Archaeologists from Wheaton College (IL) and Tel Aviv University discovered a favissa (a cultic deposit) within a white monumental structure from the Middle Bronze Age that they excavated at Tel Shimron. While the exact purpose of the overall structure is unknown, the room that was a favissa was filled with significant cultic artifacts. Due to the lack of stratigraphy in the favissa, the archaeologists believe the artifacts were all deposited in a single ceremony or in a series of ceremonies over a short period of time. They found 40,000 charred bones, mainly belonging to sheep, cattle, and goats. They also unearthed 57,000 pottery sherds, including some from a Minoan jug—only the third Minoan ceramic find in Israel—and including many miniature jugs and bowls. Two bronze bull figurines were also discovered and are believed to be representations of either El, the chief Canaanite god or the storm god Baal.
OFF-SITE LINKS:
- https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2024-11-06/ty-article-magazine/giant-trove-of-canaanite-cultic-artifacts-found-in-northern-israel/00000192-fc9e-d9d0-a996-fdfe51e50000
- https://greekreporter.com/2024/11/07/minoan-pottery-canaanite-artifacts-israel/
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