April 2011, Daily News

Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of a Minoan Presence Among Ancient Canaanites

By Dan McLerran   Mon, Apr 11, 2011

A recent and ongoing excavation at the remains of an expansive Middle Bronze Age Canaanite palace in the western Galilee region of present-day Israel is opening a new window on the possible presence of ancient Minoans at an ancient Canaanite palace, revealing what may be the earliest known Western art found in the eastern Mediterranean.  

Known as Tel Kabri (located near its namesake kibbutz not far from historic Acco and the resort town of Nahariya on the coast of Israel), the site features an early Middle Bronze Age (MB I) palace dated to the 19th century B.C.E., making it, along with ancient Aphek and possibly Megiddo, the earliest MB palace discovered in present-day Israel. This conclusion was drawn as a result of excavations conducted there as recently as December 20, 2010 to January 10, 2011. But the tell-tale signs of an Aegean presence or influence at the site show up in a later developmental phase of the palace structure some 150 to 200 years later in the overlying MB II palace dated to the 17th century.  Reports Dr. Eric Cline of George Washington University and Co-Director of the excavations along with Assaf Yasur-Landau of Haifa University, "Excavations conducted by [Aharon] Kempinski and [Wolf-Dietrich] Niemeier from 1986 to 1993 at the site of Tel Kabri -- now identified as the capital of a Middle Bronze Age Canaanite kingdom located in the western Galilee region of modern Israel -- revealed the remains of a palace dating to the Middle Bronze (MB) II period (ca. 1700 - 1550 B.C.E.). Within the palace, Kempinski and Niemeier discovered an Aegean-style painted plaster floor and several thousand fragments originally from a miniature Aegean-style wall fresco."(1) The new excavations under the direction of Cline and Yasur-Landau have added to the discovery. Reports Cline, et al., "During the 2008 and 2009 excavations at Tel Kabri more than 100 new fragments of wall and floor plaster were uncovered.  Approximately 60 are painted, probably belonging to a second Aegean-style wall fresco with figural representations and a second Aegean-style painted floor."(2)    

Three other archaeological sites in the Middle East are known to have yielded Aegean-style frescoes and paintings: Tell el-Dab'a in Egypt, Qatna in Syria and Alalakh in Turkey.  The Tel Kabri fresoes and paintings are, however, the only evidence of Minoan or Cycladic-style artwork in present-day Israel (or among the ancient Canaanites) and they are dated as significantly older than those found at Tell el-Dab'a and Qatna. They are roughly contemporary with those at Alalakh, although, because it is still early in the investigations at Kabri and recent excavations have revealed an earlier palace structure 150 years older, the ultimate age relationship is still uncertain.

