The Jewish Chalk-Vessel Industry in Galilee and the Golan

This study explores archaeological remains of the Jewish chalk-vessel industry in Galilee and the Golan during the Early Roman period. It examines recent excavations at ‘Einot Amitai, Reina and Lower Wadi es-Sufera, focusing on raw materials, manufacturing techniques and typologies of vessels produced at these sites. The study also looks at the chronology of this industry, exploring when chalk-vessel production in the north first began and when it ended. Throughout the paper, the archaeological remains from the northern sites are compared and contrasted with findings from Jerusalem-area workshops. Finally, the study investigates what the archaeological remains analyzed here may indicate about the observance of the Jewish ritual purity laws among Jewish communities in Galilee and Golan.