Anat Cohen-Weinberger | Israel Antiquities Authority (original) (raw)
Papers by Anat Cohen-Weinberger
Archaeology of Western Anatolia, 2024
'Atiqot, 2024
The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic per... more The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic period until its abandonment in Early Bronze Age II, in sharp contrast to inland sites that developed into urbanized cities. This study examines this phenomenon by investigating the pottery production component of the economic systems of two contemporary EB I villages: a shoreline coastal site that was abandoned (Dor South) and an inland site that evolved into an urban center ('En Esur). This pilot ceramic petrography examination shows two distinct strategies, with 'En Esur producing pottery primarily from local raw materials and Dor South relying mainly on imported pottery, potentially weakening the once-resilient coastal system.
ERETZ-ISRAEL VOLUME 35, Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies,, 2024
Eretz-Israel, Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies is a peer-reviewed journal of t... more Eretz-Israel, Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies is a peer-reviewed journal of the Israel Exploration Society, founded in 1913 as a scholarly society dedicated to the promotion of research concerning the Land of Israel. The journal has been published since 1951. Each volume of the series is dedicated to a living or deceased key figure in research, with articles in Hebrew, English and other languages, focusing upon areas of interest to the honoree. Every effort has been made to locate rights-holders and obtain necessary permissions to reproduce all of the illustrations taken from external sources. We apologize for any oversight, which we shall endeavor to correct if brought to our attention.
In Centro, collected papers, 2024
Salvage Excavations at Tel Qashish (Tell Qasis) and Tell el-Wa’er (2010–2013), 2023
Salvage Excavations at Tel Qashish (Tell Qasis) and Tell el-Wa’er (2010–2013), 2023
The production and distribution of ceramic building materials (CBM) in the Roman period have long... more The production and distribution of ceramic building materials (CBM) in the Roman period have long attracted the attention of archaeologists, as they provide clues to aspects of trade, identity, and technological and architectural traditions. However, there has been a notable scarcity of studies focusing on plain CBM in the southern Levant, particularly in the Mediterranean coastal region. This study concentrates on CBM (bricks, tubuli, drainage pipes, and roof tiles) from a Roman-period wealthy farmstead (Khirbat Khaur el-Bak) near the city of Ashqelon/Ascalon, apparently owned by a serving member of the military or a veteran. The petrographic analyses indicate that apart from the locally produced drainage pipes, the CBM were imported from overseas, namely Cilicia and Beirut. The results shed light on CBM trade in the Eastern Mediterranean, and on the complex nature of the population and material life in and around Roman Ashqelon, which included local and foreign elements.
Archaeology of Symbols ICAS I: Proceedings of the First International Conference on the Archaeology of Symbols, 2024
This paper presents four female clay figurines from three Early Chalcolithic settlements in north... more This paper presents four female clay figurines from three Early Chalcolithic settlements in northern Israel – ‘En Esur, Neveh Yam, and ‘En Zippori – with similar material cultures. Only the head and a long neck are depicted, made of one piece of clay, originally attached to a body(?). These figurines stand out in the Early Chalcolithic South Levantine cultural milieu as they have the same type of hairstyle made of applied long locks. To the best of our knowledge, these are the only examples of this type of figurine in this part of the Ancient Near East and beyond, although the Southern Levant shares some material culture with the Halafian one and was influenced by it. Unexpectedly, several similar figurines with the same applied hairstyle are known in Thessaly.
