Early Neolithic Settlement in Western

Cyprus: Preliminary Report on the

1992-1993 Test Excavations

at Kholetria Ortos

The Neolithic occupation of Cyprus represents an apparent late, and quite distinct, phenomenon when compared to the mainland. Although afew early, aceramic Neolithic sites have been excavated, none in the western portion of the island have been well studied. Kholetria Ortos is a large aceramic Neolithic settlement located in the Paphos District qf western Cyprus, and this report provides preliminary data on test excavations conducted there during 1992 and 1993. These multidisciplinary investigations revealed a rich, but disturbed, site that has considerable potential for shedding light on early Neolithic adaptive strategies within the ecological confines of an island.

Early Bronze Age Cylinder Seal Impressions

and a Stamp Seal from Tel Qashish

Twenty cylinder seal impressions and one stamp seal, all dating to the Early Bronze Age, have been uncovered at Tel Qashish. This is a significant number for such a small site. Four of these impressions, as well as the stamp seal, are clearly dated to EB I, while all of the other seal impressions date to EB III. To the first group belongs an impression depicting an animalfile in a tete b8che arrangement. Two almost identical cylinder seal impressions are known from Megiddo and En Shadud, all three clearly representing the work of an artisan active in the western Jezreel Valley. To the second group belong two impressions of the same cylinder seal, portraying what seems to be a cult scene composed of a human being, a horned animal, and a structure. Similar impressions are known from EB III contexts in sites in northern Israel. The question of whether the seal-impressedjarv had a specialfunction, or whether the seating was onllv intended for decoration, must remain open for the time being.

Estimating the Population Size of Ancient

Settlements: Methods, Problems,

Solutions, and a Case Study

An important element in any attempt to reconstruct an ancient culture is the ability to estimate the size and distribution of that society's population. Efforts to estimate ancient populations focus on the population size of specific settlements (the micro level) and on entire regions (the macro level). This study evaluates the primary means used to make these estimates: those based on density of habitation coefficients and those based on the availability of natural resources. It then explores their strengths and weaknesses, offering suggestions on how these methods may be improved. The Iron Age site of Tell en-Nasbeh is used as a test case of the site-specific methods. The article shows how different methods may be used together to achieve a population estimate at a site where the architectural pattern for the settlement is reasonably clear. Tell en-Nasbeh probably had a population of 800 to 1000 in the Iron Age II period, and perhaps 400 to 500 in the following Babylonian period.

The Genre of the Mesad

Hashavyahu Ostracon

R. Westbrook identifies the Mesad Hashavyahu ostracon as a "plea of gzl," an extrajudicial petition addressed to the king or his subordinates in cases of abuse of power involving the wrongful taking of property. This article presents additional evidence in support of this understanding of the ostracon's genre. After summarizing Westbrook's understanding of "abuse of power" and how it relates to the specific legal issue addressed in the ostracon, procedural parallels from 2 Sam 14:2-22 are adduced and shown to confirm the identification of the ostracon's genre as an extrajudicial petition. In light o.f this understanding of the ostracon's genre, the usually accepted restorations for two of the ostracon's lacunae (lines 12 and 14) are reconsidered and a new -known crux involving w'm-l' in line 12 is proposed.

Who Did the Iconoclasm

in the Dura Synagogue?

The question of who gouged eyes on the biblical murals of the third century Dura synagogue has not previously been settled. Kraeling stated without explanation that the iconoclasm was done by those (Roman soldiers) filling the synagogue with earth in preparation for the siege of 256-57. Goodenough argued that it was done by Jews who disapproved of the paintings as a violation of the second commandment. Close review of the evidence reveals a pattern of damage consistent only with Kraeling's intuition: It was done by a Roman, not by Jews.

Inscribed Artifacts at Tell

Jawa, Jordan: Naoumas' Jug

The transition from the late byzantine to the early islamic period was one of considerable changes in language and script, religion, economics, and state organization. At the same time there was a certain amount of continuity that can be seen in the material culture from Umayyad period sites. One example is the jug of Naoumas that was inscribed in Greek with a Semitic name. This interim report explores the archaeological, linguistic, and historical setting of this find, and introduces us to the inhabitants of Tell Jawa.