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Papers by Yosef Stepansky
'Atiqot, 2024
Three fragments of a basalt door were retrieved from the excavation at Naṣr ed-Din, which belong ... more Three fragments of a basalt door were retrieved from the excavation at Naṣr ed-Din, which belong to a large group of about 25 stone doors discovered in the city of Tiberias. Such doors are known to have originated in burial contexts, their facades usually adorned in a manner that resembled wooden doors of residences. The door from Bet Ma'on is the first to be found outside Tiberias, and it probably belonged to a contemporary mausoleum mentioned in the Talmud.
A'tiqot 96, pp. 1-57, 2019
The Final Report on the 2002-2003 Excavations at Rosh Pinna
Israel Geneology Research Association - Articles , 2018
A Summary of Recent Discoveries of 16th-17th century Tombstones with Ancient Hebrew Epitaphs in t... more A Summary of Recent Discoveries of 16th-17th century Tombstones with Ancient Hebrew Epitaphs in the Old Jewish Cemetery of Zefat, Israel, and the Publication of 26 of them
Kinneret II Results of the Excavations at Tell el-ʽOrēme, 1994–2008, 2024
In 1991–1992, the author dug a small trench (trench 15) in the area of the former Karei Deshe You... more In 1991–1992, the author dug a small trench (trench 15) in the area of the former Karei Deshe Youth Hostel (now
Tabgha Pilgrim’s house; cf. generally for the excavations and for other finds cf. chapter 2.20. in this volume) at
the eastern foot of Tell el-ʽOrēme. Certainly, the most surprising and interesting finds discovered here were three
large bronze disc-shaped ingots. They were found together close to the southern section of the trench, approx. 0.4
m below the surface, slightly above a group of Iron Age I pithoi sherds
Kinneret II Results of the Excavations at Tell el-ʽOrēme, 1994–2008, 2024
On several occasions during the 1990’s a number of ancient artifacts were discovered at different... more On several occasions during the 1990’s a number of ancient artifacts were discovered at different places in the
environs of the lower slopes of Tell el-‘Orēme. As these chance finds were unearthed in non-stratigraphic contexts,
they will be described here according to their findspot. All the artifacts were found in the course of surveying and
inspecting operations under the auspices of the Israel Antiquities Authority in the wake of development being
carried out in proximity of the ancient city
ARAM 29: 1&2 pp. 385-401, 2017
The recent publication of the Archaeological Survey of the Rosh Pinna Map under the auspices of t... more The recent publication of the Archaeological Survey of the Rosh Pinna Map under the auspices of the Israel Antiquities Authority (Stepansky 2012), which includes on its eastern side the Jordan River ravine, gives us
an opportunity for a fresh and updated review of the ravine and its main archaeological sites, along with a new appraisal of the traditions and history pertaining to the unique ‘Banat Yaqub’ sites on its northern edge.
Although a little north of the ravine, we shall also take this opportunity for suggesting an identification for the biblical city of refuge ‘Golan Babashan’ (Deut. 4:43).
Qadmoniot 127 , 2004
A Summary of the Results of the Excavation of the 12th century Crusader Citadel Gateway on Tiber... more A Summary of the Results of the Excavation of the 12th century Crusader Citadel Gateway on Tiberias (Hebrew)
Burgen Und Stadte Der Kreuzzugszeit , 2008
Tiberias 1 , das sich entlang einer schmalen Ebene am Westufer des Sees Genezareth (hebr. Yam Kin... more Tiberias 1 , das sich entlang einer schmalen Ebene am Westufer des Sees Genezareth (hebr. Yam Kinneret; arab. Bahr Tabariya) erstreckt, war ein Hauptzentrum der Besiedlung und Regierung Ostgaliläas in der klassischen Antike und im gesamten ersten Jahrtausend v. Chr.. Von Herodes Antipas um 20 v. Chr. in der Nähe des biblischen Rakkat (heute ein unbebauter Hügel nördlich der Stadt) und unweit der heißen Mineralquellen von Hammat gegründet 2 , entwickelte es sich in der römischen Epoche rasch zu einem wirtschaftlichen Zentrum und Verwaltungsmittelpunkt. Vom 3. Jahrhundert an wurde es zudem zu einem spirituellen Zentrum des palästinensischen Judentums, zum Sitz des jüdischen Patriarchen, des Sanhedrins (Hoher Rat) und der zentralen Talmudakademie. In der byzantinischen Epoche (4.-7. Jahrhundert) besaß Tiberias eine große Christengemeinde, mit einer eindrucksvollen Pilgerkirche mit Kloster auf dem Gipfel des Berges Berenike oberhalb des Stadtzentrums, die in der Regierungszeit Kaiser Justinians (527-565) errichtet wurde, der zudem die Stadt mit einer 2,3 km langen Mauer umgab, von der noch Teile erhalten sind 3 .
