The survey was divided into two stages; in the first, a systematic survey was performed by a three member team and remains were documented; in the second stage, trial trenches were dug for the purpose of locating and identifying the extent of the remains underground, particularly north and west of the Qibbuz. Areas for quarrying, burial and installations, utilized by important sites located nearby, were documented. In addition, it was determined that the southern hill of Qibbuz Megiddo is a multi-period archaeological site and remains on it range in date from the Roman period to the modern era. A Middle Bronze Age site, situated next to a source of water in Nahal Qini, was documented southwest of the Qibbuz.
Field Survey
The survey was performed in the planned expansions east, north and west of the Qibbuz, within the precincts of the Qibbuz and in areas contiguous with the regions slated for future development (Table 1; Fig. 1).
The Eastern Expansion Areas. Potsherds, roof tiles and fragments of glass vessels dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods were gathered on the eastern slopes of the Qibbuz. Three concentrations of building stones and architectural items (Fig. 1: 1, 2, 11, 12, 15, 16) were documented, including a stone seat and cornice (0.5×0.7 m; Fig. 2). The items might have been used in a nearby amphitheater that extended across a minimum area of 50×70 m (Figs. 1: 17; 3) or in another building. The amphitheater is located at the foot of the Qibbuz’ soccer field; its western part was covered with soil fill in recent years. A cave opening (Fig. 1: 18) and ten rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 3–10, 13, 14) were also documented.
The Northern Expansion Areas. Fragments of pottery vessels dating to the Bronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk and Ottoman periods were documented on a hilltop between the Qibbuz and Tel Megiddo and along its northern and western slopes. A rectangular shaft that is at least 2 m deep was noted; it was probably used as an entrance to a tomb (Figs. 1: 20; 4). In addition, blocked cave openings (Fig. 1: 21, 26, 27, 32, 45), stone heaps (Fig. 1: 46–50), construction lines that are probably boundary walls, perhaps a building or a road (Fig. 1: 43, 44) and rock-hewn installations (Fig. 1: 22, 25, 30–32, 39) were documented. An installation (?), cupmark, channel and rock-cuttings were identified next to Installation 25. Due to the conditions in which the survey was performed, it was only possible to identify some of the installations; Installations 30 and 32 are believed to be small extracting installations or bodedot. Seventeen stone quarrying clusters were also documented (Fig. 1: 19, 20, 23–25, 28, 29, 33–38, 40–42, 51; Fig. 5).
The Western Expansion Areas. Pottery from the Persian, Roman and Byzantine periods was gathered along the western fringes of Qibbuz Megiddo and on leveled ground northwest and west of it. The top of a wall (Fig. 1: 62), two caves with collapsed openings (Fig. 1: 52, 59) and six rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 53–58) were documented. Concentrations of masonry stones and architectural elements were also noted at the gate of the Qibbuz (Fig. 1: 60, 61).
The Built-up Area of the Qibbuz and nearby Areas to the Northeast that are Contiguous with the Development Areas
Installations (Fig. 1: 63, 70), burial caves (Fig. 1: 73, 74) and a blocked opening of a cave (Fig. 1: 75) were documented on the northern hill of the Qibbuz. Eleven rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 64–69, 71, 76–79) were documented; a hewn game board is located next to Rock-cutting 79. A potsherd scatter that mainly includes fragments from the Roman and Byzantine periods was identified (Fig. 1: 72). Wall remains (Fig. 1: 80–83) and potsherds dating to the Bronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, Mamluk, Crusader and Ottoman periods were documented on the southern hill of the Qibbuz.
Rock-cut cist graves (Fig. 1: 93, 110), a burial cave (Fig. 1: 88), hewn shafts, perhaps for burial (Fig. 1: 91, 94, 105–107) and other caves with blocked openings (Fig. 1: 104, 108) were documented on the hill northeast of the Qibbuz, along a dirt road leading to the modern cemetery. In addition, rock-hewn installations (Fig. 1: 85–87, 94–98) were documented and cupmarks were identified alongside Installations 95–97. Rock-cutting clusters (Fig. 1: 89, 90, 92, 101, 102, 110–115), stone heaps (Fig. 1: 99, 100, 109) and a wall (Fig. 1: 103) were identified. Bronze Age potsherds (Fig. 1: 84) were documented near the modern cemetery.
