We finished the 3rd week of excavations now, and are about to start the 4th and final week. The 3rd week was absolutely astounding, with some phenomenal results from different areas and periods.
Several noteworthy finds can be mentioned:
In Area D, in the lower city, Joe, Amit and their team uncovered a “motherload” of finds from the 9th century BCE destruction level (which we relate to Hazael of Aram). In one square, they uncovered around 30 vessels, most completely restorable, and in fact, some absolutely complete. They also uncovered a set of loomweights in situ, and several grounding stones, installations, and metal implemenets. The finds were literarly “popping out of the ground”, so much so that we had to work till 8 pm on Thursday to remove all the finds. Needless to say, we slept very well this weekend.
In Area A, we had a VERY important find. In the sub-area being excavated by Louise Hitchcock and her team, we may have uncovered what may be the MOST IMPORTANT FIND OF THE SEASON!!! Right under the well-preserved and well-dated late 9th century BCE destruction level, Louise and her team uncovered a small portion of an earlier Iron Age IIA level (which we had already partially uncovered in previous seasons). This level, which is about 30-40 cm below the 9th century level, and is above earlier levels containing late Iron Age I pottery, contained a nice selection of early Iron Age IIA pottery (red slipped, hand burnished). What was particularly important that in this level we found a round, Philistine hearth, along with several well defined clusters of grape pips. In addition, we found a clay sealing with an impression that is dated by Stefan Muenger (in an article in the journal “Tel Aviv” 2003) to the mid 10th century BCE. To make things short, the finds from this level, along with potential 14C dates that we should get from it, may provide solid data for dating an earlier phase in the Iron Age IIA!! As is well-known, the fierce debate that has been going on about the chronology of the Iron Age and of the 10th/9th century in particular, in fact started regarding the chronology of Iron Age Philistia. This new find may provide some secure and well-controlled data for this debate!! As soon as we have the 14C dates from this level, this will be of much importance!!! As of now, one cannot say whether it will support the “conventional” (e.g., Mazar) or the “lower” (e.g. Finkelstein) chronology - we will have to wait!!
In Area P, Rona and her team continued to expose the large early Iron Age I building with remains of a very interesting granary/food storage room, with well-dated pottery, botanical finds, and other things.
In Area F, one of the big surprises was what appears to be a very nice EB level below the MB fortifications. Also, very nice remains of the two 8th cent. BCE levels were exposed, right above the 9th century destruction level.
Here are some pictures from the excavations:
This is a picture of some of the 9th cent. finds from Area D in the 2nd week.
Here is a view of the “phytolith room” in Area F - apparently remains of an Iron Age I food storage room.
This is a nice piece of a Myc IIIC bell-shaped bowl from Area F from one of the very early Iron Age I levels, nice evidence of the initial stage of the Philistine settlement at Gath in the very early Iron Age, after the destruction of Canaanite Gath at the end of the LB.
All told, we had a great week, and hopefully, as usual, the most interesting finds will pop up in the last week.
Aren
