Papers by Peter Gendelman
Archaeopress Publishing Ltd eBooks, Nov 10, 2022
Polish archaeology in the Mediterranean, Dec 31, 2022
'Atiqot 110, 2023
Excavations in the Strauss Building, located next to the Western Wall Plaza in the Old City of Je... more Excavations in the Strauss Building, located next to the Western Wall Plaza in the Old City of Jerusalem, yielded a unique ornamental two-level terracotta pen-and-inkwell case, comprising an upper level with a rectangular pencase and a bowl-shaped inkwell holder, and a lower level with two compartments. The sides of the pencase have incised decorations depicting a throne and a throne room, and the base bears an Arabic inscription composed of a paraphrase of two verses from a maqāma poem by Badī' al-Zamān, and the name of the poet or/and the owner, Mūsā. The dating of the pencase to the Fatimid period is determined by the lifetime of Badī' al-Zamān, who died in 1008 CE, and by eleventh-century CE pottery found with the pencase. The pen-and-inkwell case, made of Moẓa clay from the vicinity of Jerusalem, is a local production for a Jerusalem intellectual.
The History and Archaeology of Jaffa 2, 2017
INR (Israel Numismatic Research), 2022
A bronze weight, square in shape and inlaid with silver, was excavated at Caesarea Maritima. It b... more A bronze weight, square in shape and inlaid with silver, was excavated at Caesarea Maritima. It belongs to a series of weights engraved with a pair of male busts identified as emperors. Two possible identifications of the portrayal are considered in this article — (a) two emperors, (b) two officials. Based on the type of fibula worn by the figures, the context of discovery, the literary and epigraphic evidence and available comparisons to weights and other works of art, the second alternative — of two officials — seems a more plausible identification for the persons depicted on the weight.
The publication of this issue was made possible by the generous contribution of David and Jemima Jeselsohn.
W. Atrash, A. Overman and P. Gendelman eds. Cities, Monuments and Objects in the Roman and Byzantine Levant. Studies in Honour of Gabi Mazor. Oxford, 2022
The Late Antique mansion (late 4th/early 5th-first half of the 7th century AD) exposed by the IAA... more The Late Antique mansion (late 4th/early 5th-first half of the 7th century AD) exposed by the IAA team during the 1990s within Insula W2S4, is the so far most extensively excavated elite dwelling of Late Antique Caesarea. The mansion includes a lavishly decorated living and hosting unit on its south, and a vast horreum-warehouse on its north. The living part consists of a peristyle court with a fountain, an additional court surrounded with living rooms, two triclinia of which one is a triconch flanked by rooms; all paved with multicolor tessellated and opus sectile mosaics, lined with marble and glass mosaics. All parts of the complex were connected by the east-west corridor, which also enabled access to the Low Garden facing the sea. The garden was adorned with a fountain and a pergola. The private bath of the owners and a piscina-fishpond, were partially exposed on the southernmost part of the mansion. Being the only extensively exposed upper-class residential complex, the Insula W2S4 mansion provides most valuable information about Caesarea elite dwellings. The size of the complex, the division into two units and the luxurious decoration indicate that the owners of the mansion were among the wealthiest and most influential Caesarea inhabitants, which likely held an office in the city council and/or in the provincial administration.
Geosciences
An 8th century CE earthquake severely damaged inland cities across the southern-central Levant, b... more An 8th century CE earthquake severely damaged inland cities across the southern-central Levant, but reported evidence of this earthquake along the coastline is scarce. In Caesarea Maritima, archaeologists have found contemporaneous anomalous sand and shelly layers within nearshore structures and interpreted them as construction fill, aeolian accumulation, or abandonment debris. Recently, similar sand deposits were exposed in a Roman-to-Islamic harbor-side warehouse. This presented the first opportunity to directly sample and systematically analyze in situ, undisturbed deposits in order to determine their origin and taphonomic (source and transport) history. Two sediment cores from the deposit as well as comparative reference samples from defined contexts were analyzed for grain size distribution, foraminifera (abundance/taphonomy), and relative age (POSL, archaeochronology). The results support the interpretation that the deposit was formed from the transport of offshore marine sedi...
