‘Uza, Ḥorvat

EXCAVATIONS

A seventh and final excavation season was conducted in 1996 at Ḥorvat ‘Uza by a joint expedition of Tel Aviv University and Baylor University, under the direction of I. Beit-Arieh and B. Cresson. Additional data from the first six seasons and the results of the seventh season of excavation are presented below.

EXCAVATION RESULTS

Three strata have been identified in the fortress:

Stratum III: Iron Age (2 phases).

Stratum II: Hellenistic period (1 phase).

Stratum I: Early Roman period (2–3 phases).

THE IRON AGE (STRATUM III). At least eight building complexes from the Iron Age were uncovered in the excavated areas. Two of these, only partially excavated, were unearthed at the eastern and northeastern edges of the fortress during the 1996 season. Also found was a small portion of a building in square D21, which indicates that the previously exposed row of rooms abutting the southern wall also extends westward. The architecture indicates precise planning of the interior of the fortress, which is criss-crossed by alleyways providing access to each building complex. On the eastern portion of the street between the bamah and building 1323, a thick layer of ash mixed with animal bones was found. This is apparently related to the bamah and the oven uncovered next to building 1323.

As in previous seasons, two phases were distinguished in the buildings, reflecting the raising of floors and internal architectural modifications but no typological distinction in pottery. Noteworthy finds include eight Hebrew ostraca retrieved from various rooms and in the gate structure, raising the total number found at the site to 34. It should be noted that the onomasticon of biblical and extra-biblical Hebrew personal names from the Ḥorvat ‘Uza ostraca is 67 names long; names appearing for the first time were also encountered among the Ḥorvat ‘Uza corpus. Most of the inscriptions are economic in character or lists of personal names, a reflection of careful record keeping in the fortress. An ostracon recovered from one of the gate chambers is a unique find, written in biblical literary style. Another unusual ostracon is an Edomite inscription, which sheds light on that language.

Several conclusions have been reached following the processing and study of the pottery vessels recovered during all the excavation seasons. One, the two abovementioned phases fall between the mid-seventh century BCE and the final destruction of the fortress at the beginning of the sixth century BCE. Two, the vessel repertoire is largely identical to the common types at eastern Negev sites, with minimal presence of coastal types. Three, as at other sites in the region, a small group of vessels unique to this particular site was found. This appears to indicate the production of vessels by local potters at this and other sites.

No Hellenistic period (stratum II) remains were encountered at the site during the final season of excavation, strengthening the view that the fortress during this period had a large inner courtyard.

THE ROMAN PERIOD (STRATUM I). New structures with clearly stratified remains were uncovered during the final season of excavation, mostly along the eastern side of the fortress and in its southern portion. On the eastern side, three (fragmentary) building clusters of different sizes were found, one on top of the other. Of the earliest of these (phase Ic), only part of which was excavated, three rooms abutting the fortress wall were uncovered. The massive wall of a building constructed later than the first phase was uncovered parallel to the fortress wall; it has been assigned to the second phase (Ib). The northernmost of these structures were not excavated and their complete plan remains unknown. The corner of a building larger than its predecessors was uncovered above building Ib, its walls constructed upon the stratum II structure. It is attributed to phase Ib. Inside the southern part of the fortress, towards the central courtyard, two rectangular rooms abutting the rooms of the southern flank were partially exposed, as were two silos at the center of the courtyard. This indicates that the inner courtyard was smaller than it had been during the Hellenistic period.

SUMMARY

The location of the Ḥorvat ‘Uza fortress and the strength of its fortifications during all periods of its existence attest to the strategic role it played in the southern sector of the eastern Negev, similar to that of the Arad fortress in the northern sector. These two fortresses, both rich in Hebrew inscriptions, were undoubtedly connected with the central government in Jerusalem during the Iron Age. The decline in Assyrian control in the second half of the seventh century BCE increased Judah’s need to strengthen its southern border, both against threats by desert tribes and Edom and to tighten control over the international trade route passing through the Arad and Beersheba Valleys to Mediterranean ports. For this reason, additional small fortresses such as Ḥorvat Radum, Ḥorvat Ṭov, and Ḥorvat ‘Anim were erected. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the Ḥorvat ‘Uza fortress became a component in the defensive network of the central government, aimed at countering the infiltration of Arab tribes into settled areas and guaranteeing the security of trade routes.

ITZHAQ BEIT-ARIEH

EXCAVATIONS

A seventh and final excavation season was conducted in 1996 at Ḥorvat ‘Uza by a joint expedition of Tel Aviv University and Baylor University, under the direction of I. Beit-Arieh and B. Cresson. Additional data from the first six seasons and the results of the seventh season of excavation are presented below.

EXCAVATION RESULTS

Three strata have been identified in the fortress: