Olive Press

View of a reconstructed olive press on the top of Tel Hazor.  On this authentic reconstruction note the wall in the back, into which the long wood beam is place.  The wooden beam is pressing down on a heavy stone, that in turn is pressing down on top of about 10 “beret-shaped” porous baskets (the berets being placed up side down – one on top of another).  The berets in turn rest upon a large white stone.  Note also the stones that are hanging on the end of the stone that adds the amount of pressure on the “shaped-shaped” baskets.

After the olives were crushed the resulting mash was placed in the “shaped-shaped” baskets and then, using this type of press, the oil was squeezed out of the mash.  The oil dripped on to the lower white stone and was diverted into channels carved on its surface and from their it would drain into a lower collecting vat.  Eventually the oil was collected from the vat and stored in jars until it was to be used for cooking, lighting, cleansing, anointing, etc.