Rock-Cut “Bowties” of Yavne, Israel

ABSTRACT

In the course of salvage excavations southwest of Tel Yavne, remains from three distinct periods were uncovered. The earliest stratum, dating to the Intermediate Bronze Age, held 68 shaft tombs. Three of these tombs were later expanded and reused as burial caves during the late Hellenistic to late Roman periods, containing artifacts such as cooking pots, unguentaria, and glass vessels. In the final stratum of the Late Ottoman and British Mandate periods, remains of a building, quarries, fireplaces, and a garbage pit were found, indicating the area’s continued use for agriculture and construction. Forty mysterious hewn features, termed Bowties due to their distinctive shape, were discovered in two concentrations on the hill. Despite various analyses, their dating and function remain unclear. This article examines potential explanations for these features, ultimately proposing their identification with the classical motif of the double-axe (labrys) and its connection to the city.