• from Mazar in Mazar and Panitz-Cohen ed.s (2020 v. 1:119)

• from Mazar in Mazar and Panitz-Cohen ed.s (2020 v. 1:119-122)

Table 4.3

Three chronological systems for Iron IB-IIB

Mazar et. al. (2020 v.1)

1. The stratigraphic affiliation of several samples to specific phase of the Iron IIA is questionable: in particular, Samples R21—R23 from Area D and Samples R31—R34 from Area C, which could be either Stratum V or IV
2. There are a few outliers (all Sample 27 and one determination in R36)
3. Occasionally, samples from the same context or stratum yielded considerably different dates, which would provide too wide a range for our required resolution of less than half a century.

Table 4.4

Results of a Bayesian model for secure dates from Areas C+D and B in lσ and 2σ CalBC showing dates for Strata VI-IV (not including unmodeled dates from Area E) - for details see Chapter 48

Mazar et. al. (2020 v.1)

I am convinced that ¹⁴C is the most wonderful tool for archaeology, when its inherent uncertainty is properly respected. Unfortunately, pushing its use beyond these limitations puts "oil into the fire" of those who mistrust the ¹⁴C method altogether .....²³

• from Mazar in Mazar and Panitz-Cohen ed.s (2020 v. 1:126-127)

• Fig. 12.7 -
  Fig. 12.7
  
  Plan of Stratum C-2 (1:250); for the continuation of this stratum in Area D, see Fig. 15.28
  
  Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

• Figure 12.9 -
  Figure 12.9
  
  Plan of Stratum C-2, west; area in Squares Y/1–2 cut by apiary (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.97 -
  Figure 12.97
  
  Section 43 (Square R/4, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 43 (Square R/4, looking north) from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.23 -
  Photo 12.23
  
  Squares R–S/4, looking south; Room 1555 at the beginning of its excavation (2010)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Room 1555 at the beginning of excavation from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.24 -
  Photo 12.24
  
  Square R/4, looking southeast at Wall 1563 (left) and its corner with Wall 1572 (right) (2010)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Damaged eastern face of Wall 1563 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.25 -
  Photo 12.25
  
  Square R/4, looking south at smashed vessels in Locus 1555b (2010)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Smashed vessels in Room 1555 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

• Figure 12.9 -
  Figure 12.9
  
  Plan of Stratum C-2, west; area in Squares Y/1–2 cut by apiary (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-2 (west) from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.10 -
  Figure 12.10
  
  Plan of Buildings CA and CB, Stratum C-2 (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Buildings CA and CB in Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.65 -
  Figure 12.65
  
  Section 11 (Squares T/1–4, looking west); the section in Square T/3 north of Walls 1448/4439 was drawn on a line east of Wall 1506
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 11 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.66 -
  Figure 12.66
  
  Section 12 (Square S/4, looking east at walls)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 12 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.67 -
  Figure 12.67
  
  Section 13 (Square S/3, section below Wall 1448, looking south)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 13 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.68 -
  Figure 12.68
  
  Section 14 (Square T/3, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 14 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.27 -
  Photo 12.27
  
  View of C-2 Building CA, looking south; C-2 Building CB on the south (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Looking south at Buildings CA and CB in Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.28 -
  Photo 12.28
  
  Southeastern part of C-2 Building CA, looking south; C-1b Wall 1448 above repair line covering Wall 4439 (2000)
  
  JW: Walls 4439 is bulging
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Looking south at Building CA in Stratum C-2 with a bulge in Wall 4439 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.29 -
  Photo 12.29
  
  Room 4426 in C-2 Building CA, looking southwest; burnt grain on floor (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Room 4426 in Building CA in Stratum C-2 with burnt grain on the floor from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.30 -
  Photo 12.30
  
  C-2 Building CB adjoining Building CA on the south, looking south (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Buildings CA and CB in Stratum C-2 looking south from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

This was a rectangular building in Squares S–T/3–4 (external measurements 5.2×6.2 m). All of its walls were composed of hard yellow bricks and were very well preserved to a height of more than 1.0 m. No entrance to this building was located, suggesting that it had been entered from above. Its plan consisted of two small rooms on the west and two somewhat larger rooms on the east, and it might have served a storage function. It was constructed above a thin layer of fill (8408) that served to level the remains of Stratum C-3a Building CS below it.

The northern wall (4438) was preserved nine courses high on the west, but much less on the east, so much so that it was not clear whether there had been an entranceway here or whether the bricks were missing due to damage. Stratum C-1b Walls 1464 and 1524 superimposed it, but there was no C-3 wall below it; Wall 8503 adjoined it on the north. The western wall (4440), constructed right on top of Wall 8418 of Stratum C-3a (Photos 12.12– 12.13), was preserved 11–12 courses high; its width was unknown, since C-1b Wall 1523 covered its western face. The southern wall (4439) was preserved ten courses high; its exact width was not known, since C-1b Wall 1448 covered it (Photo 12.28). The eastern wall (4434) stood nine courses high and was poorly preserved, especially on the northeast (Figs. 12.66–12.67). This suggests that the main damage to the building, whatever the cause, was focused in the east and particularly, the northeast. The original width of Wall 4434 was 0.6 m, although a thickening identified in its lower courses on the south reached a width of 0.85 m. There was obviously a need to reinforce this eastern wall, perhaps after a seismic tremor, and it seems that Wall 1506, built adjoining the southern part of the eastern face of Wall 4434, played such a role during the lifetime of this building (see further discussion below).

The two eastern rooms were similar to each other in size, as were the two western rooms. Their internal measurements were: Room 4429 in the northeast (2.0×2.4 m; 4.8 sq m), Room 4420 in the southeast (1.9×2.0 m; 3.8 sq m), Room 4426 in the southwest (1.3×2.0 m; 2.6 sq m) (Photo 12.29), and Room 4409 in the northwest (1.1×2.0 m; 2.2 sq m); the total floor space of this building was only 13.4 sq m. Two intersecting inner partition walls separated these rooms: east–west Wall 2509 and north– south Wall 2493, with its northern continuation, 4407. An entranceway in the eastern end of Wall 2509 joined the two eastern rooms, while an opening in Wall 2509, just to the west of its corner with Wall 2493, joined the two western rooms. However, it seems that at some point, this latter opening was blocked, as a brick course spanned its top. No entrance was found in Walls 2493 or 4407, leaving the eastern and western chambers inaccessible from each other; it is possible that the rooms were entered from above. Their small size, and the fact that some grain was found in the southwestern room, indicate the possibility that they were used for grain storage.

The rooms were found full of complete fallen yellow bricks, chunks of brick debris, some ash, and brown soil. There were relatively few finds, mainly red-slipped and red-painted sherds (Figs. 13.13–13.14), as well as bones and flint. An intact bowl (Fig. 13.13:7) with a small amount of burnt grain nearby was found on the floor in Room 4426 (Photo 12.29); this grain was submitted for ¹⁴C analysis (Chapter 48, Table 48.4, Sample R18), yielding average calibrated dates 968–898 (1σ) CalBC, 974–848 (2σ) CalBC. A seal was found in Room 4429 (Chapter 30A, No. 14). The floors were made of beaten earth and for the most part, their level was determined by the bottom of the surrounding walls and not by any distinct discernible makeup.

The nature and function of this building remained unclear. There was no evidence for domestic activity or storage, such as cooking facilities, installations or storage jars. Perhaps it was related to grain storage, possibly with some administrative function. To some extent, this building recalls the eastern part of Building 200 in Hazor Strata X–IX (Hazor III–IV: Plans VIII–X), which was also comprised of a series of small chambers.

A north–south wall (1506) in Square T/3, adjoining the southern part of the eastern wall of Building CA, was rather enigmatic. It stood to a height of 1.3 m and was composed of the same hard yellow bricks as the other walls in this building, although here they were only 0.4 m wide, since they were laid so that their width, rather than length, composed the width of the wall. The wall was preserved on a rather precarious slant, with the lower courses of its eastern face protruding; this might have been the result of seismic activity (Fig. 12.68).

The stratigraphic attribution of this wall was not certain; it abutted the southern half of the poorly preserved eastern wall of Building CA (4434) (Photos 12.27, 12.30) and terminated abruptly in the balk between Squares S–T/4, where it was abutted by an open area in which cooking and food preparation took place in Strata C-2 and C-1b (see below). This wall may be understood as a retainer built to buttress the southern part of the eastern wall of Building CA, which might have suffered damage during the course of its use in Stratum C-2. On the other hand, it should be noted that the southern end of Wall 1506 blocked most of the northern entranceway leading into C-2 Building CB. Wall 2495, the eastern wall of Stratum C-1b Building CD, terminated just at the point where the northern end of Wall 1506 was located, suggesting that Wall 1506 was used, or reused, as the eastern closing wall of this building during Stratum C-1b (Fig. 12.24). Two explanations may be suggested:

1. Wall 1506 was built as a retaining wall to support the damaged southern end of the eastern wall of Building CA during some later phase of Stratum C-2, and was subsequently reused in Stratum C-1b, when the building was rebuilt
2. Wall 1506 was constructed in Stratum C-1b as part of the renovation of Building CA as Building CD

1. layers attributed to C-2 in the open area to the north and east of the wall abutted its lowest exposed courses
2. there was an alternative entrance into Building CB, so the blockage of the northern entrance did not cancel this building
3. it was built of yellow bricks typical only of Stratum C-2.

• Figure 12.9 -
  Figure 12.9
  
  Plan of Stratum C-2, west; area in Squares Y/1–2 cut by apiary (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-2 (west) from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.10 -
  Figure 12.10
  
  Plan of Buildings CA and CB, Stratum C-2 (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Buildings CA and CB in Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.65 -
  Figure 12.65
  
  Section 11 (Squares T/1–4, looking west); the section in Square T/3 north of Walls 1448/4439 was drawn on a line east of Wall 1506
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 11 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.69 -
  Figure 12.69
  
  Section 15 (Squares S–Y/2, looking north) (1:55)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 15 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.77 -
  Figure 12.77
  
  Section 23 (Square Y/3, section below Wall 2411, looking east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 23 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.79 -
  Figure 12.79
  
  Section 25 (Squares T–Y/3, looking south)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 25 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.30 -
  Photo 12.30
  
  C-2 Building CB adjoining Building CA on the south, looking south (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Buildings CA and CB in Stratum C-2 looking south from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.31 -
  Photo 12.31
  
  C-2 Building CB, looking east; Wall 2505 with entrance (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wall 2505 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.32 -
  Photo 12.32
  
  C-2 Building CB, entrance in Wall 2505, superimposed by C-1 Wall 1416 of Building CG, looking west (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wall 2505 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.33 -
  Photo 12.33
  
  C-2 Building CB, close-up of entrance in Wall 2505, looking west (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wall 2505 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.34 -
  Photo 12.34
  
  C-2 Building CB, central hall, looking south (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Central Hall from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.35 -
  Photo 12.35
  
  C-2 Building CB, northern wall; note possible earthquake damage (1998)
  
  JW: The earthquake damage alluded to is the split between walls 1442 and 1483
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Split between northern walls 1442 and 1483 of Building CB - possibly due to an earthquake - from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.36 -
  Photo 12.36
  
  C-2 Building CB; intact lamp in niche in the western doorjamb of entrance in Wall 1483, looking north (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Lamp in niche of Wall 1483 - from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.37 -
  Photo 12.37
  
  C-2 Building CB; large stone south of entrance in Wall 1483, looking north (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Large Tumbled Stone in Building CB from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.38 -
  Photo 12.38
  
  C-2 Building CB Wall 2481 below Room 2444 of C-1 Building CG, looking east; note intentionally removed bricks in Wall 2481 (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wall 2481 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.39 -
  Photo 12.39
  
  Square Y/3, looking west at C-1 Building CG; C-2 walls below wood in foundation (2008)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Tilted Stratum C-1 Wall 2411 overlying Stratum C-2 Wall 5476 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

The major component of Building CB was a large, roughly rectangular space which underwent minor changes during the course of its existence (Figs. 12.9–12.10; Photo 12.30). This large room (1520) was perhaps a major living room or reception hall in a larger architectural complex, which continued to the east and perhaps, south.

