Dendroarchaeological Investigations in I

Dendroarchaeological Investigations in Israel (Masada)
Author(s): NILI LIPHSCHITZ, SIMCHA LEV-YADUN and YOAV WAISEL

Source: Israel Exploration Journal, Vol. 31, No. 3/4 (1981), pp. 230-234
Published by: Israel Exploration Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27925804
Accessed: 11-07-2016 08:16 UTC
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at
http://about.jstor.org/terms
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted
digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about
JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.
Israel Exploration Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Israel
Exploration Journal
This content downloaded from 132.66.11.212 on Mon, 11 Jul 2016 08:16:23 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Dendroarchaeological Investigations
in Israel (Masada)*
NILI LIPHSCHITZ, SIMCHA LEV-YADUN and YOAV WAISEL
Tel Aviv University
The fortress of Masada is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites on the border
of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea region. It is located 25 km. south of Gedi,
more or less opposite the Lisan peninsula. The ramp on the western side of the fortress,
about 200 m. long, was built during the Roman siege under Silva in 72C.E. Today
there is a path on top of it leading to the ruins of the fortress. On the left side of this path
wooden logs stick out of the ancient ramp through the white soil (PI. 35:C). These are
the logs that supported the ramp's earthen fill.1 A precise description of the construction
methods and location of the ramp was given by Josephus.2
the logs were preserved in situ owing to the extreme aridity of this region, and their
decomposition was minimal. The exact dating of the site, the good preservation of the
wooden logs and their great number made this site an attractive one for dendro
archaeological investigation.
The present vegetation of the Masada region includes many wadi species of tropical
or Sudanese origin, e.g. Acacia tortilis, Acacia raddiana, etc. Such plants require high
winter temperatures and an ample supply of water. In addition, wadis in this region con
tain tamarisk trees and bushes of Retama roetam and Anabasis set?fera. Near the
shores of the Dead Sea salines with halophytic vegetation are found. Those salines are
dominated by several species of tamarisk, as well as by some halophytic shrubs of the
Chenopodiaceae: Atriplex halimus, Suaeda monoica, Suaedafruticosa, Arthrocnemum
glaucum, etc. Le^s saline but wet habitats, the oases along the Dead Sea coast, are
characterized by various thermbphilous species, e.g. Ziziphus spina-christi, Phoenix
dactylifera, Balanites aegyptiaca, Populus euphratica, etc.3
* This investigation was financed by a grant from the Research Authority of Tel Aviv University. The
authors' thanks are due to A. Eitan, Director of the Department of Antiquities and Museums, for his
assistance. We are also grateful to Prof. Y. Yadin for permission to take samples for this investigation.
1 Y. Yadin: Masada; Herod's Fortress and the Zealots' Last Stand, London, 1966, pp. 11-12, 221.
2 Josephus Flavius: History of the Jewish War, VII, 8:5.
3 M. Zohary: Geobotany, Merhavia, 1955, 590 pp. (Hebrew); Y. Waisel, G. Pollak and Y. Cohen: The
Ecology of Vegetation of Israel, Tel Aviv, 1978, 460 pp. (Hebrew).
DENDROARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 231
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Pieces of wood of approximately 1-2 cu.cm. were taken for examination from each of
the logs. Altogether 186 logs were sampled. The samples were divided into three groups,
according to the state of preservation of the wood.
(1) Well-preserved samples were sectioned by a sliding microtome. Cross-, tangential
and radial longitudinal sections were made; sections were stained either by Cl-Zn-1 or
by Safranin. Safranin-stained sections were mounted in Canada balsam.
(2) Soft and deteriorated wood samples were aspirated in absolute alcohol for 90
minutes, dipped in methyl benzoate-celloidin solution for 24 hours, transferred to ben
zen for 20 minutes and finally to 55?C paraffin for 48 hours. The samples were then
sectioned (10-15 thick) by a rotary microtome. Cross- and longitudinal sections were
prepared, stained by Safranin and mounted in Canada balsam.
(3) Hard wood samples were first softened by submersion in boiling ethylene-glycol
for two hdurs. The softened samples were immersed in clove oil for a 24-hour period,
and in celloidin dissolved in clove oil for another 24-hour period. Excess celloidin was
removed by ethyl-ether, and samples were embedded in paraffin. The samples were then
sectioned (10-15 thick) by a rotary microtome. Cross-, longitudinal, tangential and
radial sections were prepared. All sections were stained by Safranin and mounted in
Canada balsam.
Anatomical examination of the wood was made from these sections. Samples taken
from identified live trees were used as references.
RESULTS
Results are summarized in Table 1 and Pis. 36-38. Of the examined logs, 92% were
from tamarisk (Tamarix sp.) belonging to the 5-stamens group. Most of them are
probably jordanis (PI. 36). The rest of the logs, 11 logs and 4 branches, were
from seven other woody species: 5 trees and 2 bushes. These included three acacia logs
(Acacia raddiana) (PI. 37:A), two logs of the Jericho balsam (Balanites aegyptiaca),
one log of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) (PI. 38:A), 4 logs of poplar (Populus
euphratica) (PI. 37:B) and one log of Judas tree (Ziziphus spina-christi). Three Anabasis
branches and one white broom (Retama roetam) branch (PI. 38 :B) were also found.
Tamarix jordanis is a tree of wet or wet and saline habitats, characteristic of the Dead
Sea and Jordan Valley salines. The trees may attain a height of several metres and
develop substantial trunks, but the bushy form is usually dominant. Acacia raddiana is
a thermophilic Sudanese species spread over large areas of the Negev, the Judean desert
and the 'Arabah. It requires a good supply of water and high temperatures for growth.
This spiny tree has a single trunk lacking lower secondary branches. The wood is very
