#ironage — Public Fediverse posts

Heatwave Reveals Lost Archaeological Sites Across Wales [UK]
--
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8n99241y3o <-- shared technical media article
--
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/lost-historical-places-found-north-34364058 <-- shared media article
--
https://archaeology.org/issues/november-december-2015/letters-from/letter-from-wales-iron-age-hillforts/ <-- shared technical article
--
[the 95% reduction in rain is ugly of course, but glad they are surveying as it were]
“Lost [sic] archaeological sites have emerged in grasslands across Wales after a prolonged spell of hot and dry weather.
Wales has seen about 5% of the average rainfall for July, after a series of back-to-back heatwaves and a drier than usual April to June. A drought has also been triggered in parts of Wales.
Experts said these dry conditions have brought to light a range of hidden archaeological remains, including Roman buildings and practice trenches from World War One.
Many are only visible from the air as distinctive marks in crops and grass, with some not being seen for "two or three decades", according to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW).
The crop marks are made by vegetation drawing on better nutrients and water supplies trapped in long-gone fortification ditches - leading to green growth that stands out…”
#Wales #UK #drought #heatwave #RCAHMW #ArchaeologicalSites #archaeology #grasslands #ancientsites #Roman #WW1 #fortification #remotesensing #aerialimagery #IronAge #history #monuments
@Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

Jerusalem: first-ever mould for First Temple period figurine faces discovered

An exceptional discovery in Jerusalem. During archaeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Kishle, within the grounds of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, a rare mould used for casting the face of a female figurine has come to light, dating to the First Temple period. The find emerged while sifting soil from fills and accumulations of that era. The excavations, ongoing for several years as part of the construction of the museum’s new Schulich Wing for Archaeology, Art and Innovation, have already revealed a continuous sequence of Jerusalem’s history, from the days of the Kings of Judah through to the British Mandate.

From soil to a reconstructed face

Following its discovery, the mould was handed to ceramics conservation specialist Tamar Gonen, who carefully cleaned away every grain of soil, revealing the delicate detail impressed within it. Conservator Sviatoslav Klindukhov then created a full cast from the mould, producing a complete reconstruction of the figurine’s face: clearly defined features and an elaborate curly hairstyle.

First Temple figurines: a debate that remains open

Clay figurines of this kind are known from almost every excavation conducted in Jerusalem and throughout Judah, dating between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE. Standing roughly 10 to 20 centimetres tall, they were made in two stages: the head and body were shaped by hand, while only the face was formed using a mould — which explains why most surviving examples are found broken at the neck. Archaeologists recognise three main types from the period: female figurines, known as Judean Pillar Figurines, typically shown with elaborate hairstyles and hands positioned beneath the breasts; horse-and-rider figurines; and zoomorphic figurines, mostly depicting horses. All were coated with a white slip and, according to surviving traces of pigment, originally painted in yellow, red and black.

Until now, no production mould for these figurines had ever been found in Jerusalem, leaving open the question of whether they were made locally or imported. “The discovery of this mould at the Kishle is therefore the first of its kind in Jerusalem, providing direct evidence that at least some of these figurines were produced within the city itself,” explains Dr Amit Re’em, one of the excavation directors.

Household amulets or images of a goddess?

The meaning and function of these figurines remain a matter of scholarly debate. As Debbi Ben-Ami, Curator of the Iron Age at the Israel Antiquities Authority, notes, the fact that they have been found in almost every household, as well as in streets and tombs, suggests they were objects of everyday use. They have previously been interpreted as representations of a fertility goddess — possibly Asherah — while others have suggested they were simply children’s toys. A further reading sees them as household amulets, intended to bring blessing, protection and good fortune. Researchers hope the newly discovered mould will help shed further light on these long-standing questions.

A dig open to the public

Eilat Lieber, Director and Chief Curator of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, described the excitement the find has generated among the team, noting that this summer visitors will be able to take part directly in the research by sifting soil from the Kishle excavations themselves.

📽️ VIDEO: Jerusalem: first-ever mould for First Temple period figurine faces discovered

https://youtu.be/4yrVqNDkvn4

Source: Israel Antiquities Authority

Burnt Wooden Beams from Jerusalem’s First Temple Destruction Unearthed in the City of David

Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable set of charred wooden beams dating to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE during excavations at the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David, within the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The discovery, made by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University, provides rare physical evidence of one of the most significant events in the history of the ancient city: the destruction of the First Temple.

The massive timbers were found inside a First Temple period building that collapsed during the devastating fire that accompanied the Babylonian conquest. According to archaeologists, their extraordinary preservation was made possible by an unusual combination of circumstances. As the building burned, wall plaster melted and flowed over the collapsed beams, sealing the charred wood beneath it and protecting it from decay for approximately 2,600 years.

