Leviah Enclosure

EXCAVATION RESULTS

Seven brief excavation seasons were conducted in the Leviah Enclosure from 1987–1997. The excavations were directed by L. Vinitzky and Y. Paz, as part of the Land of Geshur Project, which is directed by P. Beck and M. Kochavi. Excavation results are being prepared for publication by Y. Paz, with guidance from M. Kochavi. The recent excavation seasons bore out the conclusions reached earlier in the excavation, while shedding light on certain issues. As elsewhere in the site, remains of the Early Bronze Age IB were found beneath the Early Bronze Age III structures. Only in area E, a new area opened between the inner and outer walls, were remains with characteristic Early Bronze Age II pottery found. The plans of the Early Bronze Age III structures in area B, west of the inner gate, were clarified. Most were single-room breithaus structures, though two have square rooms surrounding a courtyard; the largest structure was used for storing olive oil, next to which was found a stone-lined silo, 2 m in diameter. It became clear in the last season that the inner wall next to the inner gate (area A) is up to 10 m thick.

During the Israel Antiquities Authority Golan survey, a cemetery was discovered on a terrace on the southern slope of the spur upon which the site is built. Dozens of tombs were visible on the surface, three of which were excavated. One was a cist tomb, found without a cover and devoid of finds. The second was a tumulus that rose to a height of 1.5 m; two skeletons were found in the stone cist at its center. The third, another tumulus, contained two stone cists with skeletal remains and 12 complete pottery vessels, all dated to the Early Bronze Age IB.