Daria Montanari
I received my doctorate in Ancient Near East Archaeology and Art History from Sapienza University of Rome in 2014
I am currently curator of the Museum of Near East, Egypt and Mediterranean of Sapienza University of Rome, and the editorial coordinator of the journal Vincino Oriente
Since 2004 I held the role of field supervisor and finds registrar of the archaeological expeditions of Sapienza University directed by Prof. Lorenzo Nigro at Motya (Italy), Khirbet el-Batrawy (Jordan), and Tell es-Sultan (Palestine).
Since 2022 I am the director of the Italian-Palestinian expedition to Bethlehem (necropolis of Khalet el-Jam a, Jebel Daher, HIndaza, Bardhaa and el-Atan), where I was the Field Director between 2015 and 2021.
I am currently curator of the Museum of Near East, Egypt and Mediterranean of Sapienza University of Rome, and the editorial coordinator of the journal Vincino Oriente
Since 2004 I held the role of field supervisor and finds registrar of the archaeological expeditions of Sapienza University directed by Prof. Lorenzo Nigro at Motya (Italy), Khirbet el-Batrawy (Jordan), and Tell es-Sultan (Palestine).
Since 2022 I am the director of the Italian-Palestinian expedition to Bethlehem (necropolis of Khalet el-Jam a, Jebel Daher, HIndaza, Bardhaa and el-Atan), where I was the Field Director between 2015 and 2021.
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Papers by Daria Montanari
campaigns for the protection of the archaeological heritage in the urban area of Bethlehem
since 2015. A large necropolis with tombs dating from the Early Bronze IV, the Middle
Bronze Age, and the Iron Age II was discovered and excavated at Khalet al-Jam’a. Rescue
interventions involved other cemeteries, such as that of Jebel Dhaher, Bardhaa, and Hindaza,
with similar chronological ranges. The overall results provide important insights into the
history of Bethlehem during the pre-classical periods and, perhaps even more significantly,
has allowed, at those locations, the PNA to manage heritage while promoting a sustainable
development notwithstanding the grave constraints imposed from the outside.
Department of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (MOTA-DACH) revealed a huge necropolis in the site
of Khalet al-Jam'a, south-east of Bethlehem. Tombs were used during the Early Bronze IV (2300–2000 BCE) to
Middle Bronze I–III (2000–1500 BCE) periods, and up to the Iron Age IB–II (1050–700 BCE). This paper presents
the results of the minero-petrographic and chemical characterization of ceramic material from this site,
with the aim to reconstruct the technological level achieved by ancient populations living in Bethlehem from the
Early Bronze IV to the Iron Age by means of optical microscopy, X-ray Powder Diffraction, Scanning Electron
Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Results show that two main
supplies of raw materials can be recognized at Khalet al-Jam'a. The Early and Middle Bronze Age ceramic production
is made with the so-called Moza-clay: a calcareous-rich clay with predominant limestone, diffuse grains
of calcite, dolomite, and rare sedimentary siliceous rock fragments, quartz and microfossils. The latest production,
namely that of the Iron Age, is more likely consistent with the calcareous-foraminiferous-Rendzina soil clay,
with predominant silty quartz and few microfossils. The firing temperature was estimated from the mineralogical
assemblage in each sample. Abundant calcite, clay minerals and the absence of neo-formed minerals suggest samples
fired at temperatures lower than 800 °C. For those samples where calcite was found along with gehlenite and
wollastonite, the temperature was indeed estimated to be in the range 850–950 °C. Finally, the firing atmosphere
was uncontrolled, as testified by the extreme variability in colour of the matrix. The results of this study enable a
preliminary characterization of pottery, whose production shows differences related to specific historical periods
and contribute to improve the knowledge about specific ceramic production used in funerary contexts.
and environments automatically and practically in real time. Such features can make these sensors a valuable tool for
documenting archaeological small finds, especially when not expert users are involved. Therefore, in this work, Scanner
and itSeez3D, two of the most promising scanning applications actually available for the Structure Sensor, a range camera
specifically designed for mobile devices, were tested in order to evaluate their accuracy in modelling the 3D geometry of two
archaeological artefacts, characterized by different shape and dimensions. The 3D models obtained through the two scanning
applications were thus compared with the reference ones generated with the more accurate photogrammetric technique. The
results demonstrate that both the applications show the same level of geometric accuracy, which amounts generally to very
few millimetres, from an overall point of view, and, at the same time, they substantially point out the good quality of the
Structure Sensor 3D reconstruction technology. In particular, the itSeez3D application is surely the best solution for the
color restitution, even if it requires a payment of $7 to export and thus to use effectively each model generated. On the other
side, Scanner is a free application and its geometric accuracy is comparable to that of itSeez3D, but, however, the colours
are frequently smoothed and sometimes not fully rendered.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/protecting-and-rehabilitating-the-archaeology-of-bethlehem/DB116A545A915ED48630D9022E2542CF
campaigns for the protection of the archaeological heritage in the urban area of Bethlehem
since 2015. A large necropolis with tombs dating from the Early Bronze IV, the Middle
Bronze Age, and the Iron Age II was discovered and excavated at Khalet al-Jam’a. Rescue
interventions involved other cemeteries, such as that of Jebel Dhaher, Bardhaa, and Hindaza,
with similar chronological ranges. The overall results provide important insights into the
history of Bethlehem during the pre-classical periods and, perhaps even more significantly,
has allowed, at those locations, the PNA to manage heritage while promoting a sustainable
development notwithstanding the grave constraints imposed from the outside.
