Samak (aka Shiqmona)

Transliterated Name	Language	Name
Samak	Arabic
Tell es-Samak	Arabic	تل السمك
Tel Shiqmona	Hebrew	תל שִׁקְמוֹנָה
Sycamine	Greek/Roman name
Porphyreon	Crusader

Introduction

Tel Samak is located on the Mediterranean coast about 1.3 km. southwest of the Carmel Cape. Occupation has been discovered as far back as the Bronze Age and the site contains the remains of a Byzantine town (Joseph Elgavish in Stern et al, 1993). Although this site is often referred to as Shiqmona in the literature, Shiqmona is thought to be located elsewhere and this site is now referred to as Samak (personal communication with Michael Eisenberg, 2023).

Identification

from Joseph Elgavish in Stern et al (1993 v.4)

Tel Shiqmona (Tell es-Samaq) is on the Mediterranean coast, about 1.3 km (0.8 mi.) southwest of the Carmel Cape (map reference 1462.2478), which is today within the city of Haifa. Its area is more than 2 a. Prior to excavation, it was 12.74 m above sea level at its highest point. The remains of a Byzantine town extend over the flat fields around the mound, at an average altitude of 5m above sea level. The area of dense ancient remains begins in the north, near the bend in the coastline near the mound, reaching the slopes of Mount Carmel in the east and the beginning of the modern Zarfat Road in the south, although isolated remains are found farther south, as well. The maximum extent of the town in Byzantine times was about 55 a. Shiqmona's cemetery is to the east, on the slopes of Mount Carmel; it extends from Elijah's Cave at the cape to the southern boundary of the town. Elijah's Cave is itself part of a sacred precinct that once occupied the Carmel Cape. Although the site has no convenient seaport, there may have been an anchorage farther south, near Kefar Samir, in the sandy coastal belt now known as the Carmel Beach.

Exploration

from Joseph Elgavish in Stern et al (1993 v.4)

In 1895, G. Schumacher reported that the cemetery at Shiqmona had been systematically plundered for two years, until the Turkish authorities intervened. A Byzantine monastery, probably outside the town's built-up area, was excavated in 1951 by M. Dothan, on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums (q.v. Monasteries: Sha'ar ha-'Aliyah). In the 1950s, several additional discoveries were made in the area of the town, including a bronze plaque bearing a Hebrew inscription. Systematic excavations at the site began in 1963, under the direction of J. Elgavish, on behalf of the Haifa Municipal Museum of Ancient Art. They continued until 1979, their seventeenth season.

The Persian period strata were examined mainly in the 1963-1964 seasons. The remains of the Byzantine town in the fields surrounding the mound were uncovered mainly in the 1965, 1966, 1978, and 1979 seasons. The cemetery was systematically excavated in 1967-1968. The 1968-1970 seasons concentrated on the Iron Age II strata, and the 1971-1974 seasons on the Iron Age I strata. Late Bronze Age strata were reached in 1975-1977. The grotto popularly known as Elijah's Cave was explored in 1966 by A. Ovadiah, on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of lsrael; the inscriptions on the cave walls were cleaned and read at that time. Beginning in 1968, important finds were made by fishermen, on the sea bottom near and south of the mound, up to and including the bathing area known today as Dado's Beach (q.v. Marine Archaeology).

Excavations on the Mound

from Joseph Elgavish in Stern et al (1993 v.4)

An area of about 800 sq m was cleared on the mound, stretching along the southern edge of the ridge and down the southwestern slope. The limestone bedrock was reached at an altitude of 2.4 m above sea level; the building foundations of the lowest stratum rested on virgin soil, 3.3 m above sea level. The sequence revealed by the excavations follows.

The town was established in the Late Bronze Age I and was occupied continuously until the end of the Late Bronze Age II. Two clearly defined strata from this period were discovered, with five levels of settlement between them, some of which can also be considered occupational strata (beneath the Late Bronze Age II stratum only a trial sounding was made).
There were three occupational strata from the Iron Age I.
There was almost continuous settlement through the Iron Age II, comprising five occupational strata.
A Phoenician town existed on the site in the Persian period, comprising two occupational strata
In the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman periods a series of fortresses stood here.
There are two strata of dwellings from the Byzantine period.

Except for a single Middle Bronze Age lIB tomb in the cemetery, no remains earlier than these were found at Tel Shiqmona.

