In September–October 2018, a salvage excavation was conducted at 29 Trumpeldor Street in Ramla (Permit No. A-8360; map ref. 187998–8009/648808–14; Fig. 1) prior to construction work. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by Mr. Marjiya N‘aman, was directed by R. Toueg (photography), with the assistance of E. Bachar (administration), M. Shuiskaya (pottery drawing), H. Torgë (pottery reading), R. Mishayev (surveying) and S. Itkis (plans).
A few excavations were conducted near the current site in the past. In 2002, an excavation carried out at 13 Ha-Shomer Street (
Torgë 2005; Fig. 1:
A-3640) unearthed architectural remains from the Early Islamic period. In 2009, an excavation at the Pool of the Arches (
Toueg and Arnon 2010; Fig. 1: A-5655) discovered the water source to the pool. In 2012, an excavation at 26 Ha-Shomer Street (
Nagorsky and Torgë 2016; Fig. 1: A-6472) uncovered architectural remains and a decorated mosaic pavement from the Early Islamic period. In 2018, an excavation at 14 Ha-Shomer Street (
Zwiebel 2019; Fig. 1: A-8298) unearthed architectural remains from the Fatimid period.
The current excavation comprised a single square, yielding remains from the Fatimid period (Figs. 2, 3).
The surface layer (L100) yielded a jar (Fig. 4:3) and a strainer jug decorated with a lace-like design (Fig. 4:4) from the Fatimid period. Beneath the surface layer were remains of a plaster floor (L101) that abutted a pillar (W102) built of fieldstones preserved to a height of three courses. A probe dug beside the pillar exposed remains of another plaster floor (L103); it was cut into when the pillar was erected. Floor 103 yielded a simple bowl (Fig. 4:1) and a yellow-glazed bowl with dark stripes on yellow slip of the Coptic Glazed type (Fig. 4:2) from the Fatimid period. The fill (L104) beneath the floor contained numerous body fragments of Early Islamic jars (not drawn).
Despite the limited extent of the excavation and the meager finds, they add to our knowledge of Ramla’s urban spread and architecture in the Fatimid period.
Nagorsky A. and Torgë H. 2016. Ramla, Ha-Shomer Street. HA-ESI 128.
Toueg R. and Arnon Y. 2010. Ramla, the Pool of the Arches. HA-ESI 122.
Zwiebel E. 2019. Ramla, Ha-Shomer Street.
HA-ESI 131.