Papers by Itai Elad
Ceramic assemblages from Early Bronze IB sites in northern Israel are characterised by locally pr... more Ceramic assemblages from Early Bronze IB sites in northern Israel are characterised by locally produced types of vessels. This contribution examines a specific bowl type referred to as the 'Gutter-Rim Bowl' (GRB), found in significant quantities in EB IB sites situated across the northern Coastal Plain, the Jezreel Valley and the central Jordan Valley. To understand the regional significance of GRBs, we have conducted a thorough analysis of their distribution and provenance by integrating existing and newly compiled databases. Petrographic results reveal a diverse range of raw materials used in the manufacturing of GRBs across most sites. Our findings suggest that the distribution pattern of GRBs is not solely dictated by practical utility, but is influenced by interregional relations among peer polities possibly engaged in competitive interactions. GRBs emerge as distinctive markers of local traditions tied to specific cultural and political entities, accounting for their prevalence in their respective territories. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural and socio-political dynamics shaping EB IB ceramic traditions in northern Israel.
'Atiqot, 2024
The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic per... more The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic period until its abandonment in Early Bronze Age II, in sharp contrast to inland sites that developed into urbanized cities. This study examines this phenomenon by investigating the pottery production component of the economic systems of two contemporary EB I villages: a shoreline coastal site that was abandoned (Dor South) and an inland site that evolved into an urban center ('En Esur). This pilot ceramic petrography examination shows two distinct strategies, with 'En Esur producing pottery primarily from local raw materials and Dor South relying mainly on imported pottery, potentially weakening the once-resilient coastal system.
The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic per... more The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic period until its abandonment in Early Bronze Age II, in sharp contrast to inland sites that developed into urbanized cities. This study examines this phenomenon by investigating the pottery production component of the economic systems of two contemporary EB I villages: a shoreline coastal site that was abandoned (Dor South) and an inland site that evolved into an urban center ('En Esur). This pilot ceramic petrography examination shows two distinct strategies, with 'En Esur producing pottery primarily from local raw materials and Dor South relying mainly on imported pottery, potentially weakening the once-resilient coastal system.
The transition between the late EB IB and the EB II, dated to the end of the 4 th millennium BCE,... more The transition between the late EB IB and the EB II, dated to the end of the 4 th millennium BCE, is considered by many scholars as a critical point that ended one cultural phenomenon (village life) and started another one (urbanization). Recent excavations at ʿEn Esur, conducted on behalf of the IAA in a huge scale of c. 1700 squares, revealed large portions of a 65 ha. EB IB settlement, the largest known in the southern Levant. In this settlement, various traits of urbanization are found: carefully planned streets, squares, drainage and storage facilities, fortifications, and a unique public building that may have been used as a temple. Moreover, this site, located on a central junction leading from the coastal plain to the Jezreel Valley, was a trading center, as evidenced by finds that originated in other regions, including the Jordan Valley and Egypt. Based on the data collected, it can be stated that ʿEn Esur was already fully urbanized during the EB IB and was an important component of a widespread proto-urban phenomenon which includes very large and often fortified EB IB settlements like ʿEn Zippori and Tel Erani.
The transition between the late EB IB and the EB II, dated to the end of the 4th millennium BCE, ... more The transition between the late EB IB and the EB II, dated to the end of the 4th millennium BCE, is considered by many scholars as a critical point that ended one cultural phenomenon (village life) and started another one (urbanization). Recent excavations at ʿEn Esur, conducted on behalf of the IAA in a huge scale of c. 1700 squares, revealed large portions of a 65 ha. EB IB settlement, the largest known in the southern Levant. In this settlement, various traits of urbanization are found: carefully planned streets, squares, drainage and storage facilities, fortifications, and a unique public building that may have been used as a temple. Moreover, this site, located on a central junction leading from the coastal plain to the
Jezreel Valley, was a trading center, as evidenced by finds that originated in other regions, including the Jordan Valley and Egypt. Based on the data collected, it can be stated that ʿEn Esur was already fully urbanized during the EB IB and was an important component of a widespread proto-urban phenomenon which includes very large and often fortified EB IB settlements like ʿEn Zippori and Tel Erani.