The external measurements of this hall were 5.0×7.5 m (floor space, 22.2 sq m). Three of its walls (the southern, western, and at least part of the northern wall) were constructed directly on top of the gray-brick walls in the southern part of C-3 Building CS (Photos 12.15–12.16); the eastern wall was superimposed by Stratum C-1 Building CG (Fig. 12.69; Photos 12.31–12.33). The walls were: 1470 on the south (preserved to 14 courses; Photos 12.16, 12.34), 1463 on the west (preserved to 12 courses; Photo 12.15) and 2505 on the east (preserved to 13 courses); an entrance was located at the southern end of this latter wall, at its juncture with Wall 1470, leading to the eastern part of this building (Photos 12.31–12.34). The northern wall, preserved to 12–18 courses, was given two separate numbers due to a clear split in the middle, which was possibly the result of seismic activity (Photo 12.35); the western half was designated 1442 and the eastern half, 1483. An entrance in Wall 1483 was located 1.0 m to the west of its corner with Wall 2505. An intact oil lamp with soot on its nozzle was found in a niche in the eastern door jamb, one course below the top (Photo 12.36). This entrance led to the north, where an open area with cooking facilities was found in Squares T/3-4, although note that this opening was partially blocked on the north by Wall 1506, probably during a later phase of Stratum C-2, as described above. Wall 1483 continued to the east past its corner with Wall 2505 into Squares T–Y/3, where it was designated Wall 2481 (Photo 12.38). All four walls of Room 1520 were composed of hard yellow bricks, although note the gray bricks of the earlier C-3 wall incorporated into the lower courses of Wall 1470, as described above; several dark brown bricks joined these gray bricks in what might be a repair in the center of this wall (Photo 12.34).

The two entrances that accessed this hall from the east and the north were used concurrently. Both were 0.9 m wide and preserved ca. 1.6 m high. It is clear that the top of the northern entrance was intact (Photos 12.35–12.36). However, it appears that the top of the eastern entranceway in Wall 2505 was subjected to some damage, particularly on its western face, when Stratum C-1b Wall 1416 was built above it (Photos 12.31–12.34).

The interior of the room contained a ca. 0.9 m deep accumulation of striated red-clay and gray-ash layers, interspersed with decayed brick debris, from 84.80–85.69 m (1520, 2456, 2457, 2466, 2474, 2482; Figs. 12.65, 12.69).2 We assumed that these striations represented the accumulation of floors in this hall, although it was difficult to separate these thin layers and possibly, at least the lower levels might have been a fill. Some layers contained large patches of phytolith, often with distinct shapes, such as one long, rope-like configuration found lying near three stones laid in a diagonal row, just above the top of Stratum C-3 Wall 2462. A moderate amount of pottery was found in these layers, most of which were sherds or fragments of small vessels, representing bowls, chalices, cooking pots, kraters, jugs and juglets, but no storage jars (Figs. 13.15–13.17); many were red slipped and hand burnished and some were painted in red. No cooking facilities were found here.

A large, roughly squared mizi limestone (0.25×0.65×0.7 m), was found 1.0 m to the south of the entranceway in Wall 1483 (Photos 12.35, 12.37), its bottom face polished smooth, apparently from use. It was found tilted, with its northern end higher by 0.45 m than its southern end, and we assume that the smooth bottom side had originally been on top. The red-clay and gray-ash striations in this room (2456, 2466) abutted the stone, supporting the idea that at least some of these layers were not living floors, but rather a fill. The position of this large stone in front of the entranceway in Wall 1483 was baffling. It is quite certain that this was not its original position and that it had tumbled over from either the west or the south. It could possibly have stood in the center of the room and served as a pillar base or some work surface; it perhaps flipped over, reaching its present location during the assumed earthquake that terminated this occupation phase.

Above the striated layers in the room was a 1.5 m-deep layer of complete fallen yellow bricks (1469, 1478, 1497). No traces of burning were identified nor were there the tell-tale signs of a sudden destruction, such as complete vessels and other finds, suggesting that these fallen bricks represented the collapse of the surrounding walls at the end of Stratum C-2, probably due to an earthquake, either during the time it was still in use or some time after the building was abandoned.

Although it was considered that this room could have been a basement, this possibility was ruled out since there was no constructed element above it and its eastern continuation clearly ran beneath the later Building CG

Excavation to the east of Wall 2505 exposed its eastern face with the entranceway. The top of the wall had been damaged and leveled when the wooden foundation of Stratum C-1b Wall 1416 was built (Photos 12.32–12.33), protruding 0.45 m to the east of the face of Wall 2505. The top of a yellow brick wall (4503) that cornered with Wall 2505 was revealed 1.0 m to the north of the entranceway; its eastern continuation was cut by the foundations of Building CG and only its southern face could be seen, as Wall 2429 of Stratum C-1b was built above it. This wall was preserved much lower than Wall 2505 due to the damage caused when the deep and massive wooden and brick foundations of Building CG were laid (see below). Thus, the only possible Stratum C-2 debris that could be isolated here was Locus 4500 to the south of Wall 4503.

Some 1.4 m to the north of Wall 4503 was Wall 2481, the eastern continuation of Wall 1442/1483, which was revealed in a small probe under the floor of Building CG (Fig. 12.77; Photo 12.38). The eastern part of a north–south wall (5476) was exposed 2.5 m to the east of Wall 2505, directly under the wooden foundation of Stratum C-1b Wall 2411 (Photo 12.39), which had cut the top of Wall 5476 in a step-like manner, descending from north to south, so that it was preserved five courses high on the north and only two on the south. This appears to have been the eastern closing wall of a room bordered by Walls 2481 on the north, 2505 on the west, and 4503 on the south. A small area was excavated in this room (2469), although a floor was not reached (Figs. 12.77, 12.79). Still another north–south wall (5491) abutted Wall 5476 on the east, on the level of its lowest course (85.25 m); only one brick course of this wall was preserved, with an offset that protruded 0.35 m to the east, located just about on the same line as Wall 2481 to its west (Photo 12.39). Wall 5491 might have been a bench attached to Wall 5476 or a poorly preserved part of the unit uncovered in Squares Y/3–4 (see below).

Abutting the eastern face of Wall 5491 was a beaten-earth floor (5494; Fig. 12.79) that was bordered on the south by an east–west row of four flattopped stones, which may have been pillar bases (Photo 12.21). The floor and the stones were laid directly above Stratum C-3 Room 9441. All other remains of Stratum C-2 to the south of these stones were obliterated when Building CH and the apiary were constructed in Stratum C-1b. The northern border of this activity remained unknown, since it was covered by later Stratum C-2 architecture, described below.

• Figure 12.12 -
  Figure 12.12
  
  Plan of Stratum C-2, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.62 -
  Figure 12.62
  
  Section 8 (Square Y/5, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 8 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.63 -
  Figure 12.63
  
  Section 9 (Square Y/5, looking west)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 9 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.64 -
  Figure 12.64
  
  Section 10 (Square T/4, looking east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 10 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.40 -
  Photo 12.40
  
  Building CE, looking at eastern wall (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Tilted C1-b Wall 2454 on top of C-2 Wall 6441 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.41 -
  Photo 12.41
  
  Building CE, looking southeast; Stratum C-2 walls below Stratum C-1 walls (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.42 -
  Photo 12.42
  
  C-2 Building CE, looking east; fallen bricks and debris in Room 6464 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  fallen bricks and debris in Room 6464 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.43 -
  Photo 12.43
  
  Squares Y-Z/4-6, looking south; right: northern spaces of Building CE; center: Stratum C-2 Building CU below C-1 Building CF (2005)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Building CE in Squares T–Y/4–6 was founded in Stratum C-2 and continued to be in use, with some changes, in Strata C-1b and C-1a. This is one of the few instances where more or less the same building continued in all three main strata. The unit was composed of a broad room on the south and rooms or open spaces, to its north (Fig. 12.12); the relationship between the two components was not clear, due to the partial exposure.

Three walls of this room, preserved to a height of 0.7–1.25 m and built of the typical hard yellow bricks of Stratum C-2, were revealed in Squares T– Y/4, directly below the later walls: 6441 on the east, 6460 on the south, and 6504 on the north (Photos 12.40–12.41). The western part of the room remained unexcavated and it seems that the entrance to the room had been on this side. An interesting feature of the eastern wall (6441) was the damage wrought by the builders of C-1b when they set the wooden foundations for their wall (2454) above it; they cut back the western face and the top of the earlier wall, whose original face protruded some 0.2 m to the west, three courses below the cut (Photo 12.40). In the corner of the southern and eastern walls was an offset that protruded 0.3 m into the room (Photo 12.42).

A layer of collapsed bricks and debris (6443) that rested on a reddish floor interspersed with gray ash (6464) abutted the eastern and southern walls (Fig. 12.64); this debris was sealed by Stratum C-1b Floor 2489. Curiously, the northern wall (6504) was floating above this floor, although a protruding course of bricks found just about on level with Floor 6464 might represent the lower part of this wall, or the top of an even earlier wall. Excavation of a probe (6503) 0.35 m below Floor 6464 yielded a layer of sandy material with some brick debris (6503) that penetrated below Wall 6460.

Three spaces were attributed to this building in Squares Y/5–6, although no connection between them was found, due to overlying elements that remained unexcavated (Fig. 12.12; Photo 12.43). Only the eastern part of these rooms was excavated.

The western part of Wall 6524 in Square Y/5 was revealed below the wooden foundation of C-1 Wall 2454, protruding 0.25 m to the west. An east– west wall (6521) comprised of large bricks and preserved to only one course, abutted Wall 6524. The area enclosed by these walls contained a layer of debris (6495, 6519) (Fig. 12.63).

The space to the north of Wall 6521 in Square Y/6 had two phases. In the earlier phase, it contained layers of thin red and gray striations (7433) and was bordered on the east by Wall 7513 (south) and 7478 (north); this line continued that of Wall 6524 to the south. Pit 6498 cut the relationship between these walls. At some later stage, east–west Wall 7485, preserved two courses high, was added, dividing the space into two; in the north were the upper layers of 7473 and to the south of the wall was a layer of brick debris (7455). It was not clear whether Wall 7513 continued in use in this later phase (Photos 12.43, 12.87).

• Figure 12.12 -
  Figure 12.12
  
  Plan of Stratum C-2, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.14 -
  Figure 12.14
  
  Plan of Building CY, Stratum C-2 (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Building CY, Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.55 -
  Figure 12.55
  
  Section 1 (Squares A/6–C/6, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 1 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.56 -
  Figure 12.56
  
  Section 2 (Squares B/5–6, section below C-1 Walls 6420 and 6476, and below C-2 Wall 7506, looking west)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.58 -
  Photo 12.58
  
  C-2 Building CY, looking west; meter stick on Floor 7512 (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CY in Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.59 -
  Photo 12.59
  
  C-2 Building CY, looking south at Wall 7511, covered by wood in foundation of C-1 Wall 6444 (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wall 7511 in Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.60 -
  Photo 12.60
  
  Detail of Wall 7511 (see Photo 12.59), looking southwest (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Closeup on Wall 7511 in Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.61 -
  Photo 12.61
  
  C-2 Building CY, stones along northern face of Wall 7511, looking south; brick collapse 10412 in center (2010)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  brick collapse 10412 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.62 -
  Photo 12.62
  
  C-2 Building CY, looking east; note blocked entrance to Room 8479; meter stick on Floor 7512 (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CY from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.63 -
  Photo 12.63
  
  . Eastern part of C-2 Building CY, looking south; note blockage of Room 8479 in center; meter stick on Floor 8488 (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CY from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Part of a finely constructed building was excavated in the northeastern corner of Area C, in Squares A– C/5–6. It continued to the north, beyond the limit of the excavation area. Building CY covered a Stratum C-3 stone floor and installation (Fig. 12.6) and was sealed by Strata C-1a–b Building CW.

The external measurements of the building were 10.2 m from east to west and at least 6.3 m from north to south. It contained a central space, most probably a courtyard (7512), flanked on the west and east by rooms; the two southern rooms were exactly symmetric, but the northernmost room on the east differed from its equivalent on the west. The main entrance to the building was probably in the unexcavated area to the north and perhaps led directly into the central space.

The western wall (8457), preserved 1.0 m high, was superimposed by Wall 6408 of Strata C-1a–b. Its entire eastern face was exposed, and also the northern part of its western face, which served as the border of the assumed entrance corridor leading to Building CU; its southern part ran parallel to Wall 6520, the eastern wall of that building. The southern wall (7511), preserved 0.7 m high, was known only on its northern face, since it was covered by Wall 6444 of Building CW in Strata C-1a–b (Figs. 12.34, 12.56) which was not dismantled. The wooden beams in the foundation of Wall 6444 were laid directly on top of Wall 7511 (Photos 12.22, 12.59–12.61). Wall 7511 was preserved at a tilt, especially visible on its western end, possibly the result of seismic activity. The eastern part of this wall was built of segments, with two vertical seams visible in its northern face (Photo 12.59), a mode of construction which might have been aimed at ensuring stability in the event of an earthquake. Wall 7511 made a corner with Wall 10461, which closed the building on the east.

