Benyamin Storchan | Israel Antiquities Authority (original) (raw)
Papers by Benyamin Storchan
לראות את האור ביהדות, בנצרות ובאסלאם, 2024
'Atiqot, 2024
This paper presents four Iron Age winepresses discovered at 'Emeq Lavan, Rogem Gannim and Mordot ... more This paper presents four Iron Age winepresses discovered at 'Emeq Lavan, Rogem Gannim and Mordot Arnona in Jerusalem. The winepresses located along 'Emeq Refa'im share a uniform industrial plan featuring three treading surfaces, settling vats and a central collection chamber. The installations date to the late eighth-seventh centuries BCE, when the subjugation of Judah to Assyria created a need for a centralized royal economy. The newly identified winepresses attest to the high degree of standardization of wine production in the region. We suggest that the location and implementation of a standardized plan indicate that these installations were part of a newfound royal estate established in areas that were previously sparsely populated and uncultivated. It is further suggested that the winepresses may be identified with the royal estate of mmšt (Mamsh[i]t), biblical "Valley of the King."
“Along the Road to Bet Shemesh” (I Samuel 6:12) Archaeological Studies of the Ramat Bet Shemesh Region, 2023
A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jer... more A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was inscribed in Greek on the upper and lower parts of its body, including the shoulder and the base. The lamp is of the Jerash type, produced between the late sixth and mid-eighth centuries CE. The lamp owner was most likely a Greek-speaking Christian-a resident of the city or a visitor from across the Jordan-on pilgrimage or on a commercial or social journey, attesting to a continuous presence of Christian visitors in the Holy City in the Early Islamic period.
'Atiqot, 2023
A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jer... more A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was inscribed in Greek on the upper and lower parts of its body, including the shoulder and the base. The lamp is of the Jerash type, produced between the late sixth and mid-eighth centuries CE. The lamp owner was most likely a Greek-speaking Christian-a resident of the city or a visitor from across the Jordan-on pilgrimage or on a commercial or social journey, attesting to a continuous presence of Christian visitors in the Holy City in the Early Islamic period.
Liber Annuus, 2021
During the Byzantine period, the Judean Shephelah region of the Holy Land boasted numerous church... more During the Byzantine period, the Judean Shephelah region of the Holy Land boasted numerous churches and monasteries. Some of these churches were erected at sanctified sites (loca sancta) or developed along the main pilgrimage routes to provide various support services. The church at Ḥorbat Ḥanot is unique as it was erected upon a venerated tomb ideally located along the ancient Jerusalem- Eleutheropolis road. Excavations at the site began nearly 50 years ago and uncovered colorful mosaic floors of a basilical church, built during the Byzantine period. Researchers have associated the site with the tomb of Goliath, which was visited and recorded by ancient pilgrims. Recent archeological fieldwork at the site exposed additional remains of the church yet, a comprehensive report has not been published. This article presents a cohesive and updated description of the architectural layout and present a reconstruction of the church.
Archaeological Excavations and Research Studies in Southern Israel: Collected Papers. Vol. 5., 2022
Ancient mosaic floors may be comprised of stone, ceramic or glass tesserae. In the Holy Land, sto... more Ancient mosaic floors may be comprised of stone, ceramic or glass tesserae. In the Holy Land, stone was widely used for this purpose, but their provenance remains an undeveloped field of study. While white, brown, black and red limestone outcrops are relatively abundant locally, more "exotic" colored stones, such as yellow, purple, blue, or green, must have been obtained from specific sources. These stones were probably transported in bulk as unworked or semi-worked raw material to the mosaic assembly site. In this paper, greenstone tesserae found in mosaic floors of two Judean Shephelah Byzantine churches were analyzed using Handheld X-ray fluorescence (HHXRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to define their chemical and mineralogical compositions. The preliminary results of the current study suggest that green tesserae may have originated from rocks of the Ḥatrurim Formation in the Negev desert, southeast of Arad.
