A MAMLUK PERIOD CEMETERY AT BEIT DAGAN
Salvage Excavation Reports
No. 10
Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology
Tel Aviv University
Editor:
Efrat Bocher
Authors:
Hai Ashkenazi, Gil Breger, Amir Cohen Klonymus, Shay Dov Glibter,
Meir Edrey, Itai Elad, Yoav Farhi, Nissim Golding-Meir, Boaz Gross,
Mark Iserlis, Assaf Kleiman, Inbar Ktalav, Neer Lect Ben Ami, Yossi Nagar,
Assaf Nativ, Lidar Sapir-Hen, Alon Shavit, Ron Shimelmiz, Assaf YasurLandau, Elisabeth Yehuda and Hagi E. Yohanan
EMERY AND CLAIRE YASS PUBLICATIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
TEL AVIV 2017
ISSN 1565-5407
©
Copyright 2017
All rights reserved
Printed in Israel
SALVAGE EXCAVATION REPORTS
NUMBER 10
Editorial Board
Oded Lipschits
Ze’ev Herzog
Moshe Fischer
Publications Director
Scientific Editor
Graphic Designer
Myrna Pollak
Meir Edrey
Noa Evron
CONTENTS
Foreword
vii
Chapter 1: Ard el-Samra: A Chacolithic, Early Bronze and
Intermediate Bronze Age Site on the Akko Plain
Assaf Nativ, Ron Shimelmiz, Lidar Sapir-Hen, Inbar Ktalav and Mark Iserlis
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
1:
2:
3:
4:
Basket list, Area Z
Basket list, Area K
List of loci and features, Area Z
List of loci and features, Area K
1
56
63
67
69
Chapter 2: A Byzantine Aqueduct and Road Near Um el-Amad West
(Gideona) – Jezreel Valley
Hai Ashkenazi
73
Chapter 3: Harish (East): Agricultural Features
Boaz Gross
81
Chapter 4: Tel Malot
Alon Shavit
89
Chapter 5: Nahalat Yehuda
Gil Breger
Chapter 6: A Burial Cave Complex at Ras Abu Dahud
Neer Lect Ben Ami and Hagi E. Yohanan (With contribution by Kim Legziel)
103
107
Chapter 7: Six Salvage Excavations at Ramat Bet Shemesh
Nissim Golding-Meir, Itai Elad, Boaz Gross and Assaf Kleiman (With contribution by Y. Farhi)
125
Chapter 8: Horvat Akhbar
Nissim Golding-Meir and Shay Dov Glibter (With contribution by Y. Farhi and O. Ackerman)
141
Chapter 9: Agricultural Installations in Western Ramat Beit Shemesh
Meir Edrey
153
Chapter 10: Horvat >Alin (North)
Boaz Gross
161
Chapter 11: Kever Dan
Boaz Gross
165
v
Chapter 12: A Salvage Excavation at Tzelafon
Boaz Gross
171
Chapter 13: Gizo North: Winepress and a Cave
Hai Ashkenazi
179
Chapter 14: Horvat Titora (West) and Hirbet Abu Freij (North-West)
Assaf Yasur-Landau
183
Chapter 15: A Mamluk Period Cemetery at Beit Dagan
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
189
Chapter 16: Salvage Excavations along Highway 1
Nissim Golding-Meir and Amir Cohen Klonymus
195
Appendix 1: The Coins from Highway 1
Yoav Farhi
243
Chapter 17: Khirbat Harsis (North)
Gil Breger
247
Chapter 18: Hurvat el-Za>atar
Hai Ashkenazi
251
Chapter 19: A Stone Quarry in Arnona, Jerusalem
Meir Edrey
259
Chapter 20: >En Hemed
Elisabeth Yehuda
vi
265
FOREWORD
It is no simple challenge to bring together the
work of dozens of excavators of over 20 diverse
salvage excavation sites and weave their ield
work and analyses into a uniied report. Yet here,
after long and concerted effort by a wonderful
team, we are proudly able to present reports of 20
salvage excavations from different periods, from
different parts of the country, and from both rural
and urban areas, all between the covers of one
volume —all conducted under the auspices of the
Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University
and the Israeli Institute of Archaeology and
Ramot Archaeology. Most of the reports were
written by the excavators themselves; a small
number were written by researchers of the
Institute of Archaeology.
I extend my gratitude to the director of the
Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University,
Prof. Oded Lipschits. He recognized the importance
of this volume in the Salvage Excavation Reports
Series and spared no effort, despite the dificulties
involved, and provided us access to all the Institute’s
technical and intellectual facilities. I also wish to
thank Nirit Kedem, the administrative director of
the Institute, who helped in every way possible to
promote the project.
I thank Dr. Alon Shavit, head of the Israeli institute
of Archaeology, for supporting the excavations and
the very complicated publication and his staff, Efrat
Ashraf, director of budgets and manpower, and Boaz
Gross, head of Qardom- Archeological Excavations,
for all their support and assistance from the outset
of the project.
