Wikipedia

Bull Site

The so-calledBull Siteis a 12th-century BCE open air ancientcultinstallation[1]found atDhahrat et-Tawileh[2](also spelled Daharat et-Tawileh),[3]in theWest Bank.The site is named for the bronzesacred bullstatuette which was found at the site in 1977.

Bull Site
The Bull Site on the Dhahrat et-Tawileh ridge
Bull Site is located in West Bank
Bull Site
Shown within West Bank
LocationDhahrat et-Tawileh
RegionWest Bank
Coordinates32°24′33″N35°19′25″E/ 32.409152°N 35.323578°E/32.409152; 35.323578
Altitude455 m (1,493 ft)
TypeCult installation
Length23 metres
Width21 metres
Area380 sqr metres
History
MaterialStone, bedrock
Founded12th century BCE
Abandoned12th century BCE
PeriodsIron IA
CulturesCanaanite, Israelite, or migratory population
Site notes
Discovered1977
Excavation datesApr 1978, Sept 1981
ArchaeologistsAmihai Mazar
ConditionIn ruins

Location

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Dhahrat et-Tawileh ridge

The site is located on the Dhahrat et-Tawileh ridge in the hills of the northern West Bank[4]inJenin Governorate,75 meters above theancient road[5][6]through theZababdehvalley[7]betweenDothanandTirzah.[8]It lies approximately 6 km south ofJenin,and 4 km east ofQabatiya.The site provides commanding views of other high points in northern Canaan includingMount Carmelto the west,Mount TaborandMount Meronto the north,Mount Gilboato the northeast, and to the south Jebel Tamun[9](also spelled Jabal Tammun, 'Mount Tammun', some 2 km SSE of the town ofTammun,altitude 588 m, prominence 291 m[10]).

Discovery

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The site was discovered in 1977 by Ofer Broshi, a member ofKibbutz Shamirand soldier in theIsraeli army,where he unearthed anancient bull statuette.He brought the figurine back to his kibbutz where it was put on display with other antiquities owned by the kibbutz.[11][12]While on display it was spotted by archaeologistAmihai Mazarwho arranged its transfer to theIsrael Museumwhere it is now part of the permanent collection.[13]Based on Broshi's description Mazar was able to locate the discovery site at Dhahrat et-Tawileh and beginexcavations.[14]

Excavation history

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Two short excavations were conducted by Mazar in April 1978 and September 1981 on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology at theHebrew University of Jerusalem.[15]Results of the excavation show that the site was single-phase (Iron IA)[16][17]and was abandoned after only a short period of use.[9][18]The archaeological evidence indicates the site's use as a cultic installation[19]though theflintandpotteryassemblage discovered potentially indicates domestic use.[20]Israel Finkelstein's dating of the site to theMiddle Bronze Age[21]is, according to Mazar, based on a misreading of the pottery evidence[22]and as such an early 12th-century dating should be retained.[23]

Cult installation

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The standing stone or altar at the Bull Site (center)

Though there are a number of Iron Age I settlements in the area,[24]the Bull Site lacks any evidence of settlement. Instead it sits on the summit of Dhahrat et-Tawileh and is thought to have served as a cult site for the surrounding settlements due to its hilltop location.[9][25]

Built onbedrockin the 12th century, the site comprises a perimeter wall made from large boulders brought in from elsewhere,[26]and what is thought to be a standing stone oraltarwith a paved area in front of it next to the enclosure's eastern entrance.[27]Mazar, the excavation director, speculates that asacred treelikely grew within the site's walls.[28][29]

There is no agreement on theethnicityof the local settlers who used the site, with suggestions ranging from theIsraelitesdue to the site's location inMannaseh'stribal allotment (Joshua 17:1–13),[1][30][31]the Canaanites,[32]or migrants from north of Canaan.[33]

Alternative views are that the site could have been a home for a family and their animals, or anenclosureforlivestock.[32]

Calf statuette

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The bronze calf statuette discovered at the 12th-century BCE cult site at Dhahrat et-Tawileh, West Bank

The statuette, found close to the western wall of the site,[34]is of aZebubull measuring 17.5 cm long by 12.4 cm high and is made ofbronze.[35]It is notable not only for its naturalistic ears and eyes,[35]but for being the largest such bull statuette found inPalestine.[34]Though Mazar suggests it may be the product of a local Israelite craftsman,[25]other scholars such as Ahlström believe it came either fromGalilee,or further north again above the land of Canaan.[33]

There is no consensus about which deity the statuette represents;[36]it could be an image ofBaal[37]orYahweh.[38][39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abBloch-Smith & Alpert Nakhai (1999), p. 76.
  2. ^Ahlström (1990)
  3. ^Mazar (1982)
  4. ^Mazar (1982), pp. 32-33.
  5. ^Dorsey (1991), pp. 144-145.
  6. ^Miller II (2003), p. 161.
  7. ^Zertal (2008), p. 29.
  8. ^Alpert Nakhai (2001), p. 170.
  9. ^abcMazar (1982), p. 33.
  10. ^Jabal Tammunon peakvisor
  11. ^Mazar (1982), p. 41.
  12. ^Mazar (1983), p. 34.
  13. ^"Israel Museum Collection - Bull Statuette".imj.org.il.
  14. ^Mazar (1983), pp. 34-35.
  15. ^Mazar (1993), pp. 266-267.
  16. ^Mullins (2012), pp. 590-592.
  17. ^Faust (2006), p. 119.
  18. ^Ahlström (1990), pp. 80-81.
  19. ^Mazar (1983), pp. 35-36.
  20. ^Miller II (2005), p. 46.
  21. ^Finkelstein (1998), pp. 94-98.
  22. ^Na'aman (1994), pp. 167-169.
  23. ^Mazar (1999), pp. 144-148.
  24. ^Khirbet Abu Ghamam, Khirbet Tanin, Khirbet Anahum, Khirbet esh-Sheik Seffrin, and esh-Zababde. See Mazar (1983), p. 36.
  25. ^abMazar (1983), p. 39.
  26. ^Zevit (2003), p. 233.
  27. ^Mazar (1982), p. 34.
  28. ^Mazar (1982), p. 35.
  29. ^Mazar (1983), p. 37.
  30. ^Mazar (1982), p. 38.
  31. ^Alpert Nakhai (1994), pp. 19-29.
  32. ^abCoogan (1987), p. 1.
  33. ^abAhlström (1990), p. 81.
  34. ^abAhlström (1990), p. 79.
  35. ^abMazar (1982), p. 27.
  36. ^Ahlström (1990), p. 80.
  37. ^Miller (2000), p. 32.
  38. ^Smith (2002), pp. 83-84.
  39. ^Bloch-Smith & Alpert Nakhai (1999), pp. 76-77.

Bibliography

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