104) Caves in Jebel Quruntul area
[PADIS code 0174]
Arabic: جبل قرنطل: كهوف
Site location: Jebel Quruntul area.
State of preservation: partly preserved, partly under modern cultivations and modern edification.
Disturbance: pillage, modern cultivations, modern building activities.
Occupational periods: Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Middle Bronze Age, Iron Age, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, Middle Islamic, Late Islamic.
Plates: LXXVIII-LXXIX.
Chalcolithic Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/26, V/49 (Eisenberg 2002 = site n. 298, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 65), VII/1 ("el-Mefjer Cave"; Abeles 2002, 109-112 = site n. 323, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/6 ("The Cave of the Chimneys"; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 121-122 = site n. 325, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/10 ("The Avi’or Cave"; Eshel - Zissu 1998, 116-117; 2002a, tab. 1 = Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, site n. 327), VIII/28 ("The Cave of the Sandals"; Eshel - Zissu 1999; 2000; Khalaily 2002 = site n. 330, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 69).
Funerary architecture: burial (VIII/28; Khalaily 2002, 129).
Material culture: copper axe, copper chisel (V/49, after Eisenberg 2002; Segal 2002; VIII/28, after Segal - Kamenski 2002, 158-161, fig. 1:1-2), copper mace-head (VIII/28, after Segal - Kamenski 2002, 158, 161, fig. 1:3), beads, basalt vessels, churn (VII/1, after Abeles 2002, 109), textiles and basketry, pottery, mats.
Bibliography: Eshel 1986; Patrich 1993; Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Abeles 2002, 109; Aronshtam 2002, tab. 1; Eisenberg 2002; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 121-122; 2002b; Khalaily 2002, 129-135, figs. 1-4 (Caves VIII/9, VIII/28); Nagar 2002 (Caves VIII/28); Schick 2002, 231, 234-235 (Caves V/49, VIII/9); Segal 2002; Segal - Kamenski 2002; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 65, 68-69, sites ns 298, 323, 325, 326, 327, 330, map 2.
Early Bronze Age
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/38, V/49 (EB I; Eisenberg 2002 = site n. 298, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 65), VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/10 ("The Avi’or Cave"; Eshel - Zissu 1998, 116-117; 2002a, tab. 1 = Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, site n. 327), VIII/28 ("The Cave of the Sandals"; Khalaily 2002 = site n. 330, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 69), VIII/29 ("Cave of the Pruta" or Khirbet el-Burj B; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 122 = site n. 329, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 69).
Funerary architecture: burial (VIII/28, after Khalaily 2002, 129).
Material culture: flint and stone tools (VIII/28, after Khalaily 2002, 137-139, figs. 8-9), pottery, Grey Burnished Ware (VIII/28, after Khalaily 2002, fig. 5:2).
Bibliography: Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Eisenberg 2002; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 122a; 2002b; Khalaily 2002, 135-140, figs. 5-9 (Caves VIII/9, VIII/28); Nagar 2002 (Cave VIII/28); Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 65, 68-69, sites ns 298, 326, 327, 329, 330, map 2.
Middle Bronze Age
Site typology: caves.
List: caves VII/1 ("el-Mefjer Cave"; Abeles 2002, 109-112 = site n. 323, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/28 ("The Cave of the Sandal"; Khalaily 2002 = site n. 330, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 69), IX/14 (Weiss 2002 = site n. 353, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 71).
Material culture: copper toggle-pins (VIII/28; Ladizhinskaya 2002, 148-149), Hyksos scarab (VII/1; Abeles 2002, 109, 111), pottery.
Bibliography: Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Abeles 2002, 109, 111; Weiss 2002, 168; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68-69, 71, sites ns. 323, 330, 353, map 2.
Iron Age
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/50 (IA II), VII/1, IX/14 (Weiss 2002 = site n. 353, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 71).
Material culture: pottery.
Bibliography: Eshel 1986; Patrich 1993; Aronshtam 2002, 91, tab. 1; Weiss 2002, 168; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 71, site n. 353, map 2.
Persian Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves VII/1 ("el-Mefjer Cave"; Abeles 2002, 109-112 = site n. 323, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/10 ("The Avi’or Cave"; Eshel - Zissu 1998, 116-117; 2002a, tab. 1 = Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, site n. 327).
Material culture: coins (VII/1; Abeles 2002, 109, 111).
Bibliography: Eshel 1986; Patrich 1993; Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Abeles 2002, 109, 111; Ariel 2002, 287-289, 292-293; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, sites ns 323, 326-327, map 2.