Processing of the material and preparation
for publication of the inal report was done in the
laboratories of the Institute of Archaeology of
Tel Aviv University. Restoration of the ceramic
material was done by Yait Wiener and Shimrit
Salem. The inds, including pottery, stones, glass
and metal, were drawn by Yulia Gottlieb, Itamar
Ben-Ezra, Ada Perry and Na’ama Earon. Plates
were arranged by Yulia Gottlieb. Maps and plans
were produced for publication by Ami Brauner,
Shatil Emmanuilov, Itamar Ben-Ezra and Noa
Evron. All Photographs of the artifacts were taken
and processed for publication by Pavel Shrago.
The scientiic content of the manuscript was
carefully edited by Dr.Meir Edrey, Prof.Ze'ev
Herzog and Prof.Moshe Fischer.
Finally I wish to thank Myrna Pollak, director of
publications of the Institute, for the English editing
of the manuscript and supervision of editing and
production throughout all stages. Noa Evron is
responsible for the attractive graphic layout. Their
efforts are gratefully acknowledged.
Efrat Bocher , March 2017
vii
C H A P T ER 15
A M A M L U K P E R I O D C E M E T E R Y AT B E I T D A G A N
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
As a result of the exposure of human remains
during unauthorized sand mining activity, a salvage
excavation was undertaken at HaHavazelet Street
in Beit Dagan (License No. B-338/2009) in July,
2009. The excavation was directed by M. Edrey on
behalf of the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of
Archaeology of Tel Aviv University and inanced
by the Israel Land Administration.1
Beit Dagan is located halfway between Tel Aviv
and Ramla on the low Hamra Hills adjacent to the
southern basin of Nahal Ayalon (Gig. 15.1). It is
situated on the outskirts of the third kurkar ridge of
the Coastal Plain (Yaalon and Dan 1967, Karmeli,
The excavation and inal report were completed with
the assistance of A. Cohen-Klonymus, T. Olech and E.
Bar (Area Supervisors), N. Cohen-Alloro (Registrar
and Photography), N. Wahidi (Administration), Y.
Nagar (Physical Anthropology), D. Porotzky, V. Pirsky,
S. Emmanuilov, and I. Ben-Ezra (Plan drawing and
Processing), and P. Shargo (Photography). We would also
like to thank O. Tal, A. Shavit, T. Harpak, I. Taxel and R.
Shimelmitz for contributing to the preparation of this article.
2
The excavations were conducted by J. Ory on behalf of
the mandate government (IAA archive ATQ 786, 5.2.42).
190
170
1
Yaalon and Ravina 1968). Excavations at Beit
Dagan irst took place between 1941–1942 during
the construction of the Tegart British police station,
which is located at the Beit Dagan Intersection. The
excavations conducted in the southern part of the
police courtyard unearthed cist graves lined with
stone slabs dated by the excavator to the Roman
period.2 In a different excavation west of the
mound, occupation levels dated to the Iron I–IIC
and subsequent Persian period were unearthed.
A large Byzantine–Early Islamic winepress and
remains of other structures dated to the same period
were also found (Peilstöcker and Kapitaikin 1998:
84–85). In another excavation, tombs dated to the
Intermediate Bronze Age and Roman period were
unearthed (Peilstöcker 2006). Close by, additional
Intermediate Bronze Age shaft tombs and a large
Mamluk period cemetery were found (Yanni 2008;
Yannai and Nagar 2014). Further excavations
Tal Aviv-Yafo
660
n Se
a
660
anea
Beit Dagan
Shuqba Cave
Hi
wa
iterr
gh
Med
4
y4
170
10
Figure 15.1: Site map.
km.
190
0
Ramla
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
nearby unearthed a Byzantine period winepress,
occupation levels dated to the Byzantine–Early
Islamic periods (Rauchberger 2008), and also to
the Ottoman period (Gorzalczany and Jakoel 2013;
Yechielov 2013).
The excavation presented below took place on
the western border of modern Beit Dagan, in a ield
located ca. 400 m southeast of the Tegart British
police station (map. ref. 15630-15600/13360-13340)
(Fig. 15.1).
METHODOLOGY
The excavation area was mostly lattened due to
unauthorized sand mining activities. Remains
of mudbrick and of human skeletons were partly
visible on the surface. The upper layer of the
excavated area was carefully scraped back by
workers until additional human or mudbrick
remains were exposed. After exposure, these were
articulated and removed. All of the human remains
were eventually handed over to a representative of
the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
THE EXCAVATION
The excavation unearthed 22 human skeletons,
mostly in very poor states of preservation, and the
remains of 23 mudbrick-covered shallow graves
(Fig. 15.2). Only 12 of the skeletons were found
in graves covered with mudbrick; the rest were
buried in simple cist graves dug into the ground,
apparently with no markings. All of the burials
were aligned on an east–west axis; the deceased
were laid on their left side, heads in the west, facing
south, according to Islamic burial traditions (Fig.