Aerial Views and Plans

Aerial Views

Annotated Aerial View from

Annotated Aerial View of Shiqmona

Used with permission from biblewalks.com

biblewalks.com
Tel Samak in Google Earth

Tel Samak
click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth
Tel Samak on govmap.gov.il

Tel Samak on govmap.gov.il

click on image to explore this site on a new tab in govmap.gov.il

Plans

Normal Size

Site plan from Torge and 'Ad (2012)

.הנומקש לת לש םייחרזמה םיילושה ךרואל הריפחה יחטש .2 רויא

Torge and 'Ad (2012)
Fig. 2 - Area A plan from

.םיכתחו תינכת :A חטש .1 תינכת

Torge and 'Ad (2012)

Torge and 'Ad (2012)
Plan 4 - Area D/E plan

Plan 4

Area D/E: plan and sections.

Torge and 'Ad (2012)

from Torge and 'Ad (2012)

Magnified

Site plan from Torge and 'Ad (2012)

.הנומקש לת לש םייחרזמה םיילושה ךרואל הריפחה יחטש .2 רויא

Torge and 'Ad (2012)
Fig. 2 - Area A plan from

.םיכתחו תינכת :A חטש .1 תינכת

Torge and 'Ad (2012)

Torge and 'Ad (2012)
Plan 4 - Area D/E plan

Plan 4

Area D/E: plan and sections.

Torge and 'Ad (2012)

from Torge and 'Ad (2012)

7th century CE Earthquake (?)

Barzilay (2012) noted that

previous excavations at Tel Shiqmona have indicated that the Byzantine city was constructed in the late sixth century following the destruction of an earlier city in the fourth century, and that an abrupt and violent event caused the demolition of Shiqmona again during the seventh century. According to the damage patterns, it is likely that the structure in Area A was devastated by an earthquake. If so, the local intensity of the earthquake would have been over I = VII (MSK- 64 scale).

However, Barzilay (2012) also noted that

it is uncertain whether this damage was caused by an earthquake or by the accumulative effect of the swelling and shrinking soil. However, soil movement due to the swelling and shrinking process is very slow and causes random damage, and repairs would probably be detected in various parts of the building. Based on the criteria presented above, the deformations are consistent with seismic damage.

Barzilay (2012) referred to an excavation report by Torge and 'Ad (2012). Torge (personal communication, 2021) attributed the deformations to the active clay soil:

The structures in Shiqmona were built into clay soil which is very active. The builders knew that and changed the soil within the boxes they built as foundations. I believe that because of the boxes technique, the damage appears as it is. In the corners it simply had nowhere to move and so it compressed the stones upwards and broke them.

Taxel (2013:79-80) also cast doubt on the possibility that the site was damaged by an earthquake leading to it's abandonment.

7th century CE Earthquake (?)

This archaeoseismic evidence is debated. Hagit Torge, the original excavator, disputes a seismic origin and ascribes wall deformations to active soil (personal communication, 2021). Taxel (2013:79-80) casts doubt as to whether the observed deformations have a seismic origin