‘Atiqot, 2022
Salvage excavations in the Western Wall Tunnels (Permit No. A-8276) were conducted on behalf of t... more Salvage excavations in the Western Wall Tunnels (Permit No. A-8276) were conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, at the initiative of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and funded by it. They were directed by Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, with the help of Vadim Essman (surveying) and Elena Delerzon (drafting). The small finds were treated in the IAA laboratories by Avshalom Karasik and Argita Gyerman-Levanon (digital documentation), Clara Amit (photography), Yoseph Bukgenholtz (tile cleaning) and Carmen Hersch (plate preparation). The site was previously excavated by Alexander Onn during 2007-2012 (see Onn, Weksler-Bdolah and Bar-Nathan 2011; Onn and Weksler-Bdolah 2016; Onn, Weksler-Bdolah and Patrich 2019), revealing a monumental ashlar building of the Herodian period (first century CE), which had been partly investigated in the past (Warren and Conder 1884:200-202; Bahat 2013:113-127). 2 The dam wall (W5006 in Onn's excavations) was dated to King Herod's reign in the preliminary report (Onn, Weksler-Bdolah and Bar Nathan 2011) and, more recently, to the period from Herod's reign to the early first century CE (Weksler-Bdolah, forthcoming).
New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region , 2023
Journal of Hellenistic Pottery and Material Culture, 2022
Sixteen fragments of ceramic roof tiles, dated to the Hellenistic period in the late 2nd century ... more Sixteen fragments of ceramic roof tiles, dated to the Hellenistic period in the late 2nd century BCE, were uncovered on the western slope of the City of David (Southeastern Ridge) during the Giv'ati Parking Lot excavations between 2017-2022. This is the earliest attestation for the use of roof tiles in the southern Levant, south of Beirut, and so far, it is the only attestation for their use in the region during the Hellenistic period. The petrographic analysis of the fragments shows that the tiles were manufactured with the locally available clay from the Moza Formation and that a specific recipe of raw materials adapted for the tiles was used. We suggest that the roof tiles were intended for the roofing of a building related to the Seleucid presence in the city at the time, the Hakra (Acra) being one such option.
Israel Exploration Journal, 2022
Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman presence brought with it new ceramic b... more Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman
presence brought with it new ceramic building materials, including bricks,
roof tiles, pipes, and tubuli, usually in relation to public buildings, particularly
bathhouses. Among the most well-known are the tiles bearing stamps of the
Tenth Roman Legion. In the Byzantine Period, such materials were stamped
with private Greek names. A group of tiles uncovered in the Wilson’s Arch
excavations fill the chronological gap between the legionary production and the
Byzantine period and display the name of Colonia Aelia Capitolina. These were
made from a different ceramic ‘recipe’ than the legionary tiles, indicating they
were produced in a separate workshop and implying a shift in the third century
CE from military production (and ownership) of public buildings to municipalinitiated
construction projects. These tiles support the theory that the original
civic centre of Aelia Capitolina was located directly west of the Temple Mount.
Tel Aviv, Apr 26, 2022
This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of A... more This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of Aelia Capitolina. This group bears rare impressions consisting of three Latin letters: IVL. The IVL group is studied typologically and petrographically, suggesting that a private workshop operated in Aelia Capitolina no later than the 3rd century CE. Petrographically, the IVL group is different from the well-known ceramic building materials bearing impressions of the Xth Roman legion Fretensis, manufactured in the kilnworks near the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei Ha'Uma). This suggests that the IVL group was not produced in the legionary workshop. The current study is an additional facet contributing to the discussion on the various modes of production of ceramic building materials in Jerusalem during the Late Roman period. Further examined is the relation between military, municipal and private ceramic production, possibly as a mirror of the municipal development and processes that Jerusalem underwent during the period under discussion, and the role of the City of David within these processes.