Cathedra: For the History of Eretz Israel and Its Yishuv, 2006
Since 2007, the Jaffa Cultural Heritage Project has endeavored to bring to light the vast archaeo... more Since 2007, the Jaffa Cultural Heritage Project has endeavored to bring to light the vast archaeological and historical record of the site of Jaffa in Israel. Continuing the effort begun with The History and Archaeology of Jaffa 1, this volume is a collection of independent studies and final reports on various excavations. These include: overviews of archaeological research in Jaffa, historical and archaeological studies of Medieval and Ottoman Jaffa, reports on excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority at both the Postal Compound between 2009 and 2011 and at the Armenian Compound in 2006 and 2007, and studies of the excavations of Jacob Kaplan and Haya Ritter-Kaplan in Jaffa on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums from 1955 to 1974.
12th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions, 2021
Ancient Caesarea has founded in the years 25-10 BC and named after Emperor Augustus. Throughout h... more Ancient Caesarea has founded in the years 25-10 BC and named after Emperor Augustus. Throughout history, from the early Roman until the Byzantine period, Caesarea was a major city and one of the largest and most important port cities in the Mediterranean. During the Byzantine period, the city encompassed an area three times larger than that delimited by the Herodian wall and became an important center of Christianity. The monumental stairs led to the Byzantine Octagonal Church built upon giant arch above the remains of the enormous Roman stairs of Augustus temple. Stairs led a large number of people from the vast harbor, to the Temple platform. The Byzantine arch located 17 meters from the ancient quay, is 8 meters width and 4-meter long, built with specific technology from local sandstone named Kurkar. The arch fall after the Byzantine period and the staircases severely damaged due to the long exposure of almost 1500 years and environmental conditions such as capillary rise, daily winds carrying sand, high temperature, moisture, salts, and deliberate destruction, for instance, stones robber and collapse parts from the wall. The characteristics of the Kurkar with sustained deterioration and this environmental condition have led to different conservation problems, at various levels of severity erosion, the disintegration in both bonding materials and stones. The conservation measures' purpose is to stop the ongoing weathering process and prevent a deterioration state of the staircases, to restore the arch and stabilize the structure of the stairs to carry 48 tons of the restore arch. The findings of the project show that a suitable solution to ensure effective and sustainable protection of complicated staircases structure from destruction and various weathering condition to carry new massive arch depends on understanding the
ИМКУ. (The History of Material Culture of Uzbekistan ) № 36, 2008
HHA-ESI 133 Extended Reports (electronic edition), 2021
The salvage excavation along the eastern margin of Tel Ifshar (see Yannai 2021) yielded rich cera... more The salvage excavation along the eastern margin of Tel Ifshar (see Yannai 2021) yielded rich ceramic assemblages. These are presented here according to Strata (IV–II); each assemblage comprises material found in loci associated with each of the strata as well as vessels found in other contexts but that seem to belong to the assemblage of the stratum. These pottery assemblages date Stratum IV from the late first century BCE until the beginning of the second century and possibly even the third or first half of the fourth century CE; Stratum III to the fifth–sixth centuries CE; and Stratum II to the first half of the seventh century CE. Together they attest to the long period of occupation in this part of the tell.
'Atiqot 105, 2021
The excavations at Kerem Maharal (see 'Ad and Sa'id, this volume) exposed several occupation stra... more The excavations at Kerem Maharal (see 'Ad and Sa'id, this volume) exposed several occupation strata from the Persian to the end of the Byzantine periods (Strata XI-VII). The pottery finds are described below chronologically and typologically.
