Area A
Sixteen squares (N64–N71, S64–S71; Fig. 5) were opened. A modern active sewer line ran between the northern and southern rows of squares. Seven strata (I–VII; Table 1) were exposed.
Table 1. The strata in Area A
 
Stratum
Finds
Period
VII
Tomb
Hellenistic (?)
VI
Agricultural soil—sandy hamra containing potsherds, glass fragments, several metallic items, shells, animal bones and coins
Hellenistic–Early Islamic
V
Refuse pit
Crusader
IV
Two tombs
Post Crusader–Ottoman
III
Well
Ottoman
II
Two lime pits
Late Ottoman or British Mandate
I
Street remains, small amounts of tar and asphalt, stone infrastructures and tamped earth
British Mandate–State of Israel
 
Stratum VII. A pit grave that was dug in clay soil and contained human bones was exposed next to the western balk in Sq N70 (L288; see Anthropological Report, Area A). A layer of agricultural soil was above the grave (see Stratum VI below).
 
Stratum VI (thickness 0.3–0.8 m). Following the removal of asphalt from the area, a layer of soft yet compacted soil that included a mixture of hamra and sand was exposed in most of the squares. No architecture or installations were exposed. Potsherds that ranged in date from the Hellenistic until the Early Islamic periods were discovered (see ceramic finds, below); it should be mentioned that only a minor amount of the pottery dated to the Early Islamic period. Most of the fine quality vessels and serving ware are fragments of slipped bowls from the Hellenistic period, including early black slipped and later red slipped types. The ceramic artifacts from Sq S71 all date to the Hellenistic period (L268, L285). This stands in contrast to the mixed nature of the rest of the squares in the area, and at this stage in the research, there is no clear explanation for it. Several murex shells were found in addition to the pottery (Fig. 6). Dark clay soil that was difficult to excavate was revealed beneath Stratum VI. While examining the excavation sections in the eastern part of the area, certain points where the elevation of the clay came very close to the surface level were discerned. Hence, the ancient topography consisted of clay ‘hills’ of sorts, whose tops were straightened due to the erosion of the surface level, a result of agricultural activity, probably plowing.
Very friable kurkar bedrock and no potsherds were exposed in Sqs S64 and S65, close to the well in Stratum III. The bedrock was exposed on the southern side of Sq N66; it had a natural escarpment to the north that seemed to indicate an ancient channel, which had filled up with sandy hamra and was probably aligned northeast-southwest.
 
 
The Pottery from the Hellenistic to the Byzantine Periods
The Hellenistic Period. A base of a bowl (Fig. 7:1) slipped black and burnished, dating to the fourth–third centuries BCE; a base of a bowl (Fig. 7:2), dating to the third–second centuries BCE; a rim of a plain bowl (Fig. 7:3), dating to the third–second centuries BCE; a krater rim (Fig. 7:4), dating to the fifth–third centuries BCE; a jar rim (Fig. 7:5), dating to the fourth–third centuries BCE; and a button base (Fig. 7:6) of a Hellenistic amphora.
The Roman Period. A fragment of a Syrian mortarium (Fig. 7:7) with a stamped impression of a potter’s name ‘C. BELLICI’ on the upper line and ‘ZMARAGDI’ on the bottom line (Hayes 1967:340), dating to the third–fourth centuries CE; two fragments of discus lamps (Fig. 7:8, 9) from the second century CE.
The Byzantine Period. A PRSW Form 6-7 bowl (Fig. 7:10), dating to the sixth–seventh centuries CE and a CRSW bowl (Fig. 7:11), bearing remains of a red slip and dating to the fifth–sixth centuries CE; a stone artifact (Fig. 7:12), bearing whetting marks of a sharp object.
 
