Itzhaq Shai

The Early Bronze Age Remains at Tell eṣ-Ṣāfi/Gath: An Interim Report

Abstract Several Early Bronze Age levels have been exposed at Tell eṣ-Ṣāfi/Gath since 2004. This report describes the results of the excavation of the EB III domestic neighbourhood on the eastern part of the site, in Area E. Its layout was common to other Early Bronze urban centres, including small, multiroom houses with a courtyard, and in a few cases also a small storage room. Occupants had access to local and long distance trade and exotic goods, used various administrative recording methods, and sacrificed valuable animals. These results are discussed in conjunction with other Early Bronze finds from the site, both from the surface survey and from excavations in other areas. Based on these data, we discuss the role of Early Bronze Age Tell eṣ-Ṣāafi/Gath from a regional perspective. The results of the excavation suggest that the site was an important EB III political and economic centre in the district.

The Settlement History of Tel Burna: Results of the Surface Survey

Abstract The paper presents the results of the survey at Tel Burna, conducted in June 2009 in preparation for the long-term archaeological project undertaken at the site by the authors. The survey revealed that the mound was settled intensively in the Bronze and iron Ages, and was probably an important site along the Judah-Philistine border. The paper also details the sites settlement history in relation to its surroundings in the Shephelah; suggests possible identification of the site as libnah, one of the levitical cities; and discusses the implications of the methodology of this type of fieldwork.

The Early Bronze Age Fortifications At Tell Es-Safi/Gath, Israel

Tell es-Safi/Gath is a multi-period site located on the border between the Judean foothills (Shephelah) and the southern coastal plain in central Israel, which has been subject to survey and excavations over the last two decades. Excavations by Bliss and Macalister in 1899 exposed a fortification system which was dated to the “Jewish period”. In this paper, we present updated data on these fortifications which have led to fresh insights. In two separate excavation areas, we excavated portions of the fortification system that surrounded the site which can now be dated to the EB III of the southern Levant. The EB fortification system influenced the location of later fortifications at the site. The nature of the construction techniques of these fortifications and the character of the settlement which they surrounded suggest that Tell es-Safi/Gath was a major regional urban centre during the EB III and was governed by a centralised administrative hierarchy.

The Iron Age Remains at Tel Nagila

The paper presents the preliminary results of the analysis of the Iron Age finds from Tel Nagila. The excavations, which took place in the early 1960s under the direction of R. Amiran and A. Eitan, revealed three Iron Age strata. Through the lens of these finds, we reflect on Tel Nagila as an Iron Age settlement on the border between Judah and Philistia, on the ethnic and political affiliations of its population, and how these affiliations may have changed over time.

Isotopic Evidence for Early Trade in Animals between Old Kingdom Egypt and Canaan

Isotope data from a sacrificial ass and several ovicaprines (sheep/goat) from Early Bronze Age household deposits at Tell es-Safi/Gath, Israel provide direct evidence for the movement of domestic draught/draft and husbandry animals between Old Kingdom Egypt (during the time of the Pyramids) and Early Bronze Age III Canaan (ca. 2900–2500 BCE). Vacillating, bi-directional connections between Egypt and Canaan are known throughout the Early Bronze Age, but here we provide the first concrete evidence of early trade in animals from Egypt to Canaan.

Early Bronze Age Pottery Covered with Lime-Plaster: Technological Observations

With the emergence of urban culture in the southern Levant in the Early Bronze Age, new types of pottery and ceramic techniques appeared, among them pottery (usually combed) coated with a white material. A selection of sherds from Early Bronze strata was studied in an attempt to analyze this material. Using microscopy and various other methods, the authors were able to determine that the white material was a lime-plaster applied to the vessels after firing. The paper contends that the most likely reason for applying the lime-plaster was functional—to decrease permeability and protect the contents of the vessels.

All for Archaeology and Archaeology for All: The Tel Burna Archaeology Project's Approach to Community Archaeology

Since its start in 2009, the Tel Burna Archaeological Project has had an open-door policy, allowing for anyone of any age to volunteer, with no applied time limit. This inclusive policy has exposed many different types of people to various aspects of archaeological fieldwork and research. The openness of the project is integral to the projects philosophy regarding archaeological outreach, but poses several challenges. This paper presents the projects approach to community archaeology, the problems that we have encountered, and our suggested solutions to those problems.

Late Bronze Age Cultic Activity in Ancient Canaan: A View from Tel Burna

Excavations at Tel Burna, Israel, have uncovered portions of a large structure from the Late Bronze Age IIB, yielding numerous finds that suggest ritual and cultic practices occurred in the building, particularly in its central courtyard. This article presents the finds from the excavations, examining the meaning of the cultic artifacts discovered and comparing the building with the nearby Fosse Temple at Lachish. It is hoped that the discovery and presentation of the finds will help yield important information on cultic practices occurring in the 13th-century b.c.e. Shephelah.

An Aegean Fire-Stand from Tel Nagila

Abstract In this short paper we present a detailed study of a unique ceramic vessel fragment that was found in the excavations at Tel Nagila. The interpretation of this fragment as an Aegean fire-stand has implications for our understanding of the origin and development of Philistine material culture in Iron Age Philistia.

The Origins of Late Philistine Decorated Ware: A Note

Abstract A decade ago, the authors, along with D. Ben-Shlomo, defined Late Philistine Decorated Ware (LPDW, formerly Ashdod Ware) as typical of Iron IIA Philistia and discussed its origins and distribution. We suggested that the decorative syntax of this unique group could be traced to Iron I decorated Philistine pottery. This assertion was recently challenged by Faust, who suggested that its origins should be traced to Phoenician influence. Two LPDW sherds from Tell es-Safi/Gath that are decorated with the iconic Iron I Philistine bird design support our initial concept that the roots of the LPDW are in Iron I Philistia.