Yuval Goren’s research while affiliated with Universidade de Évora and other places

The research presented in this paper focused on the preliminary non- and semi-destructive analysis of copper alloys, corrosion, and soil components from a Roman archaeological site in Israel. Investigations using portable X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy as well as micromorphological analyses were carried out to gain a better understanding of the corrosion processes affecting the copper alloy artefacts, by characterising the alloy composition, soil environments, and corrosion products. Preliminary results indicate that the artefacts consist of copper-lead-tin alloys, covered by copper hydroxy-chlorides and lead sulphate phases with slight variations in their crystallisation. The multi-analytical approach revealed the presence of quartz, calcite, gypsum and feldspars in the sediments, while thin sections more specifically indicate loess soils with local micro-environments

An inscription in early Canaanite script from Lachish, incised on an ivory comb, is presented. The 17 letters, in early pictographic style, form seven words expressing a plea against lice.

The unique "Cave of the Warrior" burial, found in a Judean Desert cave and dated to the end of the Chalcolithic period, was accompanied by a large number of grave goods made of perishable materials. It opens up an unusual opportunity to recover aspects of the life of an individual person. Based on a reexamination of his personal belongings, we created a microhistory of this individual. We show how a careful analysis of a single-event site contributes to the interpretation and defi nition of the archaeological record and periodiza-tion. Th e individual most probably originated in the Judean or Samarian Highlands from a settlement whose inhabitants practiced a mixed Mediterranean economy. Th e individual himself practiced pastoralism and trav-eled between the highlands and the desert. Th e remote location and unique burial may be seen as refl ective of stresses related to demographic and economic changes occurring at the end of the Chalcolithic period. key words: Late Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, individual , microarchaeology, microhistory, Judean Desert, social archaeology abstract Dedicated to the memory of our co-author Dr. Nili Liphschitz, who passed away recently.

This paper illustrates a case study related to the characterisation of corrosion products present on recently excavated artefacts. The archaeological findings, from the Rakafot 54 site (Beer-Sheva, Israel), consist of 23 coins and a pendant, all dating back to the Roman period. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify the corrosion products that compose the patina covering the objects. To facilitate and support their identification, spectra were then processed using principal components analysis. This chemometric technique allowed the identification of two main compounds, classified as atacamite and clinoatacamite, which formed the main components of the patinas. The results of this investigation can help in assessing the conservation state of artefacts and defining the correct restoration strategy.