15.3) (Gorzalczani 2007: 71). All of the deceased
were buried at approximately at the same depth. No
grave goods or burial offerings were found.
The excavation unearthed only a few scanty
remains. The majority of inds consisted of
extremely worn pottery sherds dated between the
7th to 12th centuries CE. Other inds included lint
lakes and one broken lint blade with a retouched
back. Small fragments of glass vessels, tesserae of
various sizes, a segment of a small metal chain,
and a single lattened and very eroded coin, which
was probably used as an ornament (Fig. 15.4) were
also found.
190
HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS
Human skeletal remains were found in simple pit or
mudbrick lined cist graves. The bones were visually
checked on-site, then sent for reburial.
The bones were found in a very poor state
of
preservation,
impeding
comprehensive
reconstruction of anthropological parameters. Most
skeletons were partial, therefore the estimation
of age was based upon dental markers (tooth
development stages and attrition rate) only (Hillson
1993: 176–201).
Bone Description
Skeleton 10001
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right side,
in an east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it
was not an infant.
Skeleton 10005
The remains included skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was set on its right side, in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Permanent teeth:
upper and lower canines show dentine exposure,
upper premolar shows dentine exposure at one
cusp. Age at death estimation, based upon tooth
attrition rate: 20–30 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10011
The remains included long bone fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right side,
in an east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it
was not an infant.
Skeleton 10012
The remains included skull vault fragments and
teeth of an individual set in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Deciduous teeth:
upper central incisor show partially developed
crown, upper second molar shows nearly complete
crown, lower second molar shows fully developed
183780
183800
Chapter 15: A Mamluk Period Cemetery at Bet Dagan
4
3
656220
656220
2
#40.34
#40.49
#40.70
#40.31
#40.56
#40.35
#40.39
#40.62
#40.48
#40.59
#40.07
#40.04
#40.15
#40.18
J
#40.48
#40.29
#40.39
#40.10
#40.04
#40.27
#40.40
#40.29
#40.17
#40.51
#40.02
#40.09
#40.14
#40.31
#39.73
#40.38
#40.23
#40.11
#40.11
#40.31
#40.26
#40.18
#40.30
I
656200
656200
#40.14
#45.45
#40.65
#41.03
#41.35
183800
183780
H
Figure 15.2:The excavation site.
191
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
Figure 15.3: Human remains.
Skeleton 10015.
0
1cm
Figure 15.4: Ornamental coin.
crown. Age at death estimation, based upon tooth
development stages: 0.5–1 year.
Skeleton 10013
The remains included few non-diagnostic fragments.
Skeleton 10014
The remains included a skull vault, teeth and
post-cranial fragments. The bones were found
scattered; the original burial posture could not
be determined. Permanent upper teeth: central
incisor (left) shows dentine cup, lateral incisors
and canine show dentine exposure, premolar
shows enamel attrition, another premolar shows
dentine exposure at one cusp, second and third
molars show enamel attrition. Lower teeth: second
premolars show enamel attrition, irst molars show
dentine cup at one cusp, third molar erupted. Age at
death estimation, based upon tooth attrition stages:
20–30 years. Sex estimation unknown. Another
permanent upper molar, representing a different
individual, was also found in this locus. The tooth
was in a development stage of nearly full crown,
indicative of a child, 3–12 years old.
192
The remains included a skull vault and one long
bone fragment of an individual set in an east–
west orientation, head in the west facing south.
Permanent lower teeth: premolar shows dentine cup
at one cusp, irst molar shows dentine cup in at least
two cusps. Estimation of age at death, based upon
tooth attrition rate: 30–40 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10019
The remains included a skull vault and one long
bone fragment of an individual set in an east–
west orientation, head in the west facing south.
Deciduous teeth: irst molar shows dentine
exposure at three cusps. Permanent upper teeth:
canine and premolar show fully developed crown.
Estimation of age at death, based upon tooth
development stages: 5–6 years.
Skeleton 10020
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right
side in an east–west orientation, head in the
west. Estimations of age and sex were uncertain,
however, it was not an infant.
Skeleton 10021
The remains included a skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
Chapter 15: A Mamluk Period Cemetery at Bet Dagan
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was put on its right side, in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Permanent lower
teeth: irst and second premolars and second molar
show enamel attrition, irst molar shows dentine
exposure at one cusp, third molar erupted (root
broken). Estimation of age at death, based upon
tooth attrition rate: 18–25 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10022
The remains included skull vault fragments of an
individual put in the east–west orientation. Age and
sex estimations were uncertain, however, it did not
represent an infant.
Skeleton 10032
The remains included a skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was set on its right side, in the east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Permanent teeth: upper
premolar shows dentine cup at one cusp, lower irst
molar shows dentine cup at all cusps, third molar
erupted. Age at death estimation, based upon tooth
attrition rate: 30–40 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10035
The remains included a few non-diagnostic fragments.
Skeleton 10023
Skeleton 10037
The remains included few non-diagnostic fragments.