A roof structure frozen in time

Excavation director Efrat Bocher believes the beams originally supported the roof of an inner courtyard within the building. When the structure was destroyed by fire, the roof collapsed onto the floor, where the timbers remained buried beneath layers of debris.

https://youtu.be/1P2lfAdk8hU

Wood rarely survives for millennia in the climate of the southern Levant, making the discovery particularly significant. The find offers archaeologists an exceptionally well-preserved glimpse into the architecture and construction techniques of Jerusalem during the late Iron Age.

A breakthrough for dendrochronological research

One of the most important aspects of the discovery is the unusually high number of tree rings preserved in the beams. According to Dr. Johanna Regev of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the timbers provide an unprecedented opportunity for dendrochronological analysis.

Until now, wooden remains from the region have generally allowed dating within broad chronological ranges spanning centuries. These newly discovered beams, however, contain enough growth rings to potentially narrow dating to within a decade, offering a level of precision rarely achieved for archaeological contexts from the First Temple period.

A landscape shaped by memory

The excavation team also suggests that Jerusalem’s inhabitants, after returning to rebuild the city, may have intentionally left portions of the destruction untouched. According to Dr. Yiftah Shalev, who co-directs the excavation with Prof. Yuval Gadot, preserving the ruined remains may have served as a deliberate act of collective remembrance.

This concept, often described as a “landscape of memory,” is known from other ancient societies, where visible traces of catastrophe were intentionally retained to commemorate dramatic historical events. In Jerusalem, the archaeological evidence appears to reflect a conscious decision to build a new city while preserving material evidence of its destruction beneath later occupation layers.

Announced shortly before Tisha B’Av, the annual Jewish fast commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, the discovery carries particular historical and symbolic significance. For the excavation team, these charred beams represent a direct and deeply moving witness to the moment when ancient Jerusalem was consumed by fire.

Opening image: 3. The burnt wooden beams discovered in the City of David. Photo Reut Vilf, City of David

Source: IAA – Israel Antiquities Authority

Samaritanism

Samaritanism is an Abrahamic monotheistic, ethnic religion. It comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, & legal traditions of the Samaritan people.

Often preferring to be called Israelite Samaritans, who originated from the Hebrews & Israelites. They began to emerge as a relatively distinct group after the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the Iron Age. The Neo-Assyrian Empire was the 4th, & penultimate, stage of ancient Assyrian history.

Central to their continuity as an Indigenous Heritage in the Holy Land is keeping the Patriarchal & Mosaic covenant as specified in the Samaritan Torah. Samaritans believe this is the original & unchanged version of the Pentateuch (which is the first 5 books of the Hebrew & Christian bible) since Moses & the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

The Abisha Scroll is traditionally held by the community to be the oldest existing scroll written by Abisha, son of Aaron the priest, around 3,000 years ago based on living tradition. However, Jewish & Christian theologians have made attempts to dispute this claim which proved unsatisfactory.

Judaism claims Samaritanism developed right alongside their own religion. Samaritanism asserts itself as the true preserved form of the monotheistic faith that the Israelites kept under Moses. Samaritan belief also holds that the Israelites’ original holy site was Mount Gerizim, near Nablus, the State of Palestine (West Bank).

They also believe that Jerusalem only attained importance under Israelite dissenters who had followed Eli (In the Book of Samuel, Eli was a priest & judge of the Israelites in the city of Shiloh) to the city of Shiloh.

The Israelites who remained at Mount Gerizim would become the Samaritans in the Kingdom of Judah. Mount Gerizim is revered by Samaritans as the location where the Binding of Isaac occurred. In comparison to the Jewish belief that it occurred at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.

Today there are only about 900 registered communal members. This puts Samaritanism as 1 of the smallest ethnoreligious groups globally in the Abrahamic faiths. Samaritans believe that this is a prophecy fulfilled from the scriptures: “You’ll be left few in number.”

Though they hope for a future time when a prophet like Moses known as the “Taheb” (Restorer) will perform 3 signs, namely the jar of manna, the staff of Moses, & Cherubim, or the Golden Candlestick.

This time period they believe is when an era of Divine Favor would return, & the hidden tabernacle of Moses would miraculously be revealed for the Israelite people & Mount Gerizim is restored to its former glory.

Samaritans trace their history, as a separate entity, to a period soon after the Israelites’ arrival into the “Promised Land.” Samaritan historiography traces the schism to High Priest Eli leaving Mount Gerizim, where stood the 1st Israelite altar in Canaan, & building a competing altar in nearby Shiloh.

