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Dates Excavated:
1978-1981
Excavator(s):
Amos Kloner
Archaeological Information: Stratum IV-Stratum VII
Date of Building Construction:
Phase I: second half 3rd century[962]
Phase II: second half 4th century[963]
Phase III: end 5th to beginning 6th century[964]
Phase IV: early 7th century[965]
Place of Building in Settlement:
On the highest point of the hill. [966]
Building Description:
Phase I (=Stratum IV): Because of the poor state of preservation of the walls, a final plan of the first phase of the synagogue has not been published. It is identified as a broadhouse type, with a rectangular niche in the center of the north wall, the floor of which is 2.5 meters higher than that in the main hall.[967] The floors were paved with a crushed-limestone floor on a pebble and cobble foundation.
Phase II (=Stratum V (a-b)): The synagogue was a basilica with two rows of three columns. The floor was paved with plastered fieldstones. There were three entrances in the southern wall, preceded by a narthex, and a long room runs north-south to the west of the main hall. This western room was used as a dump during Phase III (see below), after the synagogue was destroyed by fire.
Phase III: The synagogue was reconstructed after a fire had destroyed the building, some time in the late fifth to early sixth century. The walls were now strengthened and ten pillar bases were inserted into the floor, dividing the main hall into a central nave and two side aisles. A platform stood along the north wall.[968] The western room was used as a dump for debris, as large amounts of ashy remains indicated. In this debris, two separate strata were identified, although they apparently were excavated as a single locus.[969] The upper 80 cm of debris contained finds dated to the Byzantine period, while the lower 20 cm had sherds from the Second Temple period to the second century CE.
Phase IV (=Stratum VI-VII): The last synagogue reused the walls of its predecessor, but was paved with a new floor of rectangular stone slabs.[970] The hall was divided into a nave and two side aisles by two rows of three free-standing columns and two pilasters. In the western room, a beaten earth floor and tabun were installed.
Maps and Plans
Copyright-Protected Materials (logged-in members only)
First Deposit
Date Excavated: 1979
Deposit Location:
In the upper layer of debris in the western side room.
Archaeological Information:
Locus 33, Hoard A
Certain association with the building itself? Yes
Deposit Retrievable? Yes
Deposit Type: IIA7
Deposit Description:
During Phase III, the western room was used as a dump: an 80 cm deep layer of debris was discovered, containing material dated to the Byzantine period. Distributed throughout the fill were numerous artifacts, including a bronze candelabrum, glass lamps, cast bronze leaves, chains and pieces of various vessels, a golden pendant, glass and stone beads, bone and ivory objects, a glass plate, pieces of jars and cooking pots, oil lamps, roof tiles, iron nails, and fragments of a chancel screen.[971] A short time after this debris had accumulated, a deposit of 12 gold coins in a small pottery jar covered by a stone was buried upside down in the top layer of this fill.[972] Locus 33 is located in the middle of the western side room (or annex), bordered by W1 on the west and W20 on the east. It was originally a probe into a deep layer of dirt fill and debris, and was later divided into the different layers L33a, L33b, and L33c.[973] L33 a is located between W28 on the north and W26 on the south, and is dated to Stratum VI. L33b is located between W27 on the north and L64 on the south, and is dated to Stratum V. L33c is located between W27 on the north and W35 on the south, and is dated to Strata II-III. Deposit 1 was found in the debris of L33b. There is no floor associated with it.
Container Present? Yes: small pottery jar
Description of Coins:
The twelve gold coins from Hoard A were published by Amos Kloner and Tessa Mindel in 1981. The coins range from 364-375 CE (Valentinian I) to 491-518 CE (Anastasius I), and, with the exception of the two coins of Valentinian I, were all minted in Constantinople. The coins show a range in wear, with a very worn coin of Leo I (457-474 CE), seven coins with signs of some circulation, and four almost uncirculated specimens (including three out of the five latest coins).[974] The deposit includes three solidi, two semisses, and seven tremisses.
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Conspectus Table:
Conspectus table Horvat Rimmon, Deposit 1. This table can be seen in full screen by clicking the icon on the bottom right. For more details on the specific coins in each row, please hover over the numbers.
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Second Deposit
Date Excavated: 1979
Deposit Location:
In the upper layer of debris in the western side room.