The remains included long bone fragments and
few rib fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The individual
was put on its right side, in the east–west orientation,
head in the west. Age and sex estimations were
uncertain, however, it did not represent an infant.
The remains included a skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was set on its right side, in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Deciduous teeth:
canine shows dentine exposure. Permanent teeth:
upper central incisor and canine show fully
developed crown. Estimation of age at death, based
upon tooth development stages: 4–5 years.
Skeleton 10025
Skeleton 10041
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The dead was put on its right side,
in the east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it did
not represent an infant.
The remains included the skull of an individual
set on its right side, in the east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Upper permanent
teeth: central incisor and canine show dentine cup,
premolar shows dentine exposure at both cusps.
Lower teeth: irst molar shows dentine cup at all
cusps. Estimation of age at death, based upon tooth
attrition rate: 30–40 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10024
Skeleton 10027
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right side,
in an east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it
was not an infant.
Skeleton 10031
The remains included two permanent teeth. Canine
shows fully developed crown, upper irst or second
molar show nearly complete crown. Estimation of
age at death, based upon tooth development stages:
4–6 years.
Skeleton 10046
The remains included a few non-diagnostic fragments.
Skeleton 10056
The remains included a few non-diagnostic fragments.
DISCUSSION
There were a total of 22 human skeletal remains
at the Beit Dagan site. Of them, infants, children
and adults were identiied (Table 1). Apart from one
unclear case (Skeleton 10014), burial practice was
193
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
Table 15.1: Age at death distribution at the Beit Dagan cemetery
Age Estimation (Years)
NB–4
5–17
18–24
25–40
Number of individuals
2
3
2
4
similar for all: The corpses were set on their right
side, in an east–west orientation, head in the west
facing south. Such posturing of the dead is typical
of a Muslim population (Gorzalczani 2007). It is
similar to that reported for a previously held nearby
excavation (Yannai and Nagar 2014), and probably
represents a continuation of the same cemetery.
Despite the poor state of preservation, the data
recovered from the skeletons in this excavation adds
to what was reported earlier by Yannai and Nagar
(ibid.: 217ff). Together with that report the number
of burials reaches 93 individuals. The overall
sample is typical of a regular historical cemetery
population, in which all age groups are represented.
CONCLUSIONS
The excavation most likely represents a section of
the Mamluk period cemetery found in previous
excavations (Yanni 2008; Yannai and Nagar 2014:
217ff). The human remains unearthed during this
excavation were in a very poor state of preservation
due to burial in Hamra soil, which accelerates the
decomposition process. The human remains represent
a typical historical population. Interestingly, human
remains found in graves covered by mudbrick were
in a worse state of preservation than those found in
simple cist graves. The gray mudbrick material fused
with the human bones and it appeared as if the bones
were on top of the mudbrick. The graves were either
unmarked save for the mudbrick, or were marked with
degradable materials, as some burials cut earlier ones.
The graves were dug into seemingly sterile ground
as no inds were discovered in their vicinity. The
scanty inds found inside the cist graves originated
exclusively from the mudbrick material. This probably
indicates that the mudbricks were manufactured
elsewhere and brought to the burial site. The pottery
unearthed gives a terminus ante quem to the Mamluk
period, which its the dating of the nearby cemetery.
It should be noted that the excavation was abruptly
halted due to budget issues and further human
remains were left unexposed. Excavated human
remains and suspected graves were marked and the
194
40<
Unknown Age
11
excavation area was covered with sand and left for
future excavation. Excavation of further graves in the
site continued in 2012 by Dayan and Eshed (2012),
and again in 2014 by Jakoel and Nagar (2014).
REFERENCES
Dayan, A. and Eshed, V. 2012. Bet Dagan. Hadashot
Arkheologiyot 124. http://www.hadashot-esi.org.
il/Report_Detail_Eng.aspx?id=2187&mag_id=119
Gorzalczany, A. and Jakoel, E. 2013. Bet Dagan.
Hadashot Arkheologiyot 125. http://www.
hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_Detail_Eng.
aspx?id=5419&mag_id=120
Hillson, S. 1993. Teeth. Cambridge.
Jakoel, E. and Nagar, Y. 2014. Bet Dagan, Ha-Havazzelet
St. Hadashot Arkheologiyot 126. http://www.
hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_Detail_Eng.
aspx?id=8542&mag_id=121
Karmeli, D., Yaalon, D.H. and Ravina, I. 1968. Dune,
Sand and Soil Strata in Quaternary Sedimentary
Cycles of the Sharon Coastal Plain. Israel Journal
of Earth Sciences 17: 45–53.
Peilstöcker, M. 2006. Burials from the Intermediate
Bronze Age and the Roman Period at Bet Dagan.
>Atiqot 51: 23–30.
Peilstöcker, M. and Kapitaikin, A. 1998. Bet Dagan.
Hadashot Arkheologiyot 108: 84 (Hebrew).
Rauchberger, L. 2008. Bet Dagan. Hadashot Arkheologiyot
120: http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/report_detail.
aspx?id=763&mag_id=114.
