‘Uẓa, Ḥorvat
THE SITE
HISTORY
The site has a long history of settlement, dating from the Neolithic period through the Middle Ages. Historical sources from the Middle Ages speak of a Frankish settlement at
EXCAVATIONS
The site was first surveyed at the end of the nineteenth century by the Palestine Exploration Fund. In 1963, before work began to widen the Acco–Safed road, a salvage excavation was conducted at the site by A. Ben-Tor on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities. The excavation was concentrated on the mound and its northern sides; four occupational strata and 10 building levels were discerned. A burial cave from the end of the Roman period, about 0.5 km west of the site, was also investigated. In 1991, when plans were again underway to widen the road, the site was excavated by N. Getzov on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Two areas were investigated: area AB, opened along the western side of the mound; and a small sounding, area C, on the eastern side of the site. Twenty-one occupation strata were discerned in area AB and eight in area C.
EXCAVATION RESULTS
THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD. Remains of the end of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period (stratum 21) were uncovered only in a small trial pit. Little is known of the settlement of that time. The meager flint tools retrieved should apparently be attributed to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic C.
Finds from the Pottery Neolithic period (stratum 20) were only reached in a trial pit and shed no light on the settlement of the period. The finds, which include flints tools and pottery, are more numerous than those of the previous stratum and indicate a close affinity with the Yarmukian culture and Jericho IX. The meager evidence of this settlement is of great importance, however, as it represents the earliest known settlement remains from this period in the Coastal Plain of northern Israel and southern Lebanon, between Herzliya and Byblos. The finds closely resemble the assemblages found in the Jordan and Jezreel Valleys and on the Sharon Plain, but differ from those uncovered at Byblos.
THE EARLY CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD. The excavation of the Early Chalcolithic period strata (strata 19–16 in area A and strata C8–C7 in area C) was sufficient to create an extensive and important database of flint tools and pottery, but too limited to cast light on the settlement’s architecture and plan. Yet it can be noted that the buildings were of rectilinear construction in all of these strata, frequently with earth floors on a bed of pebbles and plano-convex bricks. During strata 17–16, the settlement expanded and reached the vicinity of area C.
The ceramic finds allowed for the distinguishing of four consecutive Early Chalcolithic assemblages in stratigraphical sequence. These assemblages correspond to the pottery repertoire found at a large number of sites in the center and north of the country, and corroborate the existence of three main phases of the Early Chalcolithic in Israel. The pottery of stratum 19 corresponds to that uncovered in building B at Wadi Rabah; stratum 17 parallels stratum VIII finds at Jericho; and stratum 16 corresponds to stratum XVIII at Tel Beth-Shean and stratum Ib at Tel ‘Ali. The pottery of stratum 18 represents a gradual transition from strata 19 to 18, but has no definite parallels at other sites in Israel.
The Early Chalcolithic flint industry at
Stratum 16, from the end of the Early Chalcolithic period, yielded two violin-shaped stone figurines. Figurines of this type would become distinctive features of the Late Chalcolithic period, and in this context are further evidence of cultural continuity between the Early and Late Chalcolithic periods. Isolated finds that can be attributed to the Late Chalcolithic period derive from stratum 15 in area A and stratum C6 in area C.
THE BRONZE AGE. The area of the settlement at
After a gap of nearly 1,000 years, the site was reoccupied in the Intermediate Bronze Age (strata C4–C3), one of a network of settlements occupying the fringes of the Acco Plain in this period. Their inhabitants apparently earned their livelihood cultivating the plain and pasturing livestock on the nearby hills and slopes. Remains of the period have been found only in a limited area on the eastern side of the site, perhaps evidence of a small rural village. Both strata C4 and C3 consist of several building stages, spanning a considerable period of time. The inhabitants put a great deal of effort into construction, using stone in the floors and walls of their houses. Isolated sherds from stratum C2 of the Middle Bronze Age IIB indicate only scattered occupation and no substantial settlement.
After another gap in occupation, a very small settlement was established on the site in the Late Bronze Age (strata 13–12), evidence of which was uncovered in one excavation square on the eastern side of the mound, near the well. This settlement was of brief duration, existing only in the thirteenth and beginning of the twelfth century BCE. Judging from the large quantity of imported ware, it can be assumed that it had ties with the large port city of Acco. Although the cities at Tell Keisan and Acco were reoccupied after the upheavals at the end of the Late Bronze Age,