Archaeological Information:
Locus 33, Hoard B
Certain association with the building itself? Yes
Deposit Retrievable? Yes
Deposit Type: IIA7
Deposit Description:
Found in the same upper debris layer as Hoard A, in the western room of synagogue Phase III, or the debris of Locus 33b. 35 coins were originally wrapped in cloth (small parts of this cloth were preserved) and put in a small pottery jug. [975] The jug was buried upside down, about 1 meter away from Hoard A, at the same depth. It also has no floor associated with it.
Container Present? Yes: cloth bundle inside pottery jug
Description of Coins:
The 35 gold coins from Hoard B were published by Amos Kloner and Tessa Mindel in 1981. The coins range from 364-375 CE (Valentinian I) to 491-518 CE (Anastasius I), and, with the exception of one coin of Valentinian I, all were minted in Constantinople, following the same pattern as Hoard A. The same trend in wear can be seen as well, with four coins showing signs of a lot of wear (including the two oldest coins), twenty coins show some signs of circulation, and eleven coins almost uncirculated (including seven of the Anastasius I coins). [976] The deposit includes one solidus, nine semisses, and 25 tremisses.
Conspectus Table:
Conspectus table Horvat Rimmon, Deposit 2. This table can be seen in full screen by clicking the icon on the bottom right. For more details on the specific coins in each row, please hover over the numbers.
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Third Deposit
Date Excavated: 1979
Deposit Location:
In the upper layer of debris in the western side room.
Archaeological Information:
Locus 64, Group D (Baskets 213, 214, 226, 233, 241, 262, 291, 301, 302, 307, 308, and 316)
Certain association with the building itself? Yes
Deposit Retrievable? Yes
Deposit Type: IA2
Deposit Description:
160 loose bronze coins were found in dirt debris beneath the ash floor (L44) in the southern part of the room, separate from Locus 65.[977] This debris seems to be an intentional fill.[978] The coins were found mixed with other objects, including lamps, pieces of candelabra, and jewelry.[979]
Container Present? No
Description of Coins:
According to Kloner, 160 coins from the third-fifth century were found in the ash fill of the room.[980] Unfortunately, these coins have not been published. The IAA, however, provided me with a catalogue of coins found in group “D” analyzed by Gabriela Bijovsky: coins found scattered over the ash floor of Locus 64. According to Bijovsky, 25 coins were illegible and 106 were legible, for a total of (only) 131 coins. Thus, 131 coins have been added to my database from this deposit.
The coins range in date from 268-270 CE (Claudius II Gothicus) to 409-410 CE (Honorius), with the peak of the coins around 400 CE. This makes the deposit older than the gold deposits. Almost all coins were minted in eastern mints, with the exception of a coin from Lugdunum (Constantine I, 330-335 CE) and one from Rome (Gratian, 375-378 CE). The early provincial coin of Claudius Gothicus as well as another uncertain coin are Antoniniani. Two other Roman Provincial coins include a coin of Maximinianus Herculeus (a follis, 286-305 CE), and one of Galerius Maximianus (296-305 CE). One coin dated to the first half of the 5th century is a VOTA imitation coin, with a blundered inscription in a wreath. The last coins in the group include seven folles, an uncertain pentanummium, and a dodecanummium, potentially of Justinian I, making this a usual mixed coin deposit.
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Conspectus Table:
Conspectus table Horvat Rimmon, Deposit 3. This table can be seen in full screen by clicking the icon on the bottom right. For more details on the specific coins in each row, please hover over the numbers.
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Fourth Deposit
Date Excavated: 1979-1980
Deposit Location:
In western hall, inside a hole between two stones in the wall
Archaeological Information:
Wall W25, Group C (Basket 250)
Certain association with the building itself? Yes
Deposit Retrievable? Yes
Deposit Type: IIA3
Deposit Description:
64 bronze coins were found in the western hall of the synagogue, in a hole or crack in between two stones in the west wall, some 20 cm above the floor of Locus 64.[981]
Container Present? No
Description of Coins:
According to Kloner, the 64 coins found in the wall date to the 3rd, 4th, and beginning of the 5th centuries CE.[982] The coins have not been published but the IAA provided me with an analysis conducted by Gabriela Bijovsky that shows 58 legible coins coming from this basket. I assume the other six coins were illegible.
The coins in this deposit range from 276-282 CE (Probus) to 410-423 CE (Honorius) but most of the coins are from the 4th century, reflecting a same date range as those from Locus 64. All the coins are of the minimi low denomination (no folles are represented in this group). Four coins are Roman provincial, including two coins of Probus, one of Carinus,[983] and one of Diocletianus: all are Antoniniani. Of the 21 mintmarks that are legible, only one potentially came from a non-eastern mint: the late coin of Honorius, dated 410-423 CE and minted in Rome. Twelve coins are so poorly preserved that they could only generally be dated to the 4th century.
