Dear Russell, You raised an interesting question! Dame Kenyon indeed excavated several shaft tombs on Tell es-Sultan (see Chrystal Bennett's report in Kenyon, Jericho II, London 1965, 516-546). Only the third subtype described by Bennett (p. 516) seems to be directly comparable to the ones found at Qumran by de Vaux (graves Q 1, G 66, G 67, G 68, G 84, J 24, one more in Trench I and eighteen more in Trench II). Apparently, these graves (including the ones of the types dissimilar to the "Qumran-type") belong to a larger grave area located on and around Tell es-Sultan. This grave area, however, by no means only consisted of "Qumran-type" graves, and -notably- the orientation of the Jericho graves varies from those at Qumran. A fact often overlooked is that, during their excavations in 1907-1909, Sellin and Watzinger have already found clusters of similar tombs in squares C 6 (28 examples) and D 6 (unspecified number) (see their brief report Jericho, 92ff, Leipzig 1913), but the description leaves many questions open regarding to their date and form. Apparently, no graves of that kind were found during Garstang's excavtions in the 30ies. It seems that the area around Tell es-Sultan was indeed used for agriculture (nearby spring!) AND as burial ground for the population inhabiting the oasis and perhaps also the nearby town of Jericho. These graves differ largely from the large necropolis with sometimes very elaborate tombs excavated and nicely published by Hachlili and Killebrew (IAA reports) which is more oriented towards the palace area at Tulul Abu al-Alayik. Like many others sites, Jericho apparently had more than just one burial ground.
Coming back to your question, I think there are typological and (possible!) sociological affinities between the graves at Qumran and Jericho. Both served an oasis population mainly concerned with agriculture, and who -as it seems- were not members of the upper classes. I do not think, however, that one can really establish a genuine connection between the grave form and a particular sectarian affiliation (which, for example, Emile Puech has again attempted in his recent BASOR article). No criterion for the "Essene" character of the Qumran graves put forward in the literature actually holds up against a critical assessment. Neither the grave form (shafts with side recess) nor the burial rites are in any way sectarian, but suggest that in fact two burial forms were prevalent in the Hellenistic-Roman orient (similar graves were found in Yemen, Nubia, Nabatea, Judea). The archaeological material is extensively discussed in my Habilitation thesis (just submitted, publication in preparation). Historically, there were certainly ties between Qumran and Jericho, and the agricultural area around Qumran was most likely managed from Jericho (there are other archaeological links between these sites, too), but the graves cannot serve as the archaeological proof for the allegation that this link was exclusively based on the presence of "Essenes" at both sites. All best wishes, Jürgen [EMAIL PROTECTED] schrieb: > Thanks to all who respondd to my query on Qumran Hebrew. > A new question. I'm trying to evaluate the hypothesis that the Essenes > of the Herodian era had a significant presence at Jericho. It has been > suggested that criticisms directed against the "men of Jericho" at bTal Pes > 55b ff, Men. 71a ff, dealing with various practices of agricultural workers, > may be directed against the Essenes; and I note that Dio Chrysostom > apparently refers to Jericho as the "blessed city of the Essenes". > My question. In 1957 Kathleen Kenyon wrote, "The Jericho of Herod the > Great was a mile and three-quarters to the south-west, where the Wadi Qelt > provides another source of water... In the Roman period the ancient mound > served as a burial ground. A number of graves have been found of a curious > form, with the body in a recess cut along one side of the base of a > grave-like shaft, identical in type wuth those found at Qumran..." (Digging > Up Jericho, 264). Does this interpretation still hold up? That is, do the > Jericho graves unearthed in 1952-1956 have special affinities with those at > Qumran? > > Best regards, > Russell Gmirkin > For private reply, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For private reply, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (zangenberg) ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from Orion, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: "unsubscribe Orion." Archives are on the Orion Web site, http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il. (PLEASE REMOVE THIS TRAILOR BEFORE REPLYING TO THE MESSAGE)