Stratum V. A refuse pit, probably square (L306; Fig. 8) and dating to the Crusader period (thirteenth century CE), was exposed in Sq N67. It was only partially revealed because part of it was located in the northern balk. A human skeleton (L302; see Stratum IV) was exposed in its northeastern part. The pit contained soft light colored soil, a small amount of charcoal, fragments of glass vessels from the thirteenth century, some of which are decorated with knobs (see Glass Vessels below), numerous animal bones, fragments of glazed pottery, particularly Crusader cooking pots (thirteenth century CE; see the Crusader ceramics below), iron nails (Fig. 9) and an iron arrowhead that is characteristic of the Crusader period (Fig. 10). The refuse pit was dug into Stratum VI; its borders were clearly distinguished and it was possible to excavate a clean homogenous assemblage, without stratigraphic disturbances.
 
Potsherds ranging in date from the Byzantine (third–fifth centuries CE) to the Crusader (thirteenth century CE) periods were found in the refuse pit; these included a bowl (Fig. 11:1) with a rouletted design, dating to the Byzantine period (third–fifth centuries CE); a neck of a buff-ware jug (Fig. 11:2) with a colander; a rim of a buff-ware jug (Fig. 11:3) with remains of black glaze, dating to the Early Islamic period.
 
Ceramic Artifacts from the Crusader Period
Edna J. Stern
 
The pottery from the Crusader period included glazed bowls and cooking vessels that mainly date to the thirteenth century CE, as well as a rare glazed bowl from the Mamluk period. The Crusader-period vessels are known from other excavations in Yafo and ‘Akko and include a Slip-Painted bowl (Fig. 11:4), dating to the twelfth–thirteenth centuries CE (Stern 2012:44–47, Type BE.GL.4, Fig. 4:11, Pl. 4.21:2); two Proto-Maiolica vessels imported from Italy, dating to the thirteenth century CE—a bowl rim (Fig. 11:5; Stern 2012:77–80, Type SIT.GL.2, Pl. 4.57:4) and a base of a bowl (Fig. 11:6; Stern 2012:77–80, Type SIT.GL.2, Pl.4.59:9); a Mamluk sgrafitto-type bowl (Fig. 11:7) with an incised decoration, which comes from Egypt and dates to the mid-thirteenth and fourteenth centuries CE (Avissar and Stern 2005:38, Type I.3.5.1, Fig. 14:7); a casserole (Fig. 12:1) with an everted rim, dating to the thirteenth century CE (Stern 2012: 41–44, Type BE.CW.2, Fig. 4: 8, Pl. 4.14:9–14); a cooking pot (Fig. 12:2) with a ledge rim from the thirteenth century CE (Stern 2012:41–44, Type BE.CW.2, Fig. 4.8, Pl. 4.16: 11); a handmade cooking pot (Fig. 12: 3) with an everted rim and thumb marks on the outer edge of the rim, imported from Cyprus and dating to the thirteenth century CE (Stern 2012: 59–60, Type CY.CW, Fig. 4.8, Pl. 4.40:8); an imported glazed cooking pot (Fig. 12:4) of unidentified origin, dating to the thirteenth century CE (Stern 2012: 95, Type VI.CW.1, Pl.4.77: 8, 9); a cooking pot (Fig. 12:5) with a thickened rim that is folded and everted, dating to the thirteenth century CE (Stern 2012: 41–44, Type BE.CW.2, Fig. 4: 8, Pl.4.16:8).
 
Stratum IV. Two tombs—one (L302) in the northeastern corner of Sq N67 and the other (L304) in the northwestern part of Sq S68 (see Anthropological Report, Area A, below), were exposed.
 