En Esur ('Ein Asawir) III: Excavations in the Bronze Age Cemetery, 2021
This study presents the petrographic analysis of 64 vessels from three Bronze Age burial caves (5... more This study presents the petrographic analysis of 64 vessels from three Bronze Age burial caves (548, 562, 567) excavated in the 'En Esur cemetery (see Chapter 2). Most analyzed samples date from the late phase of Early Bronze Age I (EB IB), five from EB I-II
EXCAVATIONS IN THE CITY OF DAVID JERUSALEM (1995-2010), 2021
TEL REHOV A BRONZE AND IRON AGE CITY IN THE BETH-SHEAN VALLEY, 2020
Archaeology of Western Anatolia, 2024
'Atiqot, 2024
The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic per... more The southern Levantine coast was settled continuously for three millennia, from the Neolithic period until its abandonment in Early Bronze Age II, in sharp contrast to inland sites that developed into urbanized cities. This study examines this phenomenon by investigating the pottery production component of the economic systems of two contemporary EB I villages: a shoreline coastal site that was abandoned (Dor South) and an inland site that evolved into an urban center ('En Esur). This pilot ceramic petrography examination shows two distinct strategies, with 'En Esur producing pottery primarily from local raw materials and Dor South relying mainly on imported pottery, potentially weakening the once-resilient coastal system.
ERETZ-ISRAEL VOLUME 35, Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies,, 2024
Eretz-Israel, Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies is a peer-reviewed journal of t... more Eretz-Israel, Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies is a peer-reviewed journal of the Israel Exploration Society, founded in 1913 as a scholarly society dedicated to the promotion of research concerning the Land of Israel. The journal has been published since 1951. Each volume of the series is dedicated to a living or deceased key figure in research, with articles in Hebrew, English and other languages, focusing upon areas of interest to the honoree. Every effort has been made to locate rights-holders and obtain necessary permissions to reproduce all of the illustrations taken from external sources. We apologize for any oversight, which we shall endeavor to correct if brought to our attention.
In Centro, collected papers, 2024
Salvage Excavations at Tel Qashish (Tell Qasis) and Tell el-Wa’er (2010–2013), 2023
Salvage Excavations at Tel Qashish (Tell Qasis) and Tell el-Wa’er (2010–2013), 2023
The production and distribution of ceramic building materials (CBM) in the Roman period have long... more The production and distribution of ceramic building materials (CBM) in the Roman period have long attracted the attention of archaeologists, as they provide clues to aspects of trade, identity, and technological and architectural traditions. However, there has been a notable scarcity of studies focusing on plain CBM in the southern Levant, particularly in the Mediterranean coastal region. This study concentrates on CBM (bricks, tubuli, drainage pipes, and roof tiles) from a Roman-period wealthy farmstead (Khirbat Khaur el-Bak) near the city of Ashqelon/Ascalon, apparently owned by a serving member of the military or a veteran. The petrographic analyses indicate that apart from the locally produced drainage pipes, the CBM were imported from overseas, namely Cilicia and Beirut. The results shed light on CBM trade in the Eastern Mediterranean, and on the complex nature of the population and material life in and around Roman Ashqelon, which included local and foreign elements.
Archaeology of Symbols ICAS I: Proceedings of the First International Conference on the Archaeology of Symbols, 2024
This paper presents four female clay figurines from three Early Chalcolithic settlements in north... more This paper presents four female clay figurines from three Early Chalcolithic settlements in northern Israel – ‘En Esur, Neveh Yam, and ‘En Zippori – with similar material cultures. Only the head and a long neck are depicted, made of one piece of clay, originally attached to a body(?). These figurines stand out in the Early Chalcolithic South Levantine cultural milieu as they have the same type of hairstyle made of applied long locks. To the best of our knowledge, these are the only examples of this type of figurine in this part of the Ancient Near East and beyond, although the Southern Levant shares some material culture with the Halafian one and was influenced by it. Unexpectedly, several similar figurines with the same applied hairstyle are known in Thessaly.
