Articles by Nofar Shamir
Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins, 2024
Tell es-Samak ([Te ˙¯l]S ˇiqmo ¯na ¯/ Porfyre  on [south]), is one of the first southern Levanti... more Tell es-Samak ([Te ˙¯l]S ˇiqmo ¯na ¯/ Porfyre  on [south]), is one of the first southern Levantine coastal sites in which Persian period remains were found and properly published. The site was excavated by ELGAVISH in the 1970s. He describes two settlement layers from this period: a well-organized settlement (Stratum P) with two perpendicular streets between insulae, and a layer containing remains of a structure interpreted as a fortress above it. He dated the former to a short period during the first half of the 5 th cent. B.C.E., and the latter to the end of the 4 th cent. B.C.E. In renewed excavations in 2010 -2012 remains of two rooms dating to the Persian period were exposed, probably part of a domestic structure, built directly above an earlier Iron Age stratum. They form part of ELGAVISH's Persian Stratum P, continuing it to the north. The revised plan of the structure resembles those published by ELGAVISH. Four sub-phases were exposed in this structure, consisting of raising floor levels and small inner renovations, implying that the settlement was not as short-lived as ELGAVISH suggested. No remains of the Late Persian stratum were found, and it seems that this layer was not as extended as the previous one, and did not cover the entire tell. Material culture remains, especially the pottery vessels, were identical to those found in all other Persian period southern Levantine coastal sites, and clearly belonged to the Phoenician koine Á . We also present an intact 5 th cent. B.C.E. Achaemenid bulla discovered at the site.
CARMEL: Studies in Archaeological Sciences and Conservation, 2024
Excavation of organic material from the trash mounds of Nahal 'Omer, an Early Islamic village loc... more Excavation of organic material from the trash mounds of Nahal 'Omer, an Early Islamic village located along trade routes in the hyper-arid environment of Wadi Arabah in the Negev Desert of southern Israel, revealed a diverse economy based on both local agriculture and long-distance trade. The extraordinary character of the middens is defined by the dense accumulation of exceptionally preserved organic remains, including numerous textiles (cotton, linen, wool, and silk), an abundance of locally sourced date palm products, and other everyday items. Combined with archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological analyses, the finds illuminate both the subsistence economy of the village and its far-reaching trade connections. The diversity of locally produced items and imported finds lays new ground for tracing trans-regional interconnectedness and complex transportation networks, as well as technological exchanges between different economic and cultural spheres along the Early Islamic trade routes.
Community Archaeology in Israel/Palestine, 2024
The Manasseh Hill Country Survey , 2021
Michmanim , 2021
Tell es-Samak (Shikmona/Porphyreon; henceforth Shikmona)
is one of the first south Levantine coas... more Tell es-Samak (Shikmona/Porphyreon; henceforth Shikmona)
is one of the first south Levantine coastal sites in which
Persian-period remains were found and properly published.
The site was excavated by Joseph Elgavish in the 1970s.
Elgavish describes in his publication two settlement layers
from this period: a well-organized settlement (Stratum P)
from which two perpendicular streets flanked by insulae
were exposed, and a layer containing remains of a structure,
which he interpreted as a fortress, constructed above it.
Elgavish dated the former to the first half of the 5th century
BCE and the latter to the end of the 4th century BCE.
In the renewed excavations at the site remains were exposed
of two rooms, probably part of a domestic structure dating
to the Persian period. These were built directly above an
earlier Iron Age stratum, forming part of Elgavish’s Persianperiod
Stratum P, continuing its layout to the north. The
structure’s plan resembles those published by Elgavish. Four
sub-phases were exposed, in which raised floors and small
interior renovations seem to indicate that the settlement was
not as short lived as Elgavish had suggested. Furthermore,
no remains of the late Persian stratum were found; so it
seems that this stratum was not as extensive as the previous
one, and did not cover the entire tell.
Material culture remains, especially the pottery vessels,
are identical to those found in all other Persian-period
south Levantine coastal sites. These clearly belongs to the
Phoenician koine.
EXCAVATION REPORTS - VARIOUS by Nofar Shamir
Jordan Valley Research Studies, 2021
This is a report of the results of a survey along a mysterious road, probably from the Hasmonean ... more This is a report of the results of a survey along a mysterious road, probably from the Hasmonean period, near the Sartaba Fortress in the Jordan Valley.
Papers by Nofar Shamir
Archaeological research in Asia, Sep 1, 2024
On the Mongolian plateau, the period between the collapse of the Kitan Empire (c. 1125 CE) and th... more On the Mongolian plateau, the period between the collapse of the Kitan Empire (c. 1125 CE) and the rise of the Mongol empire (1206 CE) is still poorly understood. Although events leading up to the rise of Chinggis Khan's initial Mongol state are recorded in a number of historical sources, these accounts often look backwards over decades or even centuries from the perspective of a mature empire already made. Archaeology provides one path towards a better understanding of the circumstances, people, and polities contemporaneous with the collapse of the Kitan Empire and emergence of the Jurchen Jin and Mongol states. The eastern reaches of the Mongolian plateau is a region that can speak to these events based on the material record of archaeology. The Mongol-Israeli-American Archaeological Project has surveyed and excavated along Kitan frontier ‘long-walls’ in the northeast of Mongolia since 2018. One of our fortuitous discoveries was a well-furnished burial interred within the enclosure wall of a Kitan era frontier fortress. Analysis of this grave reveals that it likely postdates the use of the fortress and provides important information about local communities, their networks, and organization during the 12th century CE.