SCRIPTA CLASSICA ISRAELICA Vol. XL, 2021
The Khirbet Ibtin cuboid weight, sculpted with an image of a sleeping Eros, was found in a house ... more The Khirbet Ibtin cuboid weight, sculpted with an image of a sleeping Eros, was found in a house of a Roman village—possibly ancient Gamada/Gamda—situated in Western Galilee. The article places the weight within the frame of cuboid weights from other sites outside the Landof Israel; explores the issue of marked and unmarked weight values; the iconography, provenance and craftsmanship of the weight; and the significance the Khirbet Ibtin weight, ornamented with a sleeping Eros, could have had where agriculture was the essence of the settlement.
Strata: Journal of the Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society 2021 Volume 39, 2021
This article offers a brief preliminary account of the study of the decoration of the 5th–7th cen... more This article offers a brief preliminary account of the study of the decoration of the 5th–7th century CE enigmatic complex uncovered at Caesarea Maritima during excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority. It introduces the decorative programme of eight of the complex’s spaces, while pointing to the difficulties and considerations taken in studying their remains and reconstructing their ornamentation. The study shows that (a) the interior and exterior decoration followed a master plan; (b) the decoration within the complex was carefully chosen to provide each of the various parts with the patterns and materials most appropriate for its space and function, and (c) the repertory of motives, materials, and inscriptions, the lack of facilities for private dwelling spaces such as kitchen and sleeping rooms, and the dimensions of the Baths all indicate that the complex was a communal property rather than a private one.
Radiocarbon, Vol 00, Nr 00, Selected Papers from the Mortar Dating International Meeting, Pessac, France, 25–27 Oct. 2018, 2020
Hydraulic lime binders are considered a technological marvel which revolutionized construction
te... more Hydraulic lime binders are considered a technological marvel which revolutionized construction
techniques in antiquity. The core material is made of a binder that is a mixture of calcite and hydraulic phases,
which are amorphous silicate compounds that nanostructurally polymerize into insoluble phases that harden even
underwater, formed during the reaction between lime and reactive silicates such as volcanic ash. This is also what
makes hydraulic lime so hard to radiocarbon (14C) date. These insoluble phases contain carbonates that may set
centuries following their application, resulting in younger ages, which may contaminate the calcite fraction that is
favorable for 14C dating. This calcite fraction forms upon the incorporation of atmospheric carbon dioxide during
the setting of the hydrated lime. Therefore, different characterization methods are being constantly developed for
identifying and characterizing the components of hydraulic lime-binders. In this work, we present a rapid
characterization technique based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that characterizes the atomic
disorder and chemical environment of the carbonates and silicates fractions in the binder. The atomic disorder of
the calcite crystallites was determined by the ν2 and ν4 vibrational modes, and the silicates were characterized by
the main peak asymmetry and full width at half maximum (FWHM). Different hydraulic binders from Caesarea
Maritima were examined, including Herodian mortars from the underwater breakwater and on-land plasters and
mortars from the port’s warehouse and vaults. Hydraulic binders, in which the calcite fraction in the binder shows
atomic disorder that is comparable to modern plaster binders, was associated with silicates that have asymmetry
and FWHM of clays and quartz. These materials are considered to be in good preservation state for 14C dating
since their carbonates crystallites are disordered and did not interact with the environment chemically to form
stable and ordered crystals. Interestingly, the atomic disorder of binders that underwent chemical alterations and
recrystallization processes, are associated with reactive silicates aggregates such as volcanic ash (pozzolana). These
results suggest a new way to prescreen materials for radiocarbon dating based on the composition of lime-binders
and preservation state of the carbonate fraction and hydraulic products.