Stratum III. A round well (diam. 1.4 m; Fig. 13) was exposed in Sq N65; the elevation of the well’s upper part was c. 16 m asl. The wall of the well was built of medium-sized kurkar stones built into sandy hamra soil. The foundation trench of the well’s wall was discerned along the exterior eastern part of the installation. The interior of the well was excavated to a depth of 3.5 m; the excavation could not proceed any deeper due to technical and safety limitations.Some of the kurkar building stones that were removed from the interior of the well had probably collapsed from its upper courses that were not preserved. Other stones were from the walls of houses and bore visible remains of blue plaster that was characteristic of the dwellings in Tel Aviv and Yafo in the early twentieth century CE. Several Marseilles roof tiles and part of a dressed kurkar frieze were also recovered from the well. The building stones used to construct the well were bonded with reddish brown mortar. Noteworthy is a groove (width 2.5 cm) visible between the stone courses at a depth of c. 1.5 m. The horizontal groove extended along the entire circumference of the well’s wall. A similar groove was discovered lower down, at a depth of 1.5 m below the first groove. The significance of the grooves is unclear; they might have been related to the construction method of the well, which has not yet been determined.
 
Stratum II. Lime pits were exposed in Sqs S69 and S70 (Fig. 14). The phenomenon of lime pits that date to the first half of the twentieth century CE is well known in Yafo. Similar pits were found in excavations in the flea market, in the Qishla compound and recently also in the compound on Ha-Doar Street (L. Rauchberger, per. comm.). These pits have an irregular shape and are relatively shallow (max. depth c. 1.3 m but usually less). A coating of lime is clearly apparent along the sides and bottom of the pits. Some of the pits contain an accumulation of modern debris, particularly iron items and other non-perishable refuse; however, no new objects, such as plastic or paper, were discerned. Modern debris was discarded in the lime pits after they were no longer used for their original purpose and were converted to rubbish pits. The two pits in Area A were in a uniform and almost exact parallel to the course of the road. Their southern sides were parallel to the southern sections of Sqs S69 and S70. The northern sides had been destroyed when a modern sewer pipe was installed; consequently, their original size is unknown. It seems that the western pit (2.0×2.9 m, depth 0.32 m) was slightly larger than the eastern one (2.0×2.1 m, depth 0.53 m), but not as deep. The pits might have been deeper but their upper parts were destroyed at the time the road was paved. Apart from the identical line of their southern sides, an even strip (width c. 15 cm) had remained between them; these facts indicate that the pits were planned together and their diggers took notice of each other.
The finds were more plentiful in the eastern pit, the deeper of the two. The fill (L264) contained fragments of bricks and roof tiles, several potsherds of the later type of Ottoman Gaza ware, fragments of glass bottles and a variety of metallic debris, including a small teapot coated with blue enamel and a chamber pot. The finds in the western pit (L275) were of a similar nature, but not as many. A probe conducted beneath the floor of the eastern pit (L299) penetrated directly into the layer of natural clay, and the agricultural soil of Stratum VI did not appear below it. That soil was found east and west of the pits (L297, L298). A layer of the natural clay was discerned in the west closer to the modern surface. Apparently, this point protruded above the surface of a ravine where the street was subsequently paved. The location of the pits below the street and alongside buildings of the twentieth century CE indicates that they were used at a time of intensive construction during the Late Ottoman period and the British Mandate era, a time when the modern city of Yafo had taken shape.
 
Stratum I. The remains were very meager, yet included several unusual items, among them a modern Egyptian coin from 1984 that rolled into the street or came from a modern sewage channel.
 
