7 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Discover Rare Boundary Stone From the Tetrarchy Period of the Roman Empire Contains Two Unknown Place Names

In northern Galilee, excavations at Tel Avel Beit Ma’akha, about 1.2 miles south of Metula, have produced a remarkable find: a rare Roman boundary stone from the Tetrarchy era. The stone offers information about ancient land ownership, regional settlement patterns, and imperial administrative procedures.

The remarkable find sheds light on the administrative practices of the Roman Empire under Emperor Diocletian and reveals details about the organisation of territorial boundaries, land ownership and settlement patterns in the region. Moreover, the discovery provides new insights into the historical geography and socio-economic environment of the Roman Levant, including two previously unknown place names.

It was first used to mark land borders as part of the tax reforms implemented by Roman Emperor Diocletian. This ancient basalt stone was later repurposed in a structure from the Mamluk period.

The discovery was made in 2022 under the leadership of Prof. Naama Yahalom-Mack and Dr Nava Panitz-Cohen of the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology and Prof. Robert Mullins of Azusa Pacific University. Dr Avner Ecker and Prof Uzi Leibner deciphered the basalt slab inscribed in Greek letters. The research is published in the journal Palestine Exploration Quarterly.

The text enhances our understanding of the fiscal and territorial reforms implemented by Diocletian in the late 3rd century CE when he established a system of governance known as the Tetrarchy.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The inscription, with and without highlighting of the letters. Credit: T. Rogovski
The inscription, with and without highlighting of the letters. Credit: T. Rogovski

The tetrarchic boundary stone’s original location is unknown but in light of its size and weight, it was probably close to the find spot. The stone intact and is 101 cm long, has a maximal width of 48 cm, and is 20–23 cm thick.

The find, originally inscribed to delineate agrarian borders between villages during the reign of the Roman Tetrarchy (a short-lived system instituted by the emperor Diocletian in 293 CE to govern the Roman Empire by dividing it between two emperors, the augusti, and their junior colleagues and designated successors, the caesares) and was found in secondary use in a Mamluk-period installation.

Tirthas and Golgol, two previously unidentified village names, were discovered in the inscription; these could be ancient locations found in the Survey of Western Palestine in the 19th century. An imperial surveyor, or “censitor,” whose name is attested here for the first time, is also mentioned in the slab. These markers highlight the importance of land ownership and settlement patterns in the Roman Near East’s economic landscape and reflect the extensive tax reforms that Diocletian started in the late third century CE.

Originally intended to mark agricultural borders between villages, the marker is a physical reminder of the administrative restructuring that characterized the Tetrarchy. The Roman Empire was ruled by two senior emperors (augusti) and their two junior colleagues (caesares) during this time, and it was split up into four regions.

An Iron Age citadel and Mamluk-period installation in which the inscription was incorporated in secondary use. Credit: Robert Mullins.
An Iron Age citadel and Mamluk-period installation in which the inscription was incorporated in secondary use. Credit: Robert Mullins.

“This discovery is a testament to the meticulous administrative re-organization of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy,” said Prof. Uzi Leibner. “Finding a boundary stone like this not only sheds light on ancient land ownership and taxation but also provides a tangible connection to the lives of individuals who navigated these complex systems nearly two millennia ago.”

Dr. Avner Ecker added, “What makes this find particularly exciting is the mention of two previously unknown place names and a new imperial surveyor. It underscores how even seemingly small discoveries can dramatically enhance our understanding of the socio-economic and geographic history of the region.”

The Abel Beth Maacah border marker completes a unique collection of over 20 boundary stones found in the area, demonstrating the interplay between local settlement patterns and imperial policies.

Hebrew University

Doi.org/10.1080/00310328.2024.2435218

Cover Image Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

Related Articles

Bidnija olive trees have seen medieval, not the Roman period

13 July 2021

13 July 2021

The olive trees in the Bidnija grove on the island of Malta are believed to be 2000 years old. But...

Centuries-old burials discovered near Antandros Ancient City in Turkey

10 January 2022

10 January 2022

Ancient tombs were discovered during a foundation excavation at a building site near the ancient city of Antandros, which is...

2,000-year-old graves found in ancient necropolis beneath Paris Train Station

24 April 2023

24 April 2023

Archaeologists have discovered 50 tombs in an ancient necropolis just meters from a busy train station in central Paris, and...

8,000-year-old Cave paintings found in TĂĽrkiye’s İnkaya Cave depict life and death

10 September 2023

10 September 2023

A number of cave paintings dating back some 8,000 years have been found in İnkaya cave in the Marmara province...

Excavations in Haldensleben, Germany Reveal A Lost Settlement

9 November 2024

9 November 2024

Excavations at Haldensleben in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt provide important information about a lost settlement. Since May 2024, the...

Coins from the World’s Richest Shipwreck Could Confirm the San José Galleon

16 June 2025

16 June 2025

A recent underwater exploration off the coast of Colombia has uncovered compelling new evidence that may confirm the identity of...

A large stone monument depicting the goddess Ishtar has been unearthed in the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud

26 June 2023

26 June 2023

Archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, working with an Iraqi excavation team, have unearthed a...

A 2,500-year-old Slate Tablet Containing Paleo-Hispanic Alphabet Found

15 June 2024

15 June 2024

Experts analyzing the symbols on a 2,500-year-old tablet recently discovered in Spain have uncovered a mysterious ancient alphabet. According to...

Archaeologists have pinpointed the location of a famous early Islamic battle using declassified spy satellite images

14 November 2024

14 November 2024

Archaeologists from Durham University in the UK and the University of Al-Qadisiyah have identified the site of the historic Battle...

The first Bull Geoglyph discovered in central Asia

29 September 2021

29 September 2021

Archaeologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of History of Material Culture (IIMK RAS) and LLC Krasnoyarsk Geoarchaeology discovered...

Huge Ancient Roman Public Baths in ‘Excellent’ State Discovered in Augusta Emerita

23 July 2023

23 July 2023

In MĂ©rida, Spain, archaeologists have discovered a “massive” Roman bathing site in “excellent” condition. The discovery was found in the...

Archeologists discover 2000-year-old Roman coins on the deserted Swedish island of Gotska Sandön

14 April 2023

14 April 2023

Archaeologists found 2,000-year-old Roman coins on the Swedish deserted island of Gotska Sandön. Previously, ancient Roman coins were discovered on...

A 2100-year-old inscription found İn TĂĽrkiye: Antiochos of Commagene calls on the people to ‘obey and respect the law’

15 March 2024

15 March 2024

The ancient inscription found near Kımıldağı (Kımıl Mount) in Ă–nevler village of Adıyaman’s Gerger district in 2023 will shed light...

Iznik Archaeology Museum reveals 2,500-year-old love letter

16 January 2023

16 January 2023

İznik is an ancient habitation that hosts various civilizations due to its fertile lands, trade routes, and many other reasons....

A Baptismal Surprise: Triton Baths in Southeastern Rome Converted into Early Christian Church

7 May 2025

7 May 2025

Recent archaeological excavations within the monumental complex of the Villa di Sette Bassi, situated in the southeastern outskirts of Rome,...