The central courtyard was 3.1 m wide and at least 5.4 m long. It contained a layer of fallen bricks (Fig. 12.55) above a layer of occupation debris (7505) resting on a yellow-earth floor (7512) at level 85.15–85.25 m. In the debris was a relatively large amount of red-slipped and hand-burnished, as well as red-painted pottery (Figs. 13.34–13.37) and sherds of a Late Philistine Decorated Ware (Ashdod Ware) vessel (Fig. 13.37:8). Two clay figurine fragments, one a human head and the other a horse head (Chapter 34, Nos. 22, 35), were found together in the eastern part of the space, to the north of Oven 8461. Near the figurines were two sherds with letters, one with an ayin and a yod in ink, and the other with an incised lamed (Fig. 13.37:2–3; Ahituv and Mazar 2014: 40–42; Chapter 29A, Nos. 1, 3). Elements on Floor 7512 included:

1. Oven 8461, just north of the entrance into Room 8488, coated with sherds on the exterior


2. a brick bin just north of the oven (unnumbered)


3. a semi-circular clay bin (7514) attached to Wall 7506


4. a large (1.0 m diameter, 0.86 m deep) round pit or silo (8452) dug from the floor, close to the center of the northern balk of Square B/6. It was lined with hard mud plaster and found full of small stones and eroded brick debris, but empty, other than a few small sherds.

Room 6506, the southern room, was bordered by Walls 8457 on the west, 6505 on the north and 7506 on the east, all preserved 0.65–1.0 m above the floor level. A 1.0 m-wide entrance in the southern end of Wall 7506 accessed this room from the central courtyard (Fig. 12.56). The room was square (2.3×2.3 m, 5.3 sq m.) and had a smooth yellowearth floor (6506) at 85.10 m, covered by a layer of fallen whole bricks which contained a large amount of pottery. A pile of dark organic material was concentrated in the northern part of the room. This room was sealed by Room 6451 of Stratum C-1 Building CW.

Room 8470, the northern room, was bordered on the south by Wall 6505, on the west by the northern part of Wall 8457 and on the east by the northern part of Wall 7505; its northern part was beyond the border of the excavation area. Exactly like Room 6506, this room was 2.3 m wide and had a 1.0 m wide entrance at its southeastern corner, leading from the central courtyard. A smooth yellow-earth floor (8470) was found at level 85.16 m, covered by a layer of fallen whole bricks. Three nicely worked limestones were set in a row along Wall 8457 on the floor level, recalling the stones along the walls in the central courtyard. A pile of dark organic material, similar to that in the southern room, was found here as well. This room was covered by Room 6462 of Stratum C-1 Building CW (Fig. 12.55).

Room 8488 was exactly symmetric with Room 6506 of the western wing. The room was bordered by Walls 7511 on the south, 8467 on the north, 8458 on the west, and 10461 on the east (internal measurements 2.5×2.5 m; 6.25 sq m). The 1.0 m-wide entrance was exactly on line with the entranceway into Room 6506. The floor (8488), at level 85.15 m, was composed of smooth yellow earth, in which the tops of large yellow bricks were visible (Fig. 12.14; Photos 12.58, 12.63). Although excavation did not proceed down below the floor, it seems that this was a layer of complete fallen bricks, just like that under Floor 7512 in the central space. The layer above the floor (8466) included complete fallen yellow bricks and ashy debris that contained much pottery, some of it partially restorable (Figs. 13.34– 13.37), as well as a very large amount of bones, including horns.

North of Room 8488 was a narrow space (8479), 1.0 m wide and 2.4 m long, between Walls 8467 and 8475. A 0.8 m-wide entrance in the eastern end of Wall 8467 was partially blocked by bricks, leaving only a narrow gap (ca. 0.4 m) that made passage from Room 8488 to Room 8479 impossible. It seems that this blockage was secondary. This entrance was sealed on top by C-1b Wall 8426. A curious feature of this narrow space was what looked like an intentional blockage on its western end that was composed of three parts (Photos 12.62–12.63). The westernmost component was a row of narrow bricks (0.15 m wide), spanning the entrance from the central space, and preserved up to 0.7 m above the floor. The second component (8486) was ca. 0.1 m to its east, preserved some 0.2 m lower and ca. 0.3 m wide; it was not clear whether this was yet another row of bricks laid to span the corridor or fallen bricks. Just 0.1 m to their east was yet another apparent blockage (8485), although it was more typical of a regularly built wall in width, preserved five to six courses high (its base was not reached) and 0.5 m wide. None of these rows of bricks bonded with either Wall 8475 on the north or with Wall 8467 on the south. No clear floor level was identified in this narrow space, although it was excavated down to the same level (85.10 m) as the floors in the rest of the building. A large patch of soft pinkish material (phytolith?) was concentrated against the eastern face of Blockage 8485. It is possible that this narrow space was a staircase leading to a second story, with Walls 8485 and 8486 serving as the foundations for wooden stairs. If this interpretation is correct, it would be the only case in which a staircase was identified at Tel Rehov.

To the north of Space 8479 was a corner of two walls (8475, 8481) enclosing a room that continued to the north; it measured 2.0 m from east to west. The entrance to this room was blocked by a narrow row of bricks, identical to the westernmost blockage in Room 8479. The blockage was preserved up to 0.6 m above a yellow-earth floor (8487), which was reached at level 85.23 m. Several smooth pink mizi limestones were found just inside the entrance on the south. Only a few sherds and flints were found in the debris (8468) above the floor (Fig. 12.55). The eastern wall (8481) was located only 0.5 m to the west of Wall 10461, the outer wall of the building. This narrow area joined Room 8479 at a right angle. If the latter was a staircase, as mentioned above, the narrow corridor (10503) could have been a foundation for the continuation of this staircase, leading to an upper story.

We have no way of knowing to what extent Building CY continued to the north. One possibility is that the northern outer wall was close to the excavation limit; in that case, the building had a central courtyard flanked by two rooms on the west and two rooms on the east. Another possibility is that the building was much larger and included additional rooms on each side of the courtyard. In any event, the entrance would have been from the north directly into the central courtyard. The flat stones along the walls of the courtyard and the narrow corridor or staircase (8479) are exceptional features in the Iron IIA architecture at Tel Rehov.

Building CY is one of the few examples in Iron Age IIA Tel Rehov of a courtyard house. The plan is somewhat similar to that of Building CZ in Squares A–C/2–3, 10 m to the south, assigned to Stratum C-1b (Fig. 12.48). It recalls, to some extent, Iron Age II houses known from Hazor Area B (next to the citadel), Samaria and Megiddo. Such structures were explained by Yeivin, followed by Herzog, as representing officials’ houses, and were dubbed “scribes’ chambers” (Herzog 1992: 229– 230, with references)

• Figure 12.9 -
  Figure 12.9
  
  Plan of Stratum C-2, west; area in Squares Y/1–2 cut by apiary (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

• Fig. 12.18 -
  Fig. 12.18
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b (1:200)
  
  Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Fig. 12.19 -
  Fig. 12.19
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a (1:200)
  
  Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Fig. 12.23 -
  Fig. 12.23
  
  Isometric view of Area C, Stratum C-1a, looking northwest
  
  Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Isometric view of Area C, Stratum C-1a, looking northwest from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

• Plans: Figs. 12.24–12.25

• Remains in Square R/4 (C-1b, C-1a)
• Building CD and the area to its north in SquaresS–T/3–4 (C-1b)
• The cooking area in Square T/4 (Early C-1b, C-1b, C-1a)
• The courtyard south of Building CD in Squares S–T/2–3 (C-1b)
• Piazza CK in Squares S–T/2–3 (C-1a)
• Building CJ in Squares S–T/1 (C-1b, C-1a)
• Remains to the west of Building CJ (C-1a)

• Plans: Figs. 12.27–12.28, 12.33–12.36, 12.38

• Building CE in Squares T–Y/4–6 (C-1b, C-1a)
• Building CR in Squares Y–Z/6 (C-1b, C-1a)
• Building CF in Squares Y–Z, A/4–6 (C-1b, C-1a)
• Building CW in Squares A–C/5–6 (C-1b, C-1a)
• Buildings CQ1and CQ2 in Squares A–C/4–5 (C-1b, C-1a
• Street in Squares Z, A–C/4 (C-1a)

• Plans: Figs. 12.39–12.40, 12.44

• Building CG in Squares T–Y/2–4 (C-1b, C-1a)
• Building CM in Squares Y–Z/3 (C-1b)
• Building CH and the apiary in Squares Y–Z, A/1–2, 20 (C-1b)
• Piazza 2417 in Squares Y–Z/3–4 (C-1a)

• Stratum C-1b: Building CG, Building CM, Building CH, the apiary (Figs. 12.39–12.40, 12.44).
• Stratum C-1a: Building CG (partly continued to be in use), Piazza 2417 (replacing Building CM) (Fig. 12.50)

• Plans: Figs. 12.39, 12.48–12.53

• Building CZ in Squares Z, A–B/2–3 (C-1b)
• Building CP — early phase in Squares A–C/1–2 (C-1b)
• Building CQ3 in Squares A/2–3 (C-1a)
• Building CX in Squares B–C/2–3 (C-1a)
• Building CP in Squares A–C/1–2 (C-1a)
• Building CL in Squares Y–Z, A/1–2, 20 (C-1a)

• Stratum C-1b: Building CZ and an early phase of Building CP (Fig. 12.39)
• Stratum C-1a: Buildings CQ3, CX, CP and CL (Fig. 12.50).

• Figure 12.24 -
  Figure 12.9
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, west (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.25 -
  Figure 12.9
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, west (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.97 -
  Figure 12.97
  
  Section 43 (Square R/4, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 43 (Square R/4, looking north) from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.64 -
  Photo 12.64
  
  Square R/4, looking south, before removal of balk between Squares R–Q/4 (on right); meter stick on C-1b Locus 2446 (compare Photo 12.23 for lower levels in this square) (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Square R/4 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.65 -
  Photo 12.65
  
  Square R/4; C-1a Room 2442, with plaster patch, looking north (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Square R/4 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

In Square R/4, above C-2 Room 1555, two main phases were attributed to Strata C-1b and C-1a; the latter was the clearest and best preserved, found just below topsoil and containing destruction debris and restorable vessels on a floor. Traces of additional narrow brick walls and restorable pottery revealed in the topsoil to the north and south of Square R/4, and in Square Q/4 of Area D, indicated that domestic occupation in the Iron Age IIA reached the western perimeter of the tell, with no evidence for any fortification wall.

Several phases of construction were found in this room (Fig. 12.24).

The eastern wall in Stratum C-1b was 1557, which continued the northern line of Wall 1413 that ran the entire length of Area C on the west (see details below); it seems that Wall 1557 was not used in Stratum C-1a. Parallel to it and 3.1 m to its west was Wall 1563, which apparently continued to be in use from Stratum C-2. In the initial phase of Stratum C-1b, a pink plaster floor (4483) passed below Walls 2416 and 4457, and possibly related to Wall 1557 on the east. At this stage, Wall 1568, which abutted the southern continuation of Wall 1557, was most probably the southern wall of the room, while its northern wall was beyond the excavation area. In a later phase of C-1b, Wall 2416 was built against the western face of Wall 1557; on the south, it abutted Wall 1568. In the center of the room, a narrow north–south wall (4457; Photo 12.64), preserved only one course high, made a corner on the south with Wall 4458, which was first built in Stratum C-2 (see above, Room 1555). In Stratum C-1b, its eastern part was covered by Floor 4483; a small round posthole was found on the northeastern end of this floor. The addition of Wall 4457 formed a narrow space (0.9 m wide) on the western side of the room. While Floor 4483 ran below the secondary walls (2416, 4457), the occupation debris above the floor abutted these walls. To the west of Wall 4457, Floor 4488, made of plaster with a layer of striations above it, penetrated below Wall 4457. In the second phase, a higher floor (4464) was laid, 0.1 m above the latter, abutting Walls 4457 and 4458. To this same phase, and perhaps to the same building, we attributed several walls surrounding a courtyard with ovens found in Square Q/4, which was part of Area D (Chapter 15; see also Fig. 12.24). The density of construction and layers points to the intensive activity in this area on the cusp of the mound during the course of Stratum C-1b.

A new room was built above the C-1b remains in this square, reusing Wall 2416 and adding new walls on the south (2423), west (1554) and north (1552) (Fig. 12.25). Wall 1558 was a short segment that seemed to corner with Wall 1552; perhaps it was the original western wall of the room that was removed at one point and replaced by Wall 1554, slightly to the west. A concentration of stones (2450), some of which were grinding stone fragments, was found in the southwestern corner of the square. These might have been part of a pavement which had continued to the west, but was eroded down the slope. A north–south row of three stones, running along the western face of Wall 1554, may have belonged to a room in Square Q/4 (Area D), bounded by Walls 1816 and 1808 (Figs. 12.19, 12.25). This space, poorly preserved due to the severe erosion on the slope of the mound, may have belonged to the same building as Room 2442.