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Observation
Displaced Walls Rotated Stones Uplifted Stones Tilted Walls Folded Walls	Area A .םיכתחו תינכת :A חטש .1 תינכת Torge and 'Ad (2012)	Fig. 3 Foundations and layers of fill in the northern part of Area A, looking southeast; in foreground, W3. Torge and 'Ad (2012) Fig. 4 Wall 8b in Area A, looking southwest. Torge and 'Ad (2012) Fig. 5 The corner formed by W5 (opposite) and W8a (left) in Area A, looking northeast. In foreground to left, the bedrock foundation of the box. Torge and 'Ad (2012) Fig. 6 Walls 8c and 8d in Area A, looking southwest. Torge and 'Ad (2012)	The building in Area A reveals deformation in every excavated wall (see Torge and 'Ad, 2012: Figs. 3-6) In the northern wall, W1, the three upper stones of the northern (outer) face were rotated counter-clockwise around a horizontal axis. In the northern inner wall, W4, three upper stones were uplifted or rotated clockwise around a horizontal axis. In the other inner wall, W5, the upper four stones were also uplifted and a stone at the western end of the pilaster was rotated 20° eastward (around a vertical axis) from the general line of the wall. The western wall, W8, shows different types of deformation. In its northern section, between W1 and W4, only the two lowermost courses of headers are preserved. A plaster line along the wall indicates that the upper courses of stretchers were removed from their place, and that the surviving courses did not suffer any deformation. The upper stones between W4 and W5 lean or have rotated eastward from the line of the wall. The central section of the wall (five or six courses high) leans westward at an angle of 60° and is twisted. The upper three courses of the southern section of the wall were deformed into an arch, the stones are cracked and slide signs are visible on the base of the arch. The three upper courses of the southern wall, W11, lean northward and were rotated clockwise around a horizontal axis. It is clear that the building in Area A, as well as the structure in Area D/E (see Torge and 'Ad, 2012: Plan 4, Figs. 11-12), suffered from severe earth movements that deformed their foundations and led to the destruction of the superstructure. However, it is uncertain whether this damage was caused by an earthquake or by the accumulative effect of the swelling and shrinking soil. However, soil movement due to the swelling and shrinking process is very slow and causes random damage, and repairs would probably be detected in various parts of the building. Based on the criteria presented above, the deformations are consistent with seismic damage. All from Barzilay (2012)
Deformed Foundations	Area D/E Plan 4 Area D/E: plan and sections. Torge and 'Ad (2012) Fig. 11 The building in Area D/E, general view, looking southeast. On left, the foundation of the mosaic pavement (L420). Torge and 'Ad (2012) Fig. 12 Area D/E, general view, looking north. Torge and 'Ad (2012)		It is clear that the building in Area A, as well as the structure in Area D/E (see Torge and 'Ad, 2012: Plan 4, Figs. 11-12), suffered from severe earth movements that deformed their foundations and led to the destruction of the superstructure. However, it is uncertain whether this damage was caused by an earthquake or by the accumulative effect of the swelling and shrinking soil. However, soil movement due to the swelling and shrinking process is very slow and causes random damage, and repairs would probably be detected in various parts of the building. Based on the criteria presented above, the deformations are consistent with seismic damage. All from Barzilay (2012)

7th century CE Earthquake (?)

Modified by JW from Fig. 2 of Torge and 'Ad (2012)

Deformation Map

modified by JW from Fig. 2 of Torge and 'Ad (2012)

7th century CE Earthquake (?)

Discussion by JW

The Deformation Map shows that the displaced walls are due to vertical uplift and suggest an expansive active soil as the cause. If an earthquake caused the chaotic deformation patterns shown in the map, the site would have to have been above the hypocenter of a powerful earthquake which seems unlikely. If this was the case, more extensive deformation and collapse would be expected form this site and nearby sites and the local Intensity would have been IX (9) or higher. Thus, I agree with Hagit Torge (personal communication, 2021) and Taxel (2013:79-80) that a seismic origin for the observed deformations is not likely.

Intensity Estimate from Barzilay (2012)

Barzilay (2012) estimated an Intensity of VII+ (7+) (MSK- 64 scale).

Orthophotos

Entire Site

Orthophoto of Samak - entire site

Click on Image for high resolution magnifiable image

Drone Photos by Jefferson Williams 18 March 2023

North part of site

Orthophoto of Samak - north part of site (the Tel)

Click on Image for high resolution magnifiable image

Drone Photos by Jefferson Williams 18 March 2023

South part of site

Orthophoto of Samak - south part of site

Click on Image for high resolution magnifiable image

Drone Photos by Jefferson Williams 18 March 2023

Drone Surveys

Description	Flight Date	Pilot	Processing	Downloadable Link
Entire Site	18 March 2023	Jefferson Williams	ODM - no GCPs	Right Click to download. Then unzip
North part of Site	18 March 2023	Jefferson Williams	ODM - no GCPs	Right Click to download. Then unzip
South part of Site	18 March 2023	Jefferson Williams	ODM - no GCPs	Right Click to download. Then unzip

References

Articles and Books

Barzilay, E. (2012). "Was Shiqmona Devastated by an Earthquake in the Seventh Century CE?" 'Atiqot 72: 53*-55*.

Taxel, I. (2013). "The Byzantine-early Islamic transition on the Palestinian coastal plain: a re-evaluation of the archaeological evidence." Semitica et Classica 6: 73-106.

