Recuperación forestal

Jokneam or Yoqne’am is located in a rugged region in the Lower Galilee at the foot of the Carmel Mountains northern Palestine. The mound occupies an area of 20 acres and rising to a height of 60m above its surrounding (Fig. 2.34) (Ben-Tor and Rosenthal 1978: 57, 60). The excavations were undertaken in the name of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University at Jerusalem in collaboration with the Israel Exploration Society between 1977 and 1987. A. Ben-Tor and R. Rosenthal directed the first season of excavations. A. Ben-Tor, Y. Portugali and M. Avissar directed the next three seasons (Ben-Tor and Rosenthal 1978; Ben-Tor et al. 1979; 1983; 2005). In the Persian period (Strata X- VIII), Tel Jokneam was an unfortified city, and the Persian-period remains were severely devastated by deep trenches dug in the Early Islamic and Crusader periods. The best-preserved architectural remains were found in Stratum X. Stratum IX had some incoherent walls, and no architectural remains were attributed to Stratum VIII. The only Persian-period remains that belong to this stratum are several large pits of unknown purposes dug into walls and floors of Strata X and IX causing destruction of the buildings (Ben-Tor et al. 1983: 31; 2005: 403, 414 Fig. IV. 12; IV.13; IV: 14).

Despite the enormous damage occurred on Stratum IX, it is possible to notice the applied building techniques. Room 1558 was built of undressed fieldstone with ashlar piers integrated into Wall 1044, the so-called “pier-and-rubble” or “rubble-and-ashlars” method, which is characterized by alternating the pillars masonry with a fill of fieldstone in between (Ben-Tor et al. 1983: 33). The architectural remains of this stratum and the associated large storage jars reflected the public nature, perhaps storerooms (Ben-Tor et al. 2005: 421). Only Stratum X remains will be addressed since it had coherent walls formed a definite plan.

2.3.4.1. Stratum X Building 2.3.4.1.1. Contextual Analysis

In the plan, the architectural remains of the northern building of this stratum are better preserved than the southern one. Both complexes are separated by a 2m-thick retaining or terrace wall (W208) running east- west (Plan 2.27). The northern building contains, at least, five rectangular of varying sizes rooms are Rooms 1971, 1953, 1934 and two unmarked rooms on the east and west. These rooms are arranged in a single continuous row and separated by crosswalls (W215, W206, W205, and W197) (see Plan 2.27) (Ben-Tor et al. 2005: 404-406). Room 1971 is the largest room, measured 3 × 2m, and had a stone-paved floor. The undesignated room east of it contained a tabun (L.1976) in its southwest corner abutting Wall 215. Room 1953 measured ca. 1.80 × 2.20m. Room 1934 is P-shaped room, measured ca. 1.60 × 2.20m

and was also stone-paved. South of the building there are portions of walls (W251, 1022, 1051, and 108) and packed earth floors (Loci.2054, 1566, 1568, 1526, 1571, 1567a, and 1527) of a separate building. Of particular concern is Wall 1022, which was built of undressed rough stones with ashlar piers united into Walls 1022 and 1051 (pier-and-rubble technique) (Ben-Tor et al. 1983: 33). Some scholars speculate that this method used to buttress the structure (cf. Shiloh 1979: 63) while others think that these ashlar piers were solely an aesthetic element (Pritchard 1971: 19-20).

Table ‎2.6: The excavated findings in Stratum X building of Jokneam

Catalogue no. Plate no. Type Provenance Reference

127 Not ill. Storage jars L.1971 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

404; Fig. IV.1: 1-11)

128 Not ill. Krater L.1971 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

404: Fig. IV.1: 12)

129 Not ill. Mortaria L.1971 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

405; Fig. IV.2: 1-2)

130 Not ill. Bowls L.1971

(Ben-Tor et al. 2005: 405; Figs. IV. 1: 13;

IV.2: 3-6)