Inside the room was a 0.4 m-deep layer of burnt destruction debris (2405) on a beaten-earth floor (2442, 87.56 m); part of this floor was a rectangular patch of hard plaster (2438) which abutted the northern face of Wall 2423 (Photo 12.65). It sloped slightly down to the north (0.18 m over 1.2 m) and might have served for some liquid-related activity; this plaster had been repaired with a whitish lime substance at one time during its use. In the burnt debris was an assemblage of restorable vessels (Figs. 13.68–13.70). One sherd of an imported Greek bowl was found as well (Fig. 13.70:22; see Chapter 28A). The smaller vessels in this room were found just below topsoil, in a layer above two parallel rows of storage jars that rested directly on the floor, one running along Wall 2416 and the other near Wall 1554 on the west. Most of the jars were fallen with their rims to the north; under several of the jars was a burnt patch with phytolith, suggesting that they had been set on some organic material, such as reed mats or wood.

• Figure 12.24 -
  Figure 12.24
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, west (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.65 -
  Figure 12.65
  
  Section 11 (Squares T/1–4, looking west); the section in Square T/3 north of Walls 1448/4439 was drawn on a line east of Wall 1506
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 11 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.66 -
  Figure 12.66
  
  Section 12 (Square S/4, looking east at walls)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 12 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.67 -
  Figure 12.67
  
  Section 13 (Square S/3, section below Wall 1448, looking south)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 13 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.68 -
  Figure 12.67
  
  Section 14 (Square T/3, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 14 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.66 -
  Photo 12.66
  
  C-1b Building CD, looking east; Wall 2495 above C-2 Wall 4434 (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Tilted Wall 2495 in C-1b Building CD excavation from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Above the elements attributed to Stratum C-2 to the north of Building CA in Squares R–S/4 was the southern end of a room or a courtyard located in front of Building CD (Fig. 12.24). Although not well preserved, a gap in its southern wall (1524) was probably an entrance, on line with the entrance to Building CD, thus linking the two units. Wall 1524 was built on top of a thin fill laid on Stratum C-2 Wall 8503; it ran flush against Wall 1464 of Building CD, creating a wide double wall (Fig. 12.66). The western end of Wall 1524 continued westward to abut (but not to join) the eastern face of Wall 2416, and was abutted on the north by Wall 1557. Several bricks with two marginal bosses on each end were incorporated in Wall 1524. Such protrusions must have been part of the brick mold and their function might have been to improve the grip of the mud plaster that covered the walls. Alternatively, it could have been intended as a decorative element, as no traces of plaster were found. Bricks with similar protrusions were also found in walls of Stratum C-1b in Buildings CE and CF (see below). On the east, Wall 1524 cornered with Wall 2501, although this corner was disturbed. On the west, Wall 1524 cornered with Wall 1557, the northern end of long backbone Wall 1413. All three walls were abutted by occupation debris (1512) and a floor (2494, 86.75 m), which contained an oven (2496) and a stone basin in the northern balk (unnumbered). The floor (4491) in the western part of this space was set on a bedding of small stones that raised it slightly higher than the floor level to the east.

No architecture that could be attributed to Stratum C-1a was found here and the same loose debris, possibly a disturbance, that covered Building CD, also covered these remains (Fig. 12.25).

This building in Squares S/3–4 (Fig. 12.24; Photo 12.2) was, in fact, a renovation of Stratum C-2 Building CA. The outer walls were rebuilt along the same lines, but the inner division was canceled, thus creating a large, roughly rectangular space; the external measurements were 5.0×6.2 m and the floor space, ca. 20 sq m.

All the outer walls of C-2 Building CA were rebuilt with a new type of brick made of light gray, dark gray and light brown clay. The demarcation between the previous walls and the rebuild was very clear and a distinct line of a fill or repair was visible, especially in the northern, eastern and southern walls (Figs. 12.65–12.67; Photos 12.28, 12.66). This was a layer of light brownish-gray clay (similar to the brick material) that was packed down on top of the damaged C-2 walls, leveling them in preparation for the rebuild.

On the north, Wall 1464 replaced C-2 Wall 4438; the entrance into the new building was now located nearer to the center of the northern wall, through an opening in the double wall (1524/1464). Wall 1464 was deliberately cut on its western end, as can be seen in the western balk of Square S/4 (Fig. 12.66). On the west, Wall 1523 replaced C-2 Wall 4440 (Fig. 12.67); it was poorly preserved and tilted severely towards the east, especially in its northern part. This wall ran along the eastern face of Wall 1413, with the latter continuing further to the south and north to enclose additional units. On the south, Wall 1448 replaced C-2 Wall 4439; the repair line between the two walls was clearest here (Photo 12.28). On the east, Wall 2495 replaced C-2 Wall 4434 (Fig. 12.66; Photo 12.66); however, the former was traced only in Square S/4 and did not continue to the south. This may be due to its state of preservation or, as suggested above, Wall 1506, possibly built at the end of Stratum C-2 as a buttress for the damaged eastern wall of Building CA, continued in Stratum C-1b as the southeastern wall of Building CD (Fig. 12.68). As noted above, it is possible that Wall 1506 had been first built in Stratum C-1b, although this seems less likely. This rather makeshift arrangement would have lent a slipshod look to this part of the building, which contrasts with the otherwise well-built walls. The eastern side of Building CD was less well preserved, just like in its predecessor, Building CA.

The inner division of the previous Building CA was cancelled. The inner walls were deliberately removed, so that five to six cut courses were detected close to their juncture with the external walls of the building: Wall 2509 of the previous building was cut 0.35 m to the east of its corner with Wall 4440 and Wall 2493 was cut 0.15 m to the north of its corner with Wall 4439 (Photo 12.28). The reason for the deliberate razing of these inner partition walls was not clear; perhaps they were in such a poor state of preservation following the destruction of Building CA that they required removal before the leveling and rebuilding could take place.3 Indeed, below the lowest floor of Building CD were layers of brick debris interspersed with layers of red clay and ashy gray striations, which might be understood as a fill (2491 in Square S/4, 2485 in Square S/3) laid on top of the previous building, serving to level off the razed walls. These layers yielded sherds and partial vessels, including red-slipped and hand-burnished bowls and jugs (Fig. 13.41).

On top of this debris/fill were successive occupation layers, with a total thickness of 0.6–0.8 m, rich in sherds and bones: 2486, 1485 and 1466 in Square S/4, and 1474 in Square S/3. While these layers were stratified, it was difficult to clearly identify a floor. Two flat-topped stones were found near the northeastern and northwestern corners of the building, relating to Locus 2486. Their function was not clear, as they were too close to the wall to have served as pillar bases, recalling the stones along the walls in Building CY of Stratum C-2 (see discussion above).

The only internal construction in the new building was a row of crumbly gray bricks (0.5–0.6 m wide) added along the northern face of Wall 1448, covering the cut southern end of Stratum C-2 Wall 2493. This element (2484) was preserved 0.4– 0.6 m high and 3.4 m long; it might have been a bench along Wall 1448.

The end of Building CD was not violent and no traces of sudden destruction were found. The building was not renovated in Stratum C-1a, when its southern part was covered by the northern end of Piazza CK and its northern part was covered by a layer of loose debris (1412, 1417) that appeared to have been a disturbance of some sort.

• Figure 12.25 -
  Figure 12.25
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, west (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.65 -
  Figure 12.65
  
  Section 11 (Squares T/1–4, looking west); the section in Square T/3 north of Walls 1448/4439 was drawn on a line east of Wall 1506
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 11 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.69 -
  Figure 12.69
  
  Section 15 (Squares S–Y/2, looking north) (1:55)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 15 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.70 -
  Photo 12.70
  
  C-1a Piazza CK, looking east; lower center: Stones 1427 and 1496 (1997)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Piazza CK from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.71 -
  Photo 12.71
  
  C-1a Piazza CK, looking south; Stones 1496, with cooking pots in the center (1997)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Piazza CK from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

In Stratum C-1a, Building CD went out of use and a large open area, denoted Piazza CK, replaced it (Squares S–T/2–3). This courtyard included the open area to the south of Building CD, as well as the cooking area described above. It was bordered on the south by Wall 1437 (the northern wall of Building CJ) and an additional stub of a wall (1415), on the east by Wall 1416 (the western wall of Building CG), and on the west by Wall 1413 (the long backbone wall running along the entire area). On the northeastern end of this space was a short wall (1457) that seemed to be a continuation of the northern wall of Building CG; it was preserved only one course high and ended abruptly after 2.0 m, on line with Wall 1415 on the south. It is possible that these were stubs of walls that had been dismantled or otherwise damaged. Thus, the width of Piazza CK ranged from 7.0 m on the south to 8.0 m on the north, and its length was at least 13 m, as the northern end was beyond the limit of the excavation area. The total area was at least 97 sq m, making this one of the largest open areas in all strata in Area C, which was, for the most part, densely built up. Access into the piazza must have been from the north.

In the enclosure formed by these walls, the northwestern quadrant (Square S/4) contained a layer of soft earth and eroded brick debris (1417, 1412, 1439) that might have been a late disturbance, while in the rest of the area, very burnt and vitrified brick debris resting on a hard-packed white floor (1418, 1422, 1428) was revealed under topsoil (Figs. 12.65, 12.69). Running through the center of this courtyard on a north–south axis and abutted on the east, south and west by the destruction debris and white floor, was a concentration of stones, several of which were grinding stone fragments, and brick fragments (1427) (Photo 12.70). This element was roughly L-shaped, with a plastered, right-angled niche in its western face, which contained part of a smashed storage jar (unrestored); another storage jar (Fig. 13.72:9) abutted the installation on its south, and yet another one (Fig. 13.72:10) was found to its north. Another concentration of basalt stones was found 0.5 m to the south of 1427, designated 1496; they most likely comprised parts of the same element, perhaps with a stone missing in the middle. Two cooking pots (Fig. 13.71:7, 9) were found against the western face of these stones (Photo 12.71). An additional element was a brick block (1458), 1.0 m long, 0.5 m wide and preserved to one or two courses, located just to the west of the southern end of 1427 (Fig. 12.69). This might have been a work surface or, perhaps, a space divider.

Wall 1413, that bordered Piazza CK on the west, ran for 19.7 m on a slightly southeast–northwest line along the western end of the entire area and continued beyond the limits of the excavation to both the north and the south (Photos 12.2–12.5). In Square R/4, Wall 1413 abutted the western end of Wall 1524. The continuation of its line to the north was denoted 1557 (Photos 12.4–12.5, 12.8). The southern part of Wall 1413 was made of hard yellow bricks, typical of Stratum C-2, as opposed to the light gray bricks of the rest of the wall, typical of Strata C-1b and C-1a. This was the only place in this wall where two phases were discerned: in the earlier phase (Stratum C-1b), the wall was termed 2432 and the later phase, 1431 (Stratum C-1a). Wall 1413 was constructed slightly above and west of Stratum C-2 Buildings CA and CB (Figs. 12.16, 12.69). In Stratum C-1b, its lower part adjoined the western wall of Building CD and it served as the western border of the space south of Building CD, of the unit north of Building CD, and of Building CJ. In Stratum C-1a, it was the western border of Building CJ and Piazza CK. In Square R/4, the structures of both Strata C-1b and C-1a (described above) were attached to its western face. Wall 1413 was unique in its length and multiple-use in several units during the course of two strata, making it a prime example of the integrated urban planning that characterized this area.