Table 1. The Survey Finds (Fig. 1)
Survey Site
|
Map Reference
|
Description
|
1
|
217524/720425
|
Architectural elements
|
2
|
217534/720439
|
Architectural elements
|
3
|
217552/720458
|
Cave
|
4
|
217544/720464
|
Quarry
|
5
|
217551/720477
|
Quarry
|
6
|
217508/720498
|
Quarry
|
7
|
217456/720460
|
Quarry
|
8
|
217435/720461
|
Quarry
|
9
|
217427/720463
|
Quarry
|
10
|
217430/720468
|
Quarry
|
11
|
217407/720454
|
Architectural elements
|
12
|
217401/720461
|
Architectural elements
|
13
|
217522/720533
|
Quarry
|
14
|
217569/720530
|
Quarry
|
15
|
217583/710505
|
Architectural elements
|
16
|
217598/720510
|
Architectural elements
|
17
|
217539/720722
|
Amphitheater
|
18
|
217481/720703
|
Quarry, opening of cave
|
19
|
217055/721000
|
Quarry
|
20
|
217058/720991
|
Quarry and square shaft
|
21
|
217077/720998
|
Cave
|
22
|
217059/721008
|
Extracting installation
|
23
|
217070/721009
|
Quarry
|
24
|
217077/721014
|
Quarry
|
25
|
217091/721005
|
Installation (?), cupmark, channel and rock-cuttings
|
26
|
217085/720990
|
Cave
|
27
|
217084/720986
|
Cave
|
28
|
217095/720971
|
Quarry
|
29
|
217079/720967
|
Quarry
|
30
|
217088/720968
|
Extracting installation—‘bodeda’
|
31
|
217101/720971
|
Installation (?)
|
32
|
217111/720975
|
Cave and installation
|
33
|
217111/720999
|
Quarry
|
34
|
217113/721017
|
Quarry
|
35
|
217129/721017
|
Quarry
|
36
|
217139/721017
|
Quarry
|
37
|
217143/721052
|
Quarry
|
38
|
217144/721060
|
Quarry
|
39
|
217128/721064
|
Installation (?)
|
40
|
217157/721057
|
Quarry
|
41
|
217188/721021
|
Quarry
|
42
|
217191/721012
|
Quarry
|
43
|
217253/720994
|
Longitudinal stone heap (wall? building?)
|
44
|
217254/720997
|
Longitudinal stone heap (wall? building?)
|
45
|
217252/720962
|
Cave
|
46
|
217287/720931
|
Stone heap
|
47
|
217311/720909
|
Stone heap
|
48
|
217322/720896
|
Stone heap
|
49
|
217328/720883
|
Stone heap
|
50
|
217350/720907
|
Stone heap
|
51
|
217141/720978
|
Quarry
|
52
|
216997/720820
|
Cave
|
53
|
216995/720859
|
Quarry
|
54
|
217005/720858
|
Quarry
|
55
|
217013/720912
|
Quarry
|
56
|
217014/720937
|
Quarry
|
57
|
217018/720945
|
Quarry
|
58
|
217037/720963
|
Quarry
|
59
|
217043/720951
|
Cave
|
60
|
216976/720619
|
Architectural elements
|
61
|
216985/720595
|
Architectural elements
|
62
|
216965/720445
|
Wall
|
63
|
217131/720703
|
Installation (?)
|
64
|
217128/720739
|
Quarry
|
65
|
217193/720868
|
Quarry
|
66
|
217167/720887
|
Quarry
|
67
|
217119/720933
|
Quarry
|
68
|
217116/720924
|
Quarry
|
69
|
217108/720924
|
Quarry
|
70
|
217087/720910
|
Installation (?)
|
71
|
217074/720892
|
Quarry
|
72
|
217068/720866
|
Sherd scatter
|
73
|
217053/720853
|
Tomb
|
74
|
217045/720843
|
Burial cave
|
75
|
217039/720820
|
Cave
|
76
|
217031/720811
|
Quarry
|
77
|
217025/720789
|
Quarry
|
78
|
217039/720769
|
Quarry
|
79
|
217017/720716
|
Rock-cutting and hewn game board
|
80
|
217178/720123
|
Wall
|
81
|
217187/720122
|
Wall
|
82
|
217133/720129
|
Wall
|
83
|
217147/720125
|
Wall
|
84
|
217521/720970
|
Potsherd scatter
|
85
|
217461/720983
|
Extracting installation
|
86
|
217461/720972
|
Extracting installation
|
87
|
217462/720966
|
Extracting installation
|
88
|
217468/720967
|
Burial cave
|
89
|
217446/720967
|
Quarry
|
90
|
217442/720960
|
Quarry
|
91
|
217447/720956
|
Hewn shaft
|
92
|
217452/720948
|
Quarry
|
93
|
217452/720920
|
Rock-cut tomb
|
94
|
217447/720911
|
Rock-cutting and reservoir (water?), installation (?)
|
95
|
217435/720923
|
Cupmark
|
96
|
217429/720928
|
Cupmark
|
97
|
217429/720935
|
Cupmark
|
98
|
217423/720946
|
Extracting installation
|
99
|
217389/720891
|
Stone heap
|
100
|
217401/720844
|
Stone heap
|
101
|
217417/720834
|
Quarry
|
102
|
217420/720843
|
Quarry
|
103
|
217437/720845
|
Wall
|
104
|
217447/720861
|
Quarry
|
105
|
217483/720862
|
Shaft (tomb?)
|
106
|
217515/720869
|
Shaft (tomb?)
|
107
|
217523/720873
|
Shaft (tomb?)
|
108
|
217538/720877
|
Cave
|
109
|
217531/720860
|
Stone heap
|
110
|
217530/720854
|
Rock-cuttings and tomb
|
111
|
217528/720847
|
Quarry
|
112
|
217548/720846
|
Quarry
|
113
|
217555/720863
|
Quarry
|
114
|
217537/720829
|
Rock-cuttings
|
115
|
217531/720825
|
Rock-cuttings
|
Trial Trenches (Table 2; Fig. 6)
The survey finds show that the rocky slopes north, northwest and southeast of the Qibbuz were used for burial and installations. To delineate the ancient areas northwest, north, west and southwest of the Qibbuz, underground examinations were carried out. Potsherds from the Roman and Byzantine periods were found in the upper layer of soil in the trial trenches (Trenches 1–34; each 5 m long, 0.6 m wide; Trenches 35–40: each 10 m long, 0.6 m wide).
Seven trenches (Fig. 6: 25–31) were excavated in the northern expansion to determine the depth of the soil and boundaries of the areas with rock-cuttings and installations in this region. The examinations revealed a shallow layer of soil on top of the bedrock that contained potsherds, mainly from the Roman and Byzantine period.
Nine trenches were opened in the northwestern expansion (Fig. 6: 1–6, 32–34). Potsherds were found on the surface (max. depth c. 1 m) in the area northwest of the Qibbuz. Natural soil (max. depth 2.65 m) was documented below this level. The field sherds found in the upper layer of soil were dated to the Roman and Byzantine periods and included roof tiles.
Seventeen trenches were excavated in a narrow strip that extended north of Nahal Qini, in the agricultural fields west and southwest of the Qibbuz (Fig. 6: 7–23). Archaeological remains were exposed in Trenches 8 and 9, among them stones and potsherds dating from the Roman–Byzantine periods to the modern era (max. depth 1.2 m). A surface leveled layer (max. depth 1.1 m) with finds from the Byzantine, Crusader and Mamluk periods was documented in Trench 10; a crushed chalk floor (thickness c. 10 cm; Fig. 7), which contained potsherds from the Middle Bronze Age, was exposed at a depth of 1.2 m. Potsherds dating to the Roman, Crusader and Mamluk periods were found in the surface layer of Trenches 11 and 12; a level of crushed chalk devoid of potsherds was found at a depth of c. 1.2 m. Stones and potsherds from the Roman and Byzantine periods (max. depth 1 m), probably architectural remains or tombs, were found in Trenches 13, 15, 17, and 18.