Yaalon, D.H. and Dan, J. 1967. Factors Controlling Soil
Formation and Distribution in the Mediterranean
Coastal Plain of Israel during the Quaternary.
Quaternary Soils, 7th INQUA Congress
Proceedings 1965, 9: 321–338.
Yannai, E. 2008. Bet Dagan. Hadashot Arkheologiyot
120: http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/report_detail.
aspx?id=867&mag_id=114.
Yannai E. and Nagar Y. 2014. The Burials. In: Yannai,
E. and Nagar, Y., eds.. Bet Dagan: Intermediate
Bronze Age and Mamlok-Period Cemeteries
2004–2005 Excavations. (IAA Reports 55).
Jerusalem: 217–236.
Yechielov, S. 2013. Bet Dagan. Hadashot Arkheologiyot
125.
http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/Report_
Detail_Eng.aspx?id=2231&mag_id=120
Gorzalczani, A. 2007. The Kefar Saba Cemetery
and Differences in Orientation of Late Islamic
Burials from Israel/Palestine. Levant 39: 71–79.
No. 10
Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology
Tel Aviv University
Editor:
Efrat Bocher
Authors:
Hai Ashkenazi, Gil Breger, Amir Cohen Klonymus, Shay Dov Glibter,
Meir Edrey, Itai Elad, Yoav Farhi, Nissim Golding-Meir, Boaz Gross,
Mark Iserlis, Assaf Kleiman, Inbar Ktalav, Neer Lect Ben Ami, Yossi Nagar,
Assaf Nativ, Lidar Sapir-Hen, Alon Shavit, Ron Shimelmiz, Assaf YasurLandau, Elisabeth Yehuda and Hagi E. Yohanan
EMERY AND CLAIRE YASS PUBLICATIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
TEL AVIV 2017
ISSN 1565-5407
©
Copyright 2017
All rights reserved
Printed in Israel
SALVAGE EXCAVATION REPORTS
NUMBER 10
Editorial Board
Oded Lipschits
Ze’ev Herzog
Moshe Fischer
Publications Director
Scientific Editor
Graphic Designer
Myrna Pollak
Meir Edrey
Noa Evron
CONTENTS
Foreword
vii
Chapter 1: Ard el-Samra: A Chacolithic, Early Bronze and
Intermediate Bronze Age Site on the Akko Plain
Assaf Nativ, Ron Shimelmiz, Lidar Sapir-Hen, Inbar Ktalav and Mark Iserlis
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
1:
2:
3:
4:
Basket list, Area Z
Basket list, Area K
List of loci and features, Area Z
List of loci and features, Area K
1
56
63
67
69
Chapter 2: A Byzantine Aqueduct and Road Near Um el-Amad West
(Gideona) – Jezreel Valley
Hai Ashkenazi
73
Chapter 3: Harish (East): Agricultural Features
Boaz Gross
81
Chapter 4: Tel Malot
Alon Shavit
89
Chapter 5: Nahalat Yehuda
Gil Breger
Chapter 6: A Burial Cave Complex at Ras Abu Dahud
Neer Lect Ben Ami and Hagi E. Yohanan (With contribution by Kim Legziel)
103
107
Chapter 7: Six Salvage Excavations at Ramat Bet Shemesh
Nissim Golding-Meir, Itai Elad, Boaz Gross and Assaf Kleiman (With contribution by Y. Farhi)
125
Chapter 8: Horvat Akhbar
Nissim Golding-Meir and Shay Dov Glibter (With contribution by Y. Farhi and O. Ackerman)
141
Chapter 9: Agricultural Installations in Western Ramat Beit Shemesh
Meir Edrey
153
Chapter 10: Horvat >Alin (North)
Boaz Gross
161
Chapter 11: Kever Dan
Boaz Gross
165
v
Chapter 12: A Salvage Excavation at Tzelafon
Boaz Gross
171
Chapter 13: Gizo North: Winepress and a Cave
Hai Ashkenazi
179
Chapter 14: Horvat Titora (West) and Hirbet Abu Freij (North-West)
Assaf Yasur-Landau
183
Chapter 15: A Mamluk Period Cemetery at Beit Dagan
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
189
Chapter 16: Salvage Excavations along Highway 1
Nissim Golding-Meir and Amir Cohen Klonymus
195
Appendix 1: The Coins from Highway 1
Yoav Farhi
243
Chapter 17: Khirbat Harsis (North)
Gil Breger
247
Chapter 18: Hurvat el-Za>atar
Hai Ashkenazi
251
Chapter 19: A Stone Quarry in Arnona, Jerusalem
Meir Edrey
259
Chapter 20: >En Hemed
Elisabeth Yehuda
vi
265
FOREWORD
It is no simple challenge to bring together the
work of dozens of excavators of over 20 diverse
salvage excavation sites and weave their ield
work and analyses into a uniied report. Yet here,
after long and concerted effort by a wonderful
team, we are proudly able to present reports of 20
salvage excavations from different periods, from
different parts of the country, and from both rural
and urban areas, all between the covers of one
volume —all conducted under the auspices of the
Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University
and the Israeli Institute of Archaeology and
Ramot Archaeology. Most of the reports were
written by the excavators themselves; a small
number were written by researchers of the
Institute of Archaeology.
