The Myth of Nazareth: The Invented Town of Jesus (58 page)

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4.  Jug                             Iron IIA                                  1000–900

5.  Flask                         Iron IB                                   1100–1000

6.  Jug                             Iron IIA                                  1000–900

7.  Amphora                  Iron I                                      1200–1000

8.  Small flask              Iron IIB                                  900–800

9.  Pyxis                         Iron I–IIA                              1200–900

10. Bowl                        Iron IB–IIA                            1100–900

11. Bowl                        Iron I–II (Vitto #1)              1100–1000

12. Bowl                        Iron IB                                   1100–1000

13. Oil lamp                 Iron I–IIA                           1200–900

14. Two juglets            Iron I–IIA                           1200–900

15. Small cup               Iron IIA                                1000–900

16. Bone dagger handle              –––                               –––

17. Three metal bracelets          –––                               –––

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above information yields the following chronological schema according to Loffreda:

 

Dates
                            
Period
               
# items
                                 
Lof. #

 

1200–1100                   Iron IA                   1                                              2             

1200–1000                   Iron I                      2                                              1,7

1200–900                     Iron I–IIA              5                                              3,9,13,14a/b

1100–1000                   Iron IB                   3                                              5, 11, 12

1100–900                     Iron IB–IIA            1                                              10

1000–900                     Iron IIA                  3                                              4,6,15

  900–800                      Iron IIB                  1                                              8             

       

F. Vitto dated twelve Iron I objects to Iron I B–XI BCE (Vitto 2001:161–65), and also concluded that all the Loffreda material ”should be pinpointed to the eleventh century BCE” (Vitto:167).

 

The results of this appendix are incorporated in
Illus. 1.5
.

Appendix 3:
The Stratigraphy of Megiddo

 

Megiddo, twenty kilometers from the Nazareth basin, was arguably the most powerful city in Northern Palestine during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Knowledge derived from its 25+ strata has helped with relative datings as far away as Egypt and Syria. However, the stratigraphy of the site is one of the hotly contested issues of Palestine archaeology and is presently in flux. This brief resume does not presume to make any contribution to that discussion, nor to be definitive or complete. It follows the so-called Low Chronology and is presented as a general reference subject to future adjustment.

 

 

 
Period                         Dates               Stratum                          Egypt

     

Pre-Pottery
       6000—
c
.3300                XX                        Predynastic

  Neolithic

Various stages of the Chalcolithic period.
First dwellings of unfortified settlement with lime floors on bedrock, mud brick walls, pits, and ovens. 

 

EB I
                                    
c
. 3300–2900               XIX               Narmer (“Menes”) Early 1
st
dyn

Megiddo is the largest urban site in the country, covering
c.130 acres (55 hec.). Cylinder seal impressions show connections with Syria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. The huge temple has several walls 4 m thick. Finds include scratched drawings; gray-burnished “Esdraelon ware” and “grain-wash” pottery.

 

EB II
                          2900–2650            XVIII                    End of 1
st
–2
nd
dynasties

A massive city wall, c. 5 m thick, is built. Megiddo becomes a fortified but smaller settlement.

 

EB III A
                    2650–2550        XVII–XVI                 3
rd
–early 4th dynasties

[Exact stratification uncertain.]
City wall further widened to 8 meters thickness; well-preserved buildings; huge ‘megaron’ temples on site of earlier compound, with enormous round altar. A great quantity of animal bones attest to animal sacrifice. Megiddo is a major urban center during this period.

 

EB III B
           2550–2350                    XVII–XVI                    Late 4
th
–5
th
dynasties

Decline of settlement at Megiddo; abandonment of some urban sites in Israel.

 

EB IV
                       2350–2200                                  XV                         Late 5
th
–6
th
dynasties

The city of Stratum XVI suffers total destruction. Some continuity of settlement in central cult area. Eventual abandonment of Megiddo and remaining urban sites in Israel.

 

 

Period                               Dates                  Stratum                                       Egypt

 

Int. Period                  
2200–2000                XIV                     7
th
–11
th
dynasties, 1
st
Int. Period

(EB IV, MB I)

Shaft tombs; wheel-made, gray pottery (Grp. C, Amiran:83). Small, poorly-constructed dwellings.

 

MB IIa (MB I)
             2000–1800            XIII–XII                         12
th
dynasty

Stratum XIII B:
The first wave of re-settlement. The town is unfortified
(Arch:166). The great altar continues to be used, but is now associated with multiple shrines or temples. Graves exist below and between houses.

Stratum XIII A:
Continuation and improvement of the previous construction; five-foot thick city wall is erected of mud-brick, with an exceptionally strong L-shaped gateway.

