Dafna Langgut | Tel Aviv University (original) (raw)

Peer-reviewed articles by Dafna Langgut

Prestigious gardens known as viridiaria emerged in the first century BCE and gained popularity as... more Prestigious gardens known as viridiaria emerged in the first century BCE and gained popularity as the Roman horticultural revolution was promoted by the emperor Augustus. This paper aims to reconstruct early Roman elite gardens and compare their botanical components. The gardens were exposed at the Roman resort of Stabiae, which, like neighboring Pompeii, was buried in 79 CE under several meters of volcanic ash. Located on the lower slopes of the Verano and Latteri Hills, Stabiae comprised exceptionally fertile farmland and luxurious villas looking across the Bay of Naples. Beginning in the eighteenth century, several archaeological expeditions have conducted excavations at the site, all of which encountered gardens among the architectural remains. This paper discusses the palynological methods that were used to reveal the botanical composition of three gardens: the northern garden of the Panoramic Domus, the courtyard garden of Villa San Marco, and the Great Peristyle Garden of Villa Arianna, the best preserved and one of the largest ornamental gardens in the Roman world. The study compares between materials obtained using two different sampling strategies and palynological extraction techniques: pollen assemblages recovered in the plaster that coated garden structures and pollen assemblages extracted from the garden soils. Based on this comparison, we were able to reconstruct more accurately the ornamental and productive plants cultivated in the gardens. They included local plants and fruit trees-grapevine (Vitis vinifera), myrtle (Myrtus communis), Persian walnut (Juglans regia), chestnut (Castanea), elm (Ulmus), olive (Olea europaea), and rose (Rosa). Pollen of the exotic date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and acacia (suggested as Acacia nilotica) is also present, proposing Egyptian influence on the gardens' design. Pruning and miniaturizing of the ornamental plants, common among horticultural trends of the period, are also suggested. The observations deepen our understanding of how these gardens relate to their local landscape and the broader cultural interplay of plants and art, early in the development of the Roman Empire.

Recent research into agricultural terrace systems across the Jerusalem Highlands, has revealed a ... more Recent research into agricultural terrace systems across the Jerusalem Highlands, has revealed a significant pattern: the majority of terraces were constructed within the past 700 years, during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. The motivation for building terrace systems, a labour-intensive endeavour requiring significant long-term investment, appears to be associated with land management policies. This study set out to test this hypothesis, by focusing on the terrace system at Nahal (wadi) Ein-Karim, Jerusalem, and the adjacent site of Khirbet Beit-Mazmil. The study employed portable OSL (POSL) profiling of sediments and OSL dating of the terraces and other related features, alongside archival document analysis. A key element of this study was the examining and dating of plot fences, which serve as tangible representation of shifts in land tenure. The utilisation of POSL profiling facilitated comprehension of their sedimentation dynamics and aided in identifying the optimal sampling approach for OSL dating. The findings highlight a direct link between land endowment practices and terrace construction, particularly evident from the fourteenth century CE onwards. This interdisciplinary approach contributes to our understanding of agricultural terracing dynamics, shedding light on the intricate interplay between land tenure systems, socioeconomic factors, and landscape modification practices in the Late-Medieval Southern-Levant.

While it is widely accepted that the five main fruit trees that established horticulture in the l... more While it is widely accepted that the five main fruit trees that established horticulture in the late prehistoric period are: olive (Olea europaea), common fig (Ficus carica), grapevine (Vitis vinifera), date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), and pomegranate (Punica granatum), there is much less agreement on where, when, and why this happened. This review paper 1 gathers all recent archaeological and archaeobotanical information on the topic and suggests that all five founders were first assembled into a package in one geographically small region-the Central Jordan Valley. From this core area, knowledge and/or genetic materials were shifted to nearby regions. Yet, it cannot be ruled out that other parallel independent domestications may have occurred in other regions. 14 C dates provided in this study indicate that the beginning of this development is dated at ca. 7000 years cal. BP., earlier than previously considered. It seems that the primary motivation has been related to political and socioeconomic considerations rather than climatological-environmental concerns or other factors. The paper also discusses the cost-effective benefits of simultaneously cultivating several fruit trees. Understanding the early stages of horticulture sheds light on the history of our civilizations, which, according to this study, preceded urbanization or state formation by more than a millennium and a half. A better understanding of the origin and early stages of this development is also of great importance, given the immediate need to adapt horticultural practices to environmental degradation and global climate changes.

