From purple dyes to olive oil: Ancient factory made every season count, study finds

A new study published in PLOS One reveals that the ancient industrial factory at Tel Shiqmona on Israel's Carmel coast was used for multiple purposes throughout the year, including olive oil pressing, textile production, and livestock sheltering, in addition to producing blue and purple dyes from sea snails. Researchers from the University of Haifa analyzed sediment samples to reconstruct seasonal activities.

A new study published in the scientific journal PLOS One reveals that the ancient industrial factory at Tel Shiqmona on Israel's Carmel coast was used for multiple purposes throughout the year, not just for producing the coveted blue and purple dyes from sea snails. Researchers from the University of Haifa analyzed sediment samples from the site, which dates to roughly 790-740 BCE, and found evidence of olive oil pressing, textile production, and livestock sheltering in the same spaces. The study suggests that the facility was deliberately managed to maximize the use of its buildings, workers, and resources across different seasons. The researchers propose a cycle in which olives were pressed in late autumn, textiles were produced in spring, and livestock was sheltered during other periods. The timing of purple-dye production remains unclear. The study offers a new perspective on ancient economic management.