And then of course there are the “less serious moments”

So that you don’t think we are always serious, at the same time they were doing cutting-edge science in Area A, here’s what was going on in Area F …

Jeff Chadwick and Yonatan Adler (doctoral candidate, BIU; assistant supervisor in Area F) re-enacting the battle between David and Goliath. Note the realistic props

Some of the “goings on” in Area A

As mentioned in previous posts, Louise Hitchcock and her team in Area A2, came up with some very interesting finds. Among others, and probably most importantly, they excavated a small portion of an early Iron IIA level, most probably dating to the 10th or early 9th century BCE, which had on it typical early Iron Age IIA pottery (decorated with red slipped, handburnished surfaces), a fragment of a clay seal impression dating to ca. the reign of Siamun (in the 10th century BCE [NOT a seal with the name of Siamun as has been spread in some rumours...]) and a round, pebbled hearth.

nice aerial photo

Here is a nice aerial view of the tell, looking west, with Area E in foreground, followed by Area A, Area P slightly further to the right (beyond A), and then the rest of the upper tell, with the summit (and the Blanche Garde) in the left background.

Just a nice picture

Hi! I just came back from vacavation and found a mess load of photos of the work in Area D that had been taken by Lotte Vandorpe, one of the volunteers in the excavation (sent through Amit Dagan). So that you know what I meant by A LOT OF FINDS IN AREA D, here is a photograph of a regular “day at the office” this season in Area D.

Please – try not to salivate on your keyboard … :-)

update for July 28

Well, interesting things are still appearing, even in the last week…

In Area E, we excavated an almost complete skeleton of an equid, apparently a donkey, found in the late EB levels, apparently in a pit.

In Area P, Rona has found a nice collection of rodent skeletal material in the material that was collected from the Iron I food storage room with the Phytolith level. Right below this, a rich level with late LB pottery was found – this is what awaits us in the next season.

In Area D – the finds are simply astounding, more an more vessels are appearing – next year we will have a lot of fun …

That’s all for now …

Aren

Update for the end of the third week of excavations – some important finds!

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:

Some great finds from the last days!

Just a quick update on some very nice finds from the last few days:

Area A: Louise and her team have pulled out a extraordinary electrum crescent-shaped pendant (LB/Iron I) and fragments of a very nice Myc IIIB pyxis
Diana and her team are working in the 9th cent. destruction level and have discovered a large group of vessels, some loomweights, etc.

Area D: Joe and his team are finding a “ton” of finds form the destruction level, including several complete vessels (including a really nice “Akhziv ware” juglet) and parts of a food preparation area with a collection of 8 or so grinding stones.

Area E: Itzik and his team have found a small copper point from the EB levels and gamepiece.

Area F: Jeff is excavating several Iron Age levels, the MB fortification and the Crusader tower and perhaps, may have evidence of the 8th cent. earthquake mentioned in the book of Amos!!!

Area G: They’ve found bedrock!!

Area P: Rona and her team are excavating a great early Iron I level, with the granary already mentioned a various other architectural and other finds.

That’s it for now!

Aren

Update for July 17th

Hi! After a rather intensive few days, here is a brief update on what has happened over the last few days.

In Area A, Alex and his team had some nice finds. Diana Edelman and the U. Sheffied team continue to work in the Statum A3, 9th cent. destruction level, although they have not yet reached the floor levels. In addition, they have uncovered very nice evidence of an earlier phase of the Stratum A3 level, below the destruction level. This is important, since we do not have many examples of the earlier phases of this level.

Nearby, Steve Weiner and the archaeological science team are also excavating in the A3 destruction level. In addition to uncovering a very nice group of vessels and other finds from this level, they are have conducted a fascinating set of analyses of the phosphate levels in the different parts of the destruction and can define distinct changes in this telltale sign of organic deposits from the destruction.

Louise Hithcock and the U. of Melbourne team are working in the Iron I levels in Area A. In addition to excavating what appears to be rubbish deposits on a courtyards, which included an extraordinary amount of organic waste. This included pig, dog, cattle, goat/sheep, bones, and a lot of botanic reamins. There was also a very nice amount of Iron I pottery, and yesterday they found a unique mold of a small figurine, similar to a plaque figurine, possibly for metal figurine.

In Area E, Itzik and his team continue to dig in the EB III levels, and they have found a very nice selection of finds and architecture. Particularly impressive is the excavation of the alleyway and various other installations and floors.

In Area D, Joe and his team continue to expose the 9th cent. destruction level, similar to st. A3 in the Area A.

In Area F, Jeff and his team are working on a wide range of finds. This includes exposing additional parts of the Crusader tower, various stages of the Iron Age levels, including 2 8th century BCE levels, a nice section of the MB II glacis, and the related wall.

In Area G, we still do not know if Iossi and his team are working next to a fortification or a terrace wall – hopefully the answer will appear in the next few days.

In Area P, Rona has found a very interesting find in dating to the early Iron Age. In between two very impressive walls, she has found a very dense concentration of phytoliths. It appears that this may be a granary from this period, which is a very interesting and unique find.

That’s it for now!!

Aren

Update for July 14th

It’s been a few days since I’ve updated (been rather hectic), but let me fill you in with some of the finds from the last few days.

The finds are popping out!

Wow! We are just three days since the dig started, and only about two days of digging, and the finds are simply popping out!!! We are doing absolutely fanstastically!!!!

The absolutely great team that we have continues to produce really nice results! As I mentioned yesterday, although we only started digging on Tuesday (after some cleaning up on Monday) we are already getting some very interesting results.
Here’s a quick overview:

Area A: Louise Hitchcock and the U Melbourne team are working in some very nice Iron I contexts, with what appears to be Aegean style cooking vessels, Myc IIIC pottery and various other interesting finds. Although the context is not yet fully exposed, it seems VERY interesting and promising.
Diana Edelman and the Sheffield team are working in both Iron IIA and IIB. In the IIB, they are exposing parts of the 8th century building that was mostly excavated in the past, and today they found a very nice Black-on-Red Phoenician juglet. In the Iron IIA, they are excavating the continuation of the cultic corner from last year, which is becoming more and more like a cultic building (!!!!!) and have expose a very nice series of plaster floors.