This article was originally published in Encyclopedia of Archaeology, 2nd Edition (ARC2), publish... more This article was originally published in Encyclopedia of Archaeology, 2nd Edition (ARC2), published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for non-commercial research and educational use including without limitation use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues who you know, and providing a copy to your institution's administrator.

backed bladelets microlithic industries, which probably reflects a technological change in compos... more backed bladelets microlithic industries, which probably reflects a technological change in composite projectile hunting gear that occurred during the EEP.

Mediterranean Resilience examines various forms of adaptation adopted by coastal societies in the... more Mediterranean Resilience examines various forms of adaptation adopted by coastal societies in the ancient Mediterranean in response to external pressures. This investigation spans the longue durée, stretching from the epi-paleolithic to the Medieval period. Special attention is given to the impact of two groups of variables: climate and sea level changes on the one hand, and fluctuations in political circumstances connected with the domination of empires, on the other. For adaptation, the volume analyses modes of coastal residence, subsistence, and maritime connectivity, not as static features, constant throughout history, but as processes that require permanent adjustments due to changes in environmental, social and political conditions. Methodologically, various forms of case studies are employed, isolating thematic issues, geographic micro-regions, temporal boundaries, and disciplinary perspectives, ultimately seeking to embrace as wide an array of phenomena as possible in the human experience of collapse and adaptation.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Although the Shephelah region (Israel) is of a great archaeological significance and has been int... more Although the Shephelah region (Israel) is of a great archaeological significance and has been intensively excavated, very little is known about its landscape history. This study presents two large-scale charred wood assemblages (>2300 items) that were recovered from Tel Azekah and Tel Lachish in order to reconstruct the ancient vegetation of the Shephelah. The two assemblages cover a temporal range from the Middle Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period (c.2000-100 BC). This new diachronic environmental investigation demonstrates that the natural arboreal vegetation in the Shephelah was dominated by oak and pistachio. From the perspective of the regional fruit tree horticulture, olive was the dominant component, indicating that the region included extensive olive orchards. Other documented fruit trees are grapevine, fig, sycamore fig, carob, date palm and almond. The high frequencies of olive remains throughout all investigated periods point to climatic conditions in the region being close to what we are facing today, with at least 400-450 mm of annual precipitation, which is required for a profitable grove. During the Iron Age II, the proportion of olive remains reached its zenith, most probably as a result of Assyrian agroeconomic management that assigned the Shephelah to olive oil production. At the same time, a reduction in natural Mediterranean trees was identified, representing intense human pressure on the natural environment. The discovery of charred cedar of Lebanon remains only at Lachish points to the high status of the site within the region.

Murabba'at Cave II is situated in the cliffy area on the northern bank of Naḥal Darga, about 2 km... more Murabba'at Cave II is situated in the cliffy area on the northern bank of Naḥal Darga, about 2 km west of the Dead Sea. It is a complex cave formed by the dissolution of Shivṭa-Formation limestone below the water table. Its total length is approximately 90 m and it has three levels. Previous excavations have shown the cave to be one of the richest in the Judean Desert in terms of finds from various periods. Among the many finds was an ancient wooden box containing a Ptolemaic coin-hoard from the reign of Ptolemy VI, which was discovered in a crevice near a shaft leading down to the interior cavities. This article presents and discusses the hoard, a typical emergency hoard, with all its components, while considering its geographical-historical context. Several possible historical events may have led to the hoard's deposition, mainly the Sixth Syrian War and the Maccabean Revolt.