 
Area A—Anthropological Report
Vered Eshed
 
L288. Articulated human bones adjacent to the western side of Sq N70. The individual was laying supinely with the head in the west and feet in the east. The skull was located beneath the balk that separated Squares N69 and N70. The age of the individual, based on the development of teeth, is estimated to be 15 years (Ubelaker 1989: Fig. 62). The individual might be a female based on the morphology of the long bones, which are very slight (Bass 1987:93–258); however, the delicate morphology of the bones might also be related to the young age of the individual.
Dental pathology—enamel hypoplasia lines were discovered on an eye tooth, which is a pathology indicative of a period of stress during childhood, probably due to poor socio-economic conditions.
L302. Human bones in the northeastern corner of Sq N67. The upper part of a limb was found in an articulated position and two legs were beneath the balk that separated Squares N67 and N68. No skull was found, possibly because of a disturbance in a late period. The deceased was placed in an east–west direction, with the head (not found) in the west. It is estimated that the individual was an adult, greater than fifteen years of age, based on the size of the long bones and the distal end of the humerus that is joined to the body of the bone (Johnston and Zimmer 1989). It was not possible to determine the gender of the individual.
L304. Human bones arranged in an anatomic position, in Sq S68. An upper limb and skull were found between Squares S67 and S68. The deceased was placed in an east–west direction, with the head in the west and feet in the east; the face was apparently turned toward the south. The individual is believed to be a male, on the basis of the burly morphology of the long bones and skull (Bass 1987:93–258). The age estimate was based on changes in the pelvic bone (Brooks and Suchey 1990) and the degree of dental attrition (Hillson 1993:176–201) that is consistent with an individual, 35–40 years of age.
Dental pathology—enamel hypoplasia lines were noted on the incisors, which is a pathology indicative of a period of stress during childhood, probably due to poor socio-economic conditions.
The individuals in the three graves were interred in primary burial, with the head in the west and the feet in the east.
 
Metallic Objects from Area A
An iron cannonball (diam. 78 mm; Fig. 15:1), dating to the Ottoman period and a bronze spatula (Fig. 15:2) were found.
  
Coins from Area A
Robert Kool
Eight coins were found, six of which were identified (Table 2).
 
Table 2. Coins from Area A
Dating (CE)
Locus
Description
IAA No.
54
276
A governor under Claudius, Jerusalem
139486
324–497
298
Bronze, Late Roman
139487
1520–1620
301
Ottoman manjir
139485
351–361
301
Bronze, Late Roman
139488
1927–1948
Surface
British Mandate
S-788613
1984
Surface
Egypt, Cairo
S-788613
 
Area B
Twelve squares were excavated in the northern lane (DN1–DN12; Fig. 16). The squares complement the excavations conducted by Y. Arbel (HA-ESI 124). In addition, two squares were excavated in the southern lane (D01, D02), just to the east of Sq D1 in Arbel’s excavation. Three strata (I–III; Table 3) were exposed.
 
Table 3. The strata in Area B.
Period
Finds
Stratum
Late Ottoman, second half of the nineteenth century CE and onward
A white road bed (?)
III
Probably dating to the 1920s
A road built of fieldstones
IIb
British Mandate, 1930s
A soling road and asphalt street
IIa
Post 1948
An asphalt road
I
 
Stratum III. A tamped, light gray foundation (L825; thickness 0.05–0.20 m; Fig. 17) that probably dates from the time of World War I to the 1920s. The foundation, which was identified in all of the excavation squares in this area, contained small and medium fieldstones mixed with light gray mortar. The road sloped visibly to the north. The foundation became thinner (0.05 m) in the west, in Sq DN12. An iron pipe (diam. c. 0.2 m) was exposed in Sq DN3, sealed by the light gray foundation, which causes the belated date of the road. A Mauser rifle cartridge was found below the foundation in Sq DN2 (identified by A. Glick). Below the foundation was dark brown soil that contained some potsherds, among them amphora bases dating to the Hellenistic period, several potsherds dating to the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods and potsherds from the Ottoman period, including fragments of black Gaza ware. The soil was that of Yafo’s agricultural hinterland in the Ottoman period, in an area where orange groves were gown on the outskirts of the city. A trial trench was excavated in Sq DN7 until soil devoid of finds was reached.
It should be noted that in the southern lane of the modern street, for example in Sq D01, the foundation was firmly tamped and built of small and medium fieldstones mixed with white plaster and possibly even lime (thickness c. 0.2 m; Fig. 18). Part of this foundation was discerned in archaeological excavations in the eastern part of the road (HA-ESI 122).
Trial trenches were excavated in the foundation in Sqs D01 and D02 (Fig. 19). Pottery dating to the second half of the nineteenth century CE was identified in dark brown soil fill below the foundation (L713, L714; Fig. 16: Section 4–4); it included red slipped and burnished tobacco pipes and fragments of black Gaza ware characteristic of the Ottoman period. In addition, several potsherds from the Hellenistic, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods were found. A road sealed the light gray foundation (see Stratum IIb below) in Sq DN10, which was c. 0.15 m below it. It was also determined that the foundation abutted an installation of concrete, possibly from the time of the British Mandate, which contained numerous ground-up shells. The installation was partially exposed and its purpose is unclear. The difference in the texture of the foundation in the northern and southern lanes is unclear.
 
