Category Archives: Archaeology

Luke Chandler reports on the last full day of excavation at Khirbet Qeiyafa (the Elah Fortress) here. Several good photos are included with the post. Thanks to Luke for the reports and photos.

I call attention to these reports to give our readers who may not be aware an idea of the difficulty and slowness of an archaeological dig. Information is accumulated over many years. The archaeologists may have some conclusions at the end of the season, but they may change next year as new information comes to light.

Now we must await a full report by the director of the dig. There may be a press relase within the next month or two, but the next step is the presentation at the annual meetings of the American Schools of Oriental Research and the Society of Biblical Literature in November. Maybe a popular article or two will follow. In the background there may be lab studies, calling in of experts in various fields to look at artifacts, etc.

There will likely be more questions than answers. In the years to come other scholars will interact with the conclusion drawn by the excavator. Hopefully this will provide background for a better understanding of the story of David and Goliath (the Israelites and the Philistines).

Not many digs this year are keeping the unfortunate, non-participants, informed about what is going on. I miss seeing anything from Dan, Gezer, and Hazor. Nothing new has appeared on the Khirbet Qeiyafa page since the middle of May. Maybe they have fewer workers and time does not permit. Of course, we have had a few notes from our friends who are working there. We had an earlier report on the Mt Zion Excavation.

The one real exception has been the excavation at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Prof. Aren Maer has kept us updated and included some nice photos along the way. Check here and read back through the season.

A 2009 Post season wrap-up on Ashkelon is available here.

Dr. Bryant G. Wood has provided a report here on the season at Khirbet el-Maqatir, a site that he thinks may be biblical Ai.

The photo below shows the Palace of the Canaanite Kings of Hazor. The palace which dates from the 14th-13th centuries B.C. (Late Bronze period) is said to be of a ceremonial nature. Excavators are still looking for the administrative palace at some other place on the tel. The palace, like the rest of Hazor, was destroyed by fire. It has been restored in order to give visitors some real insight into the size and function of the building.

The Late Bronze Canaanite Palace at Hazor. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Gordon Franz has posted an interesting interview with conservator Orna Cohen, the restorer of the palace, on his Life and Land Seminars page here. Orna was responsible for the restoration of the Roman Boat that many visitors to Israel have seen at Nof Ginosaur.