• Figure 12.27 -
  Figure 12.27
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, north-center (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.28 -
  Figure 12.28
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, north-center (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.62 -
  Figure 12.62
  
  Section 8 (Square Y/5, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 8 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.63 -
  Figure 12.63
  
  Section 9 (Square Y/5, looking west)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 9 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.64 -
  Figure 12.64
  
  Section 10 (Square T/4, looking east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 10 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.75 -
  Photo 12.75
  
  Squares T–Z, A/3–5, general view to southeast; Buildings CE, CF and CG (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Buildings CE, CF and CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.76 -
  Photo 12.76
  
  Building CE, C-1b Room 2489, looking north (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE, C-1b Room 2489 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.77 -
  Photo 12.77
  
  Building CE, looking east at Wall 2454; note marginal bosses on bricks and wood in foundation (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE, looking east at Wall 2454 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.78 -
  Photo 12.78
  
  Building CE; corner of Walls 2454 and 1491, looking northeast (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE; corner of Walls 2454 and 1491 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.79 -
  Photo 12.79
  
  Building CE, C-1a Room 1471, looking west (1997)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE, C-1a Room 1471 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.80 -
  Photo 12.80
  
  Squares Y/5-6, northern rooms of Building CE, looking east (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Northern rooms of Building CE from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.81 -
  Photo 12.81
  
  Building CE, Stratum C-1b, Room 6449, near corner of Walls 2454 and 1491, looking east (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE, Stratum C-1b, Room 6449 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.82 -
  Photo 12.82
  
  Building CE, C-1b Room 6449, looking south at bricks against Wall 1491 and chalices in destruction debris (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Destruction debris inBuilding CE, C-1b Room 6449 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.83 -
  Photo 12.83
  
  Building CE, detail of marginal bosses on bricks in C-1b Wall 6452 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Detail of marginal bosses on bricks in C-1b Wall 6452 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.84 -
  Photo 12.84
  
  Building CE, C-1a Room 6433, looking south at corner of Walls 1491 and 2454 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE, C-1a Room 6433 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.87 -
  Photo 12.87
  
  Squares Y–Z/6, looking south at southwestern corner of C-1 Building CR, cut by Pit 6498 (2005)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1 Building CR from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Building CE was located in Squares T–Y/4–6, to the east of the cooking area in Square T/4. The building was composed of a broad room in the south and an area to its north, of which a strip, 2.0 m wide and 10 m long, was excavated (Photo 12.75). The broad room was a rebuild of an earlier structure, attributed to Stratum C-2 (Figs. 12.9–12.10); it had two phases, while the area to the north had three. In Stratum C-1b, the building suffered a destruction, after which it was renovated in Stratum C-1a and continued to be used with various changes, mainly in its northern part, until its final destruction.

• Figure 12.27 -
  Figure 12.27
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, north-center (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.28 -
  Figure 12.28
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, north-center (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.33 -
  Figure 12.33
  
  Plan of Building CR, early phase of Stratum C-1b; the pits in Squares A, Z/6 are possibly an interim phase between Strata C-2 and C-1b (1:100)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Building CR, early phase of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.34 -
  Figure 12.34
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.35 -
  Figure 12.35
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.36 -
  Figure 12.36
  
  Plan of Building CF, Stratum C-1a (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Building CF, Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.85 -
  Photo 12.85
  
  Square Z/6, looking north at C-1a, C-1b and C-2 walls (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Square Z/6, looking north at C-1a, C-1b and C-2 walls from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.86 -
  Photo 12.86
  
  Square Z/6, looking south; meter stick in entrance corridor of C-2 Building CU (2005)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Square Z/6 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.87 -
  Photo 12.87
  
  Squares Y–Z/6, looking south at southwestern corner of C-1 Building CR, cut by Pit 6498 (2005)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Squares Y–Z/6 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.88 -
  Photo 12.88
  
  Building CR, late phase of C-1b; bricks of 6512, looking east (2005)
  
  JW: Note fractured and displaced blocks
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Fractured and displaced blocks of Building CR, late phase of C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.89 -
  Photo 12.89
  
  Building CR, C-1a Room 6468, looking south; concentration of jugs along Wall 6461 and charred beams to left (east) (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Broken Jugs and charred beams in Building CR, C-1a Room 6468 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.90 -
  Photo 12.90
  
  Building CR, C-1a Room 6468, looking south, after removal of jugs seen in Photo 12.89 (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CR, C-1a Room 6468 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.91 -
  Photo 12.91
  
  General view to south; foreground left: Building CF (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Buildings CR, CF, and CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Building CR was the southern part of a building in Squares Y–Z/6 that continued to the north beyond the limit of the excavation (Photos 12.6–12.7, 12.43, 12.86) and was, in fact, a rebuild of Stratum C-2 Building CT; this was one of the few instances of continuity between all the Iron Age IIA strata in Area C. Building CR had three sub-phases, the two early ones attributed to Stratum C-1b and the latest to Stratum C-1a. The southern wall of Building CR was also the northern wall of Building CF and its eastern wall was the western boundary of the entrance into that building (Photo 12.86). The southwestern corner of this building was cut by Pit 6498 (Photos 12.43, 12.48, 12.87).

Plans

• Plan: Fig. 12.33

Plans

• Plans: Figs. 12.27, 12.34

Plans

• Plans: Figs. 12.28, 12.35–12.36

• Figure 12.27 -
  Figure 12.27
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, north-center (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.28 -
  Figure 12.28
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, north-center (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.29 -
  Figure 12.29
  
  Building CE, Stratum C-1b; elevation: corner of Walls 2454 and 1491 (1:50)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CE, Stratum C-1b; corner of Walls 2454 and 1491 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.33 -
  Figure 12.33
  
  Plan of Building CR, early phase of Stratum C-1b; the pits in Squares A, Z/6 are possibly an interim phase between Strata C-2 and C-1b (1:100)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Building CR, early phase of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.34 -
  Figure 12.34
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.35 -
  Figure 12.35
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.36 -
  Figure 12.36
  
  Plan of Building CF, Stratum C-1a (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Building CF, Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.58 -
  Figure 12.58
  
  Section 4 (Squares Z/5–6, looking east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 4 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.59 -
  Figure 12.59
  
  Section 5 (Square Y/5, section below Bench 5472, looking west)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 5 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.60 -
  Figure 12.60
  
  Section 6 (Square Y/5, section below Wall 5431, looking south)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 6 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.61 -
  Figure 12.61
  
  Section 7 (Squares Y–Z/4, section below Bench 5468, looking south)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 7 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.91 -
  Photo 12.91
  
  General view to south; foreground left: Building CF (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Buildings CR, CF, and CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.92 -
  Photo 12.92
  
  General view to south; center: Building CF (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.93 -
  Photo 12.93
  
  Eastern balk of Square Z/6, looking east at section through entrance corridor of Building CF; meter stick on C-2 level (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Eastern balk of Square Z/6 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.94 -
  Photo 12.94
  
  Eastern part of Building CF, looking north at northern space and entranceway (with balk) (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Eastern part of Building CF from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.95 -
  Photo 12.95
  
  Section in the middle of Square Z/5, under Floor 5498 in C-1a Building CF, looking south (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section in the middle of Square Z/5 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.96 -
  Photo 12.96
  
  C-1a Building CF, southern part of Room 5498, looking north; center: top of pottery model shrine, wooden beam (loom?) to its north (2001)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CF, broken pottery in southern part of Room 5498 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.97 -
  Photo 12.97
  
  C-1a Building CF, Room 5498, looking east at eastern section of Square Z/5 and detail of wooden beam; grinding installation 5456 on right (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CF, Room 5498 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.98 -
  Photo 12.98
  
  C-1a Building CF, grinding installation 5456 in south of Room 5498, looking south; woman crouching west of installation, holding an upper grinding stone found nearby (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CF, Room 5498 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.99 -
  Photo 12.99
  
  C-1a Building CF, Room 5499, looking east; note plastered walls and wooden beams incorporated in floor makeup (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CF, Room 5499 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.100 -
  Photo 12.100
  
  C-1a Building CF, below Room 5499, looking south; note wooden beams in foundation of Wall 5455 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CF, below Room 5499 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.101 -
  Photo 12.101
  
  Building CF, the western wing with bench rooms, looking south (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.102 -
  Photo 12.102
  
  Building CF, probe under C-1a Room 5444, looking east; C-2 Wall 6454 below (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.103 -
  Photo 12.103
  
  Building CF, probe under C-1a Room 5444, looking southwest, after removal of Bench 5468 and part of Bench 5469 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.104 -
  Photo 12.104
  
  Building CF, C-1a Room 5444, looking west at Wall 4422, after partial removal of Bench 5469 and layer of fallen ceiling material and rubble below (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF, C-1a Room 5444 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.105 -
  Photo 12.105
  
  Building CF, detail of Photo 12.104 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.106 -
  Photo 12.106
  
  Building CF, looking south; top of destruction debris 6401 in C-1a; right: Room 6435 with grinding stone Installation 6406 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF, top of destruction debris 6401 in C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.107 -
  Photo 12.107
  
  Building CF, grinding installation 6406 and destruction debris 6401 in Room 6435, looking south (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF, grinding installation 6406 and destruction debris 6401 in Room 6435 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.108 -
  Photo 12.108
  
  Building CF, fragments of altar in topsoil of Room 6435 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF, fragments of altar from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.109 -
  Photo 12.109
  
  Building CF, grinding installation 6406 in Room 6435, looking southwest at western wing of building (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF, grinding installation 6406 in Room 6435 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.110 -
  Photo 12.110
  
  Building CF, Stratum C-1a, grinding Installation 6406 in Room 6435, looking west (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Building CF, Stratum C-1a, grinding Installation 6406 in Room 6435 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.111 -
  Photo 12.111
  
  Building CF, looking south at western wing; front; smashed vessels on floor of Room 5460; note bricks 5458 in Room 5445 to south (2001)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Smashed vessels on floor of Room 5460 in Building CF from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.112 -
  Photo 12.112
  
  C-1a Building CF, Room 5444 looking north; large pottery crate in northwestern corner (2001)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CF, Room 5444 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.113 -
  Photo 12.113
  
  Room 5444, looking west; floor and benches exposed (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Room 5444 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Building CF in Squares Y–A/4–6 was one of the largest and most interesting structures in Area C. Its unique plan, fine construction, and exceptional finds point to its importance. The building was initially constructed in Stratum C-1b and, following a destruction, was renovated and reused until its final destruction at the end of Stratum C-1a. Its external measurements were 8.7×11.3 m (excluding Wall 2454 on the west and the entrance corridor) and its floor space was 50.46 sq m in Stratum C-1b and 52.89 sq m in C-1a. This latter phase was the best known, as it was exposed just below topsoil and destroyed in a fierce conflagration, after which the building was abandoned. Although the remains of Stratum C-1b were not as well preserved, they were sufficient to define a separate building phase, with finds attributed to its floors. Both phases will be described together, emphasizing the stratigraphic considerations that led to the division between the two. Building CF was built over Stratum C-2 Building CU (Photos 12.85, 12.100– 12.104); although both buildings were of the same orientation, they were two entirely different structures.

Building CF contained an entrance corridor in the northeast and three main components: a rectangular space on the north, with a western and an eastern wing to its south. Each of these wings was enclosed by separate walls that adjoined each other to form double walls, so that each was both independent and united. Double walls also surrounded the building on the west, south and east; these walls had a total width of 1.0–1.1 m. This, along with the well-built straight walls, lent the structure a sturdy look and also raises the possibility that the building had an upper floor. Thus, Building CF, although a unique and independent structure, was an integral part of a well-planned quarter that was densely built in both Strata C-1b and C-1a (Photos 12.6–12.7, 12.91–12.92; 12.169).

Plans

• Plan: Figs. 12.27, 12.34

The architecture and contents of Building CF are unique in many ways. Although the grinding installations, oven and many loomweights found in this building in Stratum C-1a are typical of household activity, the plan of this building, the double walls, and the unique finds make it exceptional.

The net floor space is not exceptional and should be regarded as modest compared to other Iron Age II houses (Table 12.13; Schloen 2001: 165–183; Mazar 2008; see summary below), although it was larger than most other buildings excavated at Tel Rehov. Based on the width of the walls, we may assume that the house had a second story, although no evidence for a staircase was found; a wooden ladder or steps could have been located near the entrance or in the entrance corridor. Such a second story could accommodate private living rooms in this building. We assume that all the spaces in both strata were roofed, based on the fragments of fallen ceiling material found in the debris. Although one may surmise that the large northeastern space (5498) in Stratum C-1a was an open courtyard, this does not seem feasible, in spite of the fact that an oven was located at the northern end of this space. Air and light could be obtained through the main entrance on the north and windows in the southern wall of the building, since all other walls bordered neighboring buildings.

The most outstanding feature in this building was the row of small rooms in the western wing in Stratum C-1a, with benches along the walls. The consecutive arrangement of four rooms entered successively by way of the previous room, lined with benches along most of the walls, is virtually unparalleled in the Iron Age architecture in Israel (see further below). The small size of these rooms and the fact that the two inner ones could not get direct light or air except from the room to the north, emphasize their unique function. The inscribed jar with the inscription — לשקינמש, lšqynmš — found in the largest of these rooms, and the massive pottery box with the lid found in the southern room, allude to a special function of this wing. We can suggest that these were the offices of an important personality, perhaps a merchant or a clan leader, and that the box served as a ‘treasury’ of some kind. The unique model shrine, decorated altar facade, and so-called ‘footbath’ (the function of which remains enigmatic), as well as the presence of two elaborate grinding stone installations, a loom, and other rich finds from this building, are evidence of this special function.

The construction of this building in Stratum C-1b and its renovation in Stratum C-1a, are a process known from other structures in Area C, such as Buildings CE, CR, CQ1 and CQ2. The integration of Building CF with the buildings surrounding it during both strata is typical of the architectural and occupational nature of the Iron Age IIA at Tel Rehov. One possible reason for such dense and crowded construction may be related to efforts to stabilize the structures in light of the seismic sensitivity in this region. This may also be related to local architectural traditions that continued during all of Iron IIA, perhaps with earlier origins, and were special markers of the inhabitants’ cultural identity.