ANNALES du 21e CONGRÈS de l’ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONALE pour l’HISTOIRE du VERRE 3-7 Septembre 2018, Istanbul , 2021
Biblical Archaeology Review (Volume 47, Number 3), 2021
Israel Exploration Journal, 2021
Revue Biblique, 2021
Title: The Role of Churches in Byzantine-Early Islamic Period Lamp Production in the Holy Land Au... more Title: The Role of Churches in Byzantine-Early Islamic Period Lamp Production in the Holy Land
Author(s): STORCHAN, Benyamin
Journal: Revue Biblique
Volume: 128 Issue: 2 Date: 2021
Pages: 251-270
DOI: 10.2143/RBI.128.2.3289327
New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region, 2019
Antique lamps and beyond: Acts of the 5th General Congresses of International Lychnological Association Sibiu, 2015, 2019
Journal of Community Archaeology & Heritage, 2020
The excavations at the Church of the Glorious Martyr, located in central Israel, were an extraord... more The excavations at the Church of the Glorious Martyr, located in central Israel, were an extraordinary archaeological project undertaken by the Israeli Antiquities Authority. Beginning in 2017, three excavations seasons took place at the site and the vast majority of the excavators were groups of young adults. The motivation to involve teenagers as the excavation’s main workforce was part of a larger nationwide Israeli initiative known as Hanchala (Hebrew for endowment). The movement was developed to increase public awareness, involvement and access to archaeology. During the Church of the Glorious Martyr excavation project, thousands of high-school and post graduate students were employed and more importantly exposed to archaeology. The culmination of the project led to a museum exhibition dedicated to the site that reached the public well beyond the field. This paper will discuss in retrospect the field setup, logistics, problems and ad hoc solutions implemented for community involvement at the site.
Studies on the Land of Judea, 2019
New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region Collected Papers, 2018
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 381, 1-19, 2019
Poster presented at the 21st Int. Congress of the Association Internationale pour I'Histoire du V... more Poster presented at the 21st Int. Congress of the Association Internationale pour I'Histoire du Verre Istanbul, Turkey 2018
לראות את האור ביהדות, בנצרות ובאסלאם, 2024
'Atiqot, 2024
This paper presents four Iron Age winepresses discovered at 'Emeq Lavan, Rogem Gannim and Mordot ... more This paper presents four Iron Age winepresses discovered at 'Emeq Lavan, Rogem Gannim and Mordot Arnona in Jerusalem. The winepresses located along 'Emeq Refa'im share a uniform industrial plan featuring three treading surfaces, settling vats and a central collection chamber. The installations date to the late eighth-seventh centuries BCE, when the subjugation of Judah to Assyria created a need for a centralized royal economy. The newly identified winepresses attest to the high degree of standardization of wine production in the region. We suggest that the location and implementation of a standardized plan indicate that these installations were part of a newfound royal estate established in areas that were previously sparsely populated and uncultivated. It is further suggested that the winepresses may be identified with the royal estate of mmšt (Mamsh[i]t), biblical "Valley of the King."
“Along the Road to Bet Shemesh” (I Samuel 6:12) Archaeological Studies of the Ramat Bet Shemesh Region, 2023
A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jer... more A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was inscribed in Greek on the upper and lower parts of its body, including the shoulder and the base. The lamp is of the Jerash type, produced between the late sixth and mid-eighth centuries CE. The lamp owner was most likely a Greek-speaking Christian-a resident of the city or a visitor from across the Jordan-on pilgrimage or on a commercial or social journey, attesting to a continuous presence of Christian visitors in the Holy City in the Early Islamic period.
'Atiqot, 2023
A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jer... more A unique mold-made oil lamp dating from the Early Islamic period was found in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was inscribed in Greek on the upper and lower parts of its body, including the shoulder and the base. The lamp is of the Jerash type, produced between the late sixth and mid-eighth centuries CE. The lamp owner was most likely a Greek-speaking Christian-a resident of the city or a visitor from across the Jordan-on pilgrimage or on a commercial or social journey, attesting to a continuous presence of Christian visitors in the Holy City in the Early Islamic period.
Liber Annuus, 2021
During the Byzantine period, the Judean Shephelah region of the Holy Land boasted numerous church... more During the Byzantine period, the Judean Shephelah region of the Holy Land boasted numerous churches and monasteries. Some of these churches were erected at sanctified sites (loca sancta) or developed along the main pilgrimage routes to provide various support services. The church at Ḥorbat Ḥanot is unique as it was erected upon a venerated tomb ideally located along the ancient Jerusalem- Eleutheropolis road. Excavations at the site began nearly 50 years ago and uncovered colorful mosaic floors of a basilical church, built during the Byzantine period. Researchers have associated the site with the tomb of Goliath, which was visited and recorded by ancient pilgrims. Recent archeological fieldwork at the site exposed additional remains of the church yet, a comprehensive report has not been published. This article presents a cohesive and updated description of the architectural layout and present a reconstruction of the church.
