Aren M . Maeir | Bar-Ilan University (original) (raw)

Books by Aren M . Maeir

Published in English. Many significant finds related to urbanism in the Iron Age Levant have been... more Published in English. Many significant finds related to urbanism in the Iron Age Levant have been uncovered in the last decades, warranting synthetic treatments combining these finds with theoretical approaches. Furthermore, the fascinating advances in the theoretical study of ancient urbanism in recent years, have enabled much more complex and multifaceted approaches to the study of ancient cities. These advances have raised many new questions and ideas, and, in some cases, overturned long held assumptions about urbanism and its very definition. This volume-born out of the conference »Urbanism in the Iron Age Levant and Beyond'« held at Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel, on September 18-22, 2022-represents a diverse cross-section of studies on archaeological, textual, and theoretical aspects relating to urbanism in the ancient Levant during the Iron Age (ca. 1200-600 BCE). In addition, the contributions examine urban-related phenomena in other cultures, regions, and periods, providing a broad overview of evidence for ancient cities in antiquity from both archaeological and textual perspectives.

Tell es Safi Gath III, 2023

3rd volume of the final reports of the Tell es-Safi/Gath excavations, focusing on the Early Bronz... more 3rd volume of the final reports of the Tell es-Safi/Gath excavations, focusing on the Early Bronze Age. File includes front matter and introductory chapter

Israel Exploration Journal, 2023

Table of contents

The conference volume of the Minerva Center for Research on Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RI... more The conference volume of the Minerva Center for Research on Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RIAB; aramisrael.org) includes lectures given at the center conference in Leipzig in 2018 on the topic of writing and rewriting history through targeted destruction in the Syria-Palestine-Mesopotamia region. An international group of scientists examined the topic from a multi- and interdisciplinary approach: Archaeological, ancient near eastern and biblical studies focused on the destruction of ancient sites in Israel and Judah in the 1st millennium BC; The perspective of the defeated Israelites, Jerusalemites and Judeans is presented in detail in the writings of the Old Testament and in post-Biblical literature, demonstrating that the destruction of the past was an instigator of culture and identity; The longue durée of the practice of redesigning the past by deliberately destroying cultural heritage in order to shape the present according to current interests is tangible through the practice of the Neo-Assyrian Empire up to the modern age and the example of the Arab-Muslim conquest of Aram, as well as current Turkish politics.

Collection of papers on the archaeology and history of the ancient Land of Israel, in honor of J.... more Collection of papers on the archaeology and history of the ancient Land of Israel, in honor of J. R. Chadwick's 66th birthday

Proceedings of two conferences of the RIAB Minerva Center

2nd volume of the final reports on the excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath

Votive objects are a common part of cult and ritual throughout the world. In this

Qamma, 2019

Qamma 2 (2019). Publications of the Institute of Archaeology of Bar-Ilan University (Hebrew part)

Qamma, 2019

Qamma 2 (2019). Publications of the Institute of Archaeology of Bar-Ilan University (English part)

A series which is connected to the "Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (de Gruyeter, Ber... more A series which is connected to the "Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (de Gruyeter, Berlin) in which studies on various issues relating the cultures and regions which influenced the biblical texts and cultures, from late Prehistory to late Antiquity

De Gruyter - Archaeology of Biblical Worlds - Vol. 2, Jul 2019

"Research on Israel and Aram in Biblical Times" (RIAB), is a new sub-series of "Orientalische Rel... more "Research on Israel and Aram in Biblical Times" (RIAB), is a new sub-series of "Orientalische Religionen in der Antike/Oriental Religions in Antiquity" (ORA), published by Mohr Siebeck (Tuebingen), aims to publish volumes (monographs, collections , proceedings, etc.) dealing with topics that are directly and indirectly connected to the activities of the Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RIAB), covering the entire spectrum of topics that relate to the RIAB Center's fields of interest. The editors of the series would be very happy to receive proposals for volumes to be published in the series-both by scholars affiliated with the center, as well as those who are not. This congress volume of the Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times combines theoretical approaches to historical research on autonomy or independence in ancient cultures and then presents articles which study the subject using Aram and Israel in antiquity as examples. These articles show clearly how strongly Syria and Palestine were linked to one another and how they constituted one single cultural region which was connected by its economy, politics, language, religion, and culture.

Israel Exploration Journal 69/1, 2019

This article describes the findings from a recent excavation in a rock-cut tomb at Naḥal Aviv, wh... more This article describes the findings from a recent excavation in a rock-cut tomb at Naḥal Aviv, where scholars previously suggested a border line between Jewish and pagan (Tyrian) populations. The finds from the tomb indicate two distinct burial phases, dated to the late first-early second century CE and to the fourth-sixth centuries CE. While the second burial phase can be easily ascribed to a Christian community lived in the vicinity of the tomb, its original phase demonstrates a more complex case for ethnic identification of deceased. The article is followed by two appendices, presenting significant finds: a 'holy rider' amulet by Nancy Benovitz and an MB scarab by Baruch Brandl.

