New research led by the University of Haifa revealed direct evidence of tools used for large-scale production of luxurious purple dye at Tel Shikmona during the Iron Age (1100-600 BCE), corresponding to the period of the First Temple. The findings, published yesterday in the journal PLOS One, provide the earliest and most detailed evidence of purple dye production over the longest time span during this period, surpassing other known sites like Tel Dor, Tel Kabri, and Tyre in Lebanon.
The study uncovered dozens of large clay basins at Tel Shikmona, approximately one meter high and 60-80 centimeters in diameter. These basins were used in the dye production process, allowing for the immersion of whole wool fleeces. The site had at least 16 basins operating simultaneously during certain periods, indicating a scale of production for its time.
"This is the first time we can reconstruct the shape of the tools used in the purple dye industry and how they were used in the production and dyeing process," said Dr. Golan Shlomi, who led the research on behalf of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa and the University of Chicago. Data analysis indicates that use of these basins enabled a particularly efficient and continuous work process, reflecting an industrial production system.
"For the first time, we are identifying a complete production system, in which significant quantities of purple dye were produced in dedicated tools that were used to streamline the process," noted Professor Gilboa. The basins found had a volume of about 350 liters, dimensions that facilitated a continuous industrial process of dye production.
The research indicates that Tel Shikmona served as a central production center for purple dye during the days of the Kingdom of Israel, producing the dye in commercial quantities. The Israelites supplied the prized purple dye to neighboring kingdoms such as Philistia, Moab, Edom, and Judah, contributing to the understanding of economic and technological connections between the Kingdom of Israel and these kingdoms.
"The discovery of vessels used to produce purple dye is not merely a technical matter. It provides new insights into the scale of the industry, the extent of luxury goods trade, and background for the initiative and economic strengthening of the Kingdom of Israel, which became a significant power in the region. This is part of the background to the Bible stories reflecting the power of the Kingdom of Israel," Dr. Shlomi explained.
The findings allow researchers to reconstruct the stages of dye production and understand how dyeing workshops operated at the site for about 500 years. The evidence includes large clay basins stained with dye, grinding stones, and other tools used in the dye production process. Comparing the data to additional sites, including Tel Dor, Tel Kabri, and Sarepta in southern Lebanon, shows that similar production methods existed at other sites along the Levantine coast.
Researchers believe that the purple dye produced at Tel Shikmona was transferred to neighboring countries and may have been used to dye fabrics for the Temple in Jerusalem, with Tel Shikmona being a strong candidate for having supplied the First Temple. Tel Shikmona operated under the control of the Kingdom of Israel during the Omride and Jehu dynasties, likely becoming the primary exporters of purple dye in the region.
The research was funded by the Shelby White and Leon Levy Foundation, Haifa Municipality, the Hecht Foundation, the Israel Science Foundation, the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa, and the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. The article was written by Golan Shlomi from the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa and the University of Chicago, as well as by a large group of researchers from universities in Israel and worldwide.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.