Yotvata

The Ze'ev Meshel Excavations (1974–1980): The Iron I “Fortress” and the Early Islamic Settlement

Lily Singer-Avitz, Etan Ayalon

• Publisher: Eisenbrauns
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9781646022298
• eBook ISBN: 9781646022601
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Middle Eastern History
• Index: Social Sciences

This book presents the final report of the excavations at Yotvata, the largest oasis in the Arabah Valley, conducted by the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University in 1974–1980 under the direction of Dr. Ze?ev Meshel. The report covers two central sites: a fortified Iron I site and an Early Islamic settlement.

The Iron I remains consist of an irregular casemate wall surrounding a courtyard. The location of this site suggests that the settlement was established in order to protect the water sources and to overlook and supervise the nearby crossroads. Based on the relative proximity of the site to Timna, it may be concluded that the oasis formed the main source of water and wood for the population involved in copper production in that region.

The rich finds uncovered at the Early Islamic settlement—including a large courtyard building and a nearby bathhouse, among other structures—point to habitation from the end of the seventh to the early ninth century CE. The proximity of the settlement to a sophisticated irrigation system (qanat) and the administrative/economic ostraca discovered at the site suggest that it served as the center of an agricultural estate owned by an elite Muslim family. Among the unique finds is a large assemblage of locally produced, handmade pottery, which is thoroughly studied here.

The findings from the excavations at the Yotvata oasis have made a major contribution to the study of Early Islamic settlement and material culture in the greater Arabah region and beyond.

Table of contents

• COVER Front
• Copyright Page
• Table of CONTENTS
• Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION: THE YOTVATA OASIS
• Chapter 2: YOTVATA: A “FORTRESS” ON A ROAD JUNCTION
• Chapter 3: THE EXCAVATIONS AND ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS
• Chapter 4: THE POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE OF THE IRON I
• Chapter 5: PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE IRON I POTTERY
• Chapter 6: THE CERAMIC FINDS FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB
• Chapter 7: THE CHIPPED STONE COLLECATIONS: LITHIC PERSPECTIVES ON AN OASIS SITE IN THE ARABAH
• Chapter 8: SHELL ARTIFACTS
• Chapter 9: TWO BONE OBJECTS
• Chapter 10: OSTRICH EGGSHELLS
• Chapter 11: GROUND STONE TOOLS
• Chapter 12: WORKED WOODEN OBJECTS FROM THE IRON I
• Chater13: A WOOD COFFIN FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB
• Chapter 14: CORDS AND BASKETRY FROM THE IRON I AND TEXTILES FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB
• Chapter 15: ARCHAEOBOTANICAL REMAINS FROM THE IRON I“ FORTRESS” AND THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB
• Chapter 16: CHARCOAL SAMPLES FROM THE CHALCOLITHIC/EARLY BRONZE I SETTLEMENT
• Chapter 17: DENDROARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE COFFIN FROM THE NABATAEAN BUILT TOMB
• Chapter 18: IRON I AND CHALCOLITHIC/ EARLY BRONZE I FAUNA
• Chapter 19: RADIOCARBON DATES
• Chapter 20: MAṢṢEBOTH (STANDING STONES) IN GATES
• Chapter 21: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
• Chapter 22: ARCHITECTURE AND STRATIGRAPHY
• Chapter 23: THE POTTERY
• Chapter 24: PERFECTING LOCAL PRODUCTION OF DESERT POTTERY: PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF EARLY ISLAMIC WARES
• Chapter 25: STONE AND METAL OBJECTS
• Chapter 26: GLASS FINDS
• Chapter 27: THE OSTRACA
• Chapter 28: THE COINS
• Chapter 29: TEXTILES, TEXTILE IMPRESSIONS AND A PLAIT
• Chapter 30 : IDENTIFICATION OF DYES
• Chapter 31: ARCHAEOBOTANICAL REMAINS FROM THE EARLY ISLAMIC SITE
• Chapter FAUNAL REMAINS
• Chapter 33: MOLLUSCS
• Chapter 34: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
• LIST OF LOCI