Conspectus Table:
Conspectus table Horvat Rimmon, Deposit 4. This table can be seen in full screen by clicking the icon on the bottom right. For more details on the specific coins in each row, please hover over the numbers.
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Fifth Deposit
Date Excavated: 1979
Deposit Location:
In the upper layer of debris in the western side room.
Archaeological Information:
Locus 65, Group E (Baskets 216, 227, 234, 245, 249, 261, 262, and 289)
Certain association with the building itself? Yes
Deposit Retrievable? Yes
Deposit Type: IA2
Deposit Description:
54 loose bronze coins were found in dirt debris beneath ash floor Locus 44 in the southern part of the room, scattered over the ash floor of Locus 65, but separate from Locus 64. [984] The coins were mixed with other objects, such as oil lamps, pieces of candelabra, and jewelry.
Container Present? No
Description of Coins:
According to Bijovsky (2012), fifty coins similar in character to Group D were found in this deposit in Locus 65, two of which are later intrusions: a follis of Anastasius I, dated to 512-518 and a solidus of Heraclius. However, in her unpublished IAA report, she writes that 39 coins were legible (one was a later intrusion), four coins were illegible, and eleven crumbled during cleaning. This makes for a total of 54 coins originally coming from the in situ deposit. The coins range in date from 284-296 CE (Diocletian) to 408-423 CE (Honorius), reflecting the same date range as the coins from Group C and D. The earliest coins are two Roman Imperial Antoniniani: the coin of Diocletian already mentioned and an uncertain coin dated to the end of the third century. The minting places of only twelve coins could be determined, but all come from eastern mints except two coins from Rome (Valentinian II, 378-383 CE and Honorius, 402-409 CE).
Conspectus Table:
Conspectus table Horvat Rimmon, Deposit 5. This table can be seen in full screen by clicking the icon on the bottom right. For more details on the specific coins in each row, please hover over the numbers.
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References
Bibliography:
– Kloner A., 1979, “H. Rimmon,” in: Hadashot Arkheologiyot, Vol. 72, pp. 32-34 (Hebrew)
– Kloner A., 1980, “Hurvat Rimmon, 1979,” in: Israel Exploration Journal, Vol. 30, Nos. 3-4, pp. 226-228
– Kloner A. & Mindel T., 1981, “Two Byzantine Hoards from the Ancient Synagogue of Horvat Rimmon,” in Israel Numismatic Journal, Vol. 5, pp. 60-68
– Chiat M., 1982, Handbook of Synagogue Architecture, Chico: Scholars Press, pp. 228-230
– Kloner A., 1983, “The Synagogue of Horvat Rimmon,” in: Qadmoniyot, vol. 16, pp. 65-71 (Hebrew)
– Naveh J. & Shaked S., 1985, Amulets and Magic Bowls, Leiden: Brill, pp. 84-89 no. 10
– Kloner A., 1989, “The Synagogues of Horvat Rimmon,” in: Hachlili R. (ed.), Ancient Synagogues in Israel: Third-Seventh century C.E., BAR International Series 499, Oxford, pp. 43-48
– Ilan Z., 1991, Ancient Synagogues in Israel, Tel Aviv: Ministry of Defence, pp. 278-279 (Hebrew)
– Kloner A., 1992, “The Ancient Synagogue of Horvat Rimmon,” in: Proceedings of the 8th World Congress of Jewish Studies, Vol. 1, pp. 7-9 (Hebrew)
– Kloner A., 1993, “Horvat Rimmon,” in: NEAEHL, pp. 1284-1285
– Magness J., 2003, The Archaeology of the Early Islamic Settlement in Palestine, Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, pp. 97-99
– Milson D., 2007, Art and Architecture of the Synagogue in Late Antique Palestine: in the Shadow of the Church, Leiden/Boston, pp. 396-399
– Bijovsky G., 2012, Gold Coins and Small Change: Monetary Circulation in the Fifth-Seventh Century Byzantine Palestine, pp. 64-77, 95-96; 175-176, 211, 273-274, 328-3314, 50-455
– Spigel C., 2012, Ancient Synagogue Seating Capacities: Methodology, Analysis and Limits, Mohr Siebeck, pp. 244-247
– Hachlili R., 2013, Ancient Synagogues: Archaeology and Art: New Discoveries and Current Research, Leiden: Brill, pp. 58, 250, 537-538, 552-553
– Ahipaz N., 2015, The Custom of the Ritual Burial of Coins in Synagogues, MA thesis, pp. 78-82 (Hebrew)
– Werlin S., 2015, Ancient Synagogues of Southern Palestine, 300-800 CE: Living on the Edge, Leiden: Brill, pp. 222-236
Website(s):
– The Bornblum Eretz Israel Synagogues Website:
http://synagogues.kinneret.ac.il/synagogues/rimon/
– Mapio:
https://mapio.net/pic/p-94902537/
Footnotes
[962] This phase is called the Early Synagogue (Late Roman, Stratum IV) and is dated by the archaeologists to 250-363 CE (personal communication Sherry Whetstone). It appears that the end of the synagogue has been connected to the earthquake of 363 CE, but since the final report has not been published yet, it is unclear if this is persuasive.
