Area B7 Summary

Area B7 was excavated under the direction of Avi Navon, H. Forshey and P. Jacobs. Three strata were found in the Area.

Stratum I

The most recent phase in Area B7 was represented by tell debris B7001 and an earlier layer of brick detritus B7004, wbich had been ,washed down the steep slopes of the tell.

Stratum XIV

A drain B7007 was constructed through the brick superstructure of the lower Stratum XV fortification system from next to the upright stub of bricks B7005 to the northeast corner of the Stratum XV offset wall B7002. The drain was simple in construction, two parallel rows of field stones. The drain was not associated with any remaining architecture in Area B7.

Stratum XV

The major architectural phase of Field I——the Early Bronze III tower and defense wall——was found also in Area B7. In this northern extension of the defense system a broad and heavily built offsets/insets wall B7002 and a shallow part of its brick superstructure B7008 were excavated. In Area A7 to the south and in Area B7/C7 to the north the wall cornered in an “offset” approximately 1.25 m. beyond the main line of the defense wall. In addition this wall was protected by a sloping glacis B7003, found in a badly eroded condition, built against the outer face. In Area B7, unlike Areas 7 and A7, the glacis did not cover to the top courses of the wall, leaving in Area B7 4-.5 courses exposed above the line of the glacis.

An upright stub of bricks B7005 at the West balk of Area B7 and extending into Area B7/B8 suggested a possible third “guardroom” constructed in the brick superstructure. However, clear evidence was lacking.

Locus List Field I Area B7

Locus	Phase		Description


B7001	I		Slope debris
B7002	XV		Defense wall
B7003	XV		Glacis
B7004	I		Brick debris
B7005	XV		Brick wall
B7006			Canceed; combined with B7001
B7007	XIV		Drain
B7008	XV		Brick superstructure of defense wall

Locus Summary Area B7

Locus  Stratum      Description/Artifacts 

B7001	Str. I

	Tell slope debris. Located over the entire area, sloping sharply to the East, 
	5.0 m. from the North balk, 4.0 m. from the West balk. At top levels 479.52 m 
	(SE), 478.50 m.(NE), 479.70 m. (NW), 481.10 m. (SW) to 478.98 m. (SE), 478.55 m. 
	(NE), 480.85 m. (SW) above B7004, glacis B7003, and wall B7002.

	Includes B7006 which has been canceled.

		See Sections East, West, South, North.

		I.B7.1  	7/7/77		EB I, Byz NS
		MC 2237 	bone		sample
		MC 2421 	potter's mark	Obj. 211
		I.B7.2  	7/7/77		EB, Iron I, Iron II
		MC 2268 	bone		sample
		MC 2269 	lithic		sample
		MC 2270 	flint blade	2270, 2270A
		MC 2271 	flint blade	2271, 2271A
		I.B7.3  	7/11/77		EB, Byz
		MC 2355 	lithic		sample
		MC 2356 	bone		sample
		I.B7.4  	7/11/77		EB, Iron II, Hel, Byz
		MC 2303 	bone		sample
		MC 2304 	lithic		sample
		MC 2348 	flint blade	sample
		MC 2354 	flint blade	sample
		I.B7.5  	7/11/77		EB, Iron II, Byz
		MC 2349  	bone		sample
		MC 2352 	lithic		sample
		I.B7.6  	7/11/77		EB, Iron II, Per?
		MC 2357 	bone		sample
		MC 2350 	lithic		sample
		MC 2353 	lithic		sample
		I.B7.7  	7/12/77		EB, Iron II, Byz
		MC 2370 	bone		sample
		MC 2369 	lithic		sample
		MC 2368 	flint blade	sample
		MC 2366 	flint core	sample
		MC 2423 	potter's mark	Obj. 219
		I.B7.9  	7/12/77		EB, Iron II
		MC 2383 	bone		sample
		MC 2382 	flint blade	sample
		MC 2390 	flint blade	sample
		MC 2392 	flint blade	sample
		MC 2391 	lithic		2391, 2391A
		I.B7.10  	7/13/77		EB, Iron II, Byz
		MC 2408 	flint blade	sample
		MC 2410 	bone		sample
		MC 2411 	lithic		sample
		I.B7.11  	7/13/77		EB, Iron II
		MC 2412 	lithic		sample
		MC 2409 	bone		sample
		I.B7.12 	7/13/77		EB II/III
		MC 2433 	bone		sample
		I.B7.13 	7/14/77		EB II, Iron II
		MC 2661 	bone		sample
		MC 2602 	lithic		sample
		I.B7/C7.14 	7/15/77		EB II, Iron II
		MC2625  	bone		sample
		MC 2626 	lithic		sample
		I.B7.l5  	7/15/77		EB, Iron II, Byz
		MC 2627 	flint		sample
		I.B7.16 	7/15/77		EB, Iron II
		MC 2662 	bone		sample
		MC 2665 	lithic		2665, 2665A
		I.B7.17  	7/17/77		EB, Iron II, Byz
		MC2678   	bone		sample
		MC 2680 	lithic		sample
		I.B7.18 	7/17/77		EB, Iron II, Byz NS 
		MC 2676 	bone		sample
		MC 2677 	lithic		sample
		MC 2679  	bone		sample
		I.B7.19  	7/18/77		EB II
		MC 2719  	bone		sample
		MC 2720 	lithic		sample
		MC 2768  	potter's mark	Obj. 252
		I.B7.20  	7/18/77		EB NS
		MC 2726  	bone		sample
		I.B7.22  	7/19/77		EB, LB
		MC 2763  	bone		sample
		MC 2762  	lithic		sample
		MC 2765  	ballista	discard
		MC 2761  	grinder frag	discard
		MC 2770  	ballista	discard
		MC 2767  	flint scraper	Obj. 238
		MC 2766  	flint axe	Obj. 246
		MC 2769   	flint axe	Obj. 235
		I.B7.23  	7/19/77		EB, Iron II NS
		MC 2803 	lithic		sample
		I.B7.24  	7/20/77		EB II NS

