Excavations at Tel Avel Beit Ma'akha, located approximately 1.2 miles south of Metula in the northern Galilee, have revealed an extraordinary discovery—a Roman boundary stone from the Tetrarchy period. This ancient basalt stone, originally used to delineate agricultural lands between villages, was later repurposed in a structure from the Mamluk period.
The site, which has yielded archaeological remains spanning from the Canaanite era to the Ottoman period, continues to shed light on the administrative, social and economic history of the region.
The Tetrarchy, an administrative system introduced in 293 CE by Emperor Diocletian, divided the Roman Empire among two senior rulers (Augusti) and two junior deputies (Caesars). The inscription on the boundary stone, written in Greek, provides critical information about land ownership, taxation, and rural administration during this period. Discovered by a team led by Prof. Naama Yahalom-Mack and Dr. Nava Panitz-Cohen of the Hebrew University, alongside Prof. Robert Mullins of Azusa Pacific University, the stone was analyzed by Dr. Avner Ecker and Prof. Uzi Leibner, also of the Hebrew University.
The inscription identifies two previously undocumented village names, "Tirathas" and "Golgol," which may correspond to sites noted by 19th-century British surveyors. It also mentions an imperial tax official, Basiliakos, whose name appears in historical records for the first time. The text 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.”
Historical and archaeological significance
The boundary stone offers valuable insights into the operations of the Roman Empire’s administrative apparatus. Diocletian’s comprehensive land reforms during the late third century CE addressed the taxation system by mapping land ownership and assigning communal responsibilities for tax collection. This system brought significant administrative organization but also placed substantial economic pressure on rural populations. The stone serves as a tangible link to these reforms, which were previously documented primarily through historical texts.
“What makes this discovery so remarkable is the combination of new geographic data and the mention of a previously unknown imperial official,” noted Dr. Ecker. “This highlights how even seemingly minor finds can significantly enhance our understanding of the socio-economic and geographic history of the region.”
The repurposed stone was embedded in a Mamluk-era structure built atop an Iron Age fortress, demonstrating the layers of occupation at the site. This discovery joins a corpus of over 20 Roman boundary stones found in the northern Hula Valley and surrounding areas, reflecting a period of intensified administrative control aimed at clarifying land boundaries and ensuring tax compliance.
Prof. Leibner explained, “The abundance of boundary stones in this area suggests a concentration of small independent landowners, distinct from large urban centers. These stones illustrate a dynamic interplay between Roman policies, local communities, and the broader economic framework of the empire.”
Impact of Diocletian’s reforms
Diocletian’s reforms, while innovative, had long-term consequences for the region. Archaeological evidence points to a decline in settlement and depopulation in subsequent generations, likely a result of excessive taxation. The Jerusalem Talmud, compiled in the Galilee during this era, also references economic hardship caused by these reforms, noting the strain they placed on rural inhabitants.
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“This find provides a rare, physical testament to the reforms that shaped the socio-economic landscape of the late Roman Empire,” said Prof. Leibner. “It offers a glimpse into the lives of ancient communities, the pressures they endured under imperial rule, and the remnants of their settlements preserved in the archaeological record.”