Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have uncovered a Roman-era boundary stone at Tel Abel Beit Ma'aka, offering new insights into historical geography, land ownership, and economic dynamics in the region.
Archaeologists excavating at the site of Tel Abel Beit Ma'aqah in northern Israel have discovered a rare boundary stone from the Roman Tetrarchy. Originally used to mark land boundaries as part of the Roman Emperor Diocletian's tax reforms, this stone offers important insights into land ownership, local settlement patterns, and the administrative systems of the Roman Empire.
Furthermore, the stone reveals two previously unknown locality names, providing new perspectives on the historical geography and socio-economic dynamics of the region.
The excavation, led by Prof. Naama Yahalom-Mak and Dr. Nava Fenitz-Cohen from the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University, together with Prof. Robert Mullins from Azusa Pacific University, yielded a significant find that deepens the understanding of management and territorial practices in ancient periods.
The finding and its significance
The find, deciphered by Dr. Avner Aker and Prof. Uzi Leibner of the Hebrew University, is a boundary stone that was originally carved to mark agricultural land boundaries between villages during the Roman Tetrarchy. The find was found in secondary use in a facility from the Mamluk period.
The basalt stone, engraved with a detailed inscription in Greek, has provided a wealth of historical insight. The inscription includes the names of two previously unknown villages – Tirthas and Golgol. These names may correspond to sites mentioned in the 19th-century survey of Western Palestine.
"This is evidence of the strict administrative organization of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy," said Prof. Uzi Leibner. "Finding such a boundary stone not only reveals details about land ownership and taxation, but also creates a tangible connection to the lives of the people who dealt with these complex systems almost two thousand years ago."
Dr. Avner Aker added: "The find is particularly exciting due to the mention of two new settlement names and the name of a previously unknown imperial surveyor. This illustrates how even seemingly small finds can enrich our understanding of the socio-economic history of the region."
This find joins a unique body of over 20 boundary stones discovered in the Hula Valley and surrounding areas. The stones reflect a period of increased administrative control, aimed at standardizing taxation and clarifying land ownership.
This region had a high concentration of small landowners, who operated independently of large urban centers. Contemporary rabbinical tradition even refers to the burden imposed by Diocletian on the region, reflecting the difficulties resulting from local tax reforms.
The researchers emphasize that the find adds to our understanding of the socio-economic dynamics of the Tetrarchy, in particular the impact of Diocletian's reforms on rural communities. "Such boundary stones provide a unique glimpse into the lives of ancient inhabitants, the pressures they experienced under imperial rule, and the enduring traces of their communities in the archaeological record," concluded Prof. Leibner.
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