The color red has held significant historical symbolism and meaning throughout history and can be... more The color red has held significant historical symbolism and meaning throughout history and can be produced from various sources, including plants and animals. Some of the most luxurious red dyes were derived from various species of scale insects, particularly those of the Coccoidae superfamily. Today, advanced analytical methods allow to trace the origins of dyes even after thousands of years, providing insights into the technological capabilities of the ancient world as well as past economic and social conditions. In our research on textiles discovered in the Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert, we conducted dye analyses using High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and identified one unique, red-dyed textile, which was dyed with scale insects. Our analysis enables to pinpoint the precise source of the red color in archaeological textiles down to the species level, and it can be determined with a high degree of certainty that the dye used was Kermes vermilio. Direct radiocarbon dating places this textile in the Middle Bronze Age (1954–1767 BCE), shedding light on the early use of scale-insect dyes in ancient textile production.
Hundreds of fragments of spun and woven goods were recovered from excavated sites in the Timna Va... more Hundreds of fragments of spun and woven goods were recovered from excavated sites in the Timna Valley, accumulating the largest assemblage of Levantine textile, cordage, and rope materials from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages to date. An extensive period of multidisciplinary study has produced an in-depth exploration into the production and consumption of these materials in the industrial setting of copper mining and extraction. In this article, we briefly detail the investigatory methods employed and the findings of these studies, looking at textile consumption at Timna and how it compares to the wider region.
New Studies in the Archaeology of the Judean Desert, 2023
Over the course of the 2019 excavations in the Cave of Horror, Naḥal Ḥever (see Sion, this volume... more Over the course of the 2019 excavations in the Cave of Horror, Naḥal Ḥever (see Sion, this volume), a trove of organic material was unearthed. Among the findings were 540 fragments of textiles, ropes, threads and basketry. As opposed to most sites in Israel, the organic materials were well-preserved due to the extremely arid climate in the region and the protection offered by the cave from other environmental hazards. Although most of the organic objects are small, they provide valuable insights into daily life at the site. The evidence bears witness to dress styles and economic and technological aspects of the relevant periods. Moreover, they contribute to our understanding of the chronology of human activity in the cave, which largely lacked a stratigraphic sequence. The objects unearthed in the present excavation supplement similar textile, rope and basketry finds retrieved during earlier excavations at the site by Aharoni (1961; 1962). The organic assemblage from the current excavations was sorted and identified in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s organic laboratory, and a selection of items were cleaned in the conservation laboratory.
<p>Radiocarbon date for a dyed wool fragment from the Hathor Temple (Site 200) <sup>&... more <p>Radiocarbon date for a dyed wool fragment from the Hathor Temple (Site 200) <sup><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0179014#t002fn001" target="_blank">*</a></sup>.</p
Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can pr... more Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can provide important information as to how, when and where the textiles were made, and the role of textiles in ancient societies along with the social ranking during those times. Some of these textiles are rare finds in nature; therefore, the knowledge of their chemical composition is very critical in the process of their conservation. Therefore, choosing the proper dye extraction and identification methods should be considered. In this review, the focus is on the yellow dyes that were used in archeological textiles, including their plant sources, geological locations, and the methodological approaches for their analysis and characterization, since less known about these dyes in archeology, despite of their high abundance in nature. This review is not intended to be as a historical reference of archeological yellow dyes but instead aims to address the challenges in the currently used extraction and identification techniques, with suggested new directions.
Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can pr... more Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can provide important information as to how, when and where the textiles were made, and the role of textiles in ancient societies along with the social ranking during those times. Some of these textiles are rare finds in nature; therefore, the knowledge of their chemical composition is very critical in the process of their conservation. Therefore, choosing the proper dye extraction and identification methods should be considered. In this review, the focus is on the yellow dyes that were used in archeological textiles, including their plant sources, geological locations, and the methodological approaches for their analysis and characterization, since less known about these dyes in archeology, despite of their high abundance in nature. This review is not intended to be as a historical reference of archeological yellow dyes but instead aims to address the challenges in the currently used extraction and identification techniques, with suggested new directions.
