Slingstones from Khirbet 'Aujah el-Foqa"With a Sling and with a Stone": Iron Age Slingstones and Possible

Recent, ongoing excavations at the site of ‘Aujah el-Foqa have brought to light an Iron Age fortified site and a large assemblage of pottery and other finds. The article will discuss a biconical clay object and stone objects that can be inter preted as sling stones. Slings tones and slings are known as ancient weapons used in various periods and in various regions, including the southern Levant. Biconical claysling stones from the Iron Age are very rare in the southern Levant, although similar lead items are known from later periods. On the other hand, biconical clay sling stones are known in large quantities from the northern Levant, Mesopotamia, Cyprus, and the Aegean in several periods. Spherical worked stone objects, mostly made of flint or chert, have been uncovered in many excavations and are usually interpreted as either hammer stones/pounders, weights, or slings tones. The article will discuss these artifacts and will consider whether these items from ‘Aujah el-Foqa were indeed slings tones. These finds will also be discussed against the backdrop of the Iron AgeII fortified site of ‘Aujah el-Foqa, probably a stronghold of the Israelite kingdom during the 9th–8th centuries BCE. (מתוך המאמר)