A recent paper titled “The Fifth Milestation from Tiberias: A Newly Discovered Milestone in the Gennesaret Valley Illumines the Roman Arterial Network” was published in the Palestine Exploration Quarterly journal by Ofer Stein.
This paper presents the discovery and analysis of a Roman milestone (IMC 847) found near Migdal, shedding new light on the highway connecting Tiberias and Julias, specifically in the Gennesaret Valley. Through a detailed examination of the milestone’s Latin inscription, the study dates the road’s construction to 120 CE during Hadrian’s reign, affirming Tiberias as a caput viae (starting point). Historical sources, such as Josephus and early Christian texts, are reviewed to contextualize this road system. The research also explores other milestones along related routes and argues for multiple paths toward the eastern city of Bostra, underscoring the strategic importance of infrastructure under Hadrian. These findings contribute to understanding Roman road-building efforts in Judaea and the broader region, enhancing knowledge of imperial control and regional connectivity in the second century CE.
Further reading: O. Stein, (2024). The Fifth Milestation from Tiberias: A Newly Discovered Milestone in the Gennesaret Valley Illumines the Roman Arterial Network, Palestine Exploration Quarterly, DOI: 10.1080/00310328.2024.2413826