Stratum XII:
City wall is broadened and the town becomes a planned, organized site. A buttressing wall is added to the outer face of the city wall. Large houses (palaces) built over the remains of the old city wall , as well as stone-built tombs with multiple burials inside the city. The first Hyksos scarabs presage Hyksos ascendancy in Palestine.

 

MB IIb(–III)
                               1800–1550              XI–X                                     13
th
–17
th
dyns., 2
nd
Int. Period

Stratum XI:
A new city wall built with sloping glacis, a characteristic feature of the Hyksos period.
Renovation of a temple; appearance of carved ivories and bronze figurines, axes, and adzes.

Stratum X: 
(Late 17
th
–early 16
th
cents.):
Repairs and additions to earlier structures. Close of the Middle Bronze Period.

 

LB I               
                                               1550–1400               IX–VIII                                          18
th
dynasty

Thutmose III of Egypt besieges and conquers Megiddo (c. 1470 BCE). The city revives and experiences its greatest material wealth.

 

LB II
                                              1400–1300                    VIII                                                                 El-Amarna Period

Impressive palace built with 2 m. thick walls, a large courtyard, a bathroom with floor of seashells set in lime, and a hoard of ivory and gold objects. Destroyed by fire.

 

LB III
                                             1300–1200                  VII B                                                19
th
dynasty

A wealthy but declining city destroyed by Merneptah in 1208.

 

Iron I
                                             1200–1000                  VII A–VI B                                      20
th
–early 21
st
dynasties

Stratum VIIA (1200–1130)
A prosperous city. Destruction of most of VII A town (after 1130, probably by the Philistines) marks the end of Egyptian rule in Canaan and of the Bronze Age.

Stratum  VI B (11
th
cent.)
A poor settlement. Philistine bichromeware appears. Clear signs of continuity in ceramic tradition and house layout (Finkelstein).

 

Period                              Dates                         Stratum                                 Egypt

 

Iron II A–B
                  1000–800                     VI A–IVB                 Late 21
s–
early 23
rd
dyns.

Stratum  VI A (10
th
cent.)
Era of David and Solomon, influx of Israelites. Bichromeware disappears. Partial rebuilding includes new, extensive and densely-built residences. Most of the buildings are baked brick on stone foundations. Temple, palace, and city gate not rebuilt. ‘Orpheus’ jug and hand-burnished pottery. Strong metalworking tradition. Town is destroyed by Shishak I of Egypt c. 922 (Finkelstein), leaving a burnt stratum more than 1 m deep. Another view (Alt, Mazar, Yadin) considers this fourth destruction layer to be Kg. David’s conquest c. 1000 BCE.

Stratum  V B (early 9
th
cent.).
Modest and poor settlement without fortifications or town planning.

Stratum V A–IV B (9
th
cent.)
Megiddo fortified and rebuilt, including three palaces of ashlar construction, with courtyards and monumental entrances. Appearance of red slipped, irregularly burnished vessels. A prosperous city. City destroyed (foe unknown).

 

Iron III
                                           800–587                           III–II                        Late 22
nd
/23
rd
–26
th
dyns.

Stratum  IV A (8
th
cent.)
Palaces dismantled, building of complex city gate (mislabeled “Solomonic Gate”), new wall, massive water system with vertical shaft 120 ft. deep. Megiddo is a garrison city with stables, center for Israelite cavalry units. No residences uncovered.           
                                               

Stratum  III (Late 8
th
cent.)
Megiddo conquered by Tiglath-Pileser III (732 BCE). Capital of the Assyrian province of Magiddu. Massive palaces in new style, new gatehouse and northern “stables” built. Town has central courtyard, residential blocks, evenly-spaced and parallel streets. Israelite chariot units headquartered at Megiddo probably were  incorporated  directly into the Assyrian army.

Stratum  II (7
th
cent.)
Residential quarters uncovered and a fortress with walls 2.5m thick. King Josiah executed at Megiddo by Pharoah Neco (609 BCE). Clear signs of decline.

 

Babylonian–Persian
    586–332                          I                            Late 26
th
–30
th
dynasties

Small houses, some storerooms and cist tombs. Conquest by Alexander (332 BCE) and final abandonment of settlement at Megiddo.

 

Hellenistic–Hasmonean
  332–63                                                         (
No  settlement.
)

 

Roman
                         63 BCE–324 CE

South of the Megiddo mound the Jewish village of Kefer ’Otnay existed from c. 100 CE. The second and sixth Roman legions were stationed there in II–III CE and the place became an administrative center called Legio (later the Arab Lejjun). Associated aqueducts, tombs, and a theater have been discovered.

Appendices to Chapter Six

Appendix 4:
The Nazareth Tombs

(Does not include the Bronze-Iron Age tombs of Japhia;
[!] indicates a tomb of particular embarrassment to the tradition.)

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