To be sure, identification of the painted plaster and fresco artifacts as distinctly Aegean in style hinges upon careful diagnostic analysis of the finds. Clear examination is blurred by thousands of years of time and the effects of their earthen environment context, including possible effects of their reuse by the ancient inhabitants for fill and floor patching during reconstruction or renovations by a later remodeling of the palace. But the process and features evident from physical examination alone point to unmistakeable conclusions that the artwork is Aegean. Aside from the style and colors of the fragments themselves, (closely resembling others found at the site of Knossos in Minoan Crete and on the Cycladic island of Santorini or ancient Thera, home to the ruins of Minoan Akrotiri), Cline emphasizes trademark Aegean or Minoan processes of production that are not normally found at typical ancient Canaanite sites.  "This technique of painting on a plaster wall while it is still wet is an Aegean technique," he maintains. "It is rarely found in the ancient Near East where they typically painted after the plaster was dry. Secondly, they applied a technique of using strings to help in the painting process. They took strings and just tightened them and, upon contacting the wet plaster, created a perfectly straight line. We have evidence of that in plaster. Another technique was to take a string and dip it in, for example, red paint, and then tighten it quickly against a surface to make a perfectly straight line. And we have found evidence of that here."  Another Aegean technique seen in Kabri was the use of knife marks to delineate the border of painted bands. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Plaster fragments excavated at Tel Kabri, showing signs of fresco painting technique and style characteristic of Minoan fresco art found at ancient Akrotiri on the island of Santorini (ancient Thera) and at Knossos on Crete. Courtesy Tel Kabri Excavations Project.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fresco of blue monkeys from the excavations of bronze age Akrotiri on the Greek island of Santorini (ancient Thera). The style depicts a typical white-and-blue color scheme found throughout ancient Minoan fresco paintings. Some fragments recovered at Tel Kabri depict the same color scheme and style. Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fresco of Dolphins from the excavations of Knossos on the greek island of Crete, showing the typical white-and-blue color scheme. Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Additionally, the excavations during the summer of 2009 and the winter of 2010/2011 have revealed emerging clues of a possible Minoan influence on the architecture of the site. A stone structural feature unearthed outside of the northern wall of the palace in 2009 shows a configuration characteristically attributable to Minoan construction. "It's only one level of stones thick," says Cline. "But it zig-zags. You usually see that on Crete, where it is a ceremonial walkway around a palace. It is either a walkway or the bottom of a wall......I think it is a roadway or walkway and that it may well be going around the palace. This roadway may be headed toward the missing west entrance to the palace."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Excavated portion of a stone structure that may possibly be a ceremonial walkway or roadway. Courtesy Tel Kabri Excavations Project.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Excavating a "corridor" feature of the MB palace. Courtesy Tel Kabri Excavations Project.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The excavations at Tel Kabri are still young, but the finds to date have set the stage for much more to come. All indications thus far point to the probability that more frescoes will be found, further supporting the Minoan connection. Looking at the larger picture, researchers hope to be able to reconstruct the life-cycle of the Canaanite palace, determine its actual size, and find answers to a host of new questions that have emerged as the investigations have progressed.

"It's like no other site I have seen because it [the palace] is so huge yet it was really only occupied during the Middle Bronze Age," says Cline. "There is a lot more to learn. I think that we've only just begun to scratch the surface."

How to Get Involved

Are you interested in digging at Tel Kabri in the coming seasons?  Go to http://digkabri2011.wordpress.com for more information.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(1) "New Fragments of Aegean-Style Painted Plaster from Tel Kabri, Israel," American Journal of Archaeology, Volume 115, No. 2. p. 245.

(2) "New Fragments of Aegean-Style Painted Plaster from Tel Kabri, Israel," American Journal of Archaeology, Volume 115, No. 2. p. 245.

Cover Photo: Aerial view of the Tel Kabri excavation site. Courtesy Tel Kabri Excavations Project.

More detailed information about the Tel Kabri excavations and discoveries can be found in Volume 115, No.2 of the American Journal of Archaeology, published by the Archaeological Institute of America, and through an extended interview of Dr. Eric H. Cline, as published in the June issue of Popular Archaeology Magazine.

By Dan McLerran

As Founder and Editor of Popular Archaeology Magazine, Dan is a freelance writer and journalist specializing in archaeology.  He studied anthropology and archaeology in undergraduate and graduate school and has been an active participant on archaeological excavations in the U.S. and abroad.  He is the creator and administrator of Archaeological Digs, a popular weblog about archaeological excavation and field school opportunities.  

Comments(2):

1. Eye of Horus

   Wednesday, April 20, 2011 John

   Look closely at the photo of the dolphins: see that dolphin bottom right? He has the stylized "Eye of Horus." No surprises here: the walls at Tell a'Daba show distinct Minoan style artwork/faces. The Temple at Knossos shows distinct Hathor style. A close look at the "Phaestos Disk" shows the three components separately: "The wave" (eyebrow), the dolphin/fish (eyeball) and the "ship/Argos" (sun ark) below: the Eye of Horus in disguise, or the prototype, I am not clear yet. But surely "Ja (Ia/Ya)Son was a Son of Ya. The isle of Crete is where Mt. Ida is located: Tacitus tells us that is the original home of the Jews. Guess who was the "Shepherd of Mt. Ida" in legend? Paris. Guess where legend tells us "Homer" came from? Mt. Ida. Guess where Amenhotep III's cartouche was found, besides in "Solomon's Temple" in Jerusalem? At the Tomb of Clytemenestra (Easter/Istarte) in Mycenae. Along with Tiya's cartouche, his wife. Guess who was Amenhotep III's official scribe and messenger? Horem. Horem/Homer. Clytemestra is Helen's sister. The most beautiful woman in the ancient world. Amenhotep III's daughter-in-law (maybe wife first) is Nefertiti. The "other" most beautiful woman in the world. Guess what else? "Helen" is on record as being in Egypt after fleeing "Troy", although she also states she never was in "Troy." "Just her spirit" is the quote. A statue of her, I believe. Amenhotep III ("Solomon") is on record of receiving the "Queen of Sheba" in the OT, and of receiving a visit (twice) of a statue of Istarte from his "brother king" Tushratta ("Abdi-Ashirta"). I say that is the same visit of the Queen of the Armenian god TeiSheba: Istarte, his wife. Glad to see the truth leak out here, thanks!!!

