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Abstract

Salvage excavations at Kerem Maharal, on the southwestern slopes of the Carmel range, revealed the remains of 12 occupation layers from ten periods: Stratum XII, the Geometric Kebaran period (fourteenth–thirteenth millennia BP); Strata X–XI, the Persian–early Hellenistic periods (sixth–fourth centuries BCE); Stratum IX, the Roman period (late first–early second century CE); Strata VIII–VII, the Byzantine period (fifth–seventh centuries CE); Stratum VI, the late Byzantine–beginning of the Early Islamic periods (seventh–eighth centuries CE); Stratum V, eleventh century CE; Stratum IV, twelfth–thirteenth centuries CE; Stratum III, the Mamluk period (late thirteenth–fifteenth centuries CE); Stratum II, the Ottoman and British Mandate periods (until 1948); and Stratum I, the modern era (after 1948). The finds from these strata include pottery and glass vessels, and coins. The results of the excavations attest that Kerem Maharal was an important site on the lower Carmel slopes and perhaps, in the entire Carmel region, reaching its peak during the Byzantine period. A large industrial area operated at the site, including winepresses, oil presses and quarries, and its economy was based mainly on agriculture.

Keywords

Carmel, numismatics, oil press, olives, economy, vines, wine production, viticulture

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