A 1,720-Year-Old Roman Boundary Stone Discovered in Northern Israel!

A remarkable discovery has been made at the Tel Abel Beth Maacah excavation site, near Metula in northern Israel. A team of archaeologists, led by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, unearthed a 1,720-year-old Roman boundary stone. This basalt slab, inscribed in Greek, offers a fascinating insight into the administrative systems of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy period (293–306 CE), a time when governance was shared by two senior emperors, the Augusti, and their junior colleagues, the Caesares.

A Rare Historical Artefact

The inscription on the stone reads:

“Diocletian and Maximian, the Augusti, and Constantius and Maximian, the Caesars, ordered the placement of this stone marking the boundaries of the fields of the settlements of Tirathas and Golgol. Made under the supervision of Basiliakos.”

This ancient text introduces two previously unknown village names, Tirathas and Golgol, and provides the first recorded mention of Basiliakos, an imperial tax official. Originally used to demarcate agricultural boundaries, the stone reflects reforms by Emperor Diocletian aimed at standardising taxation and clarifying land ownership.

Interestingly, the stone was later repurposed as a grave covering during the Mamluk period, yet it has remained remarkably intact. Measuring 101 centimetres in height, it continues to tell a story of Roman influence in the region.

Photo Credit: T. Rogovski

Roman Influence in the Galilee

The discovery sheds light on the far-reaching administrative control of the Roman Empire in the northern Hula Valley, where over 20 similar boundary stones have been unearthed. These markers highlight the Roman Empire's extensive efforts to enforce land reforms in areas populated by small, independent landowners. While these reforms provided structure and stability, they also placed significant economic pressure on rural communities—a hardship echoed in the Jerusalem Talmud, which was compiled in the Galilee during this period.

The villages of Tirathas and Golgol, mentioned in the inscription, correlate with locations documented in 19th-century surveys of Western Palestine. Their presence on the stone reinforces the historical record of Roman territorial management in this region.

The Excavation Effort

The Tel Abel Beth Maacah dig is led by Professors Naama Yahalom-Mack and Nava Panitz-Cohen from the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology, along with Professor Robert Mullins of Azusa Pacific University. Situated atop an Iron Age fortress, the site has revealed artefacts spanning multiple historical periods, further enriching our understanding of the area's layered history.

The Roman Tetrarchy, introduced by Emperor Diocletian, was a response to the growing complexity of the empire. By dividing authority among four rulers, Diocletian sought to stabilise the empire through fiscal and territorial reforms. Boundary stones like this one played a key role in regulating land ownership and ensuring efficient tax collection.

Published Findings

The findings from Tel Abel Beth Maacah have been documented in the Palestine Exploration Quarterly, highlighting their importance to the historical and socio-economic study of the Roman Near East. This discovery not only uncovers new details about Roman administration but also deepens our understanding of life in ancient Galilee.