Monday 25/6/12
Field Notes/Pottery Washing/ Lecture
FN: We arrived too late to begin to dig with the rest of the excavation team. We arrived at 5am after the bus had already left for the dig site, so we took showers, slept, un-packed, and prepared for the rest of the day. It was scheduled to pottery wash and to follow was lecture. I attended both. Pottery washing began at 4:30 and the lecture began at 7pm. Washing was simple and painless after given a quick do and don’t explanation. Likewise, lecture was great and was followed by dinner. (Lecture Notes are enclosed below)
LN: The Numismatic Biography of Khirbet Qeiyafa- from the Ancient to the late Roman Period-STRONGHOLD ON THE ROAD TO JERSALEM
-Coins for identification, this collection is currently the largest in all of Israel history:(Includes many small/rare/unique coins)-
CURRENT FINDS
(380 total coins)
Because of the 3 layer occupation, a great determinacy of close dating is possible. Metal detecting is required in order to search for small coins
Archaic (Unique Coins)
510-460 BCE (Idalions)
500-480 BCE (Chios)
435 (5th-4 Cen) BCE (Athenian-cut into pieces for weight)—in later periods used whole pieces as a value rather than the pieces as a weight of silver
412 BCE (Samos)
Persian Period Hoards
Judean Currency
Coins are minted where they are used. Moreover, they are called Yehud Coins- minted & quarried in Judea and used only there
Philistine Currency
Likewise, coins are minted and used in primarily Philistine areas
Areas include: GAZA & ASHDOD
Kh. Q. (has both Yehud and Philistine Currency) THIS INDICATES Q’s!!!
Plated Currency
Q: Where they flake/counterfeit?Poor copies? Accepted in certain areas?
A: UNKNOWN!
Coins of Edam
Little is known about these coins, many questions
In General
During this period, the smaller the coin, the small the economic value
KH. Q. the Early Years
Why so many coins?
Why such variety?
A trade center?
This variety could occur because of the location of KH. Q being on the boarder land btw. ancient Judea and Philistinia.
LATER PERIODS at Kh. Q
Includes Macedonia Coins from the time of Alexander the Great (Soldiers? Trade?)
Even later coins are easy to date because often the date was minted on to the coin
While few coins of the later periods, still indicative of life and power plays of ancient Israel
Some Conclusions
The site of Kh Q was settled and re-settled from 350 until 150
All indicated by pottery, coins, and architecture
This causes strata layers to be more easily identified
Coins allow wide dates to be narrowed
EVEN LATER
Few coins from the 6th Cen CE
Are indicative of an Early Islamic & Byzantium occupation(s)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Coins are small in mass, weight, and diameter
Coins are found with metal detectors
Coins allow for almost exact dating
Many coins have been and continue to be found at Kh Q.