I extend my gratitude to the director of the
Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University,
Prof. Oded Lipschits. He recognized the importance
of this volume in the Salvage Excavation Reports
Series and spared no effort, despite the dificulties
involved, and provided us access to all the Institute’s
technical and intellectual facilities. I also wish to
thank Nirit Kedem, the administrative director of
the Institute, who helped in every way possible to
promote the project.
I thank Dr. Alon Shavit, head of the Israeli institute
of Archaeology, for supporting the excavations and
the very complicated publication and his staff, Efrat
Ashraf, director of budgets and manpower, and Boaz
Gross, head of Qardom- Archeological Excavations,
for all their support and assistance from the outset
of the project.
Processing of the material and preparation
for publication of the inal report was done in the
laboratories of the Institute of Archaeology of
Tel Aviv University. Restoration of the ceramic
material was done by Yait Wiener and Shimrit
Salem. The inds, including pottery, stones, glass
and metal, were drawn by Yulia Gottlieb, Itamar
Ben-Ezra, Ada Perry and Na’ama Earon. Plates
were arranged by Yulia Gottlieb. Maps and plans
were produced for publication by Ami Brauner,
Shatil Emmanuilov, Itamar Ben-Ezra and Noa
Evron. All Photographs of the artifacts were taken
and processed for publication by Pavel Shrago.
The scientiic content of the manuscript was
carefully edited by Dr.Meir Edrey, Prof.Ze'ev
Herzog and Prof.Moshe Fischer.
Finally I wish to thank Myrna Pollak, director of
publications of the Institute, for the English editing
of the manuscript and supervision of editing and
production throughout all stages. Noa Evron is
responsible for the attractive graphic layout. Their
efforts are gratefully acknowledged.
Efrat Bocher , March 2017
vii
C H A P T ER 15
A M A M L U K P E R I O D C E M E T E R Y AT B E I T D A G A N
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
As a result of the exposure of human remains
during unauthorized sand mining activity, a salvage
excavation was undertaken at HaHavazelet Street
in Beit Dagan (License No. B-338/2009) in July,
2009. The excavation was directed by M. Edrey on
behalf of the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of
Archaeology of Tel Aviv University and inanced
by the Israel Land Administration.1
Beit Dagan is located halfway between Tel Aviv
and Ramla on the low Hamra Hills adjacent to the
southern basin of Nahal Ayalon (Gig. 15.1). It is
situated on the outskirts of the third kurkar ridge of
the Coastal Plain (Yaalon and Dan 1967, Karmeli,
The excavation and inal report were completed with
the assistance of A. Cohen-Klonymus, T. Olech and E.
Bar (Area Supervisors), N. Cohen-Alloro (Registrar
and Photography), N. Wahidi (Administration), Y.
Nagar (Physical Anthropology), D. Porotzky, V. Pirsky,
S. Emmanuilov, and I. Ben-Ezra (Plan drawing and
Processing), and P. Shargo (Photography). We would also
like to thank O. Tal, A. Shavit, T. Harpak, I. Taxel and R.
Shimelmitz for contributing to the preparation of this article.
2
The excavations were conducted by J. Ory on behalf of
the mandate government (IAA archive ATQ 786, 5.2.42).
190
170
1
Yaalon and Ravina 1968). Excavations at Beit
Dagan irst took place between 1941–1942 during
the construction of the Tegart British police station,
which is located at the Beit Dagan Intersection. The
excavations conducted in the southern part of the
police courtyard unearthed cist graves lined with
stone slabs dated by the excavator to the Roman
period.2 In a different excavation west of the
mound, occupation levels dated to the Iron I–IIC
and subsequent Persian period were unearthed.
A large Byzantine–Early Islamic winepress and
remains of other structures dated to the same period
were also found (Peilstöcker and Kapitaikin 1998:
84–85). In another excavation, tombs dated to the
Intermediate Bronze Age and Roman period were
unearthed (Peilstöcker 2006). Close by, additional
Intermediate Bronze Age shaft tombs and a large
Mamluk period cemetery were found (Yanni 2008;
Yannai and Nagar 2014). Further excavations
Tal Aviv-Yafo
660
n Se
a
660
anea
Beit Dagan
Shuqba Cave
Hi
wa
iterr
gh
Med
4
y4
170
10
Figure 15.1: Site map.
km.
190
0
Ramla
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
nearby unearthed a Byzantine period winepress,
occupation levels dated to the Byzantine–Early
Islamic periods (Rauchberger 2008), and also to
the Ottoman period (Gorzalczany and Jakoel 2013;
Yechielov 2013).