Stratum IIb. The northern side of a built road (c. 50 m; Fig. 4) was exposed along c. ten squares, consisting of a single course of roughly hewn medium-sized fieldstones arranged next to each other. This road section was the northern side of a road, aligned east–west, which was exposed in Y. Arbel’s excavation (HA-ESI 124); its overall width was 3 m. The southern side of the road, which was exposed in Sqs D01 and D02, was the eastern continuation of the road section exposed in Arbel’s excavation. The road was built on top of fill (L703, L704; thickness 0.5 m), which consisted of light brown soil and potsherds that range in date from the Hellenistic period to the time of the British Mandate, as well as animal bones and several fragments of scattered human bones without any indication of burial (see Anthropological Report, Area B, below). In the western part of Sq D02 was probably a shallow refuse pit (L708), dug into the layer of fill (L704). It seems that the road partially sealed the pit. Fragments of glass and porcelain, dating to the Late Ottoman period and the British Mandate era, were found in the refuse pit.
 
Stratum IIa. An asphalt and soling street that apparently dates to the British Mandate era, the 1930s, a time when the entire width of the road was paved in the direction of the port.
 
Stratum I. A modern asphalt street.
 
Pottery from Area B
The finds date from the Hellenistic to the Ottoman periods.
A bowl (Fig. 20:1) slipped black and burnished, dating to the fourth–second centuries BCE; a base of a bowl (Fig. 20:2) slipped black and burnished, dating to the third–second centuries BCE; a base of a Rhodian amphora (Fig. 20:3), dating to the third–second centuries BCE; a bowl rim (Fig. 20:4) of sandy clay, dating to the Late Roman period (third–fourth centuries CE); and a bowl rim (Fig. 20:5) glazed brown, whose date is unknown. The Gaza ware from the Ottoman period included a bowl with an everted rim (Fig. 21:1), a rim of a glazed bowl (Fig. 21:2) from the nineteenth century CE and jugs (Fig. 21:3, 4).
 