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Papers by Peter Gendelman
The publication of this issue was made possible by the generous contribution of David and Jemima Jeselsohn.
techniques in antiquity. The core material is made of a binder that is a mixture of calcite and hydraulic phases,
which are amorphous silicate compounds that nanostructurally polymerize into insoluble phases that harden even
underwater, formed during the reaction between lime and reactive silicates such as volcanic ash. This is also what
makes hydraulic lime so hard to radiocarbon (14C) date. These insoluble phases contain carbonates that may set
centuries following their application, resulting in younger ages, which may contaminate the calcite fraction that is
favorable for 14C dating. This calcite fraction forms upon the incorporation of atmospheric carbon dioxide during
the setting of the hydrated lime. Therefore, different characterization methods are being constantly developed for
identifying and characterizing the components of hydraulic lime-binders. In this work, we present a rapid
characterization technique based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that characterizes the atomic
disorder and chemical environment of the carbonates and silicates fractions in the binder. The atomic disorder of
the calcite crystallites was determined by the ν2 and ν4 vibrational modes, and the silicates were characterized by
the main peak asymmetry and full width at half maximum (FWHM). Different hydraulic binders from Caesarea
Maritima were examined, including Herodian mortars from the underwater breakwater and on-land plasters and
mortars from the port’s warehouse and vaults. Hydraulic binders, in which the calcite fraction in the binder shows
atomic disorder that is comparable to modern plaster binders, was associated with silicates that have asymmetry
and FWHM of clays and quartz. These materials are considered to be in good preservation state for 14C dating
since their carbonates crystallites are disordered and did not interact with the environment chemically to form
stable and ordered crystals. Interestingly, the atomic disorder of binders that underwent chemical alterations and
recrystallization processes, are associated with reactive silicates aggregates such as volcanic ash (pozzolana). These
results suggest a new way to prescreen materials for radiocarbon dating based on the composition of lime-binders
and preservation state of the carbonate fraction and hydraulic products.
The publication of this issue was made possible by the generous contribution of David and Jemima Jeselsohn.
techniques in antiquity. The core material is made of a binder that is a mixture of calcite and hydraulic phases,
which are amorphous silicate compounds that nanostructurally polymerize into insoluble phases that harden even
underwater, formed during the reaction between lime and reactive silicates such as volcanic ash. This is also what
makes hydraulic lime so hard to radiocarbon (14C) date. These insoluble phases contain carbonates that may set
centuries following their application, resulting in younger ages, which may contaminate the calcite fraction that is
favorable for 14C dating. This calcite fraction forms upon the incorporation of atmospheric carbon dioxide during
the setting of the hydrated lime. Therefore, different characterization methods are being constantly developed for
identifying and characterizing the components of hydraulic lime-binders. In this work, we present a rapid
characterization technique based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that characterizes the atomic
disorder and chemical environment of the carbonates and silicates fractions in the binder. The atomic disorder of
the calcite crystallites was determined by the ν2 and ν4 vibrational modes, and the silicates were characterized by
the main peak asymmetry and full width at half maximum (FWHM). Different hydraulic binders from Caesarea
Maritima were examined, including Herodian mortars from the underwater breakwater and on-land plasters and
mortars from the port’s warehouse and vaults. Hydraulic binders, in which the calcite fraction in the binder shows
atomic disorder that is comparable to modern plaster binders, was associated with silicates that have asymmetry
and FWHM of clays and quartz. These materials are considered to be in good preservation state for 14C dating
since their carbonates crystallites are disordered and did not interact with the environment chemically to form
stable and ordered crystals. Interestingly, the atomic disorder of binders that underwent chemical alterations and
recrystallization processes, are associated with reactive silicates aggregates such as volcanic ash (pozzolana). These
results suggest a new way to prescreen materials for radiocarbon dating based on the composition of lime-binders
and preservation state of the carbonate fraction and hydraulic products.
Chapters by leading archaeologists in Israel and the Levant explore themes and sites, in most cases by the chief archaeologists themselves, providing the latest information and insights about cities and villages from the Hellenistic to early Islamic periods across the region. This rare assemblage of scholars offers new material and interpretations of many of the key archaeological sites active today. The result is a rich trove of up-to-date data and insights that will be a must read for scholars and students active in this part of the ancient Mediterranean world.