Assaf Kleiman

In 2008, a large number of vessels, animal bones, and figurines were uncovered in a Late Iron Age II deposit at Ramat Rahel. The ceramic and faunal remains indicate the presence of a ritual deposit that was intentionally placed below the floor of the central courtyard of the palatial administrative structure. During Aharoni's excavations at the site (1954, 1959-1962), another ritual pit with even larger numbers of pottery vessels and figurines was uncovered but misinterpreted; we interpret both as favissae are evidence of diacritical feasting that took place at the administrative center of Ramat Rahel. The feasting events are significant because they are the only examples of elite feasting found in a palace or administrative context in Iron Age Judah.