This article presents a highly unusual enstatite amulet discovered at Tel Azekah in 2015. It depi... more This article presents a highly unusual enstatite amulet discovered at Tel Azekah in 2015. It depicts two gods and a goddess, identified as the Egyptian deities Re-Horakhte, Seth and Hathor/Wadjet on the basis of their iconography and the inscription on the rear of the amulet.

Chapter 6B in: Excavations at Tel Beth-Shean 1989-1996, Volum II: The Middle and Late ?Bronze Age... more Chapter 6B in: Excavations at Tel Beth-Shean 1989-1996, Volum II: The Middle and Late ?Bronze Age Strata in Area R, eds. A.Mazar and R.A. Mullins.

Publication of the excavations by R. Weill of Bronze and Iron Age tombs at the site of Tel Gezer,... more Publication of the excavations by R. Weill of Bronze and Iron Age tombs at the site of Tel Gezer, Israel, conducted in the early 20th cent CE.

2nd special issue (of two) of Near Eastern Archaeology on the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Pr... more 2nd special issue (of two) of Near Eastern Archaeology on the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project

Tell es Safi Gath III, 2023

Israel Exploration Journal, 2023

Table of contents

Proceedings of two conferences of the RIAB Minerva Center

2nd volume of the final reports on the excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath

Votive objects are a common part of cult and ritual throughout the world. In this

Qamma, 2019

Qamma 2 (2019). Publications of the Institute of Archaeology of Bar-Ilan University (Hebrew part)

Qamma, 2019

Qamma 2 (2019). Publications of the Institute of Archaeology of Bar-Ilan University (English part)

De Gruyter - Archaeology of Biblical Worlds - Vol. 2, Jul 2019

Israel Exploration Journal 69/1, 2019

Urbanism in the Iron Age Levant and Beyond, 2025

The definition of cities and urban features in the Iron Age Southern Levant is a topic in need of... more The definition of cities and urban features in the Iron Age Southern Levant is a topic in need of reassessment, including the very definition of what is, or is not, an urban site. Accordingly, the five “cities” of the so-called “Philistine Pentapolis” (Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and Gath), well-known from the biblical text, as well as other “urban” sites in Iron Age Philistia, warrant a closer look and a renewed consideration. I will attempt to determine if in fact there were urban sites in Iron Age Philistia – or are other settlement definitions of these sites to be preferred, and what are their features, origins and influences, and phases of development. I will examine this with particular emphasis on Tell es-Safi/Gath, other sites in Iron Age Philistia, and well as look at relevant Iron Age sites in regions neighbouring Philistia.

Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis and ancient-DNA techni... more Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach. We hypothesize that enriched yeast populations in fermented beverages could have become the dominant species in storage vessels and the descendants of these yeast could be isolated and studied long after. To this end, using a pipeline of yeast isolation from clay vessels developed here, we screened for yeast cells in beverage-related and non-related ancient vessels and sediments, from several archeological sites. We found that yeast cells could be successfully isolated specifically from clay containers of fermented beverages. Genomic analysis revealed that these yeast are similar to those found in traditional African beverages. Phenotypically, they grow similar to modern-beer producing yeast. Both strongly suggesting that they are descendants of the original fermenting yeast. These findings provide modern microorganisms as a new tool in bio-archeology. So far, most of the study of ancient organisms was based mainly on the analysis of ancient DNA. Here we show that it is possible to isolate and study microorganisms, yeast in this case, from thousands of years old clay vessels, used for fermentation. We demonstrate that it is highly likely that these cells are descendants of the original yeast strains which participated in the fermentation process and were absorbed into the pottery vessels. Moreover, we characterize the isolated yeast their genome and the beer they produce. These results open new and exciting avenues in the study of domesticated microorganisms and contribute significantly to the fields of bio and experimental -archeology that aims to reconstruct ancient artifacts and products.

