Historians recently announced their discoveries about an ancient purple dye factory in modern Israel.
In an article recently published in Journal Plos One, the historian published the discovery of Tel Shiqmona, an archaeological mound south of the Israeli city of Haifa. This site is located on the Mediterranean coast.
Tel Shiqmona, according to the author of the article, “can be clearly identified as a specialized facility for the large-scale and long-term production of profitable purple dyes.”
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This site dates back to the Iron Age 1100 BC. In biblical terms, this site has been ahead of the reign of Kings Solomon and David for over a century, and may have become more refined over time.
“This is the only site in the Near East or around the Mediterranean, or the whole world, where a sequence of purple workshops has been excavated and has clear evidence of the large, sustained production of purple dyes.
Historians recently announced their discoveries about the ancient purple dye factory. Purple dyes were evaluated in ancient times, as seen in Justinian’s lobes (inset, right). (Maria Bukin / Plos; Getty Images)
“The number and diversity of artifacts associated with purple dye production is unparalleled.”
The photo shows fragments of a bat with purple dye stains and purple residues from various stoneware. What makes this site very unique is its production of purple dyes on an industrial scale.
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The dyes harvested by crushing the shells of certain mollusks were highly regarded in ancient times and were mentioned several times in the Bible. One biblical reference to purple dyes occurs in Acts 16:14, describing female merchants.
Archaeologists were able to connect VAT fragments from the factory site. (Moshe Caine/Plos)
“One of the listeners was a woman from the town of Tiatira named Lydia, a dealer of purple cloth,” reads the poem. “She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”
In Mark 15:17 Jesus wore a purple cloth by his captives to humiliate him, as the colour was associated with royalty.
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“And they wore him in a purple cloak. And after twisting some thorns into the crown, they placed it on him,” the poem says.
At Tel Shiqmona, researchers used a variety of techniques, including chemical and mineralogical analysis, to understand each of the artifacts discovered. In an interview with a new scientist, archaeologist Golan Shalvi said mollusks secrete greenish liquid when crushed, and when oxidized, the liquid turns purple.
Purple dyes were made by crushing the shells of certain types of molluscs. (Moshe Caine/Plos)
“However, to convert it into a real dye (something that chemically binds to textiles), it needs to be processed into solution through a complex series of chemical steps,” explained Salvi.
“It was most industrial land of the Iron Age, not without monumental architecture or specific beauty or elegance,” he added. “I think it’s a very smelly place, especially in modern noses, since the production process has produced a terrible smell. I imagine wool fleece dyed in various shades that are dry on the outside and inside of the building.
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A team of analysts discovered that Tel Shiqmona’s factory produced purple dyes and dyed fibers and fleece rather than simply producing dyes.
“The size and opening of the VAT would have allowed for the fleece or fiber to be soaked in the VAT,” the article explains.
Archaeologists believe the Tel Shiqmona site supports industrial-scale dyeing processes. (Moshe Caine/Plos)
“Given the considerable weight when it’s full, it’s unlikely that the VAT could have been moved, tilted or tilted. It doesn’t seem like it would be a reasonable reconstruction of the process, even if you produce the dye in these very large containers and transfer it to another container for dye (in Shiqmona or elsewhere).”
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“We therefore conclude that the entire production from snail harvest to dyeing took place on site, with dye production and dyeing taking place in one container. It’s clearly a rather efficient process.”