Clay Tobacco Pipes
Lior Rauchberger
 
Seven fragments of pipes dating to the Ottoman period were found.
A gray-slipped and burnished pipe (L713; Figs. 21:5) with a short shank (diam. 0.8 cm) incised with thin double lines and above them a rouletted design, consisting of a thin serrated line. The shank end is swollen and decorated with two rows of stamped rhombuses with flowers inside them, ending in a plain stepped termination ring.
A gray-slipped and burnished pipe (L828; Figs. 21:6) with a short shank (diam. 0.9 cm) incised with thin double lines and a wreath adorned with a rouletted decoration of serrated horizontal lines, which ends in a plain stepped termination ring. Both pipes date to the eighteenth century CE (Dekkel 2008:144–145, Fig. 53).
A brown-slipped and burnished pipe (L828; Figs. 21:7), with a short shank (diam. 1.3 cm). On the right side of the shank is a stamped impression in the form of a circle with dots in it. The shank ends in a wreath that has a triangular cross-section and a stepped termination ring above it. The shank was inserted inside a spherical bowl, most of which did not survive. Inside the bowl was a charred ceramic tab that was formed by the insertion and prevented the tobacco leaves from passing into the shank. The pipe dates to the second half of the eighteenth century CE (Avissar 2005:83–88, 93, Figs. 84.81, 82).
A gray-slipped and burnished pipe (L826; Figs. 22:1), with a long ribbed shank (diam. 1.6 cm) in a gadroon pattern and a rouletted serrated line above it. The bowl has a disk base at whose bottom is a prominent triangular keel decorated with a rouletted serrated strip, bordered by a thin line. On the bottom side of the bowl are decorations of horizontal parallel lines and rhombuses. A rouletted serrated line separates the base of the bowl from the shank.
A reddish brown slipped and burnished pipe (L813; Fig. 22:2). The bowl becomes wider at its round flat base, at whose bottom are two rouletted serrated stripes, forming a V pattern that marks the keel. Carelessly incised parallel lines appear on the bottom part of the bowl. The top and bottom of the bowl are separated by a strip with a rouletted pattern of two parallel rows of notches and a smooth area between them (Simpson 2000:163, 165–166, Fig. 13.8:172, 173).
A reddish brown slipped and burnished pipe (L711; Fig. 22:3) with a smooth shank (diam. 1.6 cm). The shank end is swollen and decorated with a rouletted pattern composed of two rows of parallel vertical lines and two parallel horizontal lines above them. On the base of the bowl are two pairs of parallel lines that form a V-shaped pattern, marking the keel, and a rouletted pattern in the form of a serrated stripe is on its front.
A reddish brown slipped and burnished pipe (L253; Fig. 22:4) with a long ribbed shank decorated with an imitation gadroon pattern. Between the ends of the petals is a palmette seal impression and above them is a serrated rouletted line.
The two last pipes are lily-shaped and date to the second half of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries CE.
 
Metallic Objects
An iron spike (calthrop; Fig. 23:1) dating to the Crusader period; a similar spike was found in excavations at the French Hospital in Yafo (HA-ESI 122); a fragment of an iron horse shoe (Fig. 23: 2); a fragment of an iron cannonball, dating to the Ottoman period (Fig. 23:3);and
a bronze bracelet (Fig. 23:4). 
 
Coins from Area B
Robert Kool
 
Four coins were found, three of which were illegible. The fourth is a modern copper coin that was minted in Denver, USA, in 2002.
 
Anthropological Report– Area B
Yossi Nagar
 
Scattered, poorly preserved human bones were found in the soil fill in Stratum IIb; most of the bones were not diagnostic. Bone fragments found in separate squares do not necessarily represent different individuals; hence, the great difficulty in determining the number of individuals in this context. The anthropological examination done in the field indicated that the bones represent at least six individuals, aged 1–4, 2–10, <15 (Johnston and Zimmer 1989), <25 (Szilvassy 1980), 20–40 and <40 years old (Hillson 1986:176–201). At least one of the individuals was identified as male (Bass 1987:93–258). The gender determination for the rest of the individuals is ambiguous.
The bone finds from the site are considerable and the fractures are not random; hence, it can be assumed that the source of the bones is an ancient cemetery that was located near the road. A human skeleton in anatomic articulation, which is indicative of primary burial, was found very close to this road (HA-ESI 124). The skeleton was dated to a time that predated the paving of the road, probably to the Early Islamic period, and it reinforces the assumption that a cemetery existed near the Ottoman road.
 
Archaeozoological Finds
Moshe Sadeh
 
The archaeozoological finds are from three periods: Hellenistic, Crusader and Ottoman.
The Hellenistic period (L285). Two marine mollusks: Talporia (lurida Linee) and Murex (trunculus Linee).
The Crusader period (L300, L303, L305, L310, L316; Tables 4–6). Bones of domesticated animals—sheep/goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus), cattle (Bos taurus), domesticated pig (Sus scrofa) and domesticated dog (Canis familiaris). Wild animals are represented by a shark vertebra (Sellacii) and three marine mollusks, among them two Glycymeris violacescens Lamark, three murex and Thais haemastoma Linee. Due to the lack of finds it was not possible to examine the livestock at the site. It can be stated that water resources were available for raising cattle and pigs that require large amounts of it.
 
