Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery at the site of Abel Beth Maacah in northern Israel, unearthing a rare Tetrarchic boundary stone.
This artifact, originally used to mark land borders during Roman Emperor Diocletian’s tax reforms, provides valuable insights into ancient land ownership, local settlement patterns, and imperial administrative practices. The find also reveals two previously unknown place names, enhancing our understanding of the region’s historical geography and socio-economic landscape.
Aerial view of Abel Bet Maacah looking south-east. Credit: Robert Mullins
The excavation was led by Prof. Naama Yahalom-Mack and Dr. Nava Panitz-Cohen from the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University, along with Prof. Robert Mullins from Azusa Pacific University. The boundary stone was deciphered by Dr. Avner Ecker and Prof. Uzi Leibner from the Hebrew University.
This basalt slab features a detailed Greek inscription that sheds light on agrarian borders between villages during the Roman Tetrarchy—a governance system established by Diocletian in 293 CE to divide rule among two emperors (augusti) and their junior colleagues (caesares). Interestingly, it was found repurposed in a Mamluk-period installation.
The inscription mentions two village names—Tirthas and Golgol—that may align with sites identified in the 19th-century Survey of Western Palestine. It also introduces an imperial surveyor or “censitor,” whose name appears for the first time here. These details highlight Diocletian’s extensive tax reforms in late third-century CE Rome, underscoring land ownership’s pivotal role in shaping settlement structures within the economic framework of the Roman Near East.
“This discovery is a testament to the meticulous administrative re-organization of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy,” said Prof. Uzi Leibner. “Finding a boundary stone like this not only sheds light on ancient land ownership and taxation but also provides a tangible connection to the lives of individuals who navigated these complex systems nearly two millennia ago.”
The boundary stone. Credit: Tal Rogovsky
Dr. Avner Ecker added, “What makes this find particularly exciting is the mention of two previously unknown place names and a new imperial surveyor. It underscores how even seemingly small discoveries can dramatically enhance our understanding of the socio-economic and geographic history of the region.”
An Iron Age citadel and Mamluk-period installation in which the inscription was incorporated in secondary use. Credit: Robert Mullins.
This discovery contributes to a distinctive collection of over 20 boundary stones concentrated in the northern Hula Valley and its surrounding areas. These stones signify a period marked by increased administrative control to standardize taxation and clarify land ownership. Notably, this particular find illustrates the interconnectedness of historical geography, economic policies, and local settlement patterns.
Scholars suggest that the prevalence of boundary stones in this region highlights a high concentration of small landholders who operated independently from major urban centers. Interestingly, contemporary rabbinic tradition mentions an imposition by Emperor Diocletian on this area, reflecting the challenges brought about by tax reforms on the local population.
The discovery enhances our understanding of socio-economic dynamics during the Tetrarchy era, especially regarding Diocletian’s reforms’ impact on rural communities.
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Prof. Leibner and Dr. Ecker stress that such findings offer unique insights into ancient inhabitants’ lives, their struggles under imperial rule, and how their communities are preserved in archaeological records today. This remarkable artifact now becomes part of the broader narrative concerning Roman imperial administration in the Levant region.
The study was published in the Palestine Exploration Quarterly
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