hard. Balanites aegyptiaca is a thorny tree of the oases of the Jordan Valley. Israel is its
northernmost point of distribution. The trees may have thick main trunks, and the
wood is very hard. Cupressus sempervirens is an evergreen Mediterranean tree species.
232 . LIPHSCHITZ, S. LEVYADUN AND Y. WAISEL
Currently its nearest native appearance to Masada is in Edom. The tree has a main
trunk which may attain a considerable size. In ancient times its wood was widely used
for construction purposes. Populus euphratica is a native tree species growing along
river banks and springs of southern Israel. It grows in the Jordan Valley oases, but does
not grow today near Masada. Under favourable water conditions the trees attain a
height of 10-15 m. and have a wide canopy and sizeable trunk.4 Ziziphus spina-christi
occurs in large numbers in low and warm areas along the Jordan Valley where water is
ample. It is a thermophilic tree, appearing today near Masada. It may grow either in a
bushy form or as a high and wide tree with a broad canopy. Retama roetam is a large
shrub ( 1-3 m.) and Anabasis set?fera is a small one, occurring in desert and sandy wadi
beds in the Dead Sea Region and Judean Desert.
Table 1
Wood samples collected on Masada ramp
Species No. of samples
Acacia raddiana 3
Anabasis sp. 3
Balanites aegyptiaca 2
Cupressus sempervirens 1
Populus euphratica 4
Retama roetam 1
Tamarix (jordanis) 171
Ziziphus spina-christi 1
Total 186
DISCUSSION
Fuel-gathering and intensive grazing drastically change the cover and composition of
vegetation, especially in arid regions. During periods of agricultural recession caused by
wars and exiles, man's interference is slowed down and regeneration of vegetation takes
place. In desert areas where productivity is low owing to the limiting factor of water, the
presence of plants is therefore the outcome of an equilibrium between over-exploitation
by man and the recovery and reproduction ability of the plants.
4 . Liphschitz and Y. Waisel: The Effect of Water Stresses on Radial Growth of Populus euphratica
Oliv., La-Yaaran 20 (1970), pp. 80-84.
DENDROARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 233
As can be seen from the results presented, the same plant species which occur in the
area of Masada today grew there in the past. Except for the single sample of cypress, all
logs were taken from local trees. On the other hand, if the relative abundance of each of
the species as represented by the logs of the ramp indicates their abundance in the area
in the past, the proportions differ today, at least for some of the species.
Of the wood taken out of the ramp, 92% was of Tamarix (probably T. jordanis)
which was and still is very common in this district. Trees of this species have good and
rapid regeneration capability after cutting, and therefore even drastic cutting of the
wood did not cause its extinction. The other tree species which were used for the ramp,
Populus euphratica, Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus spina-christi, also appear in the
Dead Sea region today. However, these species are less common than Tamarix. The
nearest sites where trees of these species appear today are near Gedi and near
Boqeq.
The appearance of one log of Cupressus in the rampart is of no botanical
significance. It is probably a remnant of the cypress logs which were widely used in the
construction of the fortress of Masada.
The results of the present investigation add quantitatively to the data of our previous
dendroarchaeological investigation in the Dead Sea region. For example, 41% of the
wood samples from the Roman fort of Boqeq were of local Tamarix (T. jordanis
and T. gallica), 11% were of Populus euphratica, 4% of Cupressus sempervirens and
only 2.8% were of Acacia raddiana.5
Although Acacia raddiana is one of the main constituents of the vegetation of this
region today, only a few logs of this species were excavated from archaeological sites. It
is possible that the hard wood of this tree, together with the numerous spines which
cover its branches, made its use difficult. Other trees, e.g. Tamarix and Populus, with
softer wood and a more convenient approach may have been preferred.
On the other hand, one must remember that Masada was built on an isolated cliff
with steep slopes on all sides, except for the western one. The western route was
therefore the easiest way to reach the fortress and to transport material to its sur
roundings; indeed the Romans built the ramp on this side. Thus, it is possible that
because of the great difference in elevation, the Romans preferred to bring their supply
of wood from the upper parts of the Masada wadi, rather than from the Dead Sea level.
The western sections of such wadis support extensive populations of Tamarix.
This assumption is further supported by the lack of Phoenix dactylifera logs in the
rampart of Masada, while such trees were abundantly used in the building of Boqeq.
Of course, this may also indicate the exploitation by man of the stands of date palms in
the Dead Sea region.
5 . Liphschitz and Y. Waisel: The Effect of Human Activity on Composition of the Natural Vegetation
during Historic Periods, La-Yaaran 24 (1974), pp. 27-30.
234 . LIPHSCHITZ, S. LEV-YADUN AND Y. WAISEL
The scarcity of Acacia wood and the abundance of Tamarix are also intriguing
because such a combination might indicate changes in local climate. Under wetter con
ditions the wadis would have had more running water and the Acacia would have been
less common than Tamarix. The possibility that a wetter climatic period occurred at
that time in the area is supported by other evidence (M. Gihon, personal communica
tion). Higher humidity in this period may point to a more abundant water supply for the
defenders of the besieged fortress. Nevertheless, as only a few species have disappeared
from this area during the last 2000 years, and as the species composition appears to be
fairly constant, one may assume that apart from possible short fluctuations, the climate
as a whole in the area has remained more or less unchanged.
PLATE 35
A: The earlier Corinthian
EXCAVATIONS AT HAMMAT GADER
logs in the rampart, ^

indicated by arrows. -. . ?? ? :: ^ ?.?'?.:?; -^ ^ ' ^^^IL*
DENDROARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS
General view of a log of Tamarix (jordanisl). 1 - surface view of bark; 2 - planed edge of log.
B: Sections of wood sample of Tamarix (Jordanisl). 1 - cross-section (X 25); 2 - cross-section

(X65); 3-tangential longitudinal section (X25); 4-tangential longitudinal section (X65);
5 - radial longitudinal section ( X 25); 6 - radial longitudinal section ( X 65).
PLATE 37
A: Sections of a sample
of Acacia raddiana.
1 - cross-section ( X 65);
2 - tangential longitudinal
section ( X 25); 3 - tangen
tial longitudinal section
(X 65); 4 - tangential
longitudinal section
( X 65); 5 - radial
( X 25); 6 - radial
(X65).
PLATE 38
: Sections of a sample of Retama roetam. 1 - cross-section ( X 65); 2 - tangential longitudinal section

(X65); 3-radial longitudinal section (X65).

Dendroarchaeological Investigations in I

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dendroarchaeological Investigations in I

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dendroarchaeological Investigations in Israel (Masada)

Author(s): NILI LIPHSCHITZ, SIMCHA LEV-YADUN and YOAV WAISEL

NILI LIPHSCHITZ, SIMCHA LEV-YADUN and YOAV WAISEL

Tel Aviv University

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wood samples collected on Masada ramp

Species No. of samples

EXCAVATIONS AT HAMMAT GADER

logs in the rampart, ^

B: Sections of wood sample of Tamarix (Jordanisl). 1 - cross-section (X 25); 2 - cross-section

: Sections of a sample of Retama roetam. 1 - cross-section ( X 65); 2 - tangential longitudinal section

You might also like