2022 Season

SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF THE ITALIAN-PALESTINIAN EXPEDITION TO TELL ES-SULTAN (2022), PALESTINE

XVIII Campaign - 2022

Lorenzo Nigro - Sapienza University of Rome

1. INTRODUCTION

The eighteenth archaeological fieldwork campaign at Tell es-Sultan/Jericho (Fig. 1), in Palestine, conducted by Sapienza University of Rome and the Department of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage (MOTA - DACH) of the Palestinian National Authority, was carried out from 2 March to 6 May 2022 and was funded by Sapienza and co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). The fieldwork was conducted in fruitful cooperation with Palestinian partners.

The main objectives of the eighteenth campaign (2022) were:

a) expansion of the excavation in Areas A and E, along the emerging ridge of the Cyclopean Wall (W.4), cleaning and securing with regularisation of dangerous sections (§ 2.1);

b) regularisation of dangerous sections and cleaning of Areas B and B West (§ 2.2);

c) regularisation of dangerous sections, cleaning and extension of the excavation of the Early Bronze Age II and III settlemnet in Area F (§ 2.3)

d) expansion of the excavation in Area G, in the northernmost sector (Iron Age, Late Bronze Age and Middle Bronze Age layers) and completion of the restoration of the northernmost rooms of the Early Bronze Age III building (§ 2.4)

e) cleaning activities at the entrance of Trench I (§ 2.5);

f) training activities of Palestinian archaeologists and restorers in all phases of documentation, publication and dissemination of the excavation results (§ 4).

2. PROTECTION OF MONUMENTS IN AREAS A, B WEST, E, F AND G

Climate change is attacking in an increasingly violent manner even Near Eastern sites such as Tell es-Sultan, ancient Jericho, which for millennia were protected from the torrid, continental climate. Heavy rainfall produced unexpected erosion of monuments (largely built of mud bricks) and soil layers, and the XVIII campaign was therefore also dedicated to the removal of heavy accumulations and the construction of protective drainage systems.

In addition, advantage was taken of the opening of a new entrance to the archaeological area to partially remove topsoil from excavations of previous 20th century missions with the help of workers and mechanical means. In this way, a road was opened along the north-western boundary of the site and a large sector to the south-west of the tell was completely cleared.

The removal of spoil, aided by the use of labourers and mechanical means, involved the following: Area A, on the southern slopes of the tell, with particular attention to the westernmost sector of the area where the exploration of the Cyclopean Wall W.4 continued towards the north-west (§ 2.1.);Area B and B West, along the mighty structures of the Early Bronze Age III walls (§ 2.2.), at the south-western corner of the town; Area F, on the northern plateau of the tell at the limits of the North-Eastern Trench of the Garstang excavations (§ 2.3.); Area G, on the eastern flank of the so-called "Spring Hill", with the imposing remains of the overlapping Early Bronze Age III Palaces ("Palace G") (§ 2. 4.); of the Middle Bronze II-III palaces ('Palace of the Shepherd Kings', 'Hyksos Palace' and a third Late Bronze Age building brought to light above the latter's substantial destruction), as well as some Iron Age houses (IIA, 960-800 BC); in Trench I, at the western end (§ 2.5.).

2.1. Area A: the Cyclopean Wall W.4 (Sultan IVc-b 1650-1550 BC)

In the XVIII campaign (2022), important work was carried out to clean and regularise the sections and also to clean the earthen accumulation located to the west of the area. The excavation was extended to completely include the AmIV11 framework, bringing the western limit of the excavation to the line of AlIV11. Here, a further section of the emerging crest of Cyclopean Wall 4 was exposed at the point where this structure curves most decisively to the north. Following the cleaning works in the westernmost sector of the area, a further section of the Cyclopean Wall of approximately 15 metres was exposed.

2.2. Area B and B West: the Early Bronze Age III fortifications (Sultan IIc 2700-2300 BC)

In Area B and B West the works consisted in the thorough cleaning of the archaeological area and the eroded layers within Building B1. The cleaning activities then concentrated in the western sector on the double wall of the Sultan IIIc period (Early Bronze III, 2700-2300 BC) and the layers between the 'Main Inner Wall' and the 'Outer Wall', which contributed to the absorption of moisture from the base of the wall and made the entire structure cohesive.

2.3. Area F: the Early Bronze Age II and III settlement (3000-2350 BC)

In the XVIII campaign, work returned to Area F on the northern plateau, where a dwelling quarter of the 3rd millennium B.C. town was excavated. The backfill removal activities made it possible both to clear all the dwellings already excavated and partly restored by the mission and to bring to light some new rooms and installations in both the eastern and southern half of the area.

2.4. Area G: the Bronze Age Palaces: from Palace G to the Hyksos Palace and more recent structures

In the XVIII campaign, the excavation sections were regularised from the upper Iron Age strata in the immediate vicinity of the shelter down to the Early Bronze Age structures of Palace G. In this way, the different main stratigraphic phases of Area G and the adjacent H squares, relating to Middle Bronze I, II and III occupation, were distinguished. The excavation specifically concerned the northernmost room explored so far of the Palace of Sultan IVb (1800-1650 B.C.), or 'Palace of the Shepherd Kings', and the structures above it, related to the more recent reconstruction of Sultan IVc (1650-1550 B.C.), after a destruction marking the end of the Middle Bronze Age II (F.2331).

The reconstructed palace, called 'Hyksos Palace', still extended northwards with a body of buildings (W.2305, W.2307, W.2335) that came forward and in which an entrance with a staircase has been identified (L.2327).  The Hyksos Palace also suffered a violent fire, clearly visible in the plug wall W.2301, which pushes to the north-east. Some rooms above this building, which can be placed between Sultan VIa and VIb (1200-732 B.C.), have also been explored, expanding our knowledge of the site for the 1st millennium B.C. Area G also underwent restoration works that saw the restoration of the northernmost rooms of the Early Bronze Age III Palace and the redevelopment of Throne Room L.644 with its related installations (Fig. 2).

2.5. Trench I: Neolithic Tower

During the XVIII campaign, with the support of workers and mechanical means, a thorough cleaning of both the entrance of Trench I towards the Neolithic Tower and the original entrance of the building previously obstructed by the earth accumulation was carried out.

3. RESTORATION AND TOURIST ENHANCEMENT OF TELL ES-SULTAN

In the XVIII campaign (2022), rehabilitation works were again carried out along the visitor routes: damage caused by vandalism during the pandemic was repaired and a section of fence was repaired both to the south near Trench III and near the tourist road leading to Area F.

4. TRAINING AND VALORISATION 

In spite of the difficulties caused by the continuing pandemic situation and the more general ones in the Near East, the Sapienza Mission, supported by MAECI, continued its training activities for local staff during the XVIII campaign (2022), in cooperation with both MOTA-DACH and the Municipality of Jericho. In line with the previous experience of the Jericho Oasis Archaeological Park Project, numerous guided tours and training and sharing sessions were organised, involving both students and local staff in charge of reception and maintenance of the site.

5. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, OUTREACH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE TERRITORIES

The XVIII campaign (2022) was - compatibly with the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic - also dedicated to a further systematic collection of samples for radiocarbon analysis, biologically (metagenome, aDNA, and SEM examination of samples, gas chromatography) and botanically (analysis and microscopic measurements). This is with a view to a new contribution dedicated to the Middle Bronze Age chronology at Jericho, to follow the one published in the journal Radiocarbon in 2019.