Chemical analysis of several samples of mortar and other metallic objects found during archeological excavations in Kh. Fattir e Kh. Jiljil (Bejt Jimal, Israel)

Sixteen fragments of white plaster from the basins of the wine press XV and from the miqveh in the Area C and 7 samples of iron from the Areas B and C have been analysed at the Institute of Material Chemistry of the National Research Council in Rome in order to carry out an archaeometric investigation concerning their nature, their chemical composition and their micro-structure. This study was aimed to better understand the real usefulness of these materials and the way they were used for manufacturing. In particular, the nature of the mortars is important from a historical point of view since this could help distinguish the various materials with different composite characteristics. These, in their turn, would shed light on the various phases of construction or the eventual restoration and the methods this needs to adopt.