Language:
Hebrew
Year of publication:
2022
Titel der Quelle:
עתיקות
Angaben zur Quelle:
107 (תשפב) 37*-55*
Keywords:
Commerce History
;
Markets History
;
Al-Tujjar Caravansarai (Israel) Antiquities
;
Eretz Israel History 1291-1517, Mamluk period
;
Eretz Israel History 1517-1917, Ottoman period
Abstract:
In the summer of 2014, a salvage excavation was conducted at the southeastern foot of the citadel west of Khan et-Tujjar, located near the Bet Qeshet Junction on the ‘Afula-Golani road, in Lower Galilee (map ref. 23868/73641; Fig. 1). An occupation level (Fig. 2), comprising a light compacted soil, and remains of hearths (Figs. 3, 4) were exposed. These contained many finds dated by coins and pottery vessels to the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, the fifteenth–eighteenth centuries CE. These finds are remnants of the centuries-old marketplace known from historical sources and travelers’ and explorers’ diaries, who traveled throughout Syria and Israel during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, as well as from edicts (firman) on behalf of the Ottoman government. Two main roads passed through this location: one connecting Damascus in the north and Cairo in the south, and the other, connecting Jordan in the east with Acre on the coast in the west (Darb al-Hawarna). This crossroad served as a meeting place for merchants. At the end of the Mamluk period, a khan was built on site, and apparently later, the citadel was built. These provided the merchants, passers-by and their horses with accommodation and food supply, offering them protection and security. Khan et-Tujjar became a well-known meeting place and road station, and a lively and bustling marketplace developed in the area between the khan and the citadel, expanding over the years. The marketplace operated once a week for centuries, even after the khan and citadel had been long abandoned and left in ruins. The rich finds attest to an international commercial activity resembling a European fair. The pottery assemblage compised domestic vessels (Figs. 5–8) and imported ones, mainly bowls imported from Syria, Turkey, Italy, Spain and even China (Fig. 9). This assemblage is similar to those uncovered in contemporary important urban centers, such as Ẓefat, the district city, Bet She’an, Yoqne’am and Ramla. This is the first time that such an assemblage has been found at a road station inland. Some of these vessels were brought by Venetian merchants, who arrived at the port of Acre to buy local agricultural products, mainly cotton, and were sold to local merchants who distributed them to major centers throughout Israel and Syria. Metal objects (Fig. 10), such as nails and rings, and other finds, such as stone weights and a morex of Hexaplex trunculus (Fig. 11), were also found. In addition to the spectacular tableware, the merchants also introduced one of the new social customs that developed in Europe—smoking pipes. The pipes date from the beginning of their appearance in the Middle East, in the mid-seventeenth century CE, up to the beginning of the twentieth century (see Shapiro, this volume), spanning the period that the market functioned. The presence of early pipes at the site indicates the centrality of the khan and the market next to it on the trade routes of the Ottoman Empire. The zooarchaeological finds (see Marom, this volume) are echoed in the descriptions of travelers and researchers, who noted that the local merchants and farmers came to the market riding horses and camels, and traded in sheep, goats and especially cattle; the dogs ran around the market and joined the commotion in their barking. The marketplace of Khan et-Tujjar was colorful, noisy and vibrant, and did not fall short in size, merchandise and bustle of other well-known European marketplaces (Fig. 12). It existed for several centuries until it was abolished at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Note:
With an English abstract.
URL:
אתר את הפרסום בקטלוג המאוחד של ספריות ישראל
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