elevated level of tamped soil (L219; Fig. 3: Section 1–1). Numerous pottery sherds, as well as stone artifacts and flint tools, indicate that these surfaces as occupation levels. An intact jar (L223; see Fig. 7:18) was recovered from the north of Courtyard 222. Two zoomorphic clay figurines (see Fig. 8:4, 5) were found while clearing the trial trench to the northeast of Area B (L200), near Courtyard 222. The fill above Occupation Level 219 contained a fragment of a copper axe (see Fig. 10). Three seal impressions on metallic-ware potsherds (L213, L220; see Fig. 8:1–3) were found in similar contexts. As only one EB II phase of activity was identified at the site, all these finds are seen as representing this phase.
 
Area D was opened after concentrations of potsherd were found in trial trenches, and these seemed to indicate that the area was the continuation of the settlement found in Areas A–C. It yielded a few worn potsherds but no architectural elements. In addition, the sediment typical of the archaeological stratum in the southern areas was missing, and no occupation levels were identified. However, the pottery was dated to the EB II, suggesting that this area represents the edge of the settlement from this period.
 
Pottery
The pottery from all the areas was dated to EB II. The assemblage comprises 299 potsherds. Approximately three-quarters of the assemblage are of the ‘metallic ware’ type, characterized by its light orange hue, well-levigated clay and excellent-quality firing; the combed decoration is also typical and is usually present on fragments of jars and other storage vessels. Since no wheel marks were evident, most of the vessels were apparently handmade. The classification of the finds (Table 1) followed the typology defined by Greenberg for the assemblages from Tel Dan (Greenberg 1996) and Tel Te’o (Greenberg 2001).
 
Table 1. Pottery Types
Type
N
%
Bowls
42
14
Kraters
6
2
Platters
134
45
Cooking pots
25
8
Jars
88
29
Jugs
2
0.7
Figurines
2
0.7
Total
299
100
 
Bowls and kraters (Fig. 6:1–11). Almost a quarter of the bowls are shallow with a simple rim (Fig. 6:1, 2). Hemispherical bowls are very common (about 57%), and most have a drawn-in rim (Fig. 6:4–8); a few have a simple rim (Fig. 6:3). Only one carinated bowl was recovered (Fig. 6:9). Most of the bowls are undecorated, although one item bears an incised motif on its interior (Fig. 6:6), and three others have a combed decoration (Fig. 6:7). All the kraters have a spherical profile, a drawn-in rim and combed decoration (Fig. 6:10, 11). 
 
Platters (Fig. 6:12–23). Platters are the most common vessel in the assemblage. The majority have a shallow, triangular or semi-circular rim (c. 53%; Fig. 6:12–17); however, they are only slightly more frequent than platters with a high rim (c. 46%; Fig. 6:18–23).
 
Cooking pots (Fig. 7:1–4). The pots are made of dark brown clay containing few inclusions; many have a dark gray core. Two thirds of the cooking pots have a simple, drawn-out rim and combed decoration (Fig. 7:1, 2), and the remaining third are hole-mouth cooking pots with thickened rims and plain bodies (Fig. 7:3, 4). 
 
Jars (Fig. 7:5–17). A quarter of the jars have a simple, drawn-out rim (Fig. 7:5–9, 18), similar to that of most of the cooking pots, but made of a different clay: the jar rims are light orange in color, they contain a variety of inclusions and have a metallic ring to them. An intact jar of this type was recovered from a stone collapse in the north part of Courtyard 222 (L223; Fig. 7:18). Three quarters of the jars have a folded rim (Fig. 7:10–17) that is triangular (Fig. 7:10–12), rounded (Fig. 7:15, 17) or square (Fig. 7:16) in section. The jars come in a variety of sizes.
 
Jug (Fig. 7:19). Only one fragment of a jug was identified. It was classified as an ‘Abydos’-type symmetrical jug (Greenberg 1996:102, Figs. 3.24:10; 3.26:7–8).
 
Cylinder seal impressions (Fig. 8:1–3). Three seal impressions on ‘metallic ware’ fragments were discovered near the occupation levels in Area B. The three impressions exhibit a geometric motif consisting of rectangles that resembles seal impressions found at Tel Dan (Greenberg 1996: Figs. 3.39–3.41) and at Qiryat Ata (Greenberg 2003: Figs. 7.1–7.3). One item (Fig. 8:3) seems to bear the impressions of two seals applied side-by-side, each with a different geometric motif.
 
