Abstract
Khirbet el-Hamam is a site in northwestern Samaria whose remains, dating from the tenth century BCE to the second century CE, indicate that it was a substantial settlement in the region. Adam Zertal, the original excavator, identified it as biblical Arubboth. This article presents an updated description of the site's Hellenistic-Roman period reservoirs, only partially described in previous research, and an analysis of the water system's strategic importance during the Roman siege of the town. In addition, an earlier, previously unknown water system is presented, which is suggested to belong to the Iron Age II town. Examining the reservoirs as strategic urban assets provides an updated perspective on the site's history.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 56-72 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Israel Exploration Journal |
| Volume | 73 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Jun 2023 |
Keywords
- Hellenistic period
- Iron Age II
- Khirbet el-Hamam
- Narbata
- Roman period
- northwestern Samaria
- plaster
- water system