Six trenches were excavated on the northern hill (Fig. 6: 35–40). Rock-cutting clusters were documented in Trenches 35, 36, and 39; the depth of the bedrock beneath the surface varies (1–2 m). Furthermore, potsherds dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods were found.
A single trial trench (Fig. 6: 24) was excavated on the southern hill and gray soil (max. depth 0.9 m) that contained potsherds from the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods was exposed. At a depth of 0.95 m, a number of superposed layers of crushed chalk alternating with levels of gray soil were exposed; these layers were documented to a depth of 2.6 m below the surface and they contained similar ceramic material, mainly from the Early Islamic period. Below these layers, gray soil and potsherds from the Byzantine period were documented to a depth of 2.1 m, where the top of an ashlar-built wall was identified.
Table 2: The Trial Trenches (Fig. 6)
Trench No.
|
Map Reference
|
Depth (in meters)
|
1
|
216961/720744
|
2.65
|
2
|
216943/720603
|
0.95
|
3
|
216884/720565
|
1.3
|
4
|
216862/720446
|
2.1
|
5
|
216867/720363
|
1.25
|
6
|
216889/720358
|
2.0
|
7
|
216875/720290
|
1.3
|
8
|
216919/720288
|
2.8
|
9
|
216902/720182
|
1.35
|
10
|
216906/720114
|
3.2
|
11
|
216892/720111
|
0.55
|
12
|
216911/720051
|
0.9
|
13
|
216893/720053
|
2.2
|
14
|
216863/720049
|
0.65
|
15
|
216907/720004
|
2.1
|
16
|
216875/720005
|
0.6
|
17
|
216890/719972
|
0.5
|
18
|
216891/720926
|
0.5
|
19
|
216870/720926
|
2.9
|
20
|
216888/720878
|
2.5
|
21
|
216917/720476
|
1.1
|
22
|
216927/720422
|
0.95
|
23
|
216933/720504
|
0.95
|
24
|
217127/720277
|
2.1
|
25
|
217354/720912
|
0.5
|
26
|
217345/720920
|
0.5
|
27
|
217277/720983
|
0.55
|
28
|
217229/721010
|
0.6
|
29
|
217174/721028
|
0.55
|
30
|
217124/721020
|
1.8
|
31
|
217091/721040
|
1.0
|
32
|
217035/721042
|
2.3
|
33
|
216978/721016
|
2.8
|
34
|
216963/720951
|
2.9
|
35
|
217049/720782
|
2.0
|
36
|
217105/720874
|
1.8
|
37
|
217169/720925
|
0.5
|
38
|
217255/720832
|
0.6
|
39
|
217145/720853
|
1.2
|
40
|
217254/720519
|
2.3
|
The survey showed that the northern hill of Qibbuz Megiddo and its northern and western slopes were used mainly for quarrying and burial. The installations indicate the residents’ livelihood at the time and it is likely that this area, close to Tel Megiddo, fulfilled a variety of needs throughout long historical periods. The northeastern, eastern and southeastern slopes of the Qibbuz were part of an extensive site, which had an amphitheater that might have been used by the residents of Legio and Maximianopolis. The southern area of the Qibbuz, facing Nahal Qini, is a large archaeological tell where finds from the Middle Bronze Age to the Ottoman period were documented. Architectural remains and pottery from the Middle Bronze Age were found on the northern bank of Nahal Qini, southwest of Qibbuz Megiddo. Potsherds dating to the Bronze Age were found on the fringes of the Qibbuz cemetery, southwest of Tel Megiddo.
The survey finds supplement our information about the archaeological remains in the Legio-Megiddo region, around Qibbuz Megiddo, and further contribute to the recognition of the important historical sites in its vicinity.