An interesting parallel to the plan of this building can be seen at Megiddo in Stratum VA– IVB Building 2081 (Loud 1948: 44–46, plan: Fig. 388, reconstructed plan: Fig. 100). This building comprised a large courtyard (2081). In the southwestern corner of the courtyard was a cult corner containing two stone horned altars, two pottery stands and additional objects (Zevit 2001: 220– 225). From the courtyard, an entrance led into a unit that resembled Building CF, with a rectangular hall containing an inner chamber. From the front part of the hall, an entrance led into a narrow side chamber, which, in turn, led into two additional rooms arranged in a similar manner as those in Building CF, with entrances located at the end of the walls. It may be suggested that a room at the southwestern corner of this building was also part of this chain of rooms, since the walls were preserved lower than the floor and the location of entrances could not be determined with any certainty in this place. The size of this building fits that of Building CF. It differed in having an additional western wing, the long hall 2163. However, no entrance connecting the eastern to the western wing was found and thus, it is difficult to say whether it belonged to the same building. Another exceptional feature was the two pillar bases at the front part of the main hall. These have no parallels in Building CF, unless we consider the large stone found near Wall 6455 in Stratum C-1b and a second large stone found nearby in Stratum C-1a as pillar bases found out of their original position. It should be noted that the rooms of the eastern wing of Building 2081 at Megiddo were not numbered and no finds were published from them. However, the cult corner in Courtyard 2081 included pottery similar to that from Tel Rehov Strata IV–V (C-1a–b). It may be suggested that these two buildings might have had similar functions, perhaps serving as dwellings of elite families who incorporated commercial activities in their household and had their own cult corners and paraphernalia (see Chapter 4; Fig. 4.12).

• Figure 12.34 -
  Figure 12.34
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.35 -
  Figure 12.35
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.38 -
  Figure 12.38
  
  Plan of Buildings CW, CQ1 and CQ3, Stratum C-1a (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Buildings CW, CQ1 and CQ3, Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.55 -
  Figure 12.55
  
  Section 1 (Squares A/6–C/6, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 1 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.56 -
  Figure 12.56
  
  Section 2 (Squares B/5–6, section below C-1 Walls 6420 and 6476, and below C-2 Wall 7506, looking west)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.114 -
  Photo 12.114
  
  C-1a Buildings CW, CQ1, CQ2 (west half excavated), general view to southeast (2005)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Buildings CW, CQ1, CQ2 (west half excavated) from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.115 -
  Photo 12.115
  
  C-1a Building CW, eastern part, looking west (2007)
  
  JW:Debris on floor 8430
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Debris on Floor 8430 in C-1a Building CW Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.116 -
  Photo 12.116
  
  C-1a Building CW, looking west, Rooms 6411 and 6438 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CW, looking west, Rooms 6411 and 6438 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.117 -
  Photo 12.117
  
  C-1a Building CW, looking south; destruction debris and vessels in Room 6411 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CW, looking south; destruction debris and vessels in Room 6411 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.118 -
  Photo 12.118
  
  C-1a Building CW, Room 6411, looking west; concentration of loomweights on western end of Bench 6496 (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CW, Room 6411 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.119 -
  Photo 12.119
  
  Square C/6, skeleton (8472) east of Wall 8424 of C-1a Building CW, looking west (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Skeleton in Square C/6 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Building CW (Squares A–C/6) was constructed above Stratum C-2 Building CY (Photo 12.114) and to a large extent, is a rebuild of the latter, retaining much of its layout. Like Building CY, it was only partly excavated and continued to the north beyond the limit of the excavation area. Two phases were defined in this building, attributed to Strata C-1b and C-1a, yet in the second phase (C-1a), changes occurred mainly in the courtyard and the eastern part of the building, while the two rooms in the west remained unchanged; thus, they appear in the plans of both Strata C-1b and C-1a. Since the differentiation between the two phases was not emphatic, both are described together.

The building adjoined the entrance corridor and northern space of Building CF on the west and the northern wall of Buildings CQ1 and CQ2 on the south (Photos 12.92, 12.114). Its outer width from east to west was 10.4 m and its known length was 5.8 m, although it extended to the north beyond the limits of the excavation area. Unlike most other Iron IIA buildings at Tel Rehov, this appears to have been a variation of a courtyard house, with a large open courtyard surrounded by rooms, at least on one side. See also Building CY in Stratum C-2 and Building CZ in Stratum C-1b for a similar concept. The southern border of the building was Wall 6444, which ran parallel and adjacent to the northern wall of Buildings CQ1 and CQ2 (6407), forming a double wall, 1.1 m wide. Wall 6444 contained wooden beams typical of Stratum C-1b in its foundation; these were round, ca. 0.05–0.07 m in diameter, closely spaced, and placed perpendicular to the wall’s foundation (Photos 12.59–12.61). The western wall 6408 continued to the south where it was the western wall of Building CQ1. It is thus clear that Building CW was built together with Building CQ1, and probably with CQ2 as well. The eastern wall in Stratum C-1b (8491) was replaced in C-1a by Wall 8424.

In Stratum C-1b, the spacious courtyard was 6.0 m wide and at least 5.5 m long. Its western border was Wall 6420 and its northern continuation, Wall 6476. The border on the east was Wall 8491; a segment of an additional wall (8476) was attached to its western face for 2.5 m; north of this, in its stead, was a north–south row of rather large (ca. 0.3×0.4 m each) roughly rectangular stones (8499), three of which were placed together and a fourth slightly to the north, running into the northern balk (Photo 12.63). These stones adjoined Wall 8491 and thus could not have served as pillar bases; they recall the stones along the walls in Building CY of Stratum C-2 and elsewhere and perhaps served as solid bases for jars or other objects. In Stratum C-1a, Wall 8476 and the stones were removed, and substantial changes were made in the eastern part of the courtyard (see below).

Only a single floor was found in the courtyard (7471, level 86.29 m) (Photo 12.114), laid on a 0.4 m-thick fill of soft brown earth (7501, 8462) that covered the remains of Stratum C-2 Building CY (Fig. 12.55). This fill layer is shown in the plan of Stratum C-1b (Fig. 12.35), as we assume that it was laid at that time, in preparation for the laying of the floor; it is possible that an earlier floor of C-1b was removed when Floor 7471 was laid, leaving only the fill. The floor (shown on the plan of Stratum C-1a; Figs. 12.36, 12.38) was composed of soft reddish-brown earth, its central and southeastern parts burnt black, with some light gray ashy patches and flecks of charcoal throughout. The floor dipped down in the northwest, visible in the northern section of Square B/6 (Fig. 12.55); in this shallow depression was a complete Hippo jar (Fig. 13.99:7). It was not clear whether this depression was intentional (a pit?) or whether it represented a postdepositional phenomenon. A concentration of black ash found to the west of this dip, against Wall 6476, contained two cooking pots (Fig. 13.98:1, 3) and a loomweight. Along the western end of the courtyard was a strip of small stones (7479) set closely together, although rather haphazardly, with a lower layer of stones in its central part. The stones ran parallel to Wall 6420 (Photo 12.114) and may have been a remnant of a poorly preserved stone pavement. The stones ended in the north close to the abovementioned dip in the floor; they recall those found in the northwestern part of Building CX, described below.

The main change in the courtyard, attributed to the transition from C-1b to C-1a, took place in its eastern part and included the replacement of Wall 8491 with Wall 8424 and the addition of an installation that covered Wall 8476 and Stones 8499. Wall 8424 was poorly preserved and it is not clear if it was cut on its northern end or whether there had been an entrance there.

The installation included Wall 8426, an east– west wall, preserved along 2.2 m and 0.15 m high, that extended from the center of Wall 8424 and served as a divider between two spaces that were open to the west (Photo 12.115). The floors of these spaces (8423, 8430 in the north, 8420 in the south) were covered with plaster that lipped up to the faces of the wall in a manner that created shallow channels, which were burnt on their western ends. The northern end of the northern space contained a concentration of stones, east of which were three jugs and one juglet (Fig. 13.101:2–3, 6, 12). On its western end, Wall 8426 joined a shallow north– south channel that terminated on the north near a large lower grinding stone embedded in the floor, and on the south at the center of the southern space. Two stone mortars, one particularly large and the other smaller, flanked the northern end of the channel on the west and east, respectively. The function of these elements remained unclear; it is possible that some substance was drained from the plastered floors into the shallow channel on their west, and that the grinding stone and mortars were used in conjunction with this activity.

A 0.6 m-deep destruction layer (7401), revealed below topsoil, was found in the entire courtyard area, comprising hard burnt brick debris with complete fallen bricks, charcoal and ash. Fifty-one vessels were found here (Figs. 13.97– 13.102), including a large flask (Fig. 13.102:1) and two sherds of Cypriot Black on Red bowls (Fig. 13.102:8–9), as well as numerous other finds (Table 12.16).

This room was bordered by Walls 6408 on the west, 6429 on the north and 6420 on the east (internal measurements 2.1×3.0 m; 6.3 sq. m). An entranceway in the southern end of Wall 6420 led to the room from the courtyard. The only floor found in this room (6411) was made of pink plaster laid above a layer of earth and brick debris (6451) that appears to have been a fill above Building CY, similar to the situation in the courtyard to the east.

Brick benches (6457, 6458 and 6496) were constructed along the western, eastern and southern walls of the room respectively. The benches were 0.35 m wide and 0.35 m high, recalling those in Building CF, although in this case, they were built against the walls and not under them. Placed on top of each end of the western and eastern benches (6457, 6458) were flat-topped stones, perhaps serving as solid supports for jars or other objects (Photo 12.116). In the southwestern corner of the room was an L-shaped brick that formed a niche in which an intact juglet (Fig. 13.101:11) was placed. The room was full of heavily burnt destruction debris (6411) that both covered and abutted the benches. Twenty vessels were found in this debris, including chalices, cooking pots, storage jars, jugs, juglets, and a large krater with grain (Fig. 13.97:15); most of the vessels were concentrated in the debris above the benches that lined the walls (Photo 12.117). A concentration of ten clay loomweights was found on the western end of this bench (Photo 12.118). Other finds in this room included three scale weights and a bronze scale pan, as well as a seal and iron tools (Table 12.16).

This room, located in the northwestern part of the building, was bordered by Walls 6429 on the south, 6497 on the west and 6476 on the east. The internal width was 2.5 m and it was at least 1.4 m long, as its northern border was beyond the limit of the excavation area, with an entrance probably in its northeastern corner. Although the eastern and western walls continued the lines of those of Room 6411 to the south, they were not one and the same, as they abutted the northern face of Wall 6429, but did not bond with it. It is possible that this room had been accessed from the courtyard on the east at a spot further to the north, beyond the limits of the excavation. Just as in Room 6411, a layer of debris that might have been a fill (6462) was found above the C-2 remains and was covered by the floor and benches in this room, so it is assumed that it, like the room to its south, had only one phase of use.

Benches (6480, 6481) lined the western and eastern walls (but not the southern wall), continuing the line of the benches in Room 6411 to the south. Here too, stones were found on top of their southern and northern ends (Photo 12.116). The room was full of burnt destruction debris; eight vessels rested on Floor 6438 at level 86.50 m.

A narrow area (ca. 0.9 m) was excavated to the east of the building in Square C/6, in which a layer of soft debris resting on a plaster floor (8428) was found at level 86.14 m, attributed to Stratum C-1a. A human skeleton (8472; Photo 12.119) was found on the northern end of this plaster floor, at a spot where there was possibly an entrance in Wall 8424. This was the only case of a human skeleton found in Area C (see Chapter 46B), evidence of the sudden violent end of the Stratum C-1a city

• Figure 12.34 -
  Figure 12.34
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.35 -
  Figure 12.35
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a, northeast (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.57 -
  Figure 12.57
  
  Section 3 (Squares A/4–5, looking east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 3 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.120 -
  Photo 12.120
  
  C-1a Buildings CQ1 and CQ2 and street (Squares Z, A–C/4) to their south, looking southwest (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wall 7413 of C-1a Building CQ2 tilted southward towards the street from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.121 -
  Photo 12.121
  
  C-1a Building CQ1, looking west; destruction debris in western rooms (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CQ1; destruction debris in western rooms from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.122 -
  Photo 12.122
  
  C-1a Building CQ1, looking west; floors of western rooms (see Photo 12.121) (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CQ1 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.123 -
  Photo 12.123
  
  C-1a Building CQ2, looking west; meter stick on Floor 7500 (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wall 7413 of C-1a Building CQ2 tilted southward from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.124 -
  Photo 12.124
  
  C-1a Building CQ2, looking west; destruction debris in Room 7490 (2005)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1a Building CQ1; destruction debris in Room 7490 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.125 -
  Photo 12.125
  
  C-1a Building CQ2, wood in foundation of Walls 7413 and 7459 (2007)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Tilted Wall in C-1a Building CQ2 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.126 -
  Photo 12.126
  
  C-1a Building CQ2, looking west; destruction debris (7442) in western half of Room 7500 (2005)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Destruction debris in Room 7500 of C-1a Building CQ1 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

To the south of Building CW and the east of Building CF were two virtually twin buildings, termed CQ1 and CQ2, adjoined by a double wall (Squares A–C/4–5). Both buildings were enclosed on the north by Wall 6407, which was attached to Wall 6444 of Building CW, together creating a double wall, 1.1 m wide (Photo 12.120). On the west, Building CQ1 adjoined Building CF with a double wall, although in Stratum C-1a, with the removal of the inner wall of the northeastern part of Building CF, a double wall was left only in the south and the two buildings shared a wall in the north. Thus, it can be seen how Buildings CQ1 and CQ2 were not only related to each other, but were also a part of the northeastern insula, all the units of which must have been built together according to an integrated plan. On the south, the buildings were closed by a single wall and fronted by a street. The eastern border of Building CQ2 was also a single wall; although unexcavated, it is possible that a north–south street ran here and continued to the north alongside Building CW.