נחלתו - A Memorial Volume for Adam Zertal, AOAT 454, 2021
A summary of the results from the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau north of t... more A summary of the results from the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau north of the sea of Galilee, dedicated to the late Prof. Adam Zertal
'Atiqot 110 The Ancient Written Wor(l)d , 2023
More than 100 previously undocumented Hebrew epitaphs (many of them fragmentary) dating from the ... more More than 100 previously undocumented Hebrew epitaphs (many of them fragmentary) dating from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century were uncovered in the ancient Jewish cemetery of Ẓefat (Safed) through the initiative of the Safed Religious Council. This is by far the largest corpus of ancient Hebrew inscriptions found in one site in Israel. Information gleaned from the engraved names of the deceased attests to a diverse and vibrant Jewish community that existed in the city during these centuries, according with accounts in other historical sources. The study of the epitaphs enriches our knowledge concerning,for example, the existence of certified physicians in Ẓefat and the presence of an unrecorded yeshiva (Talmudic Academy). Interestingly, most of the deceased were honored by the addition of formal titles, such as 'Rabbi,' for men, and 'Dona,' for women. This study describes in detail 28 of the most complete and legible epitaphs, attesting to a wide range of local and foreign Jewish ethnicities.
Within the framework of the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau under the auspic... more Within the framework of the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau under the auspices of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) during the years 1990-2002, 450 dolmens and a few hundred more Tumuli Cairns were recorded – more than half of the Megalithic burial-field known to exist in this area, which is the largest of its kind within Israel west of the Jordan. They consist of several types, including a relatively rare group of closed oval-shaped dolmens with a corbelled roof. In general, their characteristics are similar to those of the more well known Dolmens of the Golan and it seems reasonable to include both within a common chronological and cultural framework. The finds gathered from excavations and surveys (including an MBIIa bronze chisel axe) and the recent discovery of some IB (MBI) – MBIIa rural and semi-nomadic settlements (e.g. H. Berech west of Corazim) indicate that the Corazim plateau dolmen phenomena should be dated to the end of the 3 – early 2 Millenn...
'Atiqot, 2024
Three fragments of a basalt door were retrieved from the excavation at Naṣr ed-Din, which belong ... more Three fragments of a basalt door were retrieved from the excavation at Naṣr ed-Din, which belong to a large group of about 25 stone doors discovered in the city of Tiberias. Such doors are known to have originated in burial contexts, their facades usually adorned in a manner that resembled wooden doors of residences. The door from Bet Ma'on is the first to be found outside Tiberias, and it probably belonged to a contemporary mausoleum mentioned in the Talmud.
A'tiqot 96, pp. 1-57, 2019
The Final Report on the 2002-2003 Excavations at Rosh Pinna
Israel Geneology Research Association - Articles , 2018
A Summary of Recent Discoveries of 16th-17th century Tombstones with Ancient Hebrew Epitaphs in t... more A Summary of Recent Discoveries of 16th-17th century Tombstones with Ancient Hebrew Epitaphs in the Old Jewish Cemetery of Zefat, Israel, and the Publication of 26 of them
Kinneret II Results of the Excavations at Tell el-ʽOrēme, 1994–2008, 2024
In 1991–1992, the author dug a small trench (trench 15) in the area of the former Karei Deshe You... more In 1991–1992, the author dug a small trench (trench 15) in the area of the former Karei Deshe Youth Hostel (now
Tabgha Pilgrim’s house; cf. generally for the excavations and for other finds cf. chapter 2.20. in this volume) at
the eastern foot of Tell el-ʽOrēme. Certainly, the most surprising and interesting finds discovered here were three
large bronze disc-shaped ingots. They were found together close to the southern section of the trench, approx. 0.4
m below the surface, slightly above a group of Iron Age I pithoi sherds
Kinneret II Results of the Excavations at Tell el-ʽOrēme, 1994–2008, 2024
On several occasions during the 1990’s a number of ancient artifacts were discovered at different... more On several occasions during the 1990’s a number of ancient artifacts were discovered at different places in the
environs of the lower slopes of Tell el-‘Orēme. As these chance finds were unearthed in non-stratigraphic contexts,
they will be described here according to their findspot. All the artifacts were found in the course of surveying and
inspecting operations under the auspices of the Israel Antiquities Authority in the wake of development being
carried out in proximity of the ancient city
ARAM 29: 1&2 pp. 385-401, 2017
The recent publication of the Archaeological Survey of the Rosh Pinna Map under the auspices of t... more The recent publication of the Archaeological Survey of the Rosh Pinna Map under the auspices of the Israel Antiquities Authority (Stepansky 2012), which includes on its eastern side the Jordan River ravine, gives us
an opportunity for a fresh and updated review of the ravine and its main archaeological sites, along with a new appraisal of the traditions and history pertaining to the unique ‘Banat Yaqub’ sites on its northern edge.