Archaeological Research in Asia, 2024
On the Mongolian plateau, the period between the collapse of the Kitan Empire (c. 1125 CE) and th... more On the Mongolian plateau, the period between the collapse of the Kitan Empire (c. 1125 CE) and the rise of the Mongol empire (1206 CE) is still poorly understood. Although events leading up to the rise of Chinggis Khan's initial Mongol state are recorded in a number of historical sources, these accounts often look backwards over decades or even centuries from the perspective of a mature empire already made. Archaeology provides one path towards a better understanding of the circumstances, people, and polities contemporaneous with the collapse of the Kitan Empire and emergence of the Jurchen Jin and Mongol states. The eastern reaches of the Mongolian plateau is a region that can speak to these events based on the material record of archaeology. The Mongol-Israeli-American Archaeological Project has surveyed and excavated along Kitan frontier 'long-walls' in the northeast of Mongolia since 2018. One of our fortuitous discoveries was a well-furnished burial interred within the enclosure wall of a Kitan era frontier fortress. Analysis of this grave reveals that it likely postdates the use of the fortress and provides important information about local communities, their networks, and organization during the 12th century CE.
Antiquity, 2022
Long-distance trade routes criss-crossed ancient Africa and Eurasia. Archaeological research has ... more Long-distance trade routes criss-crossed ancient Africa and Eurasia. Archaeological research has focused on the commodities in transit and the excavation of major centres located along these routes, with less attention paid to smaller caravanserai and evidence such as rubbish middens. The 'Incense Route' linked the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, with activity peaking during the Nabataean and Roman periods. The authors present the results of test-pit excavations of middens at three small Nabataean-Roman desert caravanserai along the 'Incense Route'. The assemblages recovered include material culture attesting to wide, interregional connections, combined with archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data illuminating the subsistence basis of the caravan trade.
Judea and Samaria Research Studies
Antiquity
Excavations at Nahal Omer, an Early Islamic way station in the Negev Desert (sixth to ninth centu... more Excavations at Nahal Omer, an Early Islamic way station in the Negev Desert (sixth to ninth centuries AD), have yielded exotic textiles such as silks and cottons. Through a new study of these textiles, this project investigates the trade networks and global connectivity along this little-known artery of the Silk Road.
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Articles by Nofar Shamir
is one of the first south Levantine coastal sites in which
Persian-period remains were found and properly published.
The site was excavated by Joseph Elgavish in the 1970s.
Elgavish describes in his publication two settlement layers
from this period: a well-organized settlement (Stratum P)
from which two perpendicular streets flanked by insulae
were exposed, and a layer containing remains of a structure,
which he interpreted as a fortress, constructed above it.
Elgavish dated the former to the first half of the 5th century
BCE and the latter to the end of the 4th century BCE.
In the renewed excavations at the site remains were exposed
of two rooms, probably part of a domestic structure dating
to the Persian period. These were built directly above an
earlier Iron Age stratum, forming part of Elgavish’s Persianperiod
Stratum P, continuing its layout to the north. The
structure’s plan resembles those published by Elgavish. Four
sub-phases were exposed, in which raised floors and small
interior renovations seem to indicate that the settlement was
not as short lived as Elgavish had suggested. Furthermore,
no remains of the late Persian stratum were found; so it
seems that this stratum was not as extensive as the previous
one, and did not cover the entire tell.
Material culture remains, especially the pottery vessels,
are identical to those found in all other Persian-period
south Levantine coastal sites. These clearly belongs to the
Phoenician koine.
EXCAVATION REPORTS - VARIOUS by Nofar Shamir
Papers by Nofar Shamir
is one of the first south Levantine coastal sites in which
Persian-period remains were found and properly published.
The site was excavated by Joseph Elgavish in the 1970s.
Elgavish describes in his publication two settlement layers
from this period: a well-organized settlement (Stratum P)
from which two perpendicular streets flanked by insulae
were exposed, and a layer containing remains of a structure,
which he interpreted as a fortress, constructed above it.
Elgavish dated the former to the first half of the 5th century
BCE and the latter to the end of the 4th century BCE.
In the renewed excavations at the site remains were exposed
of two rooms, probably part of a domestic structure dating
to the Persian period. These were built directly above an
earlier Iron Age stratum, forming part of Elgavish’s Persianperiod
Stratum P, continuing its layout to the north. The
structure’s plan resembles those published by Elgavish. Four
sub-phases were exposed, in which raised floors and small
interior renovations seem to indicate that the settlement was
not as short lived as Elgavish had suggested. Furthermore,
no remains of the late Persian stratum were found; so it
seems that this stratum was not as extensive as the previous
one, and did not cover the entire tell.
Material culture remains, especially the pottery vessels,
are identical to those found in all other Persian-period
south Levantine coastal sites. These clearly belongs to the
Phoenician koine.