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Collections : Tel Maresha, Israel

The excavations of the lower city of Maresha reveal that the Hellenistic Period was the time of the flourishing of the ancient city. No architectural remains from the Persian period have been found on the site, though in one of the caves (Cave System 75) an occupation level from the Persian period has been found, as well as Iron Age and Hellenistic strata. The Persian period was represented mainly by small finds, including pottery, lamps and figurines.

Most of the Persian Period Figurines were found in the rich fills in the underground caves. These fills contained mainly Hellenistic, but also Persian and Iron Age, artifacts. Some of the caves were filled by erosion or by collapses from the above-ground structures. But the fills with the richest finds were those deliberately deposited in the caves, probably at the end of the second century BCE.

Since the Persian Period Figurines were not found in situ, their archaeological contexts do not assist in determining either date of manufacture and use or functions.