The excavation presented below took place on
the western border of modern Beit Dagan, in a ield
located ca. 400 m southeast of the Tegart British
police station (map. ref. 15630-15600/13360-13340)
(Fig. 15.1).
METHODOLOGY
The excavation area was mostly lattened due to
unauthorized sand mining activities. Remains
of mudbrick and of human skeletons were partly
visible on the surface. The upper layer of the
excavated area was carefully scraped back by
workers until additional human or mudbrick
remains were exposed. After exposure, these were
articulated and removed. All of the human remains
were eventually handed over to a representative of
the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
THE EXCAVATION
The excavation unearthed 22 human skeletons,
mostly in very poor states of preservation, and the
remains of 23 mudbrick-covered shallow graves
(Fig. 15.2). Only 12 of the skeletons were found
in graves covered with mudbrick; the rest were
buried in simple cist graves dug into the ground,
apparently with no markings. All of the burials
were aligned on an east–west axis; the deceased
were laid on their left side, heads in the west, facing
south, according to Islamic burial traditions (Fig.
15.3) (Gorzalczani 2007: 71). All of the deceased
were buried at approximately at the same depth. No
grave goods or burial offerings were found.
The excavation unearthed only a few scanty
remains. The majority of inds consisted of
extremely worn pottery sherds dated between the
7th to 12th centuries CE. Other inds included lint
lakes and one broken lint blade with a retouched
back. Small fragments of glass vessels, tesserae of
various sizes, a segment of a small metal chain,
and a single lattened and very eroded coin, which
was probably used as an ornament (Fig. 15.4) were
also found.
190
HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS
Human skeletal remains were found in simple pit or
mudbrick lined cist graves. The bones were visually
checked on-site, then sent for reburial.
The bones were found in a very poor state
of
preservation,
impeding
comprehensive
reconstruction of anthropological parameters. Most
skeletons were partial, therefore the estimation
of age was based upon dental markers (tooth
development stages and attrition rate) only (Hillson
1993: 176–201).
Bone Description
Skeleton 10001
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right side,
in an east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it
was not an infant.
Skeleton 10005
The remains included skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was set on its right side, in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Permanent teeth:
upper and lower canines show dentine exposure,
upper premolar shows dentine exposure at one
cusp. Age at death estimation, based upon tooth
attrition rate: 20–30 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10011
The remains included long bone fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right side,
in an east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it
was not an infant.
Skeleton 10012
The remains included skull vault fragments and
teeth of an individual set in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Deciduous teeth:
upper central incisor show partially developed
crown, upper second molar shows nearly complete
crown, lower second molar shows fully developed
183780
183800
Chapter 15: A Mamluk Period Cemetery at Bet Dagan
4
3
656220
656220
2
#40.34
#40.49
#40.70
#40.31
#40.56
#40.35
#40.39
#40.62
#40.48
#40.59
#40.07
#40.04
#40.15
#40.18
J
#40.48
#40.29
#40.39
#40.10
#40.04
#40.27
#40.40
#40.29
#40.17
#40.51
#40.02
#40.09
#40.14
#40.31
#39.73
#40.38
#40.23
#40.11
#40.11
#40.31
#40.26
#40.18
#40.30
I
656200
656200
#40.14
#45.45
#40.65
#41.03
#41.35
183800
183780
H
Figure 15.2:The excavation site.
191
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
Figure 15.3: Human remains.
Skeleton 10015.
0
1cm
Figure 15.4: Ornamental coin.
crown. Age at death estimation, based upon tooth
development stages: 0.5–1 year.
Skeleton 10013
The remains included few non-diagnostic fragments.
Skeleton 10014
The remains included a skull vault, teeth and
post-cranial fragments. The bones were found
scattered; the original burial posture could not
be determined. Permanent upper teeth: central
incisor (left) shows dentine cup, lateral incisors
and canine show dentine exposure, premolar
shows enamel attrition, another premolar shows
dentine exposure at one cusp, second and third
molars show enamel attrition. Lower teeth: second
premolars show enamel attrition, irst molars show
dentine cup at one cusp, third molar erupted. Age at
death estimation, based upon tooth attrition stages:
20–30 years. Sex estimation unknown. Another
permanent upper molar, representing a different
individual, was also found in this locus. The tooth
was in a development stage of nearly full crown,
indicative of a child, 3–12 years old.
192
The remains included a skull vault and one long
bone fragment of an individual set in an east–
west orientation, head in the west facing south.
Permanent lower teeth: premolar shows dentine cup
at one cusp, irst molar shows dentine cup in at least
two cusps. Estimation of age at death, based upon
tooth attrition rate: 30–40 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10019
The remains included a skull vault and one long
bone fragment of an individual set in an east–
west orientation, head in the west facing south.
Deciduous teeth: irst molar shows dentine
exposure at three cusps. Permanent upper teeth:
canine and premolar show fully developed crown.
Estimation of age at death, based upon tooth
development stages: 5–6 years.
Skeleton 10020
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right
side in an east–west orientation, head in the
west. Estimations of age and sex were uncertain,
however, it was not an infant.