2. Digging deeper

   Wednesday, April 20, 2011 John

   We find the fellow that built the last pyramid of the famous three at Giza: Menkaure. The Man From Crete. His Latin name? Mycerinus: any questions? The Creta, the Mycenaen. WAY before the 17th century BC, which this article states is "the first" indication of Minoan influence: baloney. Besides the small pyramid at Giza, what else is this pharaoh famous for? His ship-building efforts. The remains of which archaeology has dug, labeled and categorized years ago: easily found on internet. Look closely at the Birds and Horses on his ships: Minoan. Love the part of the article that says "it is still early in the investigations" yeah. Sure. They dug this up when???? 1986.....gee, these are 'experts"??? Really??? "Paris" was a proto-Jew from Crete that judged a contest of "beautiful statues" and Paris is depicted wearing a skullcap in artwork. As are many depictions of "Trojans"...and then think hard on why 500 years are being hidden. These statues were thought to be infused with the "Ka" and "Ba" of the goddess/god it represented. Paris fled to Egypt first (read your Illiad if you doubt me), then to Tyre with the statue of Nefertiti, I believe, and Horem was Amenhotep III's governor of Tyre at the time. History tells us there was an invasion of Tyre in the time of the "Trojan War" (Sea People of Crete and Greece invasion of Middle East), and it was repulsed, with the Greeks fleeing in defeat: the famous Syrian (Lebanese actually) general Horemheb put them to flight. History also tells us Nebuchadrezzer leveled a city at this exact time period to retrieve a statue: the sun disk of Marduk and return it to Babylon. Statues, including the "Queen of Sheba" were a very integral part of religion back then. Which is why "Rib-Addi" changed his tune on Horemheb in the Amarna letters: he took on "Ya's warriors" represented by Amenhotep IV as "Nebuchadresser", kicked their butts and put them to flight also. He fought for his dead buddy's allies: Amenhotep III. Amenhotep IV, aka Ahkenaton, aka biblical Nathan, aka Oedipus, flees to Greece: you know how that ended. Horem's buddy and successor, Ramses I, attempts to imitate Amenhotep III's glorious reign, including trying to confiscate and build on Amenhotep III's temples and stables and shipyards, and is "Solomon II." BTW: "Rib-Addi" reminds the widow Tiye to tell her son "Nebudurriya" to remember the "first great kings were the Armenian kings." Nebudurriya" means "first born of Ya"...he was Amenhotep III's and Tiye first born: Ahkenaton. Why is this relevant? Look at Wikipedia: they tell us Ahkenaton was circa 1200 BC. Wikipedia tells us the "Great Armenian kings" were circa 700 BC. Now how can THAT BE?????? Rib-Addi reminds Tiye to tell her son about "great kings" not born for another 500 years????? A 500 year gap, people: something stinks. Something else while I am on this subject: what is up with all the so-called "experts" braying on and on about "Ahkenaton starting a monotheistic religion called Atonism?" He did NO SUCH THING. ANYONE stating that shows either a deep ignorance....or has ulterior motives. His great grandfather did. His father, Amenhotep III, aka Ahab, aka Solomon aka Lab'Ayu (Amenhotep III famously depicted as a LION HUNTER on walls), was well known as the ruler of the city called "the shining city of the Aten"...and MANY ancient depictions of Atenism remain on Isrealite artifacts, including an entire city called "Hatan." Again, thanks for letting the truth come out.