The Negev Highlands arid region (southern Levant) shows evidence of sharp settlement fluctuations... more The Negev Highlands arid region (southern Levant) shows evidence of sharp settlement fluctuations, with several periods of strong human activity separated by centuries with no evidence of sedentary life. In this study, we used the palynological method in order to shed light on the region's demographic history in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Fifty-four samples of pollen were collected and analyzed from secure archaeological contexts in four Negev Highlands sites: Nahal Boqer 66, dated to the Early Bronze Age and Early Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 3200-2200 BCE); Ein Ziq, dated to the Early Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 2500-2200 BCE); Mashabe Sade, dated to the Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 2500-2000 BCE); and Haroa, dated to the Iron Age IIA (ca. late 10th through 9th centuries BCE). Our study revealed no evidence of cereal cultivation, with some hints that the inhabitants' diets may have included plants gathered from the wild. Only one of the sites, Nahal Boqer 66, showed micro-indicators of animal dung remains, suggesting that the inhabitants herded animals. The palynological evidence did, however, emphasize that the livestock there were not fed or supplemented with agricultural by-products but rather grazed freely on wild vegetation. The pollen data also suggest that all four sites were occupied only during late winter and spring. The activity in the Negev Highlands during the third millennium BCE was probably related to the copper industry in the Arabah and to copper transportation to settled neighboring lands, especially Egypt. A relatively humid climate supported the trade through the Negev Highlands. Deterioration in both climate conditions and settlement activity was documented in the second half of the Intermediate Bronze Age.

The Levantine Early Upper Paleolithic (ca. 45e30 ka) has been a focus of research because of its ... more The Levantine Early Upper Paleolithic (ca. 45e30 ka) has been a focus of research because of its unique position as a conduit of human, flora, and fauna species between Africa and Eurasia. Studies have mainly focused on the Early Ahmarian and Levantine Aurignacian, two entities, the former endemic and the latter foreign, which are considered to have coinhabited the region during that period. However, other cultural entities, such as the Atlitian in the Mediterranean region and the Arkov-Divshon in the arid regions of the southern Levant received less attention, and accordingly, suffer from broad definitions and chronological insecurity. These cultures hold potential insights regarding nuanced adaptations, reciprocal influences, and diachronic assimilation processes. The recently discovered site of Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter in the Judean Desert provides integral information on one of these entitiesdthe Arkov-Divshon. Two excavation seasons revealed a sequence of archaeological layers, with lithic assemblages in which laterally carinated items were prominent. Alongside rich faunal assemblages, other components of the material culture include perforated marine shells and bone tools, marking the first association of these elements with Arkov-Divshon and implying some degree of contact with the Mediterranean regions of the Levant. Good preservation of organic materials allowed radiocarbon dating of the human occupation at the site to ca. 37.5e34.0 ka cal BP, indicating chronological overlap with the Levantine Aurignacian, and possibly also with the latest phases of the Early Ahmarian. Thus, challenging the validity of the widely accepted 'Two Tradition' Model of the Levantine Upper Paleolithic. Lithic analyses suggest the use of one main reduction sequence and the primary production of bladelets from carinated items. Faunal remains suggest targeted hunting of ibex and gazelle. Botanical remains and sedimentary analyses suggest roughly similar environmental conditions, with a possible woodier environment in the surroundings of the site.

The investigation of submerged archaeological sites faces numerous logistical challenges in the r... more The investigation of submerged archaeological sites faces numerous logistical challenges in the recovery of stratigraphic sequences and, as a result, is often restricted to surface deposits limiting the application of geoarchaeology. This paper outlines a new integrated field and microanalytical methodological protocol to investigate deep stratigraphic sequences (up to 2 m) within the submerged Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) site of Atlit-Yam (9267-7970 cal. B.P. [calibrated years before the present]). A new coring method for the extraction of deep underwater stratigraphy was developed to extract three cores: two between architectural remains within the site and one outside the site. The cores were analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, phytolith and pollen analysis and archaeological micromorphology to detect anthropogenic signals and undertake paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Our results indicate anthropogenic evidence at 95 cm depth based on the presence of heat-altered sediments, high phytolith concentrations and micromorphological observations of archaeological remains. Radiocarbon analysis indicates the oldest anthropogenic layers date to the Mid Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) and Late PPNB (9859-9323 cal. B.P.), bearing implications for reassessing the emergence of the first coastal Neolithic villages in the Mediterranean. Our integrated field and multiproxy micro-geoarchaeological protocol offers a new approach to detecting and studying submerged archaeological sites worldwide.

The aim of this study was to determine if the protozoa that cause dysentery might have been prese... more The aim of this study was to determine if the protozoa that cause dysentery might have been present in Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, during the Iron Age. Sediments from 2 latrines pertaining to this time period were obtained, 1 dating from the 7th century BCE and another from the 7th to early 6th century BCE. Microscopic investigations have previously shown that the users were infected by whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Taenia sp. tapeworm and pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis). However, the protozoa that cause dysentery are fragile and do not survive well in ancient samples in a form recognizable using light microscopy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits designed to detect the antigens of Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia duodenalis were used. Results for Entamoeba and Cryptosporidium were negative, while Giardia was positive for both latrine sediments when the analysis was repeated three times. This provides our first microbiological evidence for infective diarrhoeal illnesses that would have affected the populations of the ancient near east. When we integrate descriptions from 2nd and 1st millennium BCE Mesopotamian medical texts, it seems likely that outbreaks of dysentery due to giardiasis may have caused ill health throughout early towns across the region.

The excavation of Har Harif 45, a campsite radiometrically dated to the 6th-5th millennia BCE, in... more The excavation of Har Harif 45, a campsite radiometrically dated to the 6th-5th millennia BCE, in the Negev highlands (Israel) uncovered many charcoals determined as Phoenician juniper (Juniperus phoenicea). Today, Phoenician juniper is absent from the Negev desert and can only be found on the ridges of northern Sinai (Egypt) and Jordan. Based on the relative abundance of polished stone axes and adzes found in Har Harif 45 in comparison to other contemporaneous sites, we suggest that the extinction of juniper trees from the Negev highlands was caused mainly by intensive and selective cutting of this highly beneficial woody species. On a wider view, the disappearance of Juniperus phoenicea from the Negev Desert provides a good example of human impact on the natural environment during the transition from hunter-gather societies to late Pottery Neolithic (and later periods of the 6th-5th millennia BC) pastoralist societies, where a greater population density increased the demand for natural resources such as juniper wood. We show that the archaeological evidence from Har Harif 45 combined with the archaeobotanical data sheds new light on the human influence on the Negev highland environment during the late 6th and 5th millennia BC.

Levant, May 3, 2016

We report results of palynological investigation of a core of sediments extracted from the bottom... more We report results of palynological investigation of a core of sediments extracted from the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. The core was sampled at high resolution for both palynological analysis (a sample was taken c. every 40 years) and radiocarbon dating. The article focuses on the Early Bronze and Intermediate Bronze Ages, c. 3600-1950 BC. The results enable reconstruction of the vegetation and thus climate in the lake's fluvial and alluvial catchment, which includes large parts of northern Israel and Lebanon and southwestern Syria. The study sheds light on topics such as changes in olive cultivation through time and regions, processes of urbanization and collapse and settlement expansion and retraction in the arid zones.

Parasitology

Global agro-biodiversity has resulted from processes of plant migration and agricultural adoption... more Global agro-biodiversity has resulted from processes of plant migration and agricultural adoption. Although critically affecting current diversity, crop diffusion from antiquity to the middle-ages is poorly researched, overshadowed by studies on that of prehistoric periods. A new archaeobotanical dataset from three Negev Highland desert sites demonstrates the first millennium CE’s significance for long-term agricultural change in southwest Asia. This enables evaluation of the “Islamic Green Revolution” (IGR) thesis compared to “Roman Agricultural Diffusion” (RAD), and both versus crop diffusion since the Neolithic. Among the finds, some of the earliestSolanum melongenaseeds in the Levant represent the proposed IGR. Several other identified economic plants, including two unprecedented in Levantine archaeobotany (Ziziphus jujuba, Lupinus albus), implicate RAD as the greater force for crop migrations. Altogether the evidence supports a gradualist model for Holocene-wide crop diffusion,...

Scientific Reports

Economic and industrial progress frequently comes at the expense of environmental sustainability.... more Economic and industrial progress frequently comes at the expense of environmental sustainability. For the early Iron Age (~ eleventh to ninth centuries BCE) smelters of the ancient copper industry of the Timna Valley, southern Israel, where today the hyper-arid Aravah Desert provides sparse vegetation, woody fuel for metallurgical furnaces constituted the greatest limiting factor for continued operations. This study presents the first investigation into the fuel sources relied upon by this industry during its most intensive period, as reflected by hundreds of charcoal samples collected from two well-stratified and chronologically anchored accumulations of industrial waste. The two sites demonstrate similar results: a heavy reliance on the local vegetation, particularlyRetama raetam(white broom) and the ecologically significantAcaciaspp. (acacia thorn trees), two high-calorific and high-burning taxa best suited for such purposes. It was also observed that over the course of the indus...

