The Treasure House 2011

The Excavations near the ancient synagogue of Ein Gedi

The "Treasure House" 2011

Preliminary report

Dr. Gideon Hadas

Director of Ein Gedi Oasis Excavations, Dead-Sea & Arava Science Center

The delegation of the Ein Gedi Oasis Excavations started a new area inside the Ancient Synagogue of Ein Gedi National Park in January 2011. The excavation was under the auspices of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and was enabled by contributions of individuals, funds and the Dead-Sea & Arava Science Center and the National Park Authority. Volunteers from abroad and Israel took part in the excavations; most of them devoted veterans of the former seasons, and also volunteers from the Ein Gedi Field School and the National Park. The dig was directed by the author, registration and camp by R. Merhav, surveying and drafting by D. Porotzki, and pottery by A. de-Vincenz.

During this season we completed the excavation of the "Treasure House", which was partly excavated in 1971-1972 by Barag, Porat & Netzer. The building consists of two rooms which open to a small courtyard. Various broken jars were found on the rooms' floors, along the walls of the southern room and in the middle of the northern room. Earlier pottery shards were found in every test square excavated in each room.

A larger room was revealed to the north of the "Treasure House", which was a part of different house called "The Miller House". It has two doorways opening westwards to an unexcavated area. A built staircase of four stairs was revealed attached to the northern wall. Near the room's north-eastern corner, a large limestone mortar was found, an upper basalt stone of the Hour-Glass Millstones /Pompeian  type, a few bases made of local limestone and small basalt grinding stones. Earlier walls were found under the floors in two test squares.

The completion of the excavation of the "The Treasure House" rooms revealed many storage jars which proved that they were used as storerooms, and apparently the living quarters were on the floor above. As the eastern room was found with grinding and crushing stones in it, perhaps it enables us to associate it as part of the "Miller House". The pottery, oil lamps, glass shards, coins, nails, animal and fish bones testifies about the village inhabitants' economy. Both buildings were ruined in a large fire that burnt the whole village in the 6th century CE. 

We are looking forward to the next season to reveal the secret of the "Halfi House", if the excavation will be supported.