Zoomorphic figurines (Fig. 8:4, 5). Two figurine fragments were found while cleaning a section of the trial trench to the northeast of Area B. The figurines represent four-legged animals, either cattle or sheep. One fragment depicts the front part of an animal, but the worn and broken state of the head make it difficult to identify. The other figurine is slightly smaller and consists of an animal’s hindquarters. Similar figurines of a horned animal or cattle were found at Tel Dan (Greenberg 1996: Fig. 2:38.3–11) and at Qiryat Ata (Golani 2003: Fig. 7.4), indicating that they are common at EB II sites.
 
Groundstone Items
Nineteen stone items, all made of basalt, were recovered. These include three lower grinding stones (Fig. 9:1), three bowls (Fig. 9:2), nine upper grinding stones (Fig. 9:3, 4) and a weight (Fig. 9:5). Also found was a basalt pebble with depressions on both sides that resembles one found at Bet Yerah (Getzov 2006: Fig. 3.58:13) and four basalt pebbles exhibiting initial preparation, possibly unfinished tools. Two additional items could not be classified.
 
Metal artifacts
A copper-alloy axe was found in Occupation Level 219 (Fig. 10). The axe is trapezoidal, its cutting edge is widened (length c. 7 cm) and it is broken in the middle, so that its proximal part is missing.
 
Flint assemblage
The flint assemblage consists items exhibiting signs of varying degrees of abrasion, indicating extensive post-depositional processes. These include a thick yellow and dark-red patina, blunt working edges and worn scars on their dorsal face. Only about 5% of the items lacked any indication of abrasion. These were collected near Occupation Levels 117, 219, 222.
 
Areas A–C yielded 264 flint items (Table 2). The debitage includes items from every stage of the knapping process and core maintenance, indicating that the knapping was done on site. The most common debitage type is a flake; cores are also rather common. Most cores (c. 63%) exhibit the production of flakes using multiple striking platforms. Two cores (c. 5%) exhibit the use of a single striking platform: one for producing flakes, and the other for the production of bladelets. Three additional cores are made on flakes. Ten of the cores (c. 24%) are Levallois cores, which are typical of the Middle Paleolithic period (250,000–45,000 BP). These items exhibit a high degree of abrasion, indicating that they were washed into the site from an unknown provenance.
Tools comprise 9% of the assemblage. These include eight scrapers, five sickle blades made on a Canaanite blade, three fan scrapers, three items bearing delicate or partial retouch, two drills, one item bearing a notch, a truncated item and a hand axe.
 
Table 2. Frequency of Flint Items
Type
Areas A–C
Area D
N
%
N
%
Primary elements (>50% cortex)
16
9.9
2
18.2
Natural back
11
6.8
-
-
Flakes
113
69.8
7
63.6
Blades
8
4.9
1
9.1
Bladelets
1
0.6
-
-
Core debitage
13
8.0
1
9.1
Total: Debitage
162
100.0
11
100.0
Chips
8
21.6
1
100.0
Chunks
29
78.4
-
-
Total: Debris
37
100.0
1
100.0
Cores
41
15.5
6
28.6
Tools
24
9.1
3
14.3
Debitage
162
61.4
11
52.4
Debris
37
14.0
1
4.8
Total
264
100.0
21
100.0
 
 
The diagnostic items exhibit characteristics of three major periods:
1. The Lower Paleolithic period (up to 250,000 BP). The industries of this period are represented by the hand axe, which was found among collapsed stones in the northwestern part of Area B. The item is highly abraded, indicating that it was washed into the site from an unknown provenance.
2. The Middle Paleolithic (250,000–45,000 BP). Twelve items were ascribed to this period: ten cores, a flake and a point (Fig. 11:1), all made using the Levallois technique. All these finds have a medium to high degree of abrasion, suggesting that they too were washed into the site from an unknown provenance and do not represent activity that took place at the site.
3. Early Bronze Age (3500–2200 BCE). Diagnostic items from this period include three fan scrapers (Fig. 11:2, 3; c. 13% of the tools) and five Canaanite sickle blades (Fig. 11:4–8; c. 21% of the tools). These tools bore no signs of abrasion, and thus were probably found in situ.
 
