Tel Shikmona Purple Dye Facility Operated as Multi-Purpose Complex

A new study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE reveals that the purple dye production facility at Tel Shikmona operated as a multi-purpose complex whose function changed seasonally. In the 8th century BCE, the site's inhabitants utilized the structures for olive pressing, textile work, and sheep grazing, while maintaining strict hygiene.

The industrial complex at Tel Shikmona is considered the largest purple dye production facility in the Eastern Mediterranean from the Iron Age. Findings from excavations conducted in 2023, led by a team from the University of Haifa, indicate that during the days of King Jeroboam II, the site served multiple industries simultaneously.

Seasonal Shifts and Industrial Flexibility

Researchers discovered that the spaces were used for pressing olives in the autumn, housing and grazing livestock in the winter, and textile work in the spring, alongside the production of the prestigious dye. The transition between uses was made possible by a planned method of scattering layers of ash over animal dung. This action served to disinfect, prevent odors, and control pests before the space was returned to industrial activity.

The discovery is based on advanced microscopic analysis of soil blocks and micro-strata. Tests identified wood ash, olive pits, and animal dung that are not visible to the naked eye. Dr. Isaac Ogloblin-Ramirez, who analyzed the remains, explains:

"In a regular excavation, we see the facilities and large finds, but inside the layers of dirt, a much more detailed story is sometimes preserved. This allows us to reconstruct not only what was done in the building, but how its use changed over time."

Rethinking Ancient Economy

The fact that the factory operated on a seasonal basis changes researchers' perception of ancient economics. "When archaeologists find an oil press, the natural tendency is to say 'olive oil was produced here'," notes Dr. Golan Shalem, one of the excavation leaders. "However, the harvest lasts for a relatively short period at the end of autumn. Therefore, to understand the use of the space, one must ask what was done in the building during the rest of the year."

The findings from the excavation, which also involved Sonya Pinsky and Prof. Ayelet Gilboa, indicate economic planning and operational flexibility designed to fully utilize labor and resources. Prof. David Friesem summarizes the significance:

"The combination of the archaeological find discovered in the excavations and the micro-archaeological find discovered in the laboratory opens a window to a new understanding of ancient activity. Efficiency and maximum utilization of resources and space were also the hallmark of ancient societies, no less than with us."