Archaeological Excavations and Research Studies in Southern Israel: Collected Papers. Vol. 5., 2022
Ancient mosaic floors may be comprised of stone, ceramic or glass tesserae. In the Holy Land, sto... more Ancient mosaic floors may be comprised of stone, ceramic or glass tesserae. In the Holy Land, stone was widely used for this purpose, but their provenance remains an undeveloped field of study. While white, brown, black and red limestone outcrops are relatively abundant locally, more "exotic" colored stones, such as yellow, purple, blue, or green, must have been obtained from specific sources. These stones were probably transported in bulk as unworked or semi-worked raw material to the mosaic assembly site. In this paper, greenstone tesserae found in mosaic floors of two Judean Shephelah Byzantine churches were analyzed using Handheld X-ray fluorescence (HHXRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to define their chemical and mineralogical compositions. The preliminary results of the current study suggest that green tesserae may have originated from rocks of the Ḥatrurim Formation in the Negev desert, southeast of Arad.
ANNALES du 21e CONGRÈS de l’ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONALE pour l’HISTOIRE du VERRE 3-7 Septembre 2018, Istanbul , 2021
Biblical Archaeology Review (Volume 47, Number 3), 2021
Israel Exploration Journal, 2021
Revue Biblique, 2021
Title: The Role of Churches in Byzantine-Early Islamic Period Lamp Production in the Holy Land Au... more Title: The Role of Churches in Byzantine-Early Islamic Period Lamp Production in the Holy Land
Author(s): STORCHAN, Benyamin
Journal: Revue Biblique
Volume: 128 Issue: 2 Date: 2021
Pages: 251-270
DOI: 10.2143/RBI.128.2.3289327
New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region, 2019
Antique lamps and beyond: Acts of the 5th General Congresses of International Lychnological Association Sibiu, 2015, 2019
Journal of Community Archaeology & Heritage, 2020
The excavations at the Church of the Glorious Martyr, located in central Israel, were an extraord... more The excavations at the Church of the Glorious Martyr, located in central Israel, were an extraordinary archaeological project undertaken by the Israeli Antiquities Authority. Beginning in 2017, three excavations seasons took place at the site and the vast majority of the excavators were groups of young adults. The motivation to involve teenagers as the excavation’s main workforce was part of a larger nationwide Israeli initiative known as Hanchala (Hebrew for endowment). The movement was developed to increase public awareness, involvement and access to archaeology. During the Church of the Glorious Martyr excavation project, thousands of high-school and post graduate students were employed and more importantly exposed to archaeology. The culmination of the project led to a museum exhibition dedicated to the site that reached the public well beyond the field. This paper will discuss in retrospect the field setup, logistics, problems and ad hoc solutions implemented for community involvement at the site.
Studies on the Land of Judea, 2019
New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region Collected Papers, 2018
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 381, 1-19, 2019
Poster presented at the 21st Int. Congress of the Association Internationale pour I'Histoire du V... more Poster presented at the 21st Int. Congress of the Association Internationale pour I'Histoire du Verre Istanbul, Turkey 2018
Unpublished master's thesis, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel, 2019
Techniques, Measurements & Materials in Art and Archaeology, 2018
Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem, 2019
Have you ever wondered how archaeological sites looked before they turned to ruins? Now you can... more Have you ever wondered how archaeological sites looked before they turned to ruins?
Now you can by visiting the Church of the Glorious Martyr App website. The app allows you to explore the remains of a recently excavated Byzantine church and experience lifelike reconstructions. The Israel Antiquities Authority excavations at the Church of the Glorious Martyr near Ramat Bet Shemesh, began four years ago and unearthed the remains of a large and impressive structure decorated with colorful mosaics. The church complex was constructed in stages during the sixth century C.E. and became an important stop for ancient pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.
After concluding excavations at the site, Benyamin Storchan, director of the excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, teamed up with Roy Albag, architect and 3D researcher, to reconstruct the site. The reconstructions were created with the most advanced technologies and the best historical research. Notably, artifacts from the church excavations were incorporated into every level of the model. According to Storchan, “We wanted to create the most scientifically accurate model possible, and to do so we rebuilt the site using the artifacts and field data as the building blocks.”
The complete digital reconstruction of the church is now available to the public via a web-based app (www.martyr.app) setup in cooperation with Wandering Inc. This immersive, interactive experience guides you through a lifelike 3D model of the church as it looked nearly 1,500 years ago via three tour options: a self-guided tour, an interactive video tour (best viewed with VR goggles), and a trivia-based tour.
Its release coincides with the first publication of the site featured in Biblical Archaeology Review magazine. See the full report in Benyamin Storchan’s article “A Glorious Church for a Mysterious Martyr,” published in the Fall 2021 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
Discover the past. Experience the future.