Torge, H. and U. 'Ad (2012). "Late Byzantine Buildings on the Eastern Fringes of Tel Shiqmona." 'Atiqot/עתיות: (in Hebrew)

Excavation Reports

J. E1gavish, The Excavations of Shikmona: A Seleucian Garrison Camp from Hasmonean Times, Haifa 1972

J. Elgavish, Shiqmona on the Seacoast of Mount Carmel, Tel Aviv 1994 (Heb.)

B. Galil et al., Shikmona, Between Carmel and Sea, Haifa 2001

Websites

Tel Shikmona at biblewalks.com

Bibliography from Stern et al (1993 v.4)

Main publication

J. E1gavish, The Excavations ofShikmona: A Seleucian Garrison Campfrom Hasmonean Times, Haifa 1972

Other studies

B. Lifshitz, ZDPV78 (1962), 84-85; J. E1gavish, An Archaeological Trip into the Past of the City through Excavations at Shikmona, Haifa 1967

id., RB 75 (1968), 416-417

76 (1969), 412-413

77 (1970), 386-387

78 (1971), 419-422

81 (1974), 98-100

82 (1975), 587-591

83 (1976), 270-272

84 (1977), 264-266

85 (1978), 408-409

86 (1979), 449-450

89 (1982), 238-240

id., !EJ !9 (1969), 247-248; 20 (1970), 229-230

22 (1972), 167

23 (1973), 117-ll8

24 (1974), 283-284

25 (1975), 257-258

26 (1976), 65-76

27 (1977), 166-167

28 (1978), 122-123, 280-281

30 (1980), 208-209

id., Raggi9 (1969), H7; F. M. Cross, Jr.,IEJ18 (1968), 226-233

C. Novak, Antike Welt 1/3 (1970), 54

A. Spycket, RES! (1974), 258-259

A. Lemaire, Semitica 30 (1980), 17-32

A. Van den Brdnden, Bibbia e Oriente 22 (1980), 219- 225

R. Giveon, Gottinger Miszellen 44 (1981), 17-20

J. Naveh, IEJ 37 (1987), 28-30

N. Karmon and E. Spanier, ibid. 38 (1988), 184-186

Weippert 1988 (Ortsregister)

G. Finkie1sztejn, RB96 (1989), 224- 234.

Bibliography from Stern et al (2008)

Main publication

J. Elgavish, Shiqmona on the Seacoast of Mount Carmel, Tel Aviv 1994 (Heb.)

B. Galil et al., Shikmona, Between Carmel and Sea, Haifa 2001

Studies

A. Bar-Shay, 5th International Colloquium on Ancient Mosaics, Bath, 5–12.9.1987 (JRA Suppl. Series 9

eds. P. Johnson et al.), 1–2, Ann Arbor, MI 1994–1995, 113–124

IEJ 45 (1995), 79–80 (Review)

T. Velmans, Byzantine East, Latin West: Art-Historical Studies (K. Weitzmann Fest.

eds. C. Moss & K. Kiefer), Princeton, NJ 1995, 309–319

J. Elgavish, OEANE, 5, New York 1997, 36–37

E. Stern, Michmanim 11 (1997), 65*–66*

id., Ki Baruch Hu: Ancient Near Eastern, Biblical and Judaic Studies (B. A. Levine Fest.; eds. R. Chazan et al.), Winona Lake, IN 1999, 635

Y. Hirschfeld, ESI 18 (1998), 19–20

S. J. Allen, BASOR 315 (1999), 55–58

J. Elayi & H. Sayegh, Port, Paris 1998–2000

M. Bietak & K. Kopetzky, Synchronisation, Wien 2000, 122

J. Bremen, R.I.M.S. News, Report 27 (2000), 23–24

E. Galili & J. Sharvit, ESI 112 (2000), 117*

id., Pirates: The Skull and Crossbones (The National Maritime Museum), Haifa 2002, 146; id., Tropis VIII: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Ship Construction in Antiquity, Hydra, Greece, Athens 2002, 199–211

J. Mlynarczyk, ASOR Newsletter 50/3 (2000), 17–18

B. Bagatti, Ancient Christian Villages of Galilee (SBF Collectio Minor 37), Jerusalem 2001, 87–88

D. Ben-Tor & R. Bonfil, Beer-Sheva 15 (2002), 29–55

R. Kletter, ESI 114 (2002), 24*–26*

A. Faust, Levant 35 (2003), 123–138

Y. Olami et al., Map of Haifa-West (22) (Archaeological Survey of Israel), Jerusalem 2003, 28*–32*

H. Torgë & U. ‘Ad, ESI 115 (2003), 19*–20*

M. Artzy, Aegaeum 25 (2005), 355–361.

Wikipedia pages

Tel Shikmona

from wikipedia

Cave of Elijah

from wikipedia