Hellenistic Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/26, V/38, V/49 (Eisenberg 2002 = site n. 298, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 65), V/50 (Aronshtam 2002, 90-92 = site n. 303, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66), V/59 (Aronshtam 2002, 92-93 = site n. 306, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66), VII/1 ("el-Mefjer Cave"; Abeles 2002, 109-112 = site n. 323, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/6 ("The Cave of the Chimneys"; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 121-122 = site n. 325, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/10 ("The Avi’or Cave"; Eshel - Zissu 1998, 116-117 = Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, site n. 327), VIII/26, IX/14 (Weiss 2002 = site n. 353, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 71).
Material culture: coins, pottery.
Bibliography: Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Abeles 2002, 111; Aronshtam 2002, 91, tab. 1; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 121-122; 2002b; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 65-66, 68, 71, sites ns 298, 303, 306, 323, 325, 326-327, 353, map.
Roman Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/28, V/38, V/49, V/50 (Aronshtam 2002, 92-93 = site n. 306, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66), V/57, V/58, V/59, VII/1 ("el-Mefjer Cave"; Abeles 2002, 109-112 = site n. 323, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VII/3 ("Cave of the Sacks" or Burqa; Abeles 2002, 112-113 = site n. 324, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/6 ("Cave of the Chimneys"; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 121-122 = site n. 325, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/10 ("The Avi’or Cave"; Eshel - Zissu 1998, 116-117; 2002a, tab. 1 = Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, site n. 327), VIII/28 ("The Cave of the Sandal"; Khalaily 2002; Nagar 2002 = site n. 330, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 69), VIII/29 ("Cave of the Pruta" or Khirbet el-Burj B; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, 122 = site n. 329, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 69), IX/5(?).
Funerary architecture: burial (VIII/28, after Nagar 2002), kokhim (V/57, after Aronshtam 2002, tab. 1).
Material culture: papyrus (V/49, after Eisenberg 2002), inscribed papyri (VIII/9, after Eshel - Zissu 2002b), papyri with Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew inscriptions (Avi’or Cave, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), glass, gold earring and rings (VIII/28, after Ladizhinskaya 2002, 148-151), bronze medical instruments (VIII/28, after Ladizhinskaya 2002, 151-153), coins, stone vessel (V/49, after Eisenberg 2002), pottery.
Bibliography: Eshel 1986; Patrich 1993; Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Abeles 2002, 110-113; Ariel 2002, 296; Aronshtam 2002, 92-93, tab. 1; Eisenberg 2002; Eshel 1988; Eshel - Zissu 1998; 2002a, 120-122; 2002b; Gorin-Rosen 2002 (Cave VIII/28); Jackson-Tal 2002 (Cave VIII/9); Nagar 2002 (Cave VIII/28); Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66, 68-69, sites ns 306, 323, 324, 325, 326-327, 329, 330, map 2; Porat - Eshel - Frumkin 2009 (Cave V/59, Avi’or Cave).
Byzantine Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/20, V/50 (Aronshtam 2002, 90-92 = site n. 303, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66), VIII/2, VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68).
Domestic architecture: tabun (V/50, after Aronshtam 2002, 91).
Material culture: coins, bronze buckle, iron arrowheads, pottery.
Bibliography: Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Ariel 2002, 297; Aronshtam 2002, 91; Eshel - Zissu 2002a, tab. 1; 2002b; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66, 68, sites ns. 303, 326, map 2.
Early Islamic Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/38, V/50.
Material culture: pottery.
Bibliography: Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Aronshtam 2002, 90-92.
Middle Islamic Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/38, V/49 (Aronshtam 2002, 90-92 = site n. 303, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66), V/50 (Aronshtam 2002, 92-93 = site n. 306, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66), V/59, VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/25.
Material culture: coins (V/50, after Aronshtam 2002, 91), textiles (V/59, after Shamir - Baginski 2002, 246-251; Aronshtam 2002, 92), pottery.
Bibliography: Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Aronshtam 2002, 91-92; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66, 68, sites ns. 303, 306, 326, map 2.
Late Islamic Period
Site typology: caves.
List: caves V/38, V/49 (Aronshtam 2002, 90-92 = site n. 303, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66) V/50, VII/1 ("el-Mefjer Cave"; Abeles 2002, 109-112 = site n. 323, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/9 ("The Large Caves Complex"; Eshel - Zissu 2002b = site n. 326, after Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68), VIII/10 ("The Avi’or Cave"; Eshel - Zissu 1998, 116-117 = Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, site n. 327).
Avi’or Cave (Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 68, site n. 327).
Material culture: coins.
Bibliography: Wexler 2002, tab. 1; Abeles 2002, 109, 112; Ariel 2002, 300; Aronshtam 2002, 91, Eshel - Zissu 2002b; Greenberg - Keinan 2009, 66, 68, sites ns.ns 303, 323, 326, 327, map 2.