The dissenting group of Israelites who followed Eli to Shiloh would be the ones who, in later years, would head south to settle in Jerusalem (the Jews). Whereas the Israelites who stayed on Mount Gerizim, in Samaria, would become known as the Samaritans.

Genetic studies in 2004 suggest that Samaritans’ lineages trace back to a common ancestor with Jews in the paternally-inherited Jewish high priesthood (Cohanim) temporally near to the period of the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel. They’re probably descendants of the historical Israelite population. The Cohanim refers to the Jewish priestly class, male descendants of Aaron the priest.

The Hasmonean king, John Hyrcanus, destroyed the Mount Gerizim Temple & brought Samaria under his control around 120 BCE. This led to a long-lasting sense of mutual hostility between the Jews & Samaritans.

From this point, the Samaritans likely sought to consciously distance themselves from their Judean brethren. Both peoples came to see the Samaritan faith as a religion distinct from Judaism. By the time of Jesus, Samaritans & Jews deeply disparaged one another, as shown by Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan.

The main beliefs of Samaritanism are:

• There’s 1 God, Yahweh, the same God recognized by the Jewish prophets.
• The Torah is the only true holy book & was given by God to Moses. The Torah was created before the creation of the world & whoever believes in it is assured a part in the world to come. The Torah’s status in Samaritanism as the only holy book causes them to reject the Oral Torah, the Talmud, & all the prophets & scriptures, except for a version of the Book of Joshua (which they don’t hold as Scripture), whose book in the Samaritan community is significantly different from the Book of Joshua in the Jewish “Bible.” Moses is considered to be the last of the line of prophets.
• Mount Gerizim, not Jerusalem, is the 1 true sanctuary chosen by God. The Samaritans don’t recognize the sanctity of Jerusalem & don’t recognize the Temple Mount, claiming instead that Mount Gerizim was the place where the Binding of Isaac took place.
• The Apocalypse, called “the day of vengeance,” will be the end of days. When an entity called the Taheb (basically the Jewish Messiah equal) that comes from the tribe of Joseph will come, be a prophet like Moses for 40 years & bring about the return of all the Israelites, following which the dead will be resurrected. The Tahib will then discover the tent of Moses’ Tabernacle on Mount Gerizim, & will be buried next to Joseph when he dies.

The Samaritans have retained the institution of a high priesthood & the practice of slaughtering & eating lambs on Passover Eve. They celebrated Pesach, Shavuot, & Sukkot. But they use a different method from that used in mainstream Judaism in order to determine the dates annually.

For example, Yom Teru’ah (the biblical name for Rosh Hashanah), at the beginning of Tishrei (This is the 1st month of the civil year & the 7th month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar.), isn’t considered a New Year as it is in Rabbinic Judaism.

Their Sabbath is observed weekly by the Samaritan community every week from Friday to Saturday, beginning & ending at sundown. For 24 hours, the families gather together to celebrate the rest day: all electricity with the exception of minimal lighting (kept on the entire day) in the house is disconnected, no work is done, & neither cooking nor driving is allowed.

The time is devoted to worship which consists of 7 prayer services, reading the weekly Torah portion, spending quality time with family, taking meals, rest & sleep, & visiting other members of the community.

Passover is particularly important in the Samaritan community, climaxing with the sacrifice of up to 40 sheep.

The Counting of the Omar remains relatively unchanged. The Counting of the Omar is a ritual in Judaism that consists of a verbal counting of each of the 49 days between the holidays of Passover & Shavuot. However, the week before Shavuot is a unique festival celebrating the continued commitment Samaritanism has maintained since the time of Moses.

During Sukkot, the Sukkah (the temporary hut built for use during Sukkot) is built INSIDE of houses, instead of OUTSIDE like mainstream Judaism. This Samaritan tradition is traced back to the persecution of the Samaritans during the Byzantine Empire.