To begin exploring, visit www.martyr.app today.
by Ergun LAFLI, Alev Çetingöz, Maurizio Buora, Kerstin Bauer, Margherita Bolla, Nicoletta Martinelli, Elisabetta Gagetti, Natalia Novichenkova, Vlad-Andrei Lăzărescu, Angeliki Liveri, Tayla Newland, Manolis Petrakis, Aurel Mototolea, Csilla Sáró, Alka Starac, Salvo Micciché, Benyamin Storchan, Nino Sulava, Marissa Tsiao, Varbin Varbanov, mojca vomer gojkovic, Sorin Cocis, Kaloyan Pramatarov, Radu Petcu, Miglena Stamberova, Gian Luca Gregori, Chiara Ovoli, and Ralph Mathisen
Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine fibulae. An international e-conference in honour of Dr Maurizio Buora, May 12-13, 2022 / Izmir, Turkey, Colloquia Anatolica et Aegaea - Congressus internationales Smyrnenses XII., 2022
This video conference took place on May 12-13, 2022 in Izmir, Turkey. All the lectures and discus... more This video conference took place on May 12-13, 2022 in Izmir, Turkey. All the lectures and discussions in our e-conference were in English, and were recorded for later viewing on YouTube for participants who were unable to attend the live performance.
Thematically papers were divided into 11 sessions, dealing with different aspects of Greek, Roman and Byzantine fibulae (cf. the program in the abstract booklet). Revised papers will be published in a peer-reviewed proceedings volume.
A fibula is a brooch or pin for fastening garments, typically at the right shoulder. The fibulae developed in a variety of shapes and are usually divided into families that are based upon historical periods, geography, and/or cultures. They are also divided into classes that are based upon their general forms. Fibulae were found in relatively large quantities in the Mediterranean and Black Sea area, where they were in use and produced frequently between the Bronze Age and Medieval periods. So far the study of these multifunctional objects has been overlooked in the Mediterranean whereas there is still a huge amount of unpublished material from excavations and museums in an area from Portugal down to Egypt.
Fibulae can be categorized based on different criteria, including genres of material, production, use and distribution. The purpose of this video conference was to create an analytical framework for understanding the fibulae in their social and material contexts. This conference considered in depth the role played by fibulas – whose uses ranged from clothes pins to status symbols to military badges of rank – in ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine societies. In recent decades, major excavation projects have produced vast quantities of material data that have reshaped our understanding of the fibulae, while also raising new questions about their use and production over the long term. We focused on a study of brooches in general and fibulas in particular. Along the way we looked at the intersection between material culture and ethnicity, dealing with the contentious issue of how much that a people’s material culture can tell us about their ethnicity – or not! In this online conference we only focused on Greek, Roman and Byzantine fibulae from the Mediterranean and Black Sea area between c. early sixth century B.C. and early seventh century A.D., and attempted to set out a comprehensive model for the study of fibulae, including their definition, typology, chronology, contexts, function, regional characteristics and distribution patterns in the whole Mediterranean and Black Sea geographies.
This conference on ancient material culture and instrumenta is dedicated to the 75th birthday of Dr Maurizio Buora, the former director of the Civici Musei Castello di Udine in Italy and an international authority on fibulae.
Such papers that engage the following themes and topics are invited:
- Fibulae from archaeological field projects (especially well-dated finds), museums and private collections,
- Identification of different kinds of fibulas,
- Ancient Greek and Latin textual sources on fibulae,
- Evolution of fibulae in the Mediterranean and Black Sea area during the Etruscan, Lydian, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods,
- The construction of fibula taxonomies,
- Similar instrumenta in the ancient Near East and their relations to ancient Graeco-Roman fibulae, - The nature of different types of surviving material culture,
- What ancient Greeks and Romans thought about afterlife? Fibulae in funerary and votive contexts,
- Comparative studies and issues related to the adoption of Greek and/or Roman fibula models in indigenous contexts: fibulae as major indicators of the relationship between these two communities (indigenous and Greek or Roman),
- Fibula as an indicator of rank and prestige in the ancient world,
- Domestic and commercial use of fibulae,
- Early Christian fibulae,
- Byzantine fibulae,
- Post-Byzantine or modern replicas of Classical fibulae,
- Eastern fibulae in the ancient western world,
- Major production centres of fibulae in the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea area,
- Related instrumenta to fibulae in the regards of their function,
- Documentation and analysis of fibulae,
- The creation of a fully annotated and organized corpus,
- Publication of fibulae in the Mediterranean in possible corpara,
- Miscellanea.