Bibliography
| Abeles, T. | |
| 2002 | "Region VII: Survey and Excavations of Caves Along the Eastern Escarpment of Jebel Quruntul", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 109-115. |
| Ariel, D.T. | |
| 2002 | "Coins from the Surveys and Excavations of the Caves in the Northern Judean Desert", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 282-304. |
| Aronshtam, A. | |
| 2002 | "Region V: Survey and Excavations of Caves along the Jebel Quruntul Escarpment between Wadi Abu Seraj and Wadi Halq er-Rumanna", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 85-95. |
| Eisenberg, E. | |
| 2002 | "The Excavation of Cave V/49", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, p. 97. |
| Eshel, H. | |
| 1986 | "Ketef Yeriho", in Excavations and Surveys in Israel 5 (1986), pp. 58-59. |
| 1988 | "Finds and Documents from a Cave at Katef Yericho", in Qadmoniot 21 (1988), pp. 18-23 (Hebr.). |
| Eshel, H. - Zissu, B. | |
| 1998 | "Finds from the Bar-Kokhba Period in the Caves at Ketef Jericho", in H. Eshel - D. Amit (eds.), The Bar-Kokhba Refuge Caves, Tel Aviv 1998, pp. 113-152 (Hebr.). |
| 1999 | "An Archaeological Survey in el-Jai Cave in Nahal Michmash (Wadi Ṣuweinit)", in Judea and Samaria Research Studies 8 (1999), pp. 81-96 (Hebr.), XIV (Engl.). |
| 2000 | "Jericho. Archaeological Introduction", in J. Charlesworth et al. (eds.), Miscellaneous Texts from the Judean Desert (The Discoveries in the Judean Desert 38), Oxford 2000, pp. 3-20. |
| 2002a | "Region VIII: Survey and Excavations of Caves along the Cliff Slopes of the Triangulation Point 86, on the Fringes of Jebel Ma‘ar el-Bas", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 117-123. |
| 2002b | "The Excavation of Cave VIII/9 ('The Large Cave Complex')", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, p. 125. |
| Gorin-Rosen, Y. | |
| 2002 | "The Glass Vessels from Cave VIII/28", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 143-145. |
| Greenberg, R. - Keinan, A. | |
| 2009 | Israeli Archaeological Activity in the West Bank 1967-2007. A Sourcebook, Jerusalem 2009 (in particular pp. 65-66, 68-69, 71, sites ns. 298, 303, 306, 323-327, 329-330, 353, map 2). |
| Jackson-Tal, R.E. | |
| 2002 | "The Glass Finds from Cave VIII/9 ('The Large Caves Complex')", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, p. 119. |
| Khalaily, H. | |
| 2002 | "Chalcolithic and Eraly Bronze Age Pottery and Other Finds from Caves VIII/9 and VIII/28", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 129-141. |
| Ladizhinskaya, V. | |
| 2002 | "Jewelry and Metal Artifacts of Middle Bronze Age II and the Early Roman Period from Cave VIII/28", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 147-155. |
| Nagar, Y. | |
| 2002 | "Human Skeletal Remains from Cave VIII/28", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 163-165. |
| Patrich, J. | |
| 1993 | "The Ketef Yeriho Cave", in E. Stern (ed.), The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, Vol. 3, Jerusalem 1993, p. 837. |
| Porat, R. - Eshel, H. - Frumkin, A. | |
| 2009 | "The 'Caves of the Spear': Refuge Caves from the Bar-Kokhba Revolt North of ‘En-Gedi", in Israel Exploration Journal 59 (2009), pp. 21-46. |
| Schick, T. | |
| 2002 | "The Early Basketry and Textiles from Caves in the Northern Judean Desert", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 223-239 (in particular pp. 224-231, 234-235). |
| Segal, I. | |
| 2002 | "The Copper Axe from Cave V/49", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 99-100. |
| Segal, I. - Kamenski A. | |
| 2002 | "Chalcolithic Copper Objects from Cave VIII/28", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 157-162. |
| Shamir, O. - Baginski, A. | |
| 2002 | "The Later Textiles, Basketry and Cordage from Caves in the Northern Judean Desert", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 242-255 (in particular pp. 246-251). |
| Weiss, D. | |
| 2002 | "Region IX: Survey and Excavation of Caves in the Southern Part of Jebel Quruntul", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. 167-168. |
| Wexler, L. | |
| 2002 | "Preface", in L. Wexler (ed.) 2002, pp. v-xviii. |
| Wexler, L. (ed.) | |
| 2002 | Survey and Excavations of Caves in the Northern Judean Desert (CNJD) – 1993 (‘Atiqot 41), Jerusalem 2002. |