Tell-el-Hesi

Sherds from the Persian Period Stratum of Tell el-Hesi. The ceramic materials came from field I, areas 1, 2, 3, 11, 21, 31, in phases A, B, C of stratum V (Persian period). Field procedures called for the excavated sherds to be kept in buckets by loci. The buckets were filled with well water, and the sherds were allowed to soak overnight. Any remaining dirt on the sherds was scrubbed off with nylon brushes and clean well water. Washed sherds were dried in the sun, and representative types were selected to be registered, labelled, and drawn. 

The Hesi Ceramics. As expected, the materials from Tell el-Hesi revealed a large group of sherds with the pattern fitting that of the coastal plain clay. Of the 225 sherds analyzed, 52 belong to this group (Table IV). These were the usual store jars, cookpots, bowls, cups, jugs, etc.,... 

Activation analysis was used to study 225 sherds selected from the excavated Persian level ceramics from Tell el-Hesi, Israel. The purpose of the project is to determine the origin of these materials—whether they were made at the site, came from sites local to the tell, or came from foreign sites. Establishment of ceramic trade patterns would help solve certain archaeological, historical, and biblical problems relating to this area in the time period considered. 

Analysis of ceramics and clays from the coastal plain and hill country near Tell el-Hesi showed that while some of the hill country materials are distinct, the coastal plain pattern is similar to the point where separation of the materials by specific sites has not yet been done. Hesi materials do include sherds belonging to the hill country pattern, indicating trade relationships with sites in the Persian Province of Judah—an impor-... 

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