The roof of the Samaritan Sukkah is decorated with citrus fruits & branches of palm, myrtle, & willow trees. This is in accordance with the Samaritan interpretation of the 4 species designated in the Torah for the holiday. The 4 species are 4 plants (the etrog, lulav, hadass, & aravah) mentioned in the Torah as being relevant to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

Make a one-time donation

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate

Make a monthly donation

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate monthly

Make a yearly donation

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate yearly

Rate this:

#120BCE #4Species #Aaron #Abisha #AbishaScroll #AbrahamicFaiths #AncientAssyria #Apoclypse #Aravah #BindingOfIsaac #BookOfJoshua #BookOfSamuel #ByzantineEmpire #Canaan #Cherubim #Christians #CitrusFruits #Cohanim #CountingOfTheOmar #Eli #Etrog #GoldenCandlestick #Hadass #Hasmonean #HebrewCalendar #Hebrews #HighPriestEli #HighPriesthood #IndigenousPeoples #IronAge #IsraeliteSamaritans #Israelites #Jerusalem #Jesus #Jewish #JewishProphets #Jews #Joseph #Judah #KingJohnHyrcanus #KingdomOfIsrael #Lulav #Manna #Messiah #MosaicCovenant #Moses #MountGerizim #MountSinai #Myrtle #Nablus #NeoAssyrianEmpire #OralTorah #Palestine #ParableOfTheGoodSamaritan #Passover #PatriarchalCovenant #Pentateuch #Priest #PromisedLand #RabbinicJudaism #RoshHashanah #Sabbath #SamaritanTorah #Samaritanism #Shavuot #Shiloh #StaffOfMoses #Sukkah #Sukkot #Tabernacle #Taheb #Talmud #TempleMount #Tishrei #Torah #WestBank #Willow #Yahweh #YomTeruAh

📢🎧 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎧📢

Journey back to the Iron Age! 🤯 Discover the secrets of the Heuneburg 🏰, Germany's "oldest city north of the Alps"! ⛰️🇩🇪

Tune in to explore the rise and fall of this fascinating urban center! 🎧➡️
Here: https://t.uzh.ch/1Nv
Or on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/aincient-studies-lab/episodes/12---The-Heuneburg-e2t9qg7

Our AI hosts talk about:

- Rich burials with gold & wagons! ✨💀⚰️
- A HUGE 100-hectare settlement! 🏘️🏘️🏘️
- Mediterranean-inspired mudbrick walls! 🧱🤔
- Craft production & trade from far away lands 🏺➡️🇪🇺
- Fortifications, fires & mystery! 🔥🛡️❓
- A powerful elite ruling the land 💪👑

This episode challenges EVERYTHING you thought you knew about Iron Age Europe! 🤯

#Heuneburg #IronAge #Archaeology #History #Germany #AncientCity #Podcast #NewEpisode #MustListen #HistoryPodcast #AncientHistory #Europe #Urbanism #ArchaeologyLovers #HistoryBuff #HistoryNerd #PodcastRecommendation #AncientWorld #DigitalHumanities #AI

At Carn Euny, Cornwall

#ancientvillage #CarnEuny #ironage #cornwall #AncientSites #ancientstones #AncientHistory #Cornwall

Carn Euny, Cornwall: one of South West England's best-preserved ancient villages. Dating from the Iron Age to late Roman times, it features stone house foundations and a unique underground fogou. Explore this mysterious site in Cornwall #CarnEuny #AncientHistory #Cornwall #ironage #ancientvillage

Early toilets reveal dysentery in Old Testament Jerusalem – study | The Independent
#History
#Archeology
#Dysentry
#EarlyToilets
#Toilet
#Jerusalem
#Parasite
#Faeces
#Latrines
#GiardiaDuodenalis
#IronAge
#KingdomOfJudah
#Judah
#7thCenturyBCE
#8thCenturyBCE
#586BCE
#Cesspits
#KingManasseh
#Mesopotamia
#ELISA
#Sewage
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/university-of-cambridge-toilets-one-tel-aviv-university-mesopotamia-b2346138.html

a lot to unpack here… #GundestrupCauldron #Celtic #HornedGod #Thracian #IronAge #metallurgy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundestr…

From: @tess_machling
mastodonapp.uk/@[email protected]/…

Together with runologist Lisbeth Imer from the National museum in Denmark, I have been taking Christmas in advance by studying the runic bracteates from the Vindelev hoard. We have made some interesting observations, in example discovering that one inscription found in 1852 (but was unreadable until now) was a poorly made copy of one of the Vindelev inscriptions.

More exciting news will be revealed later.

#runes #archaeology #linguistics #IronAge #runology

Archaeologists found a 1,500-year-old sandal frozen in Norwegian ice - Enlarge / Conservation efforts for the shoe included careful reshaping ... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1850430 #ancientpeopledidstuff #medievaleurope #ancienteurope #archaeology #glacialmelt #middleages #vikingage #glaciers #science #ironage #norway

Radar reveals a feasting hall near a Viking ship burial - In June, archaeologists began unearthing a Viking ship from a farmer’s field in eastern Norwa... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=1723256 #groundpenetratingradar #nauticalarchaeology #ancienteurope #remotesensing #archaeology #science #ironage #vikings