Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T08:56:49.020Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Absolute Dating of the Gihon Spring Fortifications, Jerusalem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2017

Johanna Regev ,
Joe Uziel ,
Nahshon Szanton  and
Elisabetta Boaretto
Johanna Regev*
Affiliation:
D-REAMS Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
Joe Uziel
Affiliation:
Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem District, PO Box 586, Jerusalem, Israel
Nahshon Szanton
Affiliation:
Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem District, PO Box 586, Jerusalem, Israel
Elisabetta Boaretto
Affiliation:
D-REAMS Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel Max Planck-Weizmann Center for Integrative Archaeology and Anthropology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

One of the most impressive structures in Jerusalem’s ancient landscape is the tower that was built to surround and protect the Gihon Spring, Jerusalem’s perennial water source. The structure, first discovered by Reich and Shukron (2004), encompasses the cave in which the spring sprouts from, with walls 7 m thick built of large boulders. The Spring Tower, along with the other features relating to it, were all attributed to the Middle Bronze Age II, based on their architectural and stratigraphical relationship, the type of architecture, and the pottery found. In the continued excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority along the outer, eastern face of the Spring Tower, it was noted that at least the northeast side of the tower was not built on bedrock, but rather on layers of sediment, which were sealed by the massive boulders at the base of the tower. In order to provide an absolute dating for the structure, two sections were sampled for radiocarbon (14C) dating beneath the foundation stones at two locations. Scenarios for the construction of the tower during Middle Bronze Age (MB) and Iron Age II are considered, based on the new 14C data, yielding a series of dates, the latest of which falls in the terminal phases of the 9th century BCE, alongside previous excavation data.

Keywords

radiocarbon datingIron AgeMiddle Bronze AgeGihon Spring Jerusalemmicroarchaeology
Type
Research Article
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 59 , Issue 4 , August 2017 , pp. 1171 - 1193
Copyright
© 2017 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amit, D, Gibson, S. 2014. Water to Jerusalem: the route and date of the upper and lower level aqueducts. In: Ohlig CP, Tsuk T, editors. Cura aquarum in Israel II. Water in antiquity. In memory of Mr. Yehuda Peleg, Prof. Ehud Netzer, Dr. David Amit. Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on the History of Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering in the Mediterranean Region, Israel 14–20 October 2012. Siegburg: Papierflieger Verlag. p 9–42.Google Scholar
Ben-Tor, A. 2006. Do the execration texts reflect an accurate picture of the contemporary settlement map of Palestine? In: Amit Y, Ben-Zvi E, Finkelstein I, Lipschits O, editors. Essays on Ancient Israel in Its Near Eastern Context: A Tribute to Nadav Na’aman. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns. p 255–272.Google Scholar
Berna, F, Behar, A, Shahack-Gross, R, Berg, J, Boaretto, E, Gilboa, A, Sharon, I, Shalev, S, Shilshtein, S, Yahalom-Mack, N, Zorn, JR, Weiner, S. 2007. Sediments exposed to high temperatures: reconstructing pyrotechnological processes in Late Bronze and Iron Age Strata at Tel Dor (Israel). Journal of Archaeological Science 34:358–373.Google Scholar
Boaretto, E. 2015. Radiocarbon and the archaeological record: an integrative approach for building an absolute chronology for the Late Bronze and Iron ages of Israel. Radiocarbon 57(2):207–216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1):337–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C, Dee, MW, Rowland, JM, Higham, TFG, Harris, SA, Brock, F, Quiles, A, Wild, AM, Marcus, ES, Shortland, AJ. 2010. Radiocarbon-based chronology for dynastic Egypt. Science 328:1554–1557.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell, EF. 2002. Shechem III: the stratigraphy and architecture of Shechem/Tell Balatah. American Schools of Oriental Research Archaeological Reports 6. Boston: ASOR.Google Scholar