Although a little north of the ravine, we shall also take this opportunity for suggesting an identification for the biblical city of refuge ‘Golan Babashan’ (Deut. 4:43).
Qadmoniot 127 , 2004
A Summary of the Results of the Excavation of the 12th century Crusader Citadel Gateway on Tiber... more A Summary of the Results of the Excavation of the 12th century Crusader Citadel Gateway on Tiberias (Hebrew)
Burgen Und Stadte Der Kreuzzugszeit , 2008
Tiberias 1 , das sich entlang einer schmalen Ebene am Westufer des Sees Genezareth (hebr. Yam Kin... more Tiberias 1 , das sich entlang einer schmalen Ebene am Westufer des Sees Genezareth (hebr. Yam Kinneret; arab. Bahr Tabariya) erstreckt, war ein Hauptzentrum der Besiedlung und Regierung Ostgaliläas in der klassischen Antike und im gesamten ersten Jahrtausend v. Chr.. Von Herodes Antipas um 20 v. Chr. in der Nähe des biblischen Rakkat (heute ein unbebauter Hügel nördlich der Stadt) und unweit der heißen Mineralquellen von Hammat gegründet 2 , entwickelte es sich in der römischen Epoche rasch zu einem wirtschaftlichen Zentrum und Verwaltungsmittelpunkt. Vom 3. Jahrhundert an wurde es zudem zu einem spirituellen Zentrum des palästinensischen Judentums, zum Sitz des jüdischen Patriarchen, des Sanhedrins (Hoher Rat) und der zentralen Talmudakademie. In der byzantinischen Epoche (4.-7. Jahrhundert) besaß Tiberias eine große Christengemeinde, mit einer eindrucksvollen Pilgerkirche mit Kloster auf dem Gipfel des Berges Berenike oberhalb des Stadtzentrums, die in der Regierungszeit Kaiser Justinians (527-565) errichtet wurde, der zudem die Stadt mit einer 2,3 km langen Mauer umgab, von der noch Teile erhalten sind 3 .
נחלתו - A Memorial Volume for Adam Zertal, AOAT 454, 2021
A summary of the results from the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau north of t... more A summary of the results from the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau north of the sea of Galilee, dedicated to the late Prof. Adam Zertal
'Atiqot 110 The Ancient Written Wor(l)d , 2023
More than 100 previously undocumented Hebrew epitaphs (many of them fragmentary) dating from the ... more More than 100 previously undocumented Hebrew epitaphs (many of them fragmentary) dating from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century were uncovered in the ancient Jewish cemetery of Ẓefat (Safed) through the initiative of the Safed Religious Council. This is by far the largest corpus of ancient Hebrew inscriptions found in one site in Israel. Information gleaned from the engraved names of the deceased attests to a diverse and vibrant Jewish community that existed in the city during these centuries, according with accounts in other historical sources. The study of the epitaphs enriches our knowledge concerning,for example, the existence of certified physicians in Ẓefat and the presence of an unrecorded yeshiva (Talmudic Academy). Interestingly, most of the deceased were honored by the addition of formal titles, such as 'Rabbi,' for men, and 'Dona,' for women. This study describes in detail 28 of the most complete and legible epitaphs, attesting to a wide range of local and foreign Jewish ethnicities.
Within the framework of the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau under the auspic... more Within the framework of the ongoing archaeological survey of the Corazim plateau under the auspices of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) during the years 1990-2002, 450 dolmens and a few hundred more Tumuli Cairns were recorded – more than half of the Megalithic burial-field known to exist in this area, which is the largest of its kind within Israel west of the Jordan. They consist of several types, including a relatively rare group of closed oval-shaped dolmens with a corbelled roof. In general, their characteristics are similar to those of the more well known Dolmens of the Golan and it seems reasonable to include both within a common chronological and cultural framework. The finds gathered from excavations and surveys (including an MBIIa bronze chisel axe) and the recent discovery of some IB (MBI) – MBIIa rural and semi-nomadic settlements (e.g. H. Berech west of Corazim) indicate that the Corazim plateau dolmen phenomena should be dated to the end of the 3 – early 2 Millenn...