La città ellenistico-romana di Magdala/Taricheae. Gli scavi del Magdala Project 2007 e 2008: relazione preliminare e prospettive di indagine

This Preliminary Report presents the most valuable achievements and results of the 2007 and 2008 Archaeological Campaigns carried out by the SBF-Magdala Project’s Team in the site of Migdal/Taricheae, on the West coast of the Sea of Galilee. Among the major discoveries of the two seasons of excavations, here illustrated by 42 inedited maps and plans and 140 pictures, are: in the Western Area (H1-3), new residential quarters along a well preserved paved decumanus (USM 5); five plastered and stepped pools (C3, D1, D3, E11, E22) belonging to the thermal bath complex which has been completely excavated, as well as many different water installations and devices (E2-7, E12-13, E21-22a-23-26, C14, D8, E5) to supply or discharge the publicae thermae or to collect, drain, heating, mix, clean or pressurize water for the balnea. This work also concerns a new portion of the paved cardo maximus (V2); some residential buildings (Area I) located next to the urbic aqueduct on arcationes; a castellum aque (A1, A2-3-5); a newly discovered plastered basin, probably equipped with a water wheel device – the noria – (M31); a first-order conduit covered by basaltic slabs (E5-20); a calidarium/ tepidarium with the pilae stacks for the upper floor – the suspensurae – of an hypocaustum, and arranged with clay box-flue tiles – the tubuli – inside the walls (E18-19); a possible praefurnium with remains of a testudo alvei (E30); an aquarium decorated by polychrome sectilia (E27-28). Of great interest is the discovery of a built-in quay (USM 317-USM 328) in the Eastern branch of the quadriporticus (F). This city’s harbour includes: a plastered basin (USM 317-318- 376), an Hasmonean tower with casematte (E32-33-35), built of ashlars stones with dressed margins (USM 328); a limestone masonry staircase; stone ramps – slipways – to haulage the ships (USM 331); and six intact basaltic mooring stones in situ. The above listed remains have been related with other ruins located farther to the East, which were recorded and described in the 1960s as part of the ancient port of Magdala/Taricheae. Written and Archaeological sources, briefly presented in the Summary, enable the outline of the history of the site from the 2nd century BCE to the 4th century CE and from the 4th/5th century CE – with the settlement of a monastic compound after the earthquake of 363 CE – to 1948. In order to contribute to the actual debate on the “Historical Jesus”, in the Conclusions are offered some considerations and remarks regarding the city extension, its urban character, the time of its foundation, its economical profile in the Roman period, the Jewish or Pagan ethos of its inhabitants and the stratigraphical evidences of destruction and abandonment related to the First Jewish War (66-67 CE) described by Flavius Josephus.