Nahal Tut
Encyclopedia
Nahal Tut is an archaeological site excavated along the streambed
of the same name in northern Israel
's Menashe Heights from February to July of 2005 by Amir Gorzalczany and Gerald Finkielsztejn in preparation for the northward extension of Highway 6
. Trig Point N-568 is situated south of Nahal Melah highway (Hwy 70)
about halfway between modern Bat Shlomo
and Yokneam.
The salvage operation exposed habitation layers of the following periods:
The most significant finds reported thus far:
The buildings were found relatively intact (upright walls with doorways and window lintels still in-situ).
Gorzalczany, of the Israel Antiquities Authority
, speculates that "the site probably functioned as an administrative and government center at the end of the 8th century BCE, and may have been fortified."
Nahal Tut joins 3 other northern sites where LMLK handles have been recovered (Nahalal
, Khirbet Sharta
, and Jezreel
). Speculation is abounding with possible reasons for their appearance in this isolated region apart from the vast majority found in the southern kingdom of Judah
:
Arguments for/against each of these proposals have been suggested on Internet discussion lists.
Wadi
Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some cases, it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.-Variant names:...
of the same name in northern Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's Menashe Heights from February to July of 2005 by Amir Gorzalczany and Gerald Finkielsztejn in preparation for the northward extension of Highway 6
Highway 6 (Israel)
Highway 6 , widely known as the Trans-Israel Highway or Cross-Israel Highway , is a major electronic toll highway in Israel. The highway was officially dedicated as the Yitzhak Rabin Highway , though this name is not commonly used. It started operating in the early 2000s and is being lengthened as...
. Trig Point N-568 is situated south of Nahal Melah highway (Hwy 70)
Highway 70 (Israel)
Highway 70 is a highway in the coastal plain and Western Galilee in northern Israel. It connects the region of Zikhron Ya'akov to the Lower Galilee and to Kiryat Ata and Shlomi near Israel's border with Lebanon.-Description of the route:...
about halfway between modern Bat Shlomo
Bat Shlomo
Bat Shlomo is a moshav in northern Israel. Located on the southern slopes of Mount Carmel near Binyamina and Zikhron Ya'akov, it originally was built on 8068 dunams of land. It falls under the jurisdiction of Hof HaCarmel Regional Council. In 1947 it had a population of 100...
and Yokneam.
The salvage operation exposed habitation layers of the following periods:
- MamlukMamlukA Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
(Stratum I) - RomanRoman EmpireThe Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
(Stratum II) - Iron AgeIron AgeThe Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
(Strata III-VI)
The most significant finds reported thus far:
- Large building with a courtyard (20 x 35 m) enclosed by thick walls
- Ritual bath (mikveh) within the courtyard
- Numerous pottery vessels, especially jars with LMLK sealLMLK sealLMLK seals were stamped on the handles of large storage jars mostly in and around Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah based on several complete jars found in situ buried under a destruction layer caused by Sennacherib at Lachish...
impressions (type H2x and Z2x) - Hebrew signet seal on a precious stone about 1.5 x 1.0 cm, adorned with 4 pomegranatePomegranateThe pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
s and the inscription, "LMKAH Amihai" (of Makah [son of] Amihai)
The buildings were found relatively intact (upright walls with doorways and window lintels still in-situ).
Gorzalczany, of the Israel Antiquities Authority
Israel Antiquities Authority
The Israel Antiquities Authority is an independent Israeli governmental authority responsible for enforcing the 1978 Law of Antiquities. The IAA regulates excavation and conservation, and promotes research...
, speculates that "the site probably functioned as an administrative and government center at the end of the 8th century BCE, and may have been fortified."
Nahal Tut joins 3 other northern sites where LMLK handles have been recovered (Nahalal
Nahalal
-External links:** UNESCO* Jewish Agency for Israel*, "Jews made a garden" - aerial photo of Nahalal , and a girl from Girls' Agricultural Training Farm , at Google Books....
, Khirbet Sharta
Khirbet Sharta
Khirbet Sharta is an ancient tell in northern Israel, northeast of Kiryat Atta, that covers two hills.-Archaeology:In 1965, the Israel Antiquities Authority conducted excavations of the western hill prior to the construction of residential housing in Kiryat Atta.Discoveries include burial caves...
, and Jezreel
Jezreel Valley
-Etymology:The Jezreel Valley takes its name from the ancient city of Jezreel which was located on a low hill overlooking the southern edge of the valley, though some scholars think that the name of the city originates from the name of the clan which founded it, and whose existence is mentioned in...
). Speculation is abounding with possible reasons for their appearance in this isolated region apart from the vast majority found in the southern kingdom of Judah
Judea
Judea or Judæa was the name of the mountainous southern part of the historic Land of Israel from the 8th century BCE to the 2nd century CE, when Roman Judea was renamed Syria Palaestina following the Jewish Bar Kokhba revolt.-Etymology:The...
:
- Pilgrimages to Jerusalem in response to King Hezekiah'sHezekiahHezekiah was the son of Ahaz and the 14th king of Judah. Edwin Thiele has concluded that his reign was between c. 715 and 686 BC. He is also one of the most prominent kings of Judah mentioned in the Hebrew Bible....
inauguration PassoverPassoverPassover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
feast - Fortification of a northwestern outpost by King HezekiahHezekiahHezekiah was the son of Ahaz and the 14th king of Judah. Edwin Thiele has concluded that his reign was between c. 715 and 686 BC. He is also one of the most prominent kings of Judah mentioned in the Hebrew Bible....
in preparation for an AssyriaAssyriaAssyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n attack - Trash deposited by SennacheribSennacheribSennacherib |Sîn]] has replaced brothers for me"; Aramaic: ) was the son of Sargon II, whom he succeeded on the throne of Assyria .-Rise to power:...
's army following their victorious campaign at LachishLachishLachish was an ancient Near East town located at the site of modern Tell ed-Duweir in the Shephelah, a region between Mount Hebron and the maritime plain of Philistia . The town was first mentioned in the Amarna letters as Lakisha-Lakiša...
Arguments for/against each of these proposals have been suggested on Internet discussion lists.