[963] This phase is called the Middle Synagogue, Stratum Va (early Byzantine, 363-500 CE) (personal communication Sherry Whetstone).
[964] This phase is called the Middle Synagogue (Middle Byzantine, Stratum Vb) and is dated to 500-600 CE. This date is based on the destruction of the synagogue by fire and the ash layer it left at the end of Stratum Vb: coins found in Groups D and E (below the ash) give a terminus post quem for the destruction, while the coins found in Hoards A and B (above the ash) give an ante quem (see below).
[965] This phase is called the Late Synagogue (Late Byzantine, Stratum VI) and is dated to 600-700 CE. This date is based on coins found beneath the pavement of the last synagogue building, the latest of which date to Phocas (602-610 CE).
[966] The site of Horvat Rimmon never received a final excavation report. I was in contact via email with Amos Kloner in 2019, but unfortunately, he passed away at the end of that year before I could get more information on the coin deposits from him. The manuscript should be in the final stages of publication.
[967] Kloner 1989, p. 47.
[968] It is unclear if this platform belongs to Phase II (Spigel 2012a, p. 245) or Phase III. Kloner treats the bemah as part of Phase III, but also indicated that it was an integral part of the northern wall, which was constructed during Phase II (Kloner 1989, Werlin 2015, p. 230).
[969] Werlin 2015, p. 228.
[970] Magness 2003, p. 98.
[971] Werlin 21015, pp. 228-229, based on Kloner 1989 p. 45 and Naveh and Shaked 1985, p. 87.
[972] Kloner and Mindel 1981, p. 60 date the burial of the vessel to Stratum Vb, sometime between the late fourth and mid-sixth century. Magness believes that the ashy debris in the room (L64, beneath the northern half of L44/L62) is evidence of the destruction of the synagogue by fire. A short time after this episode, the gold deposit was buried; the fire thus must have happened sometime in the late 5th or early 6th century (Magness 2003, pp. 97-98 and Bijovsky 2012, p. 96).
[973] I am grateful to Sherry Whetstone who took the time to check the contexts of the coin deposits found at Horvat Rimmon and shared with me the information that she could find on them in the unpublished final publication manuscript.
[974] Kloner and Mindel 1981, p. 61.
[975] Kloner and Mindel 1981, p. 60.
[976] Kloner and Mindel 1981, p. 61.
[977] See below. The ash floor covered the sealed debris of the Byzantine period in the southern half of the western annex, south of the line of W26 (personal communication Sherry Whetstone).
[978] Kloner 1989, p. 45; Bijovsky 2012, p. 95 “The room served as a dump or storeroom for broken or discarded objects for about a hundred years. The dump consisted of an 80 cm deep fill yielding many large stones, fragments of copper and other objects.”
[979] One of the reports (Kloner 1980, p. 227) states that the fill with loose coins and scattered objects, and the two pots with gold coins were found in separate rooms. This is not correct: all the coin assemblages come from the same western side room.
[980] Kloner 1989, p. 45.
[981] Kloner 1980, p. 227; Bijovsky 2012a, p. 95. This is W25, the Stratum IV wall beneath W1. L64 is the dirt fill that contained much debris beneath the northern half of L44/L62 (personal communication Sherry Whetstone).
[982] Kloner 1989, p. 45.
[983] This is the only coin of Carinus found in an ancient synagogue deposit.
[984] L65 is the dirt fill beneath the southern half of L44, which contained a lot of debris (personal communication Sherry Whetstone).