B7002	Str. XV

	Wall built of boulder-sized field stones, continuation of EB fortification 
	wall (Inset/outset) A7008/8043. The boulders were dry laid, with quarried 
	cobbles thrown behind it, then used as base for mudbrick superstructure 
	(B7005, B7008). Preserved to a height of 1.06 m. (2-5 courses) above the 
	abutting glacis B7003, a length in area B7 of 4.0.m. This wall continued 
	into the B7/C7 balk where it cornered in an inset/outset method of construction. 
	In area B7 and B7/C7 it is a total of 5.25 m. long.  Located 5.0 m. from the 
	South balk and between 65 cm. and 4.0 m. from the East balk (at the South balk 
	line) and between 2.10 m. and 4.0 m. from the East balk (at the North balk line). 
	At top levels 479.33 m. (S), 479.73 m., 478.92 m. (N in ID/e? balk) below B7001  
	and B7004 to an exposed depth of 478.65 m. at glacis B7003.

	This stone wall served as the base for a mudbrick superstructure B7008, B7005 
	and may be a second tower. Glacis B7003 was built against its eastern face.

		See Sections South, North; Plan B7 XIV-XV; Photo 407

B7003	Str. XV

	Glacis, broken and eroded in area B7, constructed of crushed limestone, 
	chalk, nari. Located along the entire length of wall B7002. Located 
	4.0 m. from the South balk and 89 cm. from the East balk to wall B7002 
	at the South balk line. At top level 478.65 m. (N) below B7001. Same as 
	A70l0/7007/6004.

	This glacis was built against wall B7002 to protect it from attack. 

		See Section North; Plan B7 XIV-XV; Photo 407.

B7004	Str. I

	Debris layer of brick detritus containing cobbles and water-washed material. 
	Located 4.0 m. from the East balk, 1.70 m. from the South balk (at West balk 
	line) and 65 cm. from the South balk (at East balk line). At top level 480.85 m. 
	(SW) 480.06 m. (C) below B700l to 479.28 m. (C), 479.94 m. (SW) above bricks 
	B7008 and wall B7002.

		See Sections East, South, West

		I.B7.8  	7/12/77		EB, Iron II NS
		MC 2367  	bone		sample
		MC 2371  	lithic		sample

B7005	Str. XV

	Brick wall marking a "guard room" as in areas 7 and A7. Located in area 
	B7 and B7/B8 balk; also seen in area B8 as B8008. The northern and 
	southern faces of this brick stub were traced to the west and could be 
	seen in the B7 West balk.

	Located between 1.50 m. and 2.10 m. from the North balk and between 3.73 m. 
	and 4.75 m. from the East balk. At top level 480.34 m. below B7001

		See Section West; Plan B7 XIV-XV; Photo 407.

		I.B7.21  	7/18/77		EB UD
		MC 2725  	bone		sample
		MC 2724  	lithic		sample
		MC 2729  	bone needle	Obj. 243

B7006		Canceled; combined with B7001

B7007	Str. XIV

	Drain constructed of two parallel lines of field stone. This installation 
	was built on top of wall B7002 in a SW-NE direction. Preserved to a length 
	of 2.20 m., a width of 1.05 m. Located in B7/B8 and in B7/C7 as well as in 
	Area B7.

	Located between 2.42 m. and 4.50 m. from the East balk and between 2.55 m. 
	and 4.32 m. from the South balk. At top level 479.62 m. above B7002.

		See Plan B7 XIV-XV; Photo 407.

B7008	Str. XV

	Brick superstructure of defense wall B7002. Badly eroded, patchy, but lines of 
	individual bricks were visible. Located 3.0 m. from the West balk (at South balk 
	line) and 1.60 m. from the West balk (at North balk line), and 4.0 m. from the 
	South balk. At top. level 480.35 m. (SW) 480.25 m. (NW) above Wall B7002.

	Same as A7007.

		See Sections South, West, North; Plan B7 XIV-XV; Photo 407
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