De Groot, A. 2012. Discussion and conclusions. In: De Groot A, Bernick-Greenberg H, editors. Excavations at the City of David 1978–1985 Directed by Yigal Shiloh VIIA, Area E: Stratigraphy and Architecture. Qedem 53:141–84.Google Scholar
De Groot, A, Bernick-Greenberg, H. 2012. Excavations at the City of David 1978–1985 Directed by Yigal Shiloh, VIIB, Area E: The Finds. Qedem 54.Google Scholar
De Groot, A, Fadida, A. 2011. The pottery assemblage from the rock-cut pool near the Gihon Spring. Tel Aviv 38:158–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Groot, A, Geva, H. 2015. The City of David is not on the Temple Mount. New Studies in Jerusalem 21:7–24. In Hebrew.Google Scholar
Dever, WG. 1987. The Middle Bronze Age: the zenith of the Urban Canaanite Era. Biblical Archaeologist 50:149–177.Google Scholar
Dever, WG. 1997. Settlement patterns and chronology of Palestine in the Middle Bronze Age. In: Oren E, editor. The Hyksos: New Historical and Archaeological Perspectives. Philadelphia: University Museum. University Museum Monograph 96:285–302.Google Scholar
Eisenberg, E. 2012. The Pottery of Strata 18 and 17. In: De-Groot A, Bernick-Greenberg H, editors. Excavations at the City of David 1978–1985 Directed by Yigal Shiloh VIIA: Area E: Stratigraphy and Architecture. Qedem 53: 251–301.Google Scholar
Eisenberg, E, Ben-Shlomo, D. 2016. Tel Hevron. Hadashot Arkheologiyot: Excavations and Surveys in Israel 128.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, I, Bunimovitz, S, Lederman, Z. 1993. Shiloh: The archaeology of a Biblical site. The Emery and Claire Yass Publications in Archaeology. Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv University. Monograph Series of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University 10.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, I, Koch, I, Lipschitz, I. 2011. The mound on the Mount: a possible solution to the problem with Jerusalem. Journal of Hebrew Scripture 11:2–24.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, I, Singer-Avitz, L, Herzog, Z, Ussishkin, D. 2007. Has King David’s Palace in Jerusalem been found? Tel Aviv 34:142–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frumkin, A, Shimron, A, Rosenbaum, J. 2003. Radiometric dating of the Siloam Tunnel, Jerusalem. Nature 425:169–171.Google Scholar
Höflmayer, F, Kamlah, J, Sader, H, Dee, MW, Kutschera, W, Wild, EM, Riehl, S. 2016a. New evidence for Middle Bronze Age chronology and synchronisms in the Levant: radiocarbon dates from Tell el-Burak, Tell el-Dabʿa, and Tel Ifshar compared. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 375:53–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Höflmayer, F, Yasur-Landau, A, Cline, EH, Dee, MW, Lorentzen, B, Riehl, S. 2016b. New radiocarbon dates from Tel Kabri support a High Middle Bronze Age Chronology. Radiocarbon 58(3):599–613.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ilan, D. 1995. The dawn of internationalism: the Middle Bronze Age. In: Levy TE, editor. The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land. London: Leicester University Press. p 297–319.Google Scholar
Mazar, A. 1989. A survey of the aqueducts leading to Jerusalem. In: Amit D, Hirschfeld Y, Patrich J, editors. The Aqueducts of the Ancient Palestine. Jerusalem: Yad Ben-Zvi. p 169–195.Google Scholar
Mazar, A. 2006. Jerusalem in the 10th century B.C.E.: the glass half full. In: Amit Y, Ben-Zvi E, Finkelstein I, Lipschits O, editors. Essays on Ancient Israel in Its Near Eastern Context: A Tribute to Nadav Na’aman. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns. p 255–272.Google Scholar
Mazar, E. 2007. Preliminary Report on the 2005 Excavations at the City of David Visitor’s Center Area. Jerusalem.Google Scholar
Mazar, E. 2009. The Palace of King David: Excavations at the Summit of the City of David. Preliminary Report of the 2005–2007 Seasons. Jerusalem.Google Scholar
Ofer, A. 1993. Hebron. In: Stern E, editor. The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. Jerusalem: Carta. p 606–609.Google Scholar
Rainey, AF. 1994. Remarks on Donald Redford’s “Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times”. Bulletin of American Schools of Oriental Research 295:81–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rainey, AF. 2006. The Sacred Bridge–Carta’s Atlas of the Biblical World. Jerusalem: Carta Jerusalem.Google Scholar