To the memory of Trude Dothan 1922–2016 During trial excavations carried out in 2013 on behalf of... more To the memory of Trude Dothan 1922–2016 During trial excavations carried out in 2013 on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, a seemingly isolated clay coffin with anthropoid lid, containing a single primary burial, was uncovered within a 6 m × 5 m probe bordering the lower east slope of Tel Shaddud in the Jezreel Valley. It lay at the bottom of a tightly constricted burial pit, about 1.8 m below the present surface. Subsequent salvage excavations in 2014 uncovered, less than 3 m to its south-east, a further three burial pits (none of which contained a coffin), enclosing four additional primary burials, oriented east to west — in conformity with the coffin burial. Together these burials form part of an apparent Late Bronze Age II–Iron Age I burial ground at the eastern margin of Tel Shaddud. The coffin and associated funerary gifts bear a strong resemblance to comparable specimens and associated funerary assemblages known foremost from Deir el-Balah in the Gaza strip and Bet Sheʽan in the Jordan Valley. The shared mortuary aspects of Tel Shaddud and the latter sites indicate a strong link with New Kingdom Egypt. Based on the Tel Shaddud data and its very location, in combination with selective reading of relevant, near-contemporary historic records (i.e. the el-Amarna letters) it is argued here that Tel Shaddud was a way station, or estate, functioning within the framework of the Egyptian New Kingdom colonization of the region during the Late Bronze Age II and succeeding Iron Age I.
In the context of a broad study aimed at examining dyeing technologies in the Timna textiles coll... more In the context of a broad study aimed at examining dyeing technologies in the Timna textiles collection, three samples of prestigious fibers dyed with murex sea snail were identified. Our identification is based on the presence of 6-monobromoindigotin and 6,6-dibromoindigotin components (detected using HPLC analysis), which is considered unequivocal evidence for the use of murex-derived purple dyestuff. Furthermore, by comparing the analytical results with those obtained in a series of controlled dyeing experiments we were able to shed more light on the specific species used in the dyeing process and glean insights into the ancient dyeing technology. The samples originated from excavations at the extensive Iron Age copper smelting site of “Slaves’ Hill” (Site 34), which is tightly dated by radiocarbon to the late 11th–early 10th centuries BCE. While evidence for the important role of purple dyes in the ancient Mediterranean goes back to the Middle Bronze Age (early 2nd millennium BC...
Glass, Wax and Metal: Lighting Technologies in Late Antique, Byzantine and Medieval Times, 2019
Abstract: The use of wicks in ancient times enabled the lighting of private and public houses and... more Abstract: The use of wicks in ancient times enabled the lighting of private and public houses and was vital for ancient life. However, only a few wicks have been identified in their archaeological context. In a reexamination of the Shivta Collection of the Colt Expedition (1933-1936, 1938) at the site a small tube was found, made of copper alloy, which has been dated to the Byzantine period and still contains the remains of a wick. The wickholder would have been used in a floating-wick oil lamp and it probably belonged to a type of glass lamp that was typical of the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. The fiber of the wick was preserved because of the arid climate in the Negev and also because of the association of the wick with the metal tube, which prevented the destruction by micro-organisms. The fibers of the wick were identified by microscopic analysis as linen (Linum usitatissimum L.), based on the morphology of the internal layers of the fibers. The choice of flax as a raw material for making wicks seems very reasonable. Flax was a very common agricultural crop in the Land of Israel and was used as one of the important raw materials in the weaving industry until the Islamic period.
In this article, we focus on the analysis of dyed textile fragments uncovered at an early Iron Ag... more In this article, we focus on the analysis of dyed textile fragments uncovered at an early Iron Age (11th-10th centuries BCE) copper smelting site during new excavations in the Timna Valley conducted by the Central Timna Valley (CTV) Project, as well as those found by the Arabah Expedition at the Hathor Temple (Site 200), dated to the Late Bronze/early Iron Ages (13th-11th centuries BCE). Analysis by HPLC-DAD identified two organic dyestuffs, Rubia tinctorum L. and indigotin, from a plant source (probably Isatis tinctoria L.). They are among the earliest plants known in the dyeing craft and cultivated primarily for this purpose. This study provides the earliest evidence of textiles dyed utilizing a chemical dyeing process based on an industrial dyeing plant from the Levant. Moreover, our results shed new light on the society operating the copper mines at the time, suggesting the existence of an elite that was interested in these high quality textiles and invested efforts in procuring...
