2019 season

Ein Gedi Oasis – 2019 season

Dr. Gideon Hadas and Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat

Ein Gedi Oasis Excavations

The expedition of the Ein Gedi Oasis Excavations concluded an additional season in the winter of 2019. The excavation took place on behalf of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Dead-Sea & Arava Science Center. The excavation was initiated by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, as part of the development of the archaeological park and was directed by the authors. Registration and volunteers were handled by A. Spanier, surveying and drafting by D. Porotzki, pottery by A. de-Vincenz, laboratory by M. Sharvit. Volunteers from abroad and Israel took part in the excavations; most of them devoted veterans from previous seasons. Volunteers from Mechinat Melah Ha-Aretz, the Ein Gedi Field School, the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, as well as some workers from Kuseife also participated in the dig. A team of conservators from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority worked alongside the expedition and their assistance was most valuable.  

This season was devoted to the northern third of the narrow strip that was left unexcavated during Hirschfeld's excavations (1996-2002) in this area and separated the two parts of the Byzantine village, due to a water pipe that crossed the area. The removal of the pipe in 2016 enabled the dig. With the end of season, we have completed uncovering of the village remains along this strip.

Mameluke period remains:

As in previous seasons, we again revealed tractor tracks from the tractor that ploughed this area in the 1950's and consequently ruined the remains from the Mameluke period that were close to the surface. Luckily, remains of floors from three rooms in structures of the Mameluke period survived in the center of the excavated area. The Mameluke structures were built on top of the Byzantine rooms and walls, west of the line of rooms along the western side of the "Perfume Street" (as nicknamed by Hirschfeld). An oven, many pottery sherds and glass fragments of the Mameluke period were found on these floors.

Byzantine period remains:

Along the western side of the excavated area, the eastern boundary wall of the western part of the village excavated by Hirschfeld was exposed along most of its length. In the eastern side of our excavated area three buildings were exposed: The Northern Building, The Middle Building (or the "Fast Food Restaurant" as nicknamed by Hirschfeld) and The Southern Building. All were partly excavated by Hirschfeld and identified as part of a quarter or neighborhood, west of the "Perfume Street".

The Northern Building includes a large courtyard and two rooms. The entrance to this building is from an alley that goes from east to west, north of the building. The continuation of this alley eastward allows entrance into the "Perfume Street". Two large openings in the courtyard's southern wall lead into two smaller rooms.

The Middle Building (Hirschfeld's "Fast Food Restaurant") includes a courtyard and three rooms. The courtyard is long and narrow and is entered from the "Perfume Street" on the east. In the courtyard's western wall there is an opening to a western room, now blocked by debris below a Mameluke floor that we left unexcavated. A stepped installation found in the courtyard's southwestern corner was probably used as a base for a ladder, leading up to a second story. An opening in the courtyard's southern wall leads into a room to the south, from which one can enter through another opening into another room in the southwest, also blocked by unexcavated debris below a Mameluke period floor.

The Southern Building has a courtyard and two rooms. The courtyard is long and narrow and is entered from the "Perfume Street" on the east. It seems that there was an entrance to a western room that is still blocked by debris below yet another Mameluke period floor. Opening in the courtyard's southern wall leads into another room to the south.

We assume that all three buildings were not dwellings, since no oven, nor a mortar characterizing the dwellings of the village, were found here. It seems, therefore, that these buildings were used for commerce, storing, or light industry.

A further aim of the 2019 season was to clear baulks that were left unexcavated throughout Hirschfeld's excavation area. We have excavated the long baulk that ran from west to east and covered Hircshfeld's "Piazza House". There we cleared the courtyard and two rooms. It became clear that the entrance to the northwestern room of the "Piazza House" is through its western wall. We have also cleared the entrance to the southeastern room. There, in the northeastern corner that was covered by the baulk, we revealed a pressed mud floor that sloped gently toward the corner, where the mouth of a jar buried under the floor was detected. A pit was excavated to retrieve the jar that was taken out complete. It contained one bronze coin.      

We continued to clear the baulks that partially covered the rooms adjacent to the "Piazza House" to the east, as well as those situated north of the Miqveh. Also cleared were the trapezoid room north of the "Upper Pool" and the pool itself.

Summary

Meager architectural remains of the Mameluke period were excavated this season, as well as the top part of the Byzantine period walls that connected the two parts of the village that had been excavated by Hirschfeld. By doing so, the entire plan of village becomes clear.

Only a few special finds were found during this season, among them is an ostracon with two lines in square Aramaic letters, awaiting to be deciphered by Haggai Misgav.

We wish to thank all of our volunteers for their hard work and devotion over the years. This endeavor is as much yours as is ours.

For further information about the delegation excavations see: https://sites.google.com/site/eingediexcavations/home