Both buildings were small and comprised three rooms each: a rectangular room on the south and two small rooms on the north, one larger than the other. Yet another building with the same plan was found to the south of Building CQ1, termed Building CQ3. The entrance to Building CQ1 was in its southeastern corner (opposite the entrance of Building CQ3), but curiously, no entrance into CQ2 could be identified. While Building CQ1 was built on a north–south axis, its eastern side ran on a slightly northwest–southeast line, which dictated the orientation of the adjoining Building CQ2; in fact, the eastern wall of the latter building was even more skewed, lending it a trapezoidal shape.

Similar to Building CW to the immediate north Buildings CQ1 and CQ2 had one main phase, with burnt destruction debris under topsoil down to the floors and only ephemeral indications of an earlier occupation in Stratum C-1b. Both buildings were built above remains attributed to Stratum C-2 in Squares A–B/4–5. The most likely explanation is that the buildings were constructed in Stratum C-1b and continued to be in use until the violent destruction at the end of Stratum C-1a. The wood in the foundations of the walls points to this option, as this was a typical C-1b feature. Thus, the buildings appear on the plans of both Strata C-1b and C-1a.

A narrow area to the south of Buildings CQ1 and CQ2, as well as Building CF to their west (Photos 12.120, 12.122), appears to have been an east–west street, some 1.4 m wide, that ran between the block of Buildings CF, CQ1 and CQ2 on the north and Buildings CQ3 and CX on the south, merging into Piazza 2417 on the west in Stratum C-1a.

The buildings are described below as found in Stratum C-1a, noting the very minor remains of the sporadically detected earlier (C-1b) phase.

Plans, Sections, and Photos

• Plans: Figs. 12.34–12.35, 12.38

Plans, Sections, and Photos

• Plans: Figs. 12.34–12.35, 12.38

Buildings CQ1 and CQ2 (and also Building CQ3 to the south, see below) are exceptional among the Iron Age houses in Israel in their relatively small overall size and the even smaller size of the inner rooms, which could hardly be used as living rooms. It may be assumed that these houses had a second story, thus their functional space could have been double, although no evidence for steps was found and access must have been from the outside of the building. This possibility may explain the lack of an entrance in Building CQ2; it is possible that the lower storey of this building was entered by a wooden ladder from an upper floor. Yet, this is a hypothesis that has no factual support and, in fact, there was such an entrance in Building CQ1, despite the higher street level to its south. Notably, the buildings contained very large amounts of pottery, as well as a range of other finds, that might point to them having been dwellings. On the other hand, they lacked cooking facilities, such as ovens, although cooking pots and one baking tray were found.

These buildings can be compared to small houses found in Area C at Hazor, dating to the 13th–11th centuries BCE (Yadin et al. 1960: 98, Pl. 208), in Tell Abu Hawam Stratum IV (Hamilton 1935: Plate IV), Aphek Stratum X11 (Gadot and Yadin 2009: 90––93, Figs. 6.2, 6.4), and perhaps also Building 442 in Stratum VIA at Tel Batash, although it was not fully uncovered and appears to have been larger (Mazar 1997: 76–79; list cited from Gadot and Yadin 2009: 93, with Egyptian parallels as well). However, all these examples are much earlier (13th–11th centuries BCE), while no similar houses are known in Iron Age II Israel.

• Figure 12.18 -
  Figure 12.18
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b (1:200)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.19 -
  Figure 12.19
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1a (1:200)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1a from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.39 -
  Figure 12.39
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, south-center and southeast, with apiary (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.40 -
  Figure 12.40
  
  Plan of Buildings CG, CH, CM and apiary, Stratum C-1b (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Buildings CG, CH, CM and apiary, Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.68 -
  Figure 12.67
  
  Section 14 (Square T/3, looking north)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 14 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.69 -
  Figure 12.69
  
  Section 15 (Squares S–Y/2, looking north) (1:55)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 15 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.73 -
  Figure 12.73
  
  Section 19 (Squares T–Y/1, looking south
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 19 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.76 -
  Figure 12.76
  
  Section 22 (Squares T–Y/3, looking north in Room 2460
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 22 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.77 -
  Figure 12.77
  
  Section 23 (Square Y/3, section below Wall 2411, looking east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 23 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.92 -
  Photo 12.92
  
  General view to south; center: Building CF (2003)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Buildings CF, CW, and CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.127 -
  Photo 12.127
  
  C-1 Building CG in center, looking west; C-2 Buildings CA and CB in background. Amihai Mazar sitting on floor of C-1b Building CM (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1 Building CG and C-2 Buildings CA and CB from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.128 -
  Photo 12.128
  
  Building CG, detail of corner of Walls 2439 (left) and 1416 (right), with wooden beams in foundations, looking south (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Tilted and Deformed Walls in Building CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.129 -
  Photo 12.129
  
  Detail of additional layers of wood under Wall 2439 (see Photo 12.128), looking south; note C-1b brick collapse on left (south); entrance in C-2 Wall 2505 on right (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Tilted and Collapsed Walls in Building CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.130 -
  Photo 12.130
  
  Building CG, looking south; wooden beams in wall foundations and below floor in Room 2444 (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wood Beam Foundations in Building CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.131 -
  Photo 12.131
  
  C-1b Building CG, Room 2441, looking north at destruction and slippage of lower brick courses in Wall 2411 (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Destruction and slippage of lower brick courses in Room 2441 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.132 -
  Photo 12.132
  
  Same view as Photo 12.131, looking north, after excavation of destruction debris in southern part; wooden beams appearing just under floor level (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Destruction and slippage of lower brick courses in Room 2441 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.133 -
  Photo 12.133
  
  Building CG, Room 2411, looking south at collapse of Wall 2439 above wooden beams, below floor of Room 2441 (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Collapse of Wall 2439 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.134 -
  Photo 12.134
  
  Foundation trench of C-1 Wall 1416, cutting eastern end of C-2 Wall 1483 (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Foundation trench of C-1 Wall 1416 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.135 -
  Photo 12.135
  
  Square Y/2, looking northeast; right: Wall 4443 of C-1a Building CL; left: Fill 5430 above brick collapse from C-1b Building CG (2001)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Brick collapse from C-1b Building CG from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Building CG (Squares T–Y/2–4) was a narrow rectangular structure, measuring externally 3.4×8.9 m, with massive walls wider than those of other buildings (recalling the double walls of back-to-back units) (Photos 12.5, 12.8, 12.127). Both the external and the internal walls were 0.9 m wide, composed of two rows of bricks, one laid widthwise and one lengthwise, a building technique found so far almost exclusively in this building. The walls were composed of hard-packed light and dark gray bricks and were exposed just under topsoil.

The building contained three small square rooms that had no entrances and were apparently accessed from above. The floor space of each room was 2.5–2.7 sq m. It is possible that this building had a second story. Although the amount of debris and fallen bricks found here did not seem to justify this, we must take into account that much of this material was eroded and disappeared from this high point of the lower mound.

The only discernible change in this building between Strata C-1b and C-1a took place in its southernmost room, while only one phase was detected in the other two rooms. The buildings adjoining Building CG underwent alteration in C1a. In Stratum C-1b, Building CM abutted it on the east, Building CH on the south, the apiary on the southeast, and the open area south of Building CD on the west. In Stratum C-1a, although still adjoining Building CE on the north, the areas to the east and west of Building CG became open spaces (Piazza 2417 to the east and Piazza CK to the west).

The two outer walls on the west and east (1416, 2411) ran parallel to each other on an almost straight north–south line, while the northern (2453) and southern (2439) walls of the building were slightly skewed, running on a southwest–northeast line; on the north, this was the same angle as that of Building CE, which adjoined it. The sharp angles of the short walls (especially in the northern part of the structure) give the plan a slightly irregular shape.

The building was constructed on top of the ruins of Building CB of Stratum C-2: the western wall (1416) was built over Wall 2505, 0.3 m to its east (Figs. 12.16, 12.68–12.69, Photos 12.31– 12.34) and the southern wall (2439) was built over the southern part of the entrance in Wall 2505 (Photo 12.32). Room 2444 covered Wall 2481 of C2 (Photo 12.38). All the walls were preserved ca. ten courses high and had wooden beams in their foundations (Photos 12.128–12.133). The massive construction of the interior and exterior walls was apparently related to the surmised function as a granary or storage building.

Since the two northern rooms of Building CG did not suffer the same severe collapse as Room 2441, the possibility exists that they continued to be in use during Stratum C-1a (Fig. 12.50). An indication for this is the fact that Piazza 2417 on the east and Piazza CK on the west, both of Stratum C-1a, abutted this building. The floors of the courtyards were at levels 87.55–87.75 m, 1.2–1.4 m higher than the original floors inside these two chambers. There are two possibilities to explain this stratigraphic situation. The first is that the floors of Stratum C-1b continued to be in use in Stratum C-1a and the rooms were approached from above, as in the previous occupation level. In that case, the destruction debris in Rooms 2460 and 2444, with its pottery and the charred grain that was measured for ¹⁴C dates, would be explained as belonging to the last use of the rooms in Stratum C-1a. The other possibility is that a new floor was constructed in Stratum C-1a above this destruction debris, which would then be attributed to the end of Stratum C-1b in these two rooms. Such a floor, which was not preserved, would have been at a level higher than 87.70 m (the preserved top of the walls) and might have disappeared due to erosion. We thus leave this question open, although it is of crucial importance for dating, due to the large number of ¹⁴C dates from the central room (Loci 2425, 2444) mentioned above. It should be noted that the loci numbers of floors and destruction layers appear only in the plan of Stratum C-1b, thus accepting the second possibility; the first possibility would require presenting these numbers in the plan of Stratum C-1a as well. However, since a final verdict is impossible, the loci in these two rooms are tentatively defined as belonging to Stratum C-1b, although we are aware of the alternative.

Evidence for partial rebuild of the southern room (2441) in Stratum C-1a can possibly be seen in the two upper courses of Wall 2441 close to its southern end; while the entire wall suffered from severe slippage of the bricks, these two upper course were not burnt and were laid horizontally above the burnt and tilted courses below (Photos 12.127, 12.131–12.132, 12.159, 12.160). This raises the possibility that these two courses represent a rebuild of the wall in Stratum C-1a. It should, however, be emphasized that there are no other stratigraphic indications for such a phase in this room, such as a higher floor, although such a floor could have existed close to topsoil and had been eroded away, as possible in the two northern rooms.

In the area east of Building CG, and above the collapse from this building that sealed the apiary, a leveling fill (5430, 4408; Squares Y/1–2) was laid in preparation for the construction of Building CL in Stratum C-1a; Wall 4443 of that building had a foundation trench that cut this fill (Fig. 12.74; Photos 12.135, 12.144). This stratigraphic evidence to the east of Building CG, but clearly related to it, supports our conclusion that the building was founded in Stratum C-1b, destroyed at the end of this stratum, along with Building CH and the apiary, and reused (partially?) in Stratum C-1a.

