To Dye or Not to Dye: Bioarchaeological Studies of Hala Sultan Tekke Site, Cyprus

Dated to the Late Bronze Age (Late Cypriot II: 1450–1200 BC and Late Cypriot III: 1200–1050 BC), the site of Hala Sultan Tekke brought to light interesting evidence of textile production and possible fabric dyeing. Finds of loom weights and spindle whorls together with remains of dyer’s croton (Chrozophora tinctoria), field gromwell (Buglossoides arvensis syn. Lithospermum arvense), and shells of murex allow opening a discussion over the methods and reasons for undertaking the time and cost-consuming procedure of dye production. The present article, through an examination of finds and an analysis of plant macrofossils and molluscs, tests a hypothesis of textile dyeing at the Late Cypriot city of Dromolaxia Vizatzia

Agriculture and Storage Practices in an Early Iron Age Household: Analyses of Plant Macro Remains at Tell Abu al-Kharaz, Jordan Valley. Ägypten und Levante|Ägypten und Levante XXVII 28|

The discovery of exceptionally well-preserved plant macroremains in an early Iron Age (11th century BCE) compound in Tell Abu al- Kharaz, Jordan Valley, sheds light on agricultural and storage practices in the Southern Levant. The samples, which primarily were intended to serve as dating material, were collected in four different basement rooms of the compound. The analysed samples consisted of edible plants such as wheat, barley, chickpea, grass pea, flax, lentil, olive, pomegranate and common grape. In contrast to other Levantine sites, where free-threshing wheat dominates in the Iron Age, the dominant cereal crop at Tell Abu al-Kharaz was emmer wheat, which is more tolerant to drought and poor soils and less susceptible to diseases. It is also easier to store, because is more resistant to pests, yet requires more work to process than free-threshing wheats. The assemblage in one of the rooms represents prime grain in the final stages of crop processing for meal preparation, which is further supported by the presence of (bread) ovens (tawabin and tananir) as well as mortars and grinding implements in the compound. Judging by the storage capacity and the variety of botanical remains, it is suggested that the basement of the compound represents a private storage facility associated with domestic areas in the upper storey, rather than a communal storeroom

Archeological reconnaissance surveys on site 16 in Powidz, Powidz commune from 2017

Since at least the 13th century Powidz has functioned as an important though small urban centre. The fact that it was located at the intersection of the trade routes and at a water reservoir, were important factors which influenced the development of the town. Archaeological and environmental surveys conducted in 2017 throw light on the modern stage of the development of the discussed centre. The turbulent changes through which the historical centre of Powidz and Castle Hill underwent in the last 200 years are clearly marked in the layerings recognised in both trenches. What is more, some of them were not documented, and the interviews with the inhabitants of the town are mostly the source of knowledge about them. Hence, determining the chronology of some of the layerings is signifi cantly hindered. For instance, the presence of single and partially preserved human bones suggests the presence of burials in the layers leveled from the immediate surroundings to T 2/17, though the soil in which they were registered could have been brought from a larger distance away as well. It seems that in T 2/17 the layering arrangements were registered, which provide evidence of a moat. It probably bordered the residence of the Powidz starost in the past. Information about the presence of such an assumption on the so-called Castle Hill can be found in numerous written sources [cf. e.g. Ganińska 1993]. The presence of a moat on the other hand is confirmed not only by the documented systems of layerings, but also the results of the analyses of plant macro-remains suggest it. Th e presence of a moat is confi rmed among others by the fact that it was filled with the ground brought in the 20th century. Simultaneously, the layerings registered in both excavations seem to confirm numerous levellings of the surrounding terrain and the Castle Hill itself. More diversified materials were gathered from T 2/17 than from T 1/17, though most of them come from backfill layers. Nevertheless, the presumption that the backfill is made of materials from the adjacent elevation seems justified. Both the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the artifacts (window glass, glass vessels, richly ornamented plate tiles, ceramic vessels), animal bones or plant remains, seem to confirm the initial assumption that there was a residence of a representative of a wealthier bourgeoisie, probably the Powidz starost, on the so called Castle Hill. The presence of post-consumer remains or broken pottery suggest significant activity in the modern period if it is assumed that they come from the layers levelled at the cone. Unfortunately, in the light of the present data, backfilling and lowering of a terrain (moat) with the ground from another part of Powidz cannot be excluded. Nevertheless, the presence of a window glass, richly ornamented plate tiles or, finally, written sources are in accord with the earlier hypothesis. The conducted natural analyses enrich our knowledge about the past of Powidz, but they also significantly influence the perception and proper reading of a history of the formation of the particular layers, and hence, a better analysis of cultural processes, even if they occurred recently. Despite the not numerous collections and rather small area which was examined, environmental studies can be the source of interesting conclusions

The New Swedish Cyprus Expedition 2019 : excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke (The Söderberg Expedition) : preliminary results, with contributions by L. Recht, B. Placiente Robedizo, C. Eriksson, L. Andersson, M. Svensson, L. Avial Chicharro, S. Hermon, M. Polig & D. Kofel

The tenth season of excavations at the Late Bronze Age city of Hala Sultan Tekke was carried out in four areas: City Quarter 1 (CQ1), CQ4, City Wall 1 (CW1), and Area A (Tomb RR). The excavations in CQ1 provided additional information on the pre-LC IIIA occupation of the city. Stratum 3 which can be dated to the LC IIC (13th century BC) was further exposed. For the first time in the city even older phases, Strata 4 and 5, were found. These are tentatively dated to the LC I-II (15th to 14th century BC). In CQ4 numerous storage areas were exposed, which belong to a large compound. There is also evidence of production of textiles and purple dye. All remains can be associated to the most recent Stratum 1 and can be securely dated in the LC IIIA, i.e. the 12th century BC. A test trench (CW1) was opened up 150 m to the south-east of CQ4, in an area where the magnetometer survey indicated a possible city wall with moat. A c. 2.5 m-wide man-made construction consisting of small stones intermingled with larger blocks of stones was found running north-south. Built against the interior of this structure is a copper-producing workshop as indicated by much slag, ash, and remains of a furnace, which is preliminarily dated to the 13th century BC. Tomb RR, which was partly excavated in 2018 and secured, was reopened and additional burials came to light. The total number of skeletons now stands at 37; these are associated with 74 complete/intact finds of mainly pottery vessels of which some contained food remains. The pottery comprises Cypriot-produced wares and Mycenaean imports, which indicate a LC IIB-C date of the burials. Other finds include a unique Minoan female figurine and a bronze knife with ivory handle