Table 4. Breakdown of the bones of domesticated animals.
Total
Domestic dog
Domestic
pig
Cattle
Sheep/goat 
Species
 
Bones
1
 
 
 
1
Orbit
2
 
1
1
 
Mandibula
4
 
 
 
4
Scapula
1
 
 
 
1
Humerus
5
 
 
2
3
Radius
1
 
 
 
1
Ulna
4
1
 
2
1
Metacarpus
6
 
 
2
4
Pelvis
2
 
 
1
1
Femur
4
 
 
2
2
Tibia
1
 
 
 
1
Calcaneus
2
 
 
1
1
Astragale
2
 
 
 
2
Metatarsus
3
 
 
1
2
Os centrotarsus
10
 
 
3
7
Unidentified limb
1
 
 
 
1
Phalanx I
2
 
 
2
 
V. Axis II
7
 
 
6
1
V. Lumbar
1
 
 
 
1
V. Sacral
14
 
 
6
8
Ribs
73
1
1
29
42
Total
100.00
1.37
1.37
39.73
57.53
%
 
                                                                                                                                       
Table 5: Right, left, distal and proximal limb bones of animals
Domestic
dog
Cattle
Sheep/goat
Species
L
R
L
R
   L
R
 
 
 
 
 
1
Distal humerus
 
 
1
 
1
1
Proximal radius
 
 
 
 
 
1
Distal radius
 
 
 
 
 
1
Proximal ulna
 
1
1
1
1
 
Proximal metacarpus
 
 
 
1
 
 
Distal metacarpus
 
 
1
 
 
1
Distal femur
 
 
1
1
 
1
Proximal tibia
 
 
 
 
1
 
Distal tibia
 
 
2
 
1
 
Astragale
 
 
 
 
1
1
Proximal metatarsus
 
 
 
 
1
 
Distal metatarsus
 
 
Table 6. The minimum number of individuals (MNI).
Total
Domestic dog
Domestic chicken
Cattle
Sheep/goat
Species
Bones
5
1
1
2
1
MNI
100.00
20.00
20.00
40.00
20.00
%
 
 
The Ottoman period (L704, L708, L710, L713, L806, L813, L831). Bones of domesticated animals were found: sheep/goat, cattle and horses (Equus caballus). Wild animals are represented by a shark vertebra and marine mollusks: one Talporia lurida Linee, four Glycymeris violacescens Lamark, three Murex trunculus Linee and one Thais haemastoma Linee. In addition, one land mollusk (Punctum lederi) was found.
The breakdown of bones (Tables 7–9) shows that one individual of each species was found.
 
Table 7. Breakdown of the bones of domesticated animals.
Total
Horse
Cattle
Sheep/goat
Species
 
Bones
1
1
 
 
Incisor
2
1
1
 
Premolar
1
 
 
1
Radius
1
 
 
1
Patella
1
 
1
 
Astragale
1
 
 
1
Metatarsus
5
 
 
5
Unidentified limb
4
 
1
3
Rib
16
2
3
11
Total
100.00
12.50
18.75
68.75
%
 
Table 8. Limb bones of animals
Cattle
 
 
R             L
Sheep/goat
 
 
R           L    
Species
 
Bones
 
               1
Proximal radius
 
 1            
Patella
 
 1              
Distal metatarsus
                 1
 
Astragale
 
Table 9. The minimum number of individuals (MNI)
Total
Horse
Cattle
Sheep/goat
Species
3
1
1
1
MNI
100.00
33.33
33.33
33.34
%
 