Department of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (MOTA-DACH) revealed a huge necropolis in the site
of Khalet al-Jam'a, south-east of Bethlehem. Tombs were used during the Early Bronze IV (2300–2000 BCE) to
Middle Bronze I–III (2000–1500 BCE) periods, and up to the Iron Age IB–II (1050–700 BCE). This paper presents
the results of the minero-petrographic and chemical characterization of ceramic material from this site,
with the aim to reconstruct the technological level achieved by ancient populations living in Bethlehem from the
Early Bronze IV to the Iron Age by means of optical microscopy, X-ray Powder Diffraction, Scanning Electron
Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Results show that two main
supplies of raw materials can be recognized at Khalet al-Jam'a. The Early and Middle Bronze Age ceramic production
is made with the so-called Moza-clay: a calcareous-rich clay with predominant limestone, diffuse grains
of calcite, dolomite, and rare sedimentary siliceous rock fragments, quartz and microfossils. The latest production,
namely that of the Iron Age, is more likely consistent with the calcareous-foraminiferous-Rendzina soil clay,
with predominant silty quartz and few microfossils. The firing temperature was estimated from the mineralogical
assemblage in each sample. Abundant calcite, clay minerals and the absence of neo-formed minerals suggest samples
fired at temperatures lower than 800 °C. For those samples where calcite was found along with gehlenite and
wollastonite, the temperature was indeed estimated to be in the range 850–950 °C. Finally, the firing atmosphere
was uncontrolled, as testified by the extreme variability in colour of the matrix. The results of this study enable a
preliminary characterization of pottery, whose production shows differences related to specific historical periods
and contribute to improve the knowledge about specific ceramic production used in funerary contexts.
and environments automatically and practically in real time. Such features can make these sensors a valuable tool for
documenting archaeological small finds, especially when not expert users are involved. Therefore, in this work, Scanner
and itSeez3D, two of the most promising scanning applications actually available for the Structure Sensor, a range camera
specifically designed for mobile devices, were tested in order to evaluate their accuracy in modelling the 3D geometry of two
archaeological artefacts, characterized by different shape and dimensions. The 3D models obtained through the two scanning
applications were thus compared with the reference ones generated with the more accurate photogrammetric technique. The
results demonstrate that both the applications show the same level of geometric accuracy, which amounts generally to very
few millimetres, from an overall point of view, and, at the same time, they substantially point out the good quality of the
Structure Sensor 3D reconstruction technology. In particular, the itSeez3D application is surely the best solution for the
color restitution, even if it requires a payment of $7 to export and thus to use effectively each model generated. On the other
side, Scanner is a free application and its geometric accuracy is comparable to that of itSeez3D, but, however, the colours
are frequently smoothed and sometimes not fully rendered.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/protecting-and-rehabilitating-the-archaeology-of-bethlehem/DB116A545A915ED48630D9022E2542CF
I sistemi di fortificazione a terrapieno (rampart) che si diffondono nel Levante meridionale nel corso del Bronzo Medio II e III, costruiti generalmente sfruttando declivi preesistenti, proteggendo i tell dagli effetti dell’erosione, erano usualmente costituiti da due elementi fondamentali: muri di contenimento e terrazzamento; gettate di terra e pietrisco che ricoprivano tali muri.
Il terrapieno di Tell es-Sultan/antica Gerico fu eretto durante il Bronzo Medio III (1650-1550 a.C.) ed è costituito da un muro di contenimento di pietra, detto Ciclopico in virtù della tecnica costruttiva, che cingeva il tell ai suoi piedi, e da uno spesso strato di gettate sovrapposte di terra e pietrisco
Descriptions of weaponry is completed with brief references to the manufacture technique and to the contexts of recovery. The analysis of technologies and contexts operates in order to reconstruct the chronological framework and the functional interpretation.
Moreover, a catalogue for each class of weapons is offered.