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Abstract

In 2002, a repository pit (Favissa/Geniza) was discovered in the Giv‘at Rishonim neighborhood in Yavne.The pit was full of “goodies”—objects that people had brought or donated to the temple—which were eventually buried by the temple authorities. Due to their sacredness (a Philistine sacredness from the ninth century BCE!), the objects were deliberately broken, either before or while throwing them into the pit. The excavation of the pit was challenging, as it contained thousands of broken bowls and chalices exhibiting soot remains, probably of incense; fragments of small incense-altars made of stone and clay; dozens of broken pottery censers—bowl-like vessels that were open on one side and had a handle on the other (to facilitate the scooping and moving of burning coals); one temple model (naos) and more than 120 cultic stands. The cultic stands were fashioned from clay in the form of small houses, most of them decorated with scenes that included, for example, female figures, animals and a procession of musicians. All these finds were documented, studied and published in two volumes (Yavneh I and II).

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