Typology and Chronology of the Iron Age II-III Judahite Rock-cut Tombs

More than 300 rock-cut tombs dating from the Iron Age II-III are known from throughout Judah. This article proposes a new typology of rock-cut tombs on the basis of their plans and demonstrates their regional distribution and chronology. Such tombs are divided here into two main typological groups: 1) bench tombs, found throughout the kingdom, albeit in very small numbers in southern Judah; and 2) benched-niche tombs, found in southern Judah only. Local sub-divisions in southern Judah are discernible. Most of the tombs are relatively securely dated to between the second half of the eighth century BCE and the end of the Judahite kingdom (587/6 BCE), while only a few are dated to earlier times.