‘Atiqot, 2022
Salvage excavations in the Western Wall Tunnels (Permit No. A-8276) were conducted on behalf of t... more Salvage excavations in the Western Wall Tunnels (Permit No. A-8276) were conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, at the initiative of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and funded by it. They were directed by Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, with the help of Vadim Essman (surveying) and Elena Delerzon (drafting). The small finds were treated in the IAA laboratories by Avshalom Karasik and Argita Gyerman-Levanon (digital documentation), Clara Amit (photography), Yoseph Bukgenholtz (tile cleaning) and Carmen Hersch (plate preparation). The site was previously excavated by Alexander Onn during 2007-2012 (see Onn, Weksler-Bdolah and Bar-Nathan 2011; Onn and Weksler-Bdolah 2016; Onn, Weksler-Bdolah and Patrich 2019), revealing a monumental ashlar building of the Herodian period (first century CE), which had been partly investigated in the past (Warren and Conder 1884:200-202; Bahat 2013:113-127). 2 The dam wall (W5006 in Onn's excavations) was dated to King Herod's reign in the preliminary report (Onn, Weksler-Bdolah and Bar Nathan 2011) and, more recently, to the period from Herod's reign to the early first century CE (Weksler-Bdolah, forthcoming).
New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region , 2023
Journal of Hellenistic Pottery and Material Culture, 2022
Sixteen fragments of ceramic roof tiles, dated to the Hellenistic period in the late 2nd century ... more Sixteen fragments of ceramic roof tiles, dated to the Hellenistic period in the late 2nd century BCE, were uncovered on the western slope of the City of David (Southeastern Ridge) during the Giv'ati Parking Lot excavations between 2017-2022. This is the earliest attestation for the use of roof tiles in the southern Levant, south of Beirut, and so far, it is the only attestation for their use in the region during the Hellenistic period. The petrographic analysis of the fragments shows that the tiles were manufactured with the locally available clay from the Moza Formation and that a specific recipe of raw materials adapted for the tiles was used. We suggest that the roof tiles were intended for the roofing of a building related to the Seleucid presence in the city at the time, the Hakra (Acra) being one such option.
Israel Exploration Journal, 2022
Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman presence brought with it new ceramic b... more Following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the Roman
presence brought with it new ceramic building materials, including bricks,
roof tiles, pipes, and tubuli, usually in relation to public buildings, particularly
bathhouses. Among the most well-known are the tiles bearing stamps of the
Tenth Roman Legion. In the Byzantine Period, such materials were stamped
with private Greek names. A group of tiles uncovered in the Wilson’s Arch
excavations fill the chronological gap between the legionary production and the
Byzantine period and display the name of Colonia Aelia Capitolina. These were
made from a different ceramic ‘recipe’ than the legionary tiles, indicating they
were produced in a separate workshop and implying a shift in the third century
CE from military production (and ownership) of public buildings to municipalinitiated
construction projects. These tiles support the theory that the original
civic centre of Aelia Capitolina was located directly west of the Temple Mount.
Tel Aviv, Apr 26, 2022
This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of A... more This article presents a group of ceramic building materials (bricks and pipes) from the city of Aelia Capitolina. This group bears rare impressions consisting of three Latin letters: IVL. The IVL group is studied typologically and petrographically, suggesting that a private workshop operated in Aelia Capitolina no later than the 3rd century CE. Petrographically, the IVL group is different from the well-known ceramic building materials bearing impressions of the Xth Roman legion Fretensis, manufactured in the kilnworks near the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei Ha'Uma). This suggests that the IVL group was not produced in the legionary workshop. The current study is an additional facet contributing to the discussion on the various modes of production of ceramic building materials in Jerusalem during the Late Roman period. Further examined is the relation between military, municipal and private ceramic production, possibly as a mirror of the municipal development and processes that Jerusalem underwent during the period under discussion, and the role of the City of David within these processes.
En Esur ('Ein Asawir) III: Excavations in the Bronze Age Cemetery, 2021
This study presents the petrographic analysis of 64 vessels from three Bronze Age burial caves (5... more This study presents the petrographic analysis of 64 vessels from three Bronze Age burial caves (548, 562, 567) excavated in the 'En Esur cemetery (see Chapter 2). Most analyzed samples date from the late phase of Early Bronze Age I (EB IB), five from EB I-II
EXCAVATIONS IN THE CITY OF DAVID JERUSALEM (1995-2010), 2021
TEL REHOV A BRONZE AND IRON AGE CITY IN THE BETH-SHEAN VALLEY, 2020