Researchers from the Hebrew University and American archaeologists made a discovery at the Tel Abel Beth Maacah archaeological site near Metula in the Upper Galilee. They uncovered a rare late-Roman-era boundary stone with a Greek inscription, dating back approximately 1,720 years. The find sheds new light on ancient land ownership and taxation practices during the Roman Tetrarchy period.
The stone, a basalt slab etched with a detailed Greek inscription, provides information about land ownership, taxation, and rural administration during the Tetrarchy period. The inscription reads: "Diocletian and Maximian, the Augusti, and Constantius and Maximian, the Caesars, ordered the placement of this stone marking the boundaries of the fields of the settlements of Tirathas and Golgol. Made under the supervision of Basiliakos."
This inscription not only mentions two previously undocumented village names, Tirathas and Golgol, but also introduces an imperial tax official named Basiliakos. "What makes this discovery so remarkable is the combination of new geographic data and the mention of a previously unknown imperial official," said Dr. Avner Ecker, who analyzed the boundary stone along with Professor Uzi Leibner from the Hebrew University.
The boundary stone was originally used to delineate agricultural lands between villages as part of the land tax reforms of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. These reforms, implemented during the late third century CE, addressed the taxation system by mapping land ownership and assigning communal responsibilities for tax collection. They emphasized the role of land ownership and settlement structures in the economic landscape of the Roman Near East.
"This is an impressive testimony to the meticulous administrative organization of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy period," stated Leibner. "Finding a boundary stone like this not only sheds light on ancient land ownership and taxation but also provides a tangible connection to the lives of individuals who navigated these complex systems nearly two millennia ago."
The discovery adds to a unique corpus of over 20 boundary stones, most of which are concentrated in the northern Hula Valley and its surroundings. These stones provide valuable insights into the operations of the Roman Empire's administrative apparatus. The high concentration of such stones in the region reflects a level of administrative control and a network of small independent landowners who operated independently of large urban centers.
The implications of Diocletian's reforms on rural communities were profound. While they brought administrative organization, they also placed substantial economic pressure on the inhabitants. The Jerusalem Talmud, compiled in the Galilee during this era, references the economic hardship caused by these reforms, noting the strain they placed on rural inhabitants. This passage likely reflects the difficulties caused by the tax reform to the local population.
The boundary stone was found in secondary use in a Mamluk-period installation, embedded in a structure built atop an Iron Age fortress. The find demonstrates the layers of occupation at the site and how artifacts from different periods intersect in the archaeological record. The findings at Tel Abel Beth Maacah continue to shed light on the administrative, social, and economic history of the region, showing the enduring traces of past communities.
Professors Naama Yahalom-Mack and Robert Mullins, along with Dr. Nava Panitz-Cohen, led the excavation efforts at the biblical site of Abel Beth Maacah. Their work uncovers relics of ancient administrative practices, contributing to our understanding of the region's historical geography and socio-economic landscape.
"This exceptional artifact now joins the broader narrative of Roman imperial administration in the Levant," added Ecker. "It highlights how even seemingly minor finds can significantly enhance our understanding of the socio-economic and geographic history of the region."
The Roman Tetrarchy was a short-lived system instituted by Emperor Diocletian in 293 CE to govern the Roman Empire by dividing it between two emperors, the Augusti, and their junior colleagues and designated successors, the Caesares. The boundary stones document a period of increased administrative control aimed at tightening the tax system and clarifying land ownership boundaries. They illustrate a dynamic interplay between Roman policies, local communities, and the broader economic framework of the empire.
"This discovery not only provides valuable historical insights but also offers a unique glimpse into the lives of ancient inhabitants who were directly affected by the administrative and economic policies of the Roman Empire," concluded Ecker.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.