Beit Lehi / Beit Loya: The circular dig & More exploration

The circular structure continued to be a mystery.  What first appeared to be cover stones to cover bodies, later appeared to be the ceiling, which had come down (spoiler alert: it did).  Bucket after bucket-full of dirt kept coming out, and we were nowhere near the bottom.  




Oren Gutfeld, the site's Archaeologist, examining the site.






EXPLORING TIME

One of the greatest parts of the site, is that there are things EVERYWHERE to explore! Take for instance this inconspicuous small fig tree. It doesn't look like much, until you realize this is only the tip of a TALL tree growing out of a hidden columbarium.  















Columbarium, or dove cotes are niches carved into the soft rock, allowing a pair of doves per hole.  The odd thing about this columbarium, was that the dove-cotes were square, as opposed to the usual triangular niches.

This appeared to be a triangular niche for lights(?)






"JUST" ANOTHER COLUMBARIUM









"JUST" ANOTHER BURIAL CHAMBER







Turtle shell.  I don't think it's going to get better.







 

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