Palestine Exploration Quarterly, 2021

The geography of Judah is unique among the territorial kingdoms of the southern Levant, featuring... more The geography of Judah is unique among the territorial kingdoms of the southern Levant, featuring four distinct regions with the potential for exploitation in different economic strategies. In the Iron IIB the vassal kingdom experienced a dramatic economic transformation directed by the Assyrian empire, from traditional Mediterranean subsistence to specialised economy based on its four zones: viticulture in the highlands, oleo-culture in the Shephelah, services to the Arabian trade in the Beersheba Valley and date and exotic plant groves in the Dead Sea Valley oases. This high-risk/high-gain system may clarify the development of advanced administration, which, in turn, explains the unique features in the material culture of Judah compared to neighbouring kingdoms: The system of stamped handles and weights and the proliferation of scribal activity. The division of the kingdom into districts, as portrayed in Josh 15, is connected to this reality, and hence probably originated slightly earlier than conventionally argued.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022

Olive (Olea europaea) trees in the arid Negev Desert of southern Israel are important relicts on ... more Olive (Olea europaea) trees in the arid Negev Desert of southern Israel are important relicts on the ancient agricultural landscape. Among them are a cluster of several trees located in Wadi Zetan, at the heart of the Shivta horticulture terroir, with its abundant agricultural runoff remains. Two isolated olive bearing trees stand in a sheltered beneath cliff in the upper part of the wadi. Radiocarbon dating of an internal part of the trunk of one of these living trees estimates its minimum age as the mid-16th-early 17th century CE (~500 years old). Archaeological excavations conducted beneath the trees and the adjacent dam revealed OSL samples of loess accumulation dated to the Early Islamic period (8th-9th centuries CE). The stratigraphy and chronology of this sediment deposition indicate its rapid and short accumulation. Palynological analysis of the same OSL dated samples indicates that grapevines and olive trees were cultivated in the immediate vicinity of the site during the Early Islamic period. The lack of pollen of cultivated taxa from the latter part of the sequence points to cessation of the agricultural activity, probably a few hundred years later. Leaf samples for DNA profiling of the trees in comparison to other local old olive trees around the country, indicate that the trees in Wadi Zetan are genetically close to a known cultivar common among ancient olive trees. The trees have survived for at least a few hundred years, in an arid area, due to the local conditions and enhanced drainage from the man-made upper runoff system. These old olive trees bear a powerful and symbolic significance, indicating the endurance and sustainability of ancient desert runoff agriculture. Moreover, the survival of their relicts in Wadi Zetan suggests their potential as cultivars greater resilience to the harsh growing conditions of arid environments.

For more than 10,000 years between the peak of the Last Glacial Maximum and the beginning of the ... more For more than 10,000 years between the peak of the Last Glacial Maximum and the beginning of the Holocene, people repeatedly returned to the same spot on the southern edge of Paleolake Hula in the Upper Jordan Valley to fish, hunt, and exploit other aquatic or semi-aquatic resources at the Epipaleolithic site of Jordan River Dureijat. Preliminary data from the site reveal intermittent occupation of this locale by small groups of hunter-gatherers who engaged in short-term, task-specific activities when lake levels dropped and exposed the site. The unique waterlogged conditions at Jordan River Dureijat capture an unusually well-preserved record of human subsistence and other activities, as well as local environmental conditions across much of the Epipaleolithic. Here we report the results of the first four seasons of excavation and interpret the understudied logistical activities of Epipaleolithic hunter-gatherers who we know best from their more sedentary camps. PaleoAnthropology 202...

Detailed information on geoarchaeological, microbotanical and macrobotanical data from archaeolog... more Detailed information on geoarchaeological, microbotanical and macrobotanical data from archaeological dung pellets and sediments from the Early Islamic (7th-10th centuries CE) desert site of Shivta, Negev, Israel.

