Rare Tetrarchic Boundary Stone Found in Northern Israel Offers Insights into Ancient Roman Administration

• Ene 21, 2025 - 22:10

Archaeologists have uncovered a rare boundary stone from the Tetrarchic period at the site of Abel Beth Maacah in northern Israel. The stone, originally marking land borders under Roman Emperor Diocletian’s tax reforms, offers valuable insights into ancient land ownership, local settlement patterns, and imperial administrative practices. Notably, the discovery also introduces two previously unknown place names, enhancing our understanding of the region’s historical geography and socio-economic landscape.

Prof. Naama Yahalom-Mack and Dr. Nava Panitz-Cohen from the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University, alongside Prof. Robert Mullins from Azusa Pacific University, made the discovery during an excavation of the biblical site of Abel Beth Maacah near Metula. The findings were published in Palestine Exploration Quarterly.

The artifact, deciphered by Dr. Avner Ecker and Prof. Uzi Leibner from the Hebrew University, is a basalt boundary stone originally inscribed to define agrarian borders between villages during the reign of the Roman Tetrarchy, which was established by Emperor Diocletian in 293 CE. The stone was later reused in a Mamluk-period installation. The inscription, written in Greek, provides crucial historical context.

The stone’s inscription reveals two previously unknown village names, Tirthas and Golgol, which may align with ancient sites recorded in the 19th-century Survey of Western Palestine. It also references an imperial surveyor, or “censitor,” whose name is mentioned for the first time. These markers reflect Diocletian's significant tax reforms, which restructured the Roman Empire and underscored the importance of land ownership and settlement patterns in the empire's economic landscape.

"This discovery is a testament to the administrative reorganization under the Tetrarchy," noted Prof. Uzi Leibner. "Not only does it illuminate ancient land ownership and taxation systems, but it also offers a direct link to the individuals who managed these complex systems nearly two millennia ago."

Dr. Avner Ecker highlighted the excitement of discovering two new place names and a new imperial surveyor. "It shows how even seemingly small finds can significantly improve our understanding of the region's socio-economic and geographic history," he said.

The boundary stone contributes to a larger collection of over 20 similar stones found in the northern Hula Valley and surrounding areas. These stones reflect a period of intensified administrative control, aimed at standardizing taxation and clarifying land ownership.

This specific find underscores the interconnectedness of historical geography, economic policies, and local settlement patterns. Scholars believe the prevalence of boundary stones in this area points to a high concentration of small landholders who were relatively independent of larger urban centers. Furthermore, a contemporaneous rabbinic tradition references a tax burden imposed by Diocletian on this region, possibly reflecting the challenges faced by local populations under these reforms.

The discovery adds depth to our understanding of the Tetrarchy's socio-economic dynamics, particularly the impact of Diocletian’s reforms on rural communities. Prof. Leibner and Dr. Ecker emphasize that such finds provide invaluable insights into the daily lives of ancient inhabitants, the pressures they faced under imperial rule, and the enduring evidence of their communities in the archaeological record. This exceptional artifact now joins the broader narrative of Roman imperial administration in the Levant.

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