• Figure 12.18 -
  Figure 12.18
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b (1:200)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.39 -
  Figure 12.39
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, south-center and southeast, with apiary (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.40 -
  Figure 12.40
  
  Plan of Buildings CG, CH, CM and apiary, Stratum C-1b (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Buildings CG, CH, CM and apiary, Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.75 -
  Figure 12.75
  
  Section 21 (Square Y/3, looking north at Wall 4465)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 21 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.78 -
  Figure 12.78
  
  Section 24 (Square Z/3, looking east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 24 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.79 -
  Figure 12.79
  
  Section 25 (Squares T–Y/3, looking south)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 25 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.136 -
  Photo 12.136
  
  Squares Y/3–4; C-2 Walls 4515, 4516 and 4465 under C-1b Walls 4432 and 4479 (right), looking west; left: higher stump of Wall 4432; top: Wall 2411 of Building CG (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Stratigraphic section through walls in C-2 and C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.137 -
  Photo 12.137
  
  Building CM, row of chalices along eastern face of Wall 2411, looking west; meter stick on top of Wall 4432, not yet exposed (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Row of chalices along eastern face of Wall 2411 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.138 -
  Photo 12.138
  
  Building CM, row of chalices along eastern face of Wall 2411, looking west; meter stick on top of Wall 4432, not yet exposed (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Row of chalices along eastern face of Wall 2411 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.139 -
  Photo 12.139
  
  C-1b Building CM, looking west; Installation 4448 in center (after removal of cooking jug; see Photo 12.140) (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1b Building CM from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.140 -
  Photo 12.140
  
  C-1b Building CM, cooking jug in Installation 4448 (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Cracked Cooking Jar on the floor in C-1b Building CM from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.141 -
  Photo 12.141
  
  C-1b Building CM, looking west; left: concentration of wood near balk between Squares Y–Z/2–3 (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1b Building CM from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)

Building CM (Squares Y–Z/3) was a unit to the south of Building CF and to the east of Building CG (Photo 12.127), built above the C-2 remains here. It adjoined the apiary on the north and, since the partition wall between them was quite flimsy, it is possible that Building CM was related to the apiary in some functional way, despite the difference in floor levels: 86.20 m in the northern and central part of Building CM and 84.55–84.60 m in the northern part of the apiary. It seems that Wall 9453 of Building CZ (exposed only along its eastern face in Squares A/2–3) was the eastern border of Building CM. The floor inside the western part of Building CZ (84.90 m) was lower by 0.35 m than that in the eastern part of Building CM (85.20 m) and 1.35 m lower than that identified in the western part of Building CM (86.20 m), and it is possible that there was a terraced effect here, following a natural downslope from west to east.

The external measurements of Building CM were ca. 7.8 m×9.0 m, depending on the western and eastern boundaries, which were not entirely clear. It included a small room (4446) in its northwestern corner, a larger space to its south (4445) and possibly an open space (5441, 5442) in its east. Access to the building was most likely from the western end of the street that we assume ran in Squares Z, A–C/4 to the northeast of the building.

Building CM ended in a fierce fire. It went out of use in Stratum C-1a and was covered by a courtyard (2417), whose floor was 1.35 m higher than the floors in this building. It is noteworthy that this was one of the few places where a clear distinction could be made between Strata C-2, C-1b and C-1a.

The northwestern room (4446) was poorly preserved (internal measurements 2.0×2.9 m, 5.8 sq m) (Photos 12.136–12.138). Its walls were composed of crumbly brownish-gray bricks with light gray mortar lines. The western wall of the room (4432) was built above Stratum C-2 Wall 4516 (Fig. 12.75), but continued further to the south, running a total of 4.0 m until it terminated rather abruptly just past its corner with Wall 4411. It ran parallel to the eastern face of Wall 2411 of Building CG, with a 0.2 m gap between them; the foundation heights of the two walls were identical, suggesting that they were constructed together. Yet, unlike Wall 2411, which was standing to a height of 1.5 m, due to its being in continuous use in both Strata C-1b and C-1a, Wall 4432 was preserved only 0.25–0.35 m high, aside from a lone stump that was 0.65 m higher than the rest of the wall (Photo 12.136); this stump was located precisely in the balk between Squares Y/3 and Y/4. It is not clear why it was left standing so high, when the rest of the wall was razed.

Along the eastern face of Wall 2411 was a row of nine chalices (4424) (Fig. 13.49:9–17; Photo 12.138). Two (one intact) were found near the northern end of Wall 4432 (just north of the abovementioned stump), while six more were found running 2.0 m to the south. The chalices were revealed just at the level of the preserved top of Wall 4432, leading to the conclusion that they were placed there following the razing of this wall. Their position exactly in the gap between Walls 4432 and 2411, as well as the higher preservation of the stump, suggests that they might have been a deliberate deposit, perhaps related to some ritual following the destruction of Stratum C-1b.

The northern wall of the building (4479) created a double wall with Wall 4413 of Building CF. Wall 4479 was 8.7 m long, preserved to a height of 1.3 m, and was very burnt. The northwestern corner of Building CM was part of a massive construction, where the corners of four buildings (CE, CF, CG and CM) met. This dense corner in Square Y/4 was a meeting point between Walls 1473, 4479, 4432 and 2454; each of these walls had its own end or face and they abutted one another, indicating that although each belonged to separate buildings, all were built in consideration of each other. As in most other Stratum C-1b walls, wooden beams were incorporated in the foundations of Walls 4432 and 4479. While only a few pieces were noted in the northern end of Wall 4432, the wood in the foundation of Wall 4479 was dense and composed of small rounded beams laid perpendicular to the line of the wall at closely spaced intervals (Photos 12.136–12.137); see Wall 6444 in Building CW and Wall 1437 in Building CH for a similar configuration (Fig. 12.46; Photo 12.145). A unique feature of the wood in Wall 4479 was that it was laid above the lowest two brick courses, rather than at the very bottom of the wall. This somewhat recalls the situation with Wall 2411 in Building CG, where the wooden beams in its foundation were laid on bricks (2478), as described above.

The eastern wall of the room in Stratum C-1b was Wall 4433, which abutted Wall 4479. This wall was 0.8 m wide and was composed of a row of bricks laid lengthwise and one row widthwise, recalling the walls in Building CG. The wall was poorly preserved on both its southern end and its eastern face; it seems that it terminated just about at the line of the balk between Squares Y/3–4, and it is possible that its southern end originally had an entrance that led into the room. The southern closing wall of this room (4411) was very poorly preserved. The room contained several layers of debris (4417, 4430, 4446). While no clear floor was detected, its lowest layer (4446) was on the same level (86.19 m) as Floor 4445 to the south of Wall 4411. These loci, which lacked traces of destruction, might have been a fill that leveled off the area in preparation for the construction of Piazza 2417 in Stratum C-1a.

In the area to the east of Room 4446 was a floor (5441, 5442) at level 86.25–86.30 m. In the north, Floor 5442 contained a concentration of crushed travertine in its center. In the south, Floor 5441 was made of soft pink plaster; a smooth flat-topped pink mizi limestone and a complete storage jar (Fig. 13.51:3) turned upside down were found on this floor. While the northern end of this floor was horizontal, it sloped down towards the south (Fig. 12.78); this slope may possibly be related to the lower southern end of the building, described below. As noted above, it is not known whether this space continued to the east up to Building CZ, as the area between them remained mostly unexcavated (Square Z/3). It might have been an open courtyard, although enclosing walls may be hidden in the unexcavated area in Squares Z/3–4.

To the south of Wall 4411 was a space (4445; Photos 12.127, 12.139–12.142) that ran 3.2 m to the south until Wall 8469, the flimsy narrow wall that bordered the apiary (Fig. 12.78). An interesting feature was a pronounced drop down towards the south, visible in the eastern face of the southern end of Wall 2411 of Building CG, where it bordered Room 4445 (Photo 12.139); this apparently was the result of the same seismic activity that caused the collapse of the southeastern corner of Building CG, described above. The wooden beams laid in the foundation of Wall 2411 that were visible in the matrix of 4445, penetrated under the wall into Building CG to the west, as described above.

The northern and central part of Room 4445 contained very burnt brick debris (4441) on top of a beaten-earth floor (4445, level 86.20 m) (Photo 12.139). An oval-shaped installation built of hard dark gray clay (4448) was built on this floor, just against the southern face of Wall 4411; the gray clay of the installation continued along the southern face of Wall 4411, indicating their contemporaneity. The installation was ca. 0.7 m long, 0.4 m wide, preserved 0.28 m high; it contained a complete cooking jug (Fig. 13.50:4; Photos 12.139–12.140). Another installation related to Floor 4445 was a small bin made of reddish clay and lined with wood (4449) in the southwestern part of this area, built against the eastern face of Wall 2411 (Photo 12.139).

From the line of Installation 4449 until the southern end of the building, the floor was not clear and, in its stead, was a dense concentration of charred wood, 1.0 m wide (4456, 8443, 8447), abutting Wall 8469. Just north of this pile, and east of Installation 4449, was a large stone (Photos 12.139, 12.141–12.142). This strip of charred wood, composed mostly of tree trunks and branches, was set into a reddish layer (8471) (Fig. 12.78). The bottom of this reddish layer (85.30 m) was 0.9 m lower than the floor in the northern part of this room, suggesting that this area might have been dug out to accommodate the wood pile. This strip of charred wood might have been either part of a sub-floor construction or was related to the construction of Wall 8469, which enclosed the apiary to the south (see below). The goal of this wood was perhaps to support the gap created by the 1.6 m height difference between the floor of this space and that of the apiary to the south. Thus, the strip of wood, together with Wall 8469, may be explained as a kind of revetment for the lower terrace on which the apiary was constructed to the south. The eastern part of the wood concentration (8443, 8447) contained many fallen bricks, burnt debris and a thick layer of phytolith (Photo 12.142), inside of which was the lower part of a very large krater (Fig. 13.50:1) and several loomweights.

At the eastern end of Room 4445 was a short north–south line of bricks (8441) standing only two courses high; its northern end terminated in a complete brick, while its southern end appears to have been cut (Photo 12.142). Although these bricks were on line with the middle row of hives in the apiary to the south, no connection between them was found. This segment of bricks could have been a low partition or part of a wall that had been dismantled.

To the east of Wall 8441, a probe in the eastern part of Square Z/3 revealed a layer of destruction debris, fallen bricks, wood and phytolith (11429) that rested on a reddish layer (11450) at 85.20 m and abutted Wall 8469 (very poorly preserved here; Photo 12.160), a sequence similar to that in the south of Room 4445. It seems that this was the continuation of the wood and reddish debris layer in the south of that room and might have been related to the eastern row of hives in the apiary, revealed to its south. Most probably, this matrix abutted the western face of Wall 9453 and its corner with Wall 8469, although the point of contact remained unexcavated.

• Figure 12.18 -
  Figure 12.18
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b (1:200)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.39 -
  Figure 12.39
  
  Plan of Stratum C-1b, south-center and southeast, with apiary (1:125)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.40 -
  Figure 12.40
  
  Plan of Buildings CG, CH, CM and apiary, Stratum C-1b (1:75)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Plan of Buildings CG, CH, CM and apiary, Stratum C-1b from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.70 -
  Figure 12.70
  
  Section 16 (Squares S–Y/1, looking north) (1:55)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 16 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.72 -
  Figure 12.72
  
  Section 18 (Squares T–Y/2, looking north at Wall 1437 and subsidiary balk to its east)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 18 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.73 -
  Figure 12.73
  
  Section 19 (Squares T–Y/1, looking south
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 19 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Figure 12.74 -
  Figure 12.74
  
  Section 20 (Squares T–Y/1, looking south at Wall 2426)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Section 20 from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.143 -
  Photo 12.143
  
  C-1b Building CH, looking west; right: southwestern corner of Building CG (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  C-1b Building CH from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.144 -
  Photo 12.144
  
  Squares T–Y/1–2, northern part of C-1b Building CH, looking north; lower right: northwestern corner of C-1a Building CL, Stratum C-1a (2000)
  
  JW: Note the axis of deformation and slumping from foreground to background
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Collapsed and Tilted Walls along a lineament from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.145 -
  Photo 12.145
  
  C-1b Building CH, detail of wood in the foundation of Wall 1437 at its corner with Wall 1438, looking north (1998)
  
  JW: Note the axis of deformation and slumping from foreground to background
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wood foundations from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.146 -
  Photo 12.146
  
  Square Y/1, C-1b Building CH, looking east ; wooden construction and collapsed Wall 2426 (right) cut by Wall 2413 of Building CL, Stratum C-1a (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Collapsed Wall from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.147 -
  Photo 12.147
  
  Square Y/1, C-1b Building CH, looking south; detail of eastern end of collapsed Wall 2426, cut by foundation trench of Wall 2413 of C-1a Building CL (2000)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Collapsed Wall from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.148 -
  Photo 12.148
  
  Wooden construction through C-1b Building CH, looking west; eastern end of C-2 Wall 2465 cut by wood (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wooden Construction from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
• Photo 12.149 -
  Photo 12.149
  
  As Photo 12.148, looking east (1998)
  
  Panitz-Cohen and Mazar in Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)
  Wooden Construction from Mazar et. al. (2020 v.2)