 
The Glass Vessels
Brigitte Ouahnouna
 
Three-hundred and fifty glass fragments were recovered from the excavation, including 270 non-diagnostic, modern body fragments. Area B yielded modern glass only, including various bottles and beakers, window pane fragments and modern colored bracelets in turquoise, blue, yellow and colorless. The glass material from Area A is mainly medieval, with a few earlier fragments from the Late Roman and Byzantine periods. Only a few indicative vessels are presented, attributed to Stratum V (thirtenth century CE; Fig. 24). These are examples of the most characteristic glass vessel of the Crusader period in Israel—a beaker with applied prunted decoration. These beakers usually have a flaring rounded rim and a wide open mouth with applied horizontal trail in the connection between the mouth and the body. The cylindrical body, short squat or tall and narrow, is decorated with rows of prunts, usually uneven. The prunts are of different size and shape. Some are rounded, some are pointed or carelessly shaped. The bases were mainly formed by applied trail, wounded around a pushed-in bottom.Fragments of such beakers were found in the Crusader tower at the Courthouse site in ‘Akko (Gorin-Rosen 1997:82–84, Fig. 2:20–26; and see there further discussion and references).
Fig. 24:1, 2 (L258, L279) are body fragments, made of colorless glass and covered with gold and silver iridescence. The wall is thin with remains of two irregular protruding prunts.
Fig. 24:3 (L290, L310) is also made of colorless glass and includes two parts of the same vessel. Four prunts are preserved on the body fragment. The base, almost complete, presents a pushed-in bottom with an applied trail wounded around it (Base diam. 5 cm).
In addition to the beakers, two more fragments were identified.
Fig. 24:4 (L279) is a tooled-in hollow tube, which characterizes the most common flasks of the Crusader period. This technique was mainly used during medieval times for big bottles and jars, probably to strengthen the vessel (Gorin-Rosen 1997:80–81, Fig. 2:9).
Fig. 24:5 (L258) is a fragment of pushed-in tubular base, similar to those found in the Crusader tower at ‘Akko (Gorin-Rosen 1997:81, Fig. 2:12–15). As these bases were usually found with the tooled-in tube and bottles with the pinched rim, they probably served as their bases.
Finally, an interesting modern fragment of a chandelier is presented (Fig. 24:6; L275); it is a small piece of colorless translucent glass with facet cuts, which was mass-produced.
  
The excavation area seems to represent a region of extra-urban activities and in particular  agricultural activity. The earliest period in which agricultural activities took place in the area was the Hellenistic period. The potsherds in the layer of soil were very small and worn. The ceramic assemblage that dated from the Hellenistic to the Early Islamic periods was not disturbed by modern or Ottoman items, apart from the well. The refuse pit from the Crusader period is interesting in that it is the southernmost find discovered so far south of the tell. The well from the Ottoman period is the only one in the excavation site and c. 350 m distance from a cluster of wells that was found in previous excavations down the street (HA-ESI 123).
Apart from being an agricultural area, tombs were discovered in it, the earliest probably dating to the Hellenistic period. Two more tombs were found in Area A, Stratum IV; the one in Sq N67 postdated the Crusader refuse pit and the tomb in Sq N68 cannot be dated. The elevation of the latter (15.48 m asl) is similar to that of the tomb in Sq N67 (15.41 m asl) and it can therefore be assumed that they belong to the same phase and can be dated to later than the thirteenth century CE, but prior to the 1920s. It is important to note that the lime pits are not limekilns, where rocks were burnt, but rather pits where water and lime were mixed to prepare the material for construction. It has not yet been determined if they predated the tennis club that appears on the maps from the British Mandate era or are later than it. The width of the foundation from Stratum III in Area B is greater than 8.5 m, much bigger than the road built in Stratum IIb; hence, it is possible that the foundation was used as a road and not as a foundation for a road above it. Both roads were probably used as lateral roads from the time of the World War I until the 1930s, at which time the main road was paved on Yehuda Ha-Yammit Street.
 
 

 
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