THE PERSIAN PERIOD. Following an additional period of abandonment, a large settlement was reestablished in the fifth century BCE, the middle of the Persian period (stratum 11). The 1963 excavations exposed a stone pavement of this stratum; in 1991, the foundations of thick walls and more floors were uncovered. The pottery repertoire reveals a material culture that was widespread over many settlements in the northern Coastal Plain and on its margins, and considerably different from the culture of contemporary settlements in the hilly area of the Galilee.
THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD. After a short gap, settlement was renewed in a limited area of the site in the middle of the third century BCE (stratum 10). Traces of this settlement were discovered only on the small mound. They include numerous walls of buildings and part of a large structure with a thick outer wall, a number of rooms, and a stone-paved courtyard with clay ovens, perhaps the main building of an agricultural estate. In the first half of the second century BCE, the large Hellenistic city of Acco underwent expansion and the inhabitants of the small adjacent settlements apparently took up residence there. The settlement at
THE LATE ROMAN AND BYZANTINE PERIODS. Pottery began to be manufactured at the site at the beginning of the fourth century CE. Remains of this industry are the predominant finds of the Roman and Byzantine periods (strata 9–6). Pottery found at surface level indicates that the settlement was situated on a low terrace northwest of the mound. Various remains attest to the existence of a church on the site. Based on the numismatic evidence, the majority of which derives from strata 9–6, the following approximate dates can be assigned to the strata: stratum 9, 310–330 CE; stratum 8, 340–410 CE; stratum 7, 410–450 CE; and stratum 6, 550–630 CE. Strata 9–7 correspond to the three phases of stratum II of the 1963 season.
The manufacture of pottery occupied a central role in the economy of the inhabitants of strata 9–7, and a unique accumulation of evidence of the various manufacturing processes was obtained. The evidence includes remains of raw material for preparing the clay, sand brought from the seaside for temper, a pool used during the levigation of the clay, a kneading room, a potter’s wheel, potters’ workshops, tools for shaping and decorating vessels in a “leather-hard” state, kilns, and heaps of vessels discarded after firing.

A quantitative study of the sherds, mostly from the piles of rejects, revealed an interesting evolution of vessel type and variety. In stratum 9, the most common vessels were amphorae with a high neck, narrow body, and pointed base; and storage jars with a low neck, barrel-shaped body, and rounded base. Amphorae are typical of the period in the Galilean Coastal Plain but unknown in the hilly regions. A small quantity of water-wheel jars and cooking pots was also produced. In stratum 8, there is a complete transformation in the pottery repertoire, with the amphorae disappearing and a wide range of new types added, including bowls, kraters, cooking bowls, casseroles, cooking pots, jugs, oil lamps, and a number of unique vessels. In stratum 7, the potters manufactured large quantities of storage jars, comprising the bulk of the pottery repertoire. Some of the previous types are no longer found, and others display a significant reduction in morphological variety. In stratum 6, pottery manufacture at
An unusual find discovered in stratum 8 was a group of pottery stands that supported oil lamps. The word “Shabbat” was engraved on one of the stands, which were apparently used by Jews wishing to extend the time oil lamps could burn on the Sabbath. The wick would have been drawn from the lamp stand, which was filled with oil, to the filling hole of the lamp, and from there to the wick hole. Other finds at the site can also be connected to the Jewish world, such as storage jars bearing colorful menorah decorations. In addition, a burial cave cleared on the western side of the site contained a large number of pottery coffins and an ossuary. The finds in the cave are similar to those found in Jewish tombs in the hilly area of the Galilee.

THE MIDDLE AGES. Deposits containing pottery dated with certainty to the first half of the twelfth century were excavated (stratum 5), but could not be associated with any buildings. A large farmhouse was erected in the second half of the twelfth century (stratum 4), as based on meager ceramic and numismatic evidence. Preserved from the farmhouse are its strong foundations, floors, and the lowest course of its walls. The northern face of the building was exposed, and it could be reconstructed as having a spacious courtyard surrounded by large rooms. The construction of the walls and other elements are characteristic of Frankish buildings. The structure apparently belonged to the village known in the sources as Gialterius Seagius. On the floor of one of the rooms lay two iron scythes. The building was apparently destroyed during Saladin’s wars.
The farmhouse was rebuilt in the thirteenth century (stratum 3), as based on several coins and ceramic finds. Construction techniques were similar to those of the previous stratum. During its rebuilding, it was enlarged, floor levels were raised, and other structures appear to have been added to its north. A small village may be assumed to have occupied the site at this time, with the farmhouse standing at its center. The finds of the stratum include many imported vessels. They are similar to the Frankish pottery repertoire from Acco but differ from the finds at autochthonous rural villages such as Beit Zaneta. A fragment of a marble tombstone engraved with a figure of a knight in armor should be attributed to this or the previous stratum. The tombstone was probably placed over the grave of a local Crusader lord.
Temporary settlers occupied the site during the fourteenth–fifteenth centuries (strata 2 and 1), after the stratum 3 building had been abandoned. These settlers dwelt in spaces they cleared among the ruins of the building and left behind meager remains of shoddy houses.
NIMROD GETZOV
THE SITE
HISTORY
The site has a long history of settlement, dating from the Neolithic period through the Middle Ages. Historical sources from the Middle Ages speak of a Frankish settlement at