Area D. Compared with the flints from Areas A–C, the Area D items were less abraded. The medium level of abrasion was manifested on most items as a yellowish patina and some blunting of the working edges. Nevertheless, all items bore some degree of abrasion. The only diagnostic finds in this assemblage are two fragments of fan scrapers.
 
The flint assemblage points to three major periods of activity: the Lower and Middle Paleolithic periods and the Early Bronze Age. The flint items from the Lower and Middle Paleolithic periods were not found in situ, as indicated by their high level of abrasion. Their provenance remains unknown; they may have been transferred to the site through plowing, building and infrastructure work in the kibbutz since its foundation, or rolled from a nearby site yet to be identified. The Early Bronze Age assemblage, however, originated in activity at the site. Most of these items were found near occupation levels and exhibit a low degree of abrasion or no abrasion at all. This assemblage includes both fan scrapers and sickle blades, whose mutual use is characteristic of the entire Early Bronze Age (Rosen 1997: Fig. 3.I). This date matches the date of the ceramic finds.
 
Faunal Remains
Nimrod Marom
 
A small assemblage of animal bones was collected by sifting the sediment from loci associated with the occupation levels through a sieve (0.1 mm). The assemblage was identified using the comparative collection of the archaeozoological laboratory of the University of Haifa as a reference. It included identification of all bone fragments in the assemblage, sorted according to skeletal part and biological species/body-size, and documentation of the degree of tooth erosion and bone fusion. Due to the small number of finds, the relative frequency of the species was calculated according to the raw data count, and no attempt was made to calculate a minimal number of individuals or skeletal parts. The identification of the bones included the collection of basic taphonomic observations regarding the bones’ fracture patterns and signs of butchering, chewing by predators, burning and weathering. The assemblage did not include enough complete bones for them to be measured.
A total of eight bones (N=8) could be identified by biological species and skeletal parts; half were sheep/goat bones (N=4, 50%; Table 3). A single back molar of an adult individual belongs to a sheep (Ovis aries); three other bones belong to cattle (Bos Taurus; N=3, 38%); and another is a small fragment of a gazelle horn (Gazella gazelle; N=1, 12%; female individual). Thirteen bones were classified only according to skeletal parts and body size. Limited data indicate the age at which the animals were slaughtered: for sheep/goat, the back molar of the sheep bears wear compatible with a four-year-old animal; an unfused proximal tibia is that of an animal slaughtered before the age of four. As with the sheep/goat, the age of the two cattle examples—a crushed metapodial and a worn upper molar—is insufficient for any conclusion regarding livestock husbandry.
A few worn bones (13%) indicate that they were buried relatively quickly without prolonged exposure to the sun and weather. Most of the long bones (N=4, 80%) were fragmented in a way consistent with the crushing of dry bones. This suggests that the diagenetic processes that occurred after the bones were buried are the major cause for their substantial fragmentation. The involvement of animals in forming the assemblage is evident in gnaw marks, probably made by a dog, on only one bone (4%). A single, fine cut mark on the proximal end of a tibia was caused by separating the animal’s leg from the thigh with a knife. A femur of a large animal—possibly cattle—was separated from the pelvis with a heavy chopping tool (cleaver/axe) that cut across the caput femoris.
The assemblage attests to the consumption of sheep, cattle and game at the settlement. The state of preservation of the bones attests to intensive post-sedimental breakage and, to a small extent, to damage by predators and weathering. It is interesting to note the use of a heavy chopping tool for butchering in this period.
 
Table 3. Breakdown of skeletal parts by species/size-group
Skeleton part
Sheep/goat
Cattle
Gazelle
Size of sheep/goat
Size of cattle
Horn
 
 
1
 
 
Upper molar (M1/2)
 
1
 
 
 
Lower molar (M3)
1
 
 
 
 
Atlas
1
 
 
 
 
Scapula
 
 
 
2
 
Rib
 
 
 
1
 
Femur
 
 
 
1
3
Tibia
2
 
 
4
2
Calcaneus
 
1
 
 
 
Metapodial bone
 
1
 
 
 
Total
4
3
1
8
5
%
50
38
12
62
38
Total %
100
100
 
 
The two excavation seasons at Shamir led to the discovery of part of an Early Bronze Age II settlement. Areas A–C yielded architectural remains and occupation levels that were preserved despite intensive damage during the installation of infrastructure and foundations for kibbutz buildings. The excavation in Area D contributed to an understanding of the boundaries of the settlement of this period, which were probably confined to the south part of the kibbutz.