S9 (Fall): Week 4, Day 5 — Less Digging and More Brushing

The final day of a dig session is about preparation for the photographs of your squares. So, less digging and more brushing. Although this session was only two weeks, important progress was made on several fronts. The Russian team in Area F penetrated through the Byzantine floors to demonstrate that below them there is a Roman stratum. It was definitively confirmed by an abundance of Roman coins and pottery. More of the Roman layer will be uncovered in the next season. The team also discovered some remarkable new elements from the basilica which will be made public in the near future. As for Area D, it continues to amaze. Most importantly the Israeli team reached the Hellenistic level and under the floor found coins in a sealed locus. This conclusively proves the beginnings of Bethsaida belong to the Hasmonean kingdom (1-2 centuries BCE), likely during the reign of Alexander Janneus. Several of Janneus' coins were found in Area D. Thus, Bethsaida joins other NT towns and villages that were the result of Hasmonean expansion to the north. The squares in Area D also produced an abundance of pottery, glass vessels, and coins belonging to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Finally, Area G was our first venture into the area uncovered by the summer wildfire. Opening any new square is particularly difficult for the first 30 centimenters. Digging through the charred remains from the fire through hard patch, stones and dirt proved particularly challenging. Yet, the team persevered and found Roman and Byzantine coins and pottery that represented the various periods of occupation at Bethsaida. A very rare find was a piece of Islamic lustre ware with an Arabic blessing inscribed. The two squares in Area G that we opened this autumn are part of a larger area surveyed and waiting for next summer when we will resume our efforts. Be on the lookout when we post the excavation dates for next summer and consider joining us! Next year in Bethsaida!