Rebollo, NR, Cohen-Ofri, I, Popovitz-Biro, R, Bar-Yosef, O, Meignen, L, Goldberg, P, Weiner, S, Boaretto, E. 2008. Structural characterization of charcoal exposed to high and low pH: implications for 14C sample preparation and charcoal preservation. Radiocarbon 50(2):289–307.Google Scholar
Redford, DB. 1992. Egypt, Canaan and Israel in Ancient Times. Princeton: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Redford, DB. 1996. A Response to Anson Rainey’s “Remarks on Donald Redford’s ‘Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times’”. Bulletin of American Schools of Oriental Research 301:77–81.Google Scholar
Reich, R, Shukron, E. 2004. The history of the Gihon Spring in Jerusalem. Levant 36:211–223.Google Scholar
Reich, R, Shukron, E. 2008. The date of City Wall 501 in Jerusalem. Tel Aviv 35:114–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reich, R, Shukron, E. 2010. A new segment of the Middle Bronze fortification in the City of David. Tel Aviv 37:139–151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reich, R. 2011. Excavating the City of David: Where Jerusalem’s History Began. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Blackwell, PG, Bronk Ramsey, C, Grootes, PM, Guilderson, TP, Haflidason, H, Hajdas, I, Hatt, C, Heaton, TJ, Hoffmann, DL, Hogg, AG, Hughen, K A, Kaiser, KF, Kromer, B, Manning, SW, Niu, M, Reimer, RW, Richards, DA, Scott, EM, Southon, JR, Staff, RA, Turney, CSM, van der Plicht, J. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55(4):1869–1887.Google Scholar
Regev, L, Poduska, KM, Addadi, L, Weiner, S, Boaretto, E. 2010. Distinguishing between calcites formed by different mechanisms using infrared spectrometry: archaeological applications. Journal of Archaeological Science 37:3022–3029.Google Scholar
Regev, J, Finkelstein, I, Adams, M, Boaretto, E. 2014. Wiggle-matched 14C chronology of Early Bronze Megiddo and the synchronization of Egyptian and Levantine chronologies. Ägypten Und Levante/Egypt and the Levant 24:241–264.Google Scholar
Regev, L, Cabanes, D, Homsher, R, Kleiman, A, Weiner, S, Finkelstein, I, Shahack-Gross, R. 2015. Geoarchaeological investigation in a domestic Iron Age quarter, Tel Megiddo, Israel. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 374:135–157.Google Scholar
Regev, L, Steier, P, Shachar, Y, Mintz, E, Wild, EM, Kutschera, W, Boaretto, E. 2017. D-REAMS: a new compact AMS for radiocarbon measurements at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. Radiocarbon 59(3):in press.Google Scholar
Sneh, A, Weinberger, R, Shalev, E. 2010. The why how and when of the Siloam Tunnel reevaluated. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 359:57–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steiner, ML. 2001. Excavations by Kathleen M. Kenyon in Jerusalem 1961–1967, Volume III. Sheffield: A&C Black.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Polach, HA. 1977. Discussion: reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–363.Google Scholar
Uziel, J, Szanton, N. 2015. Recent excavations near the Gihon Spring and their reflection on the character of Iron II Jerusalem. Tel Aviv 42:233–250.Google Scholar
Ussishkin, D, Bachi, G, Barkay, G, Bar-Yosef, DE. 2004. The Renewed Archaeological Excavations at Lachish (1973–1994). Tel Aviv: Emery and Claire Yass Publications in Archaeology.Google Scholar
Ussishkin, D. 2016. Was Jerusalem a fortified stronghold in the Middle Bronze Age?—an alternative view. Levant 48(2):135–151.Google Scholar
Vincent, H. 1911. Underground Jerusalem: Discoveries on the Hill of Ophel (1909–11). London: H Cox, “Field” Office.Google Scholar
Weiner, S. 2010. Microarchaeology: beyond the visible archaeological record. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Weiner, S, Schiegl, S, Goldberg, P, Bar-Yosef, O. 1995. Mineral assemblages in Kebara and Hayonim Caves, Israel: excavation strategies, bone preservation, and wood ash remnants. Israel Journal of Chemistry 35:143–154.Google Scholar
Yizhaq, MG, Mintz, CI, Khalaily, H, Weiner, S, Boaretto, E. 2005. Quality controlled radiocarbon dating of bones and charcoal from the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) of Motza (Israel). Radiocarbon 47(2):193–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar