Weights from the Early Roman Period at Ramat Hanadiv Author(s): Shulamit Hadad Reviewed work(s): Source: Israel

Exploration Journal, Vol. 57, No. 2 (2007), pp. 208-210 Published by: Israel Exploration Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27927175 . Accessed: 03/12/2011 19:53
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Weights fromthe EarlyRoman Period

atRamat Hanadiv
Shulamit The Hebrew Seven weights Ramat Hanadiv made Hadad of Jerusalem at in University

All except one were found in contexts that can be dated to the late 2000-2004. to the first century CE on the basis of pottery and glass vessels, first century BCE a copper alloy fibula and an arrowhead. The one exception was uncovered in a surface layer. Although theweights were not found inwell-defined contexts, such as shops, their importance lies in their being uncovered in the course of excava and tions, unlike most of the published weights, which are found inmuseums

from lead and copper alloy (table 1) were uncovered during the excavations directed by the late Prof. Y. Hirschfeld

private collections. Table

No.

1.Ramat Hanadiv weights

Reg. No.

Locus

Description Lead; 28 gr. Lead; 97.80 gr. Copper alloy; 4.40 gr. Copper alloy; 12.02 gr. Lead; 44.27 gr. Lead; 71.42 gr. Lead; 41.57 gr.

3069 3048 1032

Surface find

30175 30116 10203 30581 10724 10616 20112

1117 1104 2018

rounded which

upper part is decorated with grooves, and a small chunk ofwhat is probably lead is attached to its lower part. Its original weight was a quarter of a libra, i.e. 102.5 grams, but it now weighs 97.80 grams. Weights nos. 3-6 (figs. 3-6) are square l.All drawings are by Julia Rodman.

from itsoriginalweight.Weight no. 2 (fig.2) is a shell-shaped leadweight. Its

suspension loop. A square of small dots surrounds a small square, in the Greek letterH appears. This lettermarks itsweight: 8 drachmas. This should be 30 grams, but thisweight weighs only 28 grams, i.e., it lost two grams

middle andwith a square leadweightwith walls thatare slightlysunken in the

Weight

no.

1 (fig. I),1 the nicest one with very delicate workmanship,

is a

JE/57 (2007): 208-210

208

WEIGHTS

FROM THE EARLY ROMAN PERIOD AT RAMAT HANADIV

209

Fig. 3.Weight no.

Fig. 4. Weight no. 4

Fig. 5.Weight no.

Fig.

6.Weight no. 6

210

SHULAMIT HADAD

weights, made from copper alloy and lead, some very small and other medium in size. 12.02, 44.27 4.4, They weigh and 71.42 grams respec of lead. Itweighs

in shape and ismade 41.57 grams.

tively. Weight no. 7 (fig.7) is elliptical The few parallels to theweights

are all inmuse from Ramat Hanadiv ums and private collections. Weights

of 8 drachmas were published by Petrie (1974: nos. 5207, 5228). Qedar

dated similar 8-drachma weights and a

' ?i%' Wei^ht no-7

to between c. quarter-libra shell-shaped weight in theM?nz Zentrum in Cologne first century BCE and the second century CE (for the 8-drachma weights, see 1979: 50-51, nos. 4106-4107; 1981: 43, no. 94; for the quarter-libra Qedar see Qedar 1979: 45, no. 4090). weight, Summary

with respect to the use ofmetal weights

research.

weights from any excavated site in Israel. Their early date enhances their impor tance. In the absence of parallels from excavated cannot be sites, conclusions drawn from this find with respect to the site of Ramat Hanadiv and its economy, or in the Early Roman period in general. This

The seven weights presentedabove comprisethe largest publishedgroupofmetal

will serve as a basis forfuture preliminary studyis published in thehope thatit REFERENCES
P?trie, F.

1974
S.

Glass Stamps and Weights: Ancient Weights andMeasures, Warminster?

Encino

Qedar,

1979 1981

Gewichte aus Drei Jahrtausenden II.M?nz Zentrum,AuktionXXXVII, Cologne Gewichte aus Drei Jahrtausenden III.M?nz Zentrum,AuktionXLV, Cologne