The Myth of Nazareth: The Invented Town of Jesus (58 page)
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Authors: Rene Salm
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.)