Excavations of 4th millennium BCE sites conducted in the past two decades have provided a signifi... more Excavations of 4th millennium BCE sites conducted in the past two decades have provided a significant amount of quantitative data regarding the use of pottery. This accumulated data provides an opportunity to engage in a comparative analysis between sites of different regions in the southern Levant, as well as of the different periods comprising the 4th millennium, including the Late Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age IA, Early Bronze Age IB and Early Bronze Age II. The aim of the current study is to utilize quantitative data to detect general trends in the usage patterns of pottery vessels. The study was based on a division into three general categories: serving, cooking and storage vessels. The results show that each period had its own specific usage pattern or patterns, and that during the Late Chalcolithic and the late EBA IB these patterns were similar throughout the southern Levant. The results of this study are also used to explore some of the associated socio-political implications.
The transition between the late EB IB and the EB II, dated to the end of the 4 th millennium BC, ... more The transition between the late EB IB and the EB II, dated to the end of the 4 th millennium BC, is considered by many scholars as a critical point that ended one cultural phenomenon (village life) and started another (urbanization). Many scholars claim that while the EB IB reflects rural village life, the EB II reflects an entirely new way of living expressed through urbanization, characterized by a new ideological framework that dictated an entirely different socio-political order. With that said, the data accumulated from recent excavations and studies seems to reflect a different situation. It can be stated that urbanization did not emerge 'out of the blue' during the EB II and that it is well-rooted in very large and often fortified EB IB settlements like ʿEn Zippori, Tel Shalem, and ʿEn Esur. The excavations at ʿEn Esur have revealed a huge c. 65-ha carefully planned settlement-the largest EB IB settlement known to date-with social differentiation that can be attested through the analysis of its architecture. Moreover, this site, located on a central junction leading from the Coastal Plain to the Jezreel Valley, was a trading center, as evidenced by finds originating in other regions, including the Jordan Valley and Egypt. The current paper presents some of the main aspects of the vast EB IB settlement of ʿEn Esur, which can no longer be considered a 'village' and, as many other settlements in the Southern Levant, reflects the protourban wave under which the first towns emerged.
] I), probably during the reign of the last kings of Dynasty "0" (Ka and Narmer), there was consi... more ] I), probably during the reign of the last kings of Dynasty "0" (Ka and Narmer), there was considerable Egyptian contacts with the southern Levant, including significant quantities (hundreds of vessels) of Egyptian imported and locally imitated pottery and cylinder seal impressions, mainly from settlement contexts. 1 It is particularly evident in the artifactual assemblage from Tel Lod in nine serekhs (highly stylized Egyptian symbols for rulers/kings bearing their names), all of which have been incised prior to firing on imported Egyptian vessels. Six of these have readable hieroglyphs, five of Horus Narmer and one of Horus Ka. 2 Egyptian imported artifacts have also been found in burial contexts in the coastal plain of Israel at sites like cave F-55 in Nesher-Ramla, 3 at Giv'atayim in mortuary contexts, which probably reflect the existence of a nearby settlement 4 and at Azor in both settlement and mortuary contexts. 5
Journal of the Israel Prehistoric Society, 2020
An assemblage of 69 bilaterally notched blades was recently retrieved during the renewed, large-s... more An assemblage of 69 bilaterally notched blades was recently retrieved during the renewed, large-scale excavations of
the Early Bronze (EB) IB site of ‘En Esur (‘Ein Asawir). A few occurrences of this “new” tool type were previously
documented at several contemporary sites, but they were never treated as a phenomenon until now.
The tools are characterized by bilateral notches placed at one of the extremities, which created a tang. Most of these
tools bear traces of gloss probably associated with agricultural practices. The overall appearance of these tanged and
glossed blades as well as their relatively high numbers at the site led us to name them “‘En Esur knives.” These knives
were commonly fashioned from Canaanean blades and waste of mostly local raw material. The ‘En Esur knives were
divided into five types: A) knives with one glossed cutting edge; B) knives with two glossed cutting edges; C) backed
knives with a single cutting edge; D) non-glossed knives; and E) bilaterally notched fragments.
We suggest that the ‘En Esur knives were manufactured at the site, mostly on locally produced Canaanean blades.
It seems that the ‘En Esur knives were primarily used for harvesting, as attested by the presence of gloss and their
general resemblance to other Early Bronze reaping implements. Yet their low frequencies within the flint assemblages
of ‘En Esur and other sites indicate that they did not play a central role in the agricultural system of urban centers
during EB IB.
Excavation Reports by Itai Elad
Ḥadashot Arkheologiyot— Excavations and Surveys in Israel 135, 2023
This paper include the final results of a salvage excavation conducted in 2016 on the northwester... more This paper include the final results of a salvage excavation conducted in 2016 on the northwestern margins of a low kurkar hill known as the ‘Hill of Tombs’ in Azor, in the central coastal plain, about 6 km southeast of Yafo (Jaffa). Two areas were excavated: an eastern area, in which nine graves dating from Iron Age IB and IIA were uncovered; and a western area, that yielded very limited remains of an Abbasid-period occupation level.
Yafo, Mazzal Arye
Archaeological documentation in a building in the Old City of Jaffa
‘Atiqot 110, 2023
A unique Byzantine-period villa unearthed in Herẓliyya was identified as a luxurious country resi... more A unique Byzantine-period villa unearthed in Herẓliyya was identified as a luxurious country residential complex. Based on the inscription set in the mosaic floor of the triclinium, and the small finds, it is suggested to date the villa to the fifth century CE. The architectural style indicates that it belonged to a wealthy owner, perhaps a Samaritan, due to the presence of a miqweh and the absence of figurative images in the mosaic.
Salvage Excavations Reports 10, 2017
This article comprises the final reports of six small-scale excavations conducted at Ramat Beit S... more This article comprises the final reports of six small-scale excavations conducted at Ramat Beit Shemesh’s southern district during the years 2011 and 2012 (License Nos. B-377/2011, B-384/2012, B-388/2012 and B-378/2011). These excavations were carried out on behalf of the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University. As all the six excavated sites are located within the same ecological niche and shared a similar rural-agricultural nature, it was decided to present them together.
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Papers by Itai Elad
Jezreel Valley, was a trading center, as evidenced by finds that originated in other regions, including the Jordan Valley and Egypt. Based on the data collected, it can be stated that ʿEn Esur was already fully urbanized during the EB IB and was an important component of a widespread proto-urban phenomenon which includes very large and often fortified EB IB settlements like ʿEn Zippori and Tel Erani.
the Early Bronze (EB) IB site of ‘En Esur (‘Ein Asawir). A few occurrences of this “new” tool type were previously
documented at several contemporary sites, but they were never treated as a phenomenon until now.
The tools are characterized by bilateral notches placed at one of the extremities, which created a tang. Most of these
tools bear traces of gloss probably associated with agricultural practices. The overall appearance of these tanged and
glossed blades as well as their relatively high numbers at the site led us to name them “‘En Esur knives.” These knives
were commonly fashioned from Canaanean blades and waste of mostly local raw material. The ‘En Esur knives were
divided into five types: A) knives with one glossed cutting edge; B) knives with two glossed cutting edges; C) backed
knives with a single cutting edge; D) non-glossed knives; and E) bilaterally notched fragments.
We suggest that the ‘En Esur knives were manufactured at the site, mostly on locally produced Canaanean blades.
It seems that the ‘En Esur knives were primarily used for harvesting, as attested by the presence of gloss and their
general resemblance to other Early Bronze reaping implements. Yet their low frequencies within the flint assemblages
of ‘En Esur and other sites indicate that they did not play a central role in the agricultural system of urban centers
during EB IB.
Excavation Reports by Itai Elad
Jezreel Valley, was a trading center, as evidenced by finds that originated in other regions, including the Jordan Valley and Egypt. Based on the data collected, it can be stated that ʿEn Esur was already fully urbanized during the EB IB and was an important component of a widespread proto-urban phenomenon which includes very large and often fortified EB IB settlements like ʿEn Zippori and Tel Erani.
the Early Bronze (EB) IB site of ‘En Esur (‘Ein Asawir). A few occurrences of this “new” tool type were previously
documented at several contemporary sites, but they were never treated as a phenomenon until now.
The tools are characterized by bilateral notches placed at one of the extremities, which created a tang. Most of these
tools bear traces of gloss probably associated with agricultural practices. The overall appearance of these tanged and
glossed blades as well as their relatively high numbers at the site led us to name them “‘En Esur knives.” These knives
were commonly fashioned from Canaanean blades and waste of mostly local raw material. The ‘En Esur knives were
divided into five types: A) knives with one glossed cutting edge; B) knives with two glossed cutting edges; C) backed
knives with a single cutting edge; D) non-glossed knives; and E) bilaterally notched fragments.
We suggest that the ‘En Esur knives were manufactured at the site, mostly on locally produced Canaanean blades.
It seems that the ‘En Esur knives were primarily used for harvesting, as attested by the presence of gloss and their
general resemblance to other Early Bronze reaping implements. Yet their low frequencies within the flint assemblages
of ‘En Esur and other sites indicate that they did not play a central role in the agricultural system of urban centers
during EB IB.