Journal of Arid Environments, 2021

The Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica), can be found in the arid regions of the Negev highland... more The Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica), can be found in the arid regions of the Negev highlands, the Judean desert, and the northern Arava in a number of clustered populations located near permanent water sources. The trees' distribution in the desert regions is not continuous, being disconnected from its major area of distribution along the Jordan River, where its distribution is uninterrupted. It is unclear how and when this disjunctive distribution occurred, and what were the initial ecological conditions for this poplar's original establishment and success. In this article we present a study of the current distribution of these trees within an arid environment, and of their various traditional uses. A strong relationship is demonstrated between the present location of the trees and settlements from the Roman and Byzantine periods (between the 1st century BCE to 7th century CE). Euphrates poplars are abundant today near early Christian monasteries, which could have been the main factor responsible for their present-day distribution.

Quaternary International, 2020

This study presents a comprehensive paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Byzantine and Early ... more This study presents a comprehensive paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Byzantine and Early Islamic western Negev Desert communities during the 4th-8th centuries CE. The study is based on 33 pollen samples and hundreds of charcoal remains that were recovered from the villages of Shivta and Nitzana. The results demonstrate that during the 5-6th centuries CE flourishing desert agricultural communities existed on the periphery of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). The presence of diverse fruit-tree horticulture is revealed by both pollen and charcoal remains (grape, fig, olive, carob, almond/apricot, pomegranate, date palm and the exotic hazelnut). The rich botanical assemblages also provide evidence of the cultivation by irrigation of conifers and other Mediterranean trees common to the more humid Mediterranean vegetation zone, including the prestigious cedar of Lebanon. The palynological reconstruction of an ornamental garden at Shivta indicates the ability to invest water and labor, not only for horticultural and construction purposes, but also for ornamental greenery. We therefore suggest that the Byzantine Negev Desert community was a luxury society in contrast to societies living in a mode of survival in challenging desert environments. During the Early Islamic period (since the second half of the 7th century CE), our data show a dramatic decline in fruit-tree horticulture coupled with indicators signifying overexploitation for fuel of the nearby natural woody desert environment. Hence, we claim that in addition to previous possible explanations for the demise of the Negev Byzantine communities (plague pandemic, climate change, the Muslim conquest), overexploitation of the natural vegetation should also be taken into account. This study therefore helps address historical questions that are also pertinent to the modern era, regarding the existence of flourishing societies in challenging environments, overexploitation of the natural environment, and neglect of sustainability.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2020

Significance Commercial production of luxury “Gaza wine” was long assumed to be the economic basi... more Significance Commercial production of luxury “Gaza wine” was long assumed to be the economic basis of Late Antique settlement in the Negev Desert. We present empirical evidence for local viticulture of scale and its connection to Mediterranean trade. Offering unprecedented testimony to the globalization of an ancient production economy in a marginal environment, our archaeobotanical and ceramic dataset illuminates the rise and fall of local viticulture in the fourth to sixth centuries of the common era (CE). Decline likely resulted from market contraction triggered by plague and climate change rather than Islamic conquest, exposing systemic vulnerabilities of Negev agricultural commercialization. In millennial-scale Negev history, the Late Antique commercial florescence is anomalous, lasting about two centuries before reverting to smaller settlement and survival–subsistence strategies.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017

Ägypten und Levante, 2017

In this article we discuss four datasets that provide evidence for the expansion of grain growing... more In this article we discuss four datasets that provide evidence for the expansion of grain growing in Canaan in the second half of the 13 th century and the 12 th century BCE: the faunal and ÀLQW UHFRUGV IURP 0HJLGGR WKH SROOHQ GLDJUDP IRU the Sea of Galilee and the ancient DNA study of Bronze and Iron Age cattle in the Levant. Efforts to expand dry farming in Canaan were probably related to the dry climate event in the later phases of the Late Bronze Age, which has recently been detected in several pollen records from the Eastern Mediterranean. We discuss textual evidence related to drought and famine that struck the Near East at that time. We then suggest that the Egyptian administration in Canaan initiated the extension of dry farming in order to stabilise the situation in the southern and eastern fringe areas of the Levant and supply grain to areas in the northern Near East which, according to textual data, ZHUH EDGO\ DIÀLFWHG E\ WKH FOLPDWH FULVLV

Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2019

In this study we present the identification of several Early Roman (63 b.c.e.-70 c.e.) charred wo... more In this study we present the identification of several Early Roman (63 b.c.e.-70 c.e.) charred wood assemblages, collected from the "Lower City" of Jerusalem. The results outline elements in Jerusalem's nearby woody vegetation, characterized by a mosaic of native Mediterranean maquisforest species and olive orchards, and possibly pine and cypress stands. The arboreal surrounding of Jerusalem supplied the city with pruned olive branches and other types of agricultural refuse to serve as firewood. Local conifers (pines and cypress) as well as imported conifers (cedar of Lebanon), were used for construction purposes. The results further highlight important issues such as social status and importation of wood. The occurrence of prestigious imported tree species within the charcoal assemblage of the Lower City (e.g., cedar, boxwood) indicates the presence of wealthy residences, standing in contrast to prior assumptions that suggest a low social status for the inhabitants within this area.

Tel Aviv, 2019

Megiddo since the initiation of the renewed excavations in 1992. We constructed a database with 1... more Megiddo since the initiation of the renewed excavations in 1992. We constructed a database with 1,162 identified samples and analysed them diachronically. This dataset enables us to trace environmental trends and human impact on the vegetation in the vicinity of the site during the Bronze and Iron Ages (~3,500-500 BCE). The earlier periods in the studied sequence are characterised by a higher availability of common natural arboreal elements (oak, conifers and terebinth) and the later periods by a dramatically reduced presence of these elements, with a much stronger occurrence of anthropogenically dependent species (olive), foreign species (cedar of Lebanon, sycamore fig), and less prevalent forest/maquis elements. Our investigation also provides some context for the appearance of both horticultural and rare/special species in the assemblage (almond, walnut, myrtle, laurel, sage). The appearance of prestigious species such as the imported cedar in one sector of the site (Area H) provides botanical support to other finds which rendered this area an elite neighbourhood.

Quaternary Science Reviews, 2019

contribution to archaeobotany, but also to lasting discussions regarding the contribution of dung... more contribution to archaeobotany, but also to lasting discussions regarding the contribution of dung remains to archaeological deposits used for seed, pollen and phytolith analyses. We offer here a strong method for determining whether deposits derive from dung alone, are mixed, or absolutely do not contain dung. This has important ramifications for archaeological interpretation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2019

Significance Historians have long debated the role of climate in the rise and fall of empires of ... more Significance Historians have long debated the role of climate in the rise and fall of empires of the 1st millennium CE. Drastic territorial contraction of the Byzantine Empire, societal decline, and beginning of the European Middle Ages have generally been linked to the Islamic conquests of the seventh century. This multidisciplinary archaeological investigation of trash mounds in the Negev Desert establishes the end date of organized trash management in the Byzantine-period city of Elusa and demonstrates urban collapse a century before the Islamic transition. Our findings, taken together with other evidence for Byzantine urban dysfunction, the Justinianic Plague, and recent research on the Late Antique Little Ice Age, flesh out the impact of the sixth century on broad historical trajectories.

Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2018

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Fossil pollen grains of citron (Citrus medico) were recently found in the royal Persian garden (5... more Fossil pollen grains of citron (Citrus medico) were recently found in the royal Persian garden (5th-4th century BCE) at the site of Ramat Rahel; they mark the citron's earliest appearance in Israel. Citrus medica, which later acquired a symbolic role in Judaism, is not native to Israeli flora but was most probably brought to the region from Southeast Asia via Persia by Persian emperors as part of their royal extravagancy. Although it is used on the Feast of Tabernacles as one of the four species, the citron is not specifically mentioned in the Bible; Leviticus
(23:40), refers to it only as פרי עץ הדעת ,translated as "fruit of goodly trees". Based on textual and visual evidence, this paper establishes that the association between the citron and the "fruit of goodly trees'' was made in the first century CE. The paper therefore suggests that the citron probably slowly pentrated into Jewish tradition and culture from the Persian royal gardens.

From the time the first archaeologists began excavating at Ramat Raḥel, it seemed evident that th... more From the time the first archaeologists began excavating at Ramat Raḥel, it seemed evident that the tell was an archaeological and historical "riddle". On the one hand, the palatial compound uncovered at the site was dated to the Iron Age. On the other hand, the presence of hundreds of yhwd stamped jar handles and many other finds from the Persian period were left without apparent architectural context. Stratum IVb, dated by Aharoni to both the Persian and Hellenistic periods, included only segmented and poorly built walls and a few installations that could not explain the many stamped handles.
The renewed excavations at the site and the final publication of the architecture and finds from Aharoni's excavations have made it possible to reevaluate the archaeology of the site and its significance vis-a-vis the political history of Judah as a province in the Achaemenid Empire. This paper presents for the first time the architecture and all the associated finds from Persian period (5th-3rd century BCE) Ramat Raḥel. The study demonstrates how Ramat Raḥel reached its zenith during the Persian period, serving as an imperial administrative center, and as the residency of the Persian governor. It also demonstrates that the site declined towards the end of the Persian period only to regain some importance toward the later part of the Hellenistic period.

The ancient tell (mound) of Ramat Rahel sits on the outskirts of Jerusalem. It features an impres... more The ancient tell (mound) of Ramat Rahel sits on the outskirts of Jerusalem. It features an impressive residency and palatial garden that flourished during the seventh to fourth centuries BCE, when biblical Judah was under the hegemony of the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian empires. Until recently, the garden’s flora has been a mystery, as standard archaeological procedures were unable to retrieve secure archaeobotanical remains. A unique method of extracting fossil pollen from ancient plaster has now enabled researchers to reconstruct the exact vegetation
components of this royal Persian garden and for the first time to shed light on the cultural world of the inhabitants of the residence. The plaster layers and garden are dated archaeologically and by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) methods to the Persian period (fifth to fourth centuries BCE), and produced evidence of
importation by the ruling Persian authorities of special and highly valued trees to the garden from remote parts of the empire. The most surprising find, and marking its earliest appearance in the southern Levant, was the citron (Citrus medica), which later acquired a symbolic-religious role in Judaism. Other imported trees found to have been grown in the garden are the cedar, birch and Persian walnut. The pollen evidence of these exotic trees in the
Ramat Rahel palatial garden suggests that they were probably brought to flaunt the power of the imperial Persian administration. Native fruit trees and ornamentals that were also grown there include the fig, grape, olive, willow, poplar, myrtle and water lily. The identification of the ancient garden’s plant life opens a course for future research into the symbolic role of flora in palatial gardens. It also offers new opportunities for studying the
mechanism by which native flora was adopted in a particular geographical area and proliferated by humans across
the world.

Levant, 2016

We report results of palynological investigation of a core of sediments extracted from the bottom... more We report results of palynological investigation of a core of sediments extracted from the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. The core was sampled at high resolution for both palynological analysis (a sample was taken c. every 40 years) and radiocarbon dating. The article focuses on the Early Bronze and Intermediate Bronze Ages, c. 3600–1950 BC. The results enable reconstruction of the vegetation and thus climate in the lake's fluvial and alluvial catchment, which includes large parts of northern Israel and Lebanon and southwestern Syria. The study sheds light on topics such as changes in olive cultivation through time and regions, processes of urbanization and collapse and settlement expansion and retraction in the arid zones.

PNAS, 2020

The international scope of the Mediterranean wine trade in Late Antiquity raises important questi... more The international scope of the Mediterranean wine trade in Late Antiquity raises important questions concerning sustainability in an ancient international economy and offers a valuable historical precedent to modern globalization. Such questions involve the role of intercontinental commerce in maintaining sustainable production within important supply regions and the vulnerability of peripheral regions believed to have been especially sensitive to environmental and political disturbances. We provide archaeobo-tanical evidence from trash mounds at three sites in the central Negev Desert, Israel, unraveling the rise and fall of viticulture over the second to eighth centuries of the common era (CE). Using quantitative ceramic data obtained in the same archaeological contexts, we further investigate connections between Negev viticulture and circum-Mediterranean trade. Our findings demonstrate interrelated growth in viticulture and involvement in Med-iterranean trade reaching what appears to be a commercial scale in the fourth to mid-sixth centuries. Following a mid-sixth century peak, decline of this system is evident in the mid-to late sixth century, nearly a century before the Islamic conquest. These findings closely correspond with other archaeological evidence for social , economic, and urban growth in the fourth century and decline centered on the mid-sixth century. Contracting markets were a likely proximate cause for the decline; possible triggers include climate change, plague, and wider sociopolitical developments. In long-term historical perspective, the unprecedented commercial florescence of the Late Antique Negev appears to have been un-sustainable, reverting to an age-old pattern of smaller-scale settlement and survival-subsistence strategies within a time frame of about two centuries. Negev | Byzantine Empire | archaeobotany | protoglobalization | economic archaeology