Archaeologists have discovered evidence of the existence of two anteriorly unknown Roman settlements, thus extending our knowledge about the territorial extent of the Empire.
A rectangular milestone in Bazalt with an inscription in Old Greek was discovered in the upper Galilee, near the modern border between Israel and Lebanon. The inscription appoints two settlements, Tirataas and Golgol, confirming their integration into the Roman administrative system. The text also lists four Romanian governors, which dates the artifact about 1720 years ago, during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Alexander (ruled between 222 and 235 AD).
The discovery offers a perspective on the Roman administration and taxation, because the inhabitants of these settlements were subject to imperial government, although they were about 4,000 kilometers from Rome. The research team at the Hebrew University emphasized the importance of such discoveries in the reconstruction of settlements and ancient socio-economic structures.
The border was found in Abel Beth Maachah, an ancient city with historical and biblical significance. The region, which is believed to be the place where Jesus preached and did wonders, was a long time a religious and historical research center.
The study suggests that Tiratas could correspond to a place previously identified as Khirbet Turrita, where the excavations of the 19th century have registered large basalt ruins. The researchers note that the phonetic similarities between “Turrita” and “Tiratas” strongly support this identification. However, not yet an appropriate site for Golgol has not yet been identified.
The team speculates that Golgol could be related to Galgal or Biblical Golgota, based on linguistic and geographical parallels. Galgal, mentioned in the book of Joshua, designates the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River, while Golgotha is known as Jesus’ crucifixion.
This discovery is added to a corpus of over 20 border stones found in the north of the Hula, which reflects a period of increased Roman administrative control. These markings delimited the property on the lands and standardized taxation, offering valuable information about the economic policies and the models of late Roman period.
Professor Uzi Leibner, the main researcher, said that such discoveries not only clarify land management practices, but also offer a tangible connection with people who administered Roman domination almost two millennia ago.
By putting into light some undocumented unoccupied settlements, this research highlights the dynamic nature of the Roman provincial administration and its sustainable impact on the historical landscape of the region.