Skeleton 10021
The remains included a skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
Chapter 15: A Mamluk Period Cemetery at Bet Dagan
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was put on its right side, in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Permanent lower
teeth: irst and second premolars and second molar
show enamel attrition, irst molar shows dentine
exposure at one cusp, third molar erupted (root
broken). Estimation of age at death, based upon
tooth attrition rate: 18–25 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10022
The remains included skull vault fragments of an
individual put in the east–west orientation. Age and
sex estimations were uncertain, however, it did not
represent an infant.
Skeleton 10032
The remains included a skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was set on its right side, in the east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Permanent teeth: upper
premolar shows dentine cup at one cusp, lower irst
molar shows dentine cup at all cusps, third molar
erupted. Age at death estimation, based upon tooth
attrition rate: 30–40 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10035
The remains included a few non-diagnostic fragments.
Skeleton 10023
Skeleton 10037
The remains included few non-diagnostic fragments.
The remains included long bone fragments and
few rib fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The individual
was put on its right side, in the east–west orientation,
head in the west. Age and sex estimations were
uncertain, however, it did not represent an infant.
The remains included a skull vault, teeth, and postcranial fragments. The bones were anatomically
articulated, indicating primary burial. The corpse
was set on its right side, in an east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Deciduous teeth:
canine shows dentine exposure. Permanent teeth:
upper central incisor and canine show fully
developed crown. Estimation of age at death, based
upon tooth development stages: 4–5 years.
Skeleton 10025
Skeleton 10041
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The dead was put on its right side,
in the east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it did
not represent an infant.
The remains included the skull of an individual
set on its right side, in the east–west orientation,
head in the west facing south. Upper permanent
teeth: central incisor and canine show dentine cup,
premolar shows dentine exposure at both cusps.
Lower teeth: irst molar shows dentine cup at all
cusps. Estimation of age at death, based upon tooth
attrition rate: 30–40 years. Sex unknown.
Skeleton 10024
Skeleton 10027
The remains included lower limb fragments. The
bones were anatomically articulated, indicating
primary burial. The corpse was set on its right side,
in an east–west orientation, head in the west. Age
and sex estimations were uncertain, however, it
was not an infant.
Skeleton 10031
The remains included two permanent teeth. Canine
shows fully developed crown, upper irst or second
molar show nearly complete crown. Estimation of
age at death, based upon tooth development stages:
4–6 years.
Skeleton 10046
The remains included a few non-diagnostic fragments.
Skeleton 10056
The remains included a few non-diagnostic fragments.
DISCUSSION
There were a total of 22 human skeletal remains
at the Beit Dagan site. Of them, infants, children
and adults were identiied (Table 1). Apart from one
unclear case (Skeleton 10014), burial practice was
193
Meir Edrey and Yossi Nagar
Table 15.1: Age at death distribution at the Beit Dagan cemetery
Age Estimation (Years)
NB–4
5–17
18–24
25–40
Number of individuals
2
3
2
4
similar for all: The corpses were set on their right
side, in an east–west orientation, head in the west
facing south. Such posturing of the dead is typical
of a Muslim population (Gorzalczani 2007). It is
similar to that reported for a previously held nearby
excavation (Yannai and Nagar 2014), and probably
represents a continuation of the same cemetery.
Despite the poor state of preservation, the data
recovered from the skeletons in this excavation adds
to what was reported earlier by Yannai and Nagar
(ibid.: 217ff). Together with that report the number
of burials reaches 93 individuals. The overall
sample is typical of a regular historical cemetery
population, in which all age groups are represented.
CONCLUSIONS
The excavation most likely represents a section of
the Mamluk period cemetery found in previous
excavations (Yanni 2008; Yannai and Nagar 2014:
217ff). The human remains unearthed during this
excavation were in a very poor state of preservation
due to burial in Hamra soil, which accelerates the
decomposition process. The human remains represent
a typical historical population. Interestingly, human
remains found in graves covered by mudbrick were
in a worse state of preservation than those found in
simple cist graves. The gray mudbrick material fused
with the human bones and it appeared as if the bones
were on top of the mudbrick. The graves were either
unmarked save for the mudbrick, or were marked with
degradable materials, as some burials cut earlier ones.
The graves were dug into seemingly sterile ground
as no inds were discovered in their vicinity. The
scanty inds found inside the cist graves originated
exclusively from the mudbrick material. This probably
indicates that the mudbricks were manufactured
elsewhere and brought to the burial site. The pottery
unearthed gives a terminus ante quem to the Mamluk
period, which its the dating of the nearby cemetery.
It should be noted that the excavation was abruptly
halted due to budget issues and further human
remains were left unexposed. Excavated human
remains and suspected graves were marked and the
194
40<
Unknown Age
11
excavation area was covered with sand and left for
future excavation. Excavation of further graves in the
site continued in 2012 by Dayan and Eshed (2012),
and again in 2014 by Jakoel and Nagar (2014).
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