The present study reports a series of interdisciplinary archaeometrical analyses of objects found... more The present study reports a series of interdisciplinary archaeometrical analyses of objects found in the Christmas Cave, which was discovered by John Allegro and his team in 1960 on the West Bank of the Dead Sea and assumed to be inhabited only in the Chalcolithic era and by Jewish refugees of the second century CE, at the end of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Like many other Judaean desert caves, there was an abundance of organic material, especially textiles, surviving in the dry environment. In the absence of clear stratigraphy and even a proper publication of the finds, the present study shows how archaeometry can provide important insights. We analysed food crusts on ceramics by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC–MS), made petrographic descriptions to estimated provenance of the ceramics, produced new radiocarbon dates from organic material and thermoluminescence (TL) dates from the pottery. It appears from the data that the Christmas Cave has been briefly inhabit...
The color red has held significant historical symbolism and meaning throughout history and can be... more The color red has held significant historical symbolism and meaning throughout history and can be produced from various sources, including plants and animals. Some of the most luxurious red dyes were derived from various species of scale insects, particularly those of the Coccoidae superfamily. Today, advanced analytical methods allow to trace the origins of dyes even after thousands of years, providing insights into the technological capabilities of the ancient world as well as past economic and social conditions. In our research on textiles discovered in the Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert, we conducted dye analyses using High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and identified one unique, red-dyed textile, which was dyed with scale insects. Our analysis enables to pinpoint the precise source of the red color in archaeological textiles down to the species level, and it can be determined with a high degree of certainty that the dye used was Kermes vermilio. Direct radiocarbon dating places this textile in the Middle Bronze Age (1954–1767 BCE), shedding light on the early use of scale-insect dyes in ancient textile production.
Hundreds of fragments of spun and woven goods were recovered from excavated sites in the Timna Va... more Hundreds of fragments of spun and woven goods were recovered from excavated sites in the Timna Valley, accumulating the largest assemblage of Levantine textile, cordage, and rope materials from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages to date. An extensive period of multidisciplinary study has produced an in-depth exploration into the production and consumption of these materials in the industrial setting of copper mining and extraction. In this article, we briefly detail the investigatory methods employed and the findings of these studies, looking at textile consumption at Timna and how it compares to the wider region.
New Studies in the Archaeology of the Judean Desert, 2023
Over the course of the 2019 excavations in the Cave of Horror, Naḥal Ḥever (see Sion, this volume... more Over the course of the 2019 excavations in the Cave of Horror, Naḥal Ḥever (see Sion, this volume), a trove of organic material was unearthed. Among the findings were 540 fragments of textiles, ropes, threads and basketry. As opposed to most sites in Israel, the organic materials were well-preserved due to the extremely arid climate in the region and the protection offered by the cave from other environmental hazards. Although most of the organic objects are small, they provide valuable insights into daily life at the site. The evidence bears witness to dress styles and economic and technological aspects of the relevant periods. Moreover, they contribute to our understanding of the chronology of human activity in the cave, which largely lacked a stratigraphic sequence. The objects unearthed in the present excavation supplement similar textile, rope and basketry finds retrieved during earlier excavations at the site by Aharoni (1961; 1962). The organic assemblage from the current excavations was sorted and identified in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s organic laboratory, and a selection of items were cleaned in the conservation laboratory.
<p>Radiocarbon date for a dyed wool fragment from the Hathor Temple (Site 200) <sup>&... more <p>Radiocarbon date for a dyed wool fragment from the Hathor Temple (Site 200) <sup><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0179014#t002fn001" target="_blank">*</a></sup>.</p
Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can pr... more Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can provide important information as to how, when and where the textiles were made, and the role of textiles in ancient societies along with the social ranking during those times. Some of these textiles are rare finds in nature; therefore, the knowledge of their chemical composition is very critical in the process of their conservation. Therefore, choosing the proper dye extraction and identification methods should be considered. In this review, the focus is on the yellow dyes that were used in archeological textiles, including their plant sources, geological locations, and the methodological approaches for their analysis and characterization, since less known about these dyes in archeology, despite of their high abundance in nature. This review is not intended to be as a historical reference of archeological yellow dyes but instead aims to address the challenges in the currently used extraction and identification techniques, with suggested new directions.
Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can pr... more Dyes extracted from textiles of pre- and historical periods, or “archaeological textiles”, can provide important information as to how, when and where the textiles were made, and the role of textiles in ancient societies along with the social ranking during those times. Some of these textiles are rare finds in nature; therefore, the knowledge of their chemical composition is very critical in the process of their conservation. Therefore, choosing the proper dye extraction and identification methods should be considered. In this review, the focus is on the yellow dyes that were used in archeological textiles, including their plant sources, geological locations, and the methodological approaches for their analysis and characterization, since less known about these dyes in archeology, despite of their high abundance in nature. This review is not intended to be as a historical reference of archeological yellow dyes but instead aims to address the challenges in the currently used extraction and identification techniques, with suggested new directions.
To the memory of Trude Dothan 1922–2016 During trial excavations carried out in 2013 on behalf of... more To the memory of Trude Dothan 1922–2016 During trial excavations carried out in 2013 on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, a seemingly isolated clay coffin with anthropoid lid, containing a single primary burial, was uncovered within a 6 m × 5 m probe bordering the lower east slope of Tel Shaddud in the Jezreel Valley. It lay at the bottom of a tightly constricted burial pit, about 1.8 m below the present surface. Subsequent salvage excavations in 2014 uncovered, less than 3 m to its south-east, a further three burial pits (none of which contained a coffin), enclosing four additional primary burials, oriented east to west — in conformity with the coffin burial. Together these burials form part of an apparent Late Bronze Age II–Iron Age I burial ground at the eastern margin of Tel Shaddud. The coffin and associated funerary gifts bear a strong resemblance to comparable specimens and associated funerary assemblages known foremost from Deir el-Balah in the Gaza strip and Bet Sheʽan in the Jordan Valley. The shared mortuary aspects of Tel Shaddud and the latter sites indicate a strong link with New Kingdom Egypt. Based on the Tel Shaddud data and its very location, in combination with selective reading of relevant, near-contemporary historic records (i.e. the el-Amarna letters) it is argued here that Tel Shaddud was a way station, or estate, functioning within the framework of the Egyptian New Kingdom colonization of the region during the Late Bronze Age II and succeeding Iron Age I.
In the context of a broad study aimed at examining dyeing technologies in the Timna textiles coll... more In the context of a broad study aimed at examining dyeing technologies in the Timna textiles collection, three samples of prestigious fibers dyed with murex sea snail were identified. Our identification is based on the presence of 6-monobromoindigotin and 6,6-dibromoindigotin components (detected using HPLC analysis), which is considered unequivocal evidence for the use of murex-derived purple dyestuff. Furthermore, by comparing the analytical results with those obtained in a series of controlled dyeing experiments we were able to shed more light on the specific species used in the dyeing process and glean insights into the ancient dyeing technology. The samples originated from excavations at the extensive Iron Age copper smelting site of “Slaves’ Hill” (Site 34), which is tightly dated by radiocarbon to the late 11th–early 10th centuries BCE. While evidence for the important role of purple dyes in the ancient Mediterranean goes back to the Middle Bronze Age (early 2nd millennium BC...
Glass, Wax and Metal: Lighting Technologies in Late Antique, Byzantine and Medieval Times, 2019
Abstract: The use of wicks in ancient times enabled the lighting of private and public houses and... more Abstract: The use of wicks in ancient times enabled the lighting of private and public houses and was vital for ancient life. However, only a few wicks have been identified in their archaeological context. In a reexamination of the Shivta Collection of the Colt Expedition (1933-1936, 1938) at the site a small tube was found, made of copper alloy, which has been dated to the Byzantine period and still contains the remains of a wick. The wickholder would have been used in a floating-wick oil lamp and it probably belonged to a type of glass lamp that was typical of the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. The fiber of the wick was preserved because of the arid climate in the Negev and also because of the association of the wick with the metal tube, which prevented the destruction by micro-organisms. The fibers of the wick were identified by microscopic analysis as linen (Linum usitatissimum L.), based on the morphology of the internal layers of the fibers. The choice of flax as a raw material for making wicks seems very reasonable. Flax was a very common agricultural crop in the Land of Israel and was used as one of the important raw materials in the weaving industry until the Islamic period.
In this article, we focus on the analysis of dyed textile fragments uncovered at an early Iron Ag... more In this article, we focus on the analysis of dyed textile fragments uncovered at an early Iron Age (11th-10th centuries BCE) copper smelting site during new excavations in the Timna Valley conducted by the Central Timna Valley (CTV) Project, as well as those found by the Arabah Expedition at the Hathor Temple (Site 200), dated to the Late Bronze/early Iron Ages (13th-11th centuries BCE). Analysis by HPLC-DAD identified two organic dyestuffs, Rubia tinctorum L. and indigotin, from a plant source (probably Isatis tinctoria L.). They are among the earliest plants known in the dyeing craft and cultivated primarily for this purpose. This study provides the earliest evidence of textiles dyed utilizing a chemical dyeing process based on an industrial dyeing plant from the Levant. Moreover, our results shed new light on the society operating the copper mines at the time, suggesting the existence of an elite that was interested in these high quality textiles and invested efforts in procuring...
The present study reports a series of interdisciplinary archaeometrical analyses of objects found... more The present study reports a series of interdisciplinary archaeometrical analyses of objects found in the Christmas Cave, which was discovered by John Allegro and his team in 1960 on the West Bank of the Dead Sea and assumed to be inhabited only in the Chalcolithic era and by Jewish refugees of the second century CE, at the end of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Like many other Judaean desert caves, there was an abundance of organic material, especially textiles, surviving in the dry environment. In the absence of clear stratigraphy and even a proper publication of the finds, the present study shows how archaeometry can provide important insights. We analysed food crusts on ceramics by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC–MS), made petrographic descriptions to estimated provenance of the ceramics, produced new radiocarbon dates from organic material and thermoluminescence (TL) dates from the pottery. It appears from the data that the Christmas Cave has been briefly inhabit...
Twenty textile fragments discussed below were discovered during the excavation of Mezad Zohar in ... more Twenty textile fragments discussed below were discovered during the excavation of Mezad Zohar in 2004. Six textile fragments were found below the collapse of the upper level (Area B, L401). Seven were discovered in the lower level of the fort next to two adult skeletons (Area B, L1201, L1202). Two were found in the man-made cave apparently guarding the road. Radiocarbon analysis confirms these date to the 13th century CE (RTD 8307). The fragments are made of various materials: wool, wool mixed with goat hair, linen cotton and silk. This assemblage extends our knowledge about textiles from the 12th–13th centuries CE which were found at Cave 38 in the Qarantal cliff above Jericho, 9th –13th centuries CE (Shamir and Baginski 2013), Coral Island (Jeziret Fara’un),(Baginski and Shamir 1998) and the 12th –13th centuries CE ‘Avdat — the Cave ofthe Saints (Baginski and Shamir 2001a) and as well as from caves in the NorthernJudean Desert. These textiles are an important contribution to the study of MiddleIslamic period textiles.
J.-B. HUMBERT and M. FIDANZIO Khirbet Qumrân and Aïn Feshkha IV A Cave 11Q Archaeology and New Scroll Fragments, 2019
Two chapters about textiles discovered in Cave 11Q. The first, a technical study and the other, r... more Two chapters about textiles discovered in Cave 11Q. The first, a technical study and the other, radio-carbon analysis of textile remains. Passin description of the circumstances leading of the rediscovery of 74 new scroll fragments I found in July 2015 among textiles from Cave 11Q (see chapters 9 and 12).
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from various sources, including plants and animals. Some of the most luxurious red dyes were derived from
various species of scale insects, particularly those of the Coccoidae superfamily. Today, advanced analytical
methods allow to trace the origins of dyes even after thousands of years, providing insights into the technological
capabilities of the ancient world as well as past economic and social conditions. In our research on textiles
discovered in the Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert, we conducted dye analyses using High-Pressure Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) and identified one unique, red-dyed textile, which was dyed with scale insects. Our
analysis enables to pinpoint the precise source of the red color in archaeological textiles down to the species
level, and it can be determined with a high degree of certainty that the dye used was Kermes vermilio. Direct
radiocarbon dating places this textile in the Middle Bronze Age (1954–1767 BCE), shedding light on the early use
of scale-insect dyes in ancient textile production.
Although most of the organic objects are small, they provide valuable insights into daily life at the site. The evidence bears witness to dress styles and economic and technological aspects of the relevant periods. Moreover, they contribute to our understanding of the chronology of human activity in the cave, which largely lacked a stratigraphic sequence. The objects unearthed in the present excavation supplement similar textile, rope and basketry finds retrieved during earlier excavations at the site by Aharoni (1961; 1962). The organic assemblage from the current excavations was sorted and identified in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s organic laboratory, and a selection of items were cleaned in the conservation laboratory.
information as to how, when and where the textiles were made, and the role of textiles in ancient societies along
with the social ranking during those times. Some of these textiles are rare finds in nature; therefore, the
knowledge of their chemical composition is very critical in the process of their conservation. Therefore, choosing
the proper dye extraction and identification methods should be considered. In this review, the focus is on the
yellow dyes that were used in archeological textiles, including their plant sources, geological locations, and the
methodological approaches for their analysis and characterization, since less known about these dyes in archeology,
despite of their high abundance in nature. This review is not intended to be as a historical reference of
archeological yellow dyes but instead aims to address the challenges in the currently used extraction and
identification techniques, with suggested new directions.
from various sources, including plants and animals. Some of the most luxurious red dyes were derived from
various species of scale insects, particularly those of the Coccoidae superfamily. Today, advanced analytical
methods allow to trace the origins of dyes even after thousands of years, providing insights into the technological
capabilities of the ancient world as well as past economic and social conditions. In our research on textiles
discovered in the Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert, we conducted dye analyses using High-Pressure Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) and identified one unique, red-dyed textile, which was dyed with scale insects. Our
analysis enables to pinpoint the precise source of the red color in archaeological textiles down to the species
level, and it can be determined with a high degree of certainty that the dye used was Kermes vermilio. Direct
radiocarbon dating places this textile in the Middle Bronze Age (1954–1767 BCE), shedding light on the early use
of scale-insect dyes in ancient textile production.
Although most of the organic objects are small, they provide valuable insights into daily life at the site. The evidence bears witness to dress styles and economic and technological aspects of the relevant periods. Moreover, they contribute to our understanding of the chronology of human activity in the cave, which largely lacked a stratigraphic sequence. The objects unearthed in the present excavation supplement similar textile, rope and basketry finds retrieved during earlier excavations at the site by Aharoni (1961; 1962). The organic assemblage from the current excavations was sorted and identified in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s organic laboratory, and a selection of items were cleaned in the conservation laboratory.
information as to how, when and where the textiles were made, and the role of textiles in ancient societies along
with the social ranking during those times. Some of these textiles are rare finds in nature; therefore, the
knowledge of their chemical composition is very critical in the process of their conservation. Therefore, choosing
the proper dye extraction and identification methods should be considered. In this review, the focus is on the
yellow dyes that were used in archeological textiles, including their plant sources, geological locations, and the
methodological approaches for their analysis and characterization, since less known about these dyes in archeology,
despite of their high abundance in nature. This review is not intended to be as a historical reference of
archeological yellow dyes but instead aims to address the challenges in the currently used extraction and
identification techniques, with suggested new directions.
This assemblage extends our knowledge about textiles from the 12th–13th centuries CE which were found at Cave 38 in the Qarantal cliff above Jericho, 9th –13th centuries CE (Shamir and Baginski 2013), Coral Island (Jeziret Fara’un),(Baginski and Shamir 1998) and the 12th –13th centuries CE ‘Avdat — the Cave ofthe Saints (Baginski and Shamir 2001a) and as well as from caves in the NorthernJudean Desert. These textiles are an important contribution to the study of MiddleIslamic period textiles.