A Roman Military Bread Stamp from Ḥorbat Naḥal Yatir

Abstract

This study reexamines a group of stone seals from Ḥorbat Naḥal Yatir and argues that earlier interpretations identifying some of them as Paleo-Hebrew administrative tools are unconvincing. It proposes instead that one key artifact, Seal No. 2, is best understood as a Roman military bread stamp. In addition, the study offers new interpretations for several other seals from the site, suggesting that they relate to local bread production within the rebel community. Together, these findings provide a revised and more nuanced understanding of the site’s final occupation and the interactions between the Jewish rebels and the Roman army.