131 Not ill. Cooking pot L.1971 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

405; Fig. IV.2: 7) 132 Not ill. Decorated sherd L.1971 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

405; Fig. IV.2: 8)

133 Not ill. Lamp L.1971 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

405; Fig. IV.2: 9)

134 Not ill. Loom weight L.1971 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

405; Fig. IV.2: 10)

135 Not ill. Storage jars L.1934 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

406; Fig. IV.3: 1-4)

136 Not ill. Juglet L.1934 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

406; Fig. IV.3: 5)

137 Not ill. Storage jars L.2054 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

407; Figs. IV.4: 1-10)

408; Fig. IV.5: 1-4) 139 Not ill. Hole-mouth jar L.1567a (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

408; Fig. IV.5: 5)

140 Not ill. Cooking pot L.1567a (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

408; Fig. IV.5: 6)

141 Not ill. Storage jar L.1527 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

408; Fig. IV.6: 1)

142 Not ill. Hole-mouth jar L.1527 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

408; Fig. IV.6: 2)

143 Not ill. Mortaria L.1527 (Ben-Tor et al. 2005:

408; Fig. IV.6: 3-4)

2.3.4.1.2. Topographical Location and Planimetric Analysis

The Persian-period town at Jokneam was an extra-mural settlement at the northwest edge of the mound in Area B2 (Squares E-F-G/30-31-32) (Fig. 2.35) (Ben-Tor and Rosenthal 1978: 63; Ben-Tor et al. 1979: 73). The westernmost parts of the architectural remains that located in Square E/30-32 are razed to the ground owing to their vicinity to the western slope. The man-made mound had a critical position since it overlooks Jezreel Valley at the crossroads leading to Megiddo in the southern part of the region, and it controls the northeastern outlet of the route crossing the Carmel Mountains. Too, the site is located at the junctions of Phoenicia and inland Syria (Ben-Tor and Rosenthal 1978: 57). The northern and eastern sides are joining the limits of the excavation area while the western side is adjacent to the slope. Therefore, no entrance could be found on these fronts. Furthermore, there is no opening in the southern retaining wall. Too, the plan does not show doorways between the rooms, which could mean that they are either absent or disregarded.

2.3.4.1.3. Functional Interpretation

The sizable quantity of storage jars found in the rooms that are arranged in a parallel row is categorically suggested that they were designed for storage ends, namely warehouses. The lush and cultivable soil and the plenty of water rendered a suitable environment for living and horticulture, which explains the presence of a vast number of storage jars and other vessels that were used for storing the crops.

The remains of Stratum X were buried under accumulated debris of the Late Iron Age (Stratum XI) (Ben- Tor et al. 2005: 404). Based on the pottery vessels, Stratum X was dated to the late sixth or early fifth centuries B.C.E. (Ben-Tor et al. 1983: 45). Stratum IX buildings replaced the buildings of this stratum. Pit 1564 of Stratum VIII was cut through the northwest corner of Loc.2054 (see Plan 2.27) (Ben-Tor et al. 2005: 414).

2.3.4.1.5. Type

The alignment of the rooms in a parallel row recalls the “Magazine Building” excavated in Area D2 at Tel Dor, the storerooms excavated in Grid 50 at Ashkelon (Phase 6), the storehouses of Tel Megadim, and the workshops and warehouses of the second town of Tel Nahariya.

The integrated ashlar piers into the walls is a Phoenician technique adopted in the dwellings of the lower city of Shikmona, the buildings of the settlement of Tell Abu Hawam, the complex of Acre, Areas D and C buildings of Tel Ya’oz, the Phase 10 Villa and Warehouse of Ashkelon, the warehouse of Jaffa (Building M), Area D1 building and the "Magazine Building" in Tel Dor, Building 264 of Tel Mevorakh, Building 1 and the “two-room” building of Tell el-Burak, the residential quarter at Beirut, and the storerooms of Tell Kazel. The author termed this type of buildings as a “Parallel-Rooms” building that meant chiefly to be a public storage facility.