MBio, Apr 30, 2019

Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techn... more Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast populations in fermented beverages could have become the dominant species in storage vessels and their descendants could be isolated and studied today. We developed a pipeline of yeast isolation from clay vessels and screened for yeast cells in beverage-related and non-beverage-related ancient vessels and sediments from several archaeological sites. We found that yeast cells could be successfully isolated specifically from clay containers of fermented beverages. The findings that genotypically the isolated yeasts are similar to those found in traditional African beverages and phenotypically they grow similar to modern beer-producing yeast strongly suggest that they are descendants of the original fermenting yeast. These results demonstrate that modern microorganisms can serve as a new tool in bio-archaeology research. IMPORTANCE So far, most of the study of ancient organisms has been based mainly on the analysis of ancient DNA. Here we show that it is possible to isolate and study microorganisms-yeast in this case-from ancient pottery vessels used for fermentation. We demonstrate that it is highly likely that these cells are descendants of the original yeast strains that participated in the fermentation process and were absorbed into the clay matrix of the pottery vessels. Moreover, we characterized the isolated yeast strains, their genomes, and the beer they produced. These results open new and exciting avenues in the study of domesticated microorganisms and contribute significantly to the fields of bio-and experimental archaeology that aim to reconstruct ancient artifacts and products. KEYWORDS ancient fermented food and beverages, ancient pottery vessels, beer, bio-archaeology, experimental archaeology, yeasts E xperimental archaeology is a field of research that studies ancient cultures by trying to reconstruct ancient lifestyles, including tools, housing, clothing, and diet (1, 2). Among the most challenging subjects of study in this field are fermented food products, such as cheese and pickles, and alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer, and mead (honey wine). All of these products played important roles in ancient

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021

Abstract Conclusive evidence has surfaced for the production of iron objects in urban workshops i... more Abstract Conclusive evidence has surfaced for the production of iron objects in urban workshops in the Southern Levant during the early Iron Age. While nearly a dozen sites with metallurgical debris and technical ceramics dating to the 10th–8th c. BCE have contributed to the visibility of the craft, in situ high-temperature installations remain enigmatic in the archaeological record. Our ability to reconstruct the chaine operatoire of iron production processes within each working context is restricted by the lack of this critical data. In this study we employ methods of experimental archaeology in order to investigate and interpret an assemblage of vitrified technical ceramics found in an early Iron Age metal workshop at the site of Tell es-Safi/Gath situated on the border between the southern coastal plain and the Judean foothills of Israel. As part of a broader research framework, iron smelting experiments were carried out in a simple, clay-built bowl furnace. Materials analogous to the archaeological ceramics were employed to address high temperature alterations occurring in a single installation. Using structural mineralogical and chemical analyses (FTIR, pXRF and SEM-EDS) we characterize the experimental and archaeological technical ceramics to identify the processes that affect and transform these materials during iron production activities. Results were then utilized to interpret production processes and the implementation of technical ceramics in ironworking at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Based on our observations, we address the specialized preparation of technical ceramics in early ironworking, possible reasons for the alteration and preservation of metallurgical installations following their abandonment and attempt to improve the interpretation and classification of vitrified ceramic waste from ancient metallurgical contexts.

Radiocarbon, 2015

The Late Bronze Age to Iron Age transition in the coastal southern Levant involves a major cultur... more The Late Bronze Age to Iron Age transition in the coastal southern Levant involves a major cultural change, which is characterized, among other things, by the appearance of Philistine pottery locally produced in styles derived from outside the Levant. This transition in the coastal southern Levant is conventionally dated to the 12th century BC, based on historical and archaeological artifacts associated with the Philistine pottery. Radiocarbon dating can provide a more precise independent absolute chronology for this transition, but dating for the period under discussion is complicated by the wiggles and relatively flat slope in the calibration curve, which significantly reduce precision. An additional complication is that the stratigraphic record below and above the transition at this site, as well as at most other sites in the region, is far from complete. We thus used a variety of microarchaeological techniques to improve our understanding of the stratigraphy, and to ensure that the locations with datable short-lived materials were only derived from primary contexts, which could be related directly to the associated material culture. The 14 C dates were modeled using Bayesian statistics that incorporate the stratigraphic information. Using this integrative approach, we date the appearance of the Philistine pottery in Tell es-Safi/ Gath in the 13th century BC.

Archaeopress Publishing Ltd eBooks, Oct 6, 2022

In this paper, we explore the issue of household archaeology during the Early Bronze III of the s... more In this paper, we explore the issue of household archaeology during the Early Bronze III of the southern Levant based on our recently completed systematic excavations at Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath. Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath is a very large (ca. 24 ha) and significant regional urban center entirely surrounded by a thick fortification system composed of stone foundation and mud-brick superstructure. A part of an Early Bronze Age III neighborhood has been excavated at the eastern end of the site (Area E). Our analysis explores the implications for household behaviour in this lower stratum residential neighborhood. Some of the occupants were probably merchants, but in general seem to pursue a middle-class lifestyle.

Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research, Oct 11, 2022

This paper presents two brief alphabetic inscriptions from Area D in the lower city of Tell eṣ-Ṣâ... more This paper presents two brief alphabetic inscriptions from Area D in the lower city of Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath, both deriving from Iron Age IIA contexts. The first is written in an Early Alphabetic script similar to an inscription previously published from the site (Maeir et al. 2008) and is interpreted as being related to the storage of wine. The second, written in later, “formalized” alphabetic script, is quite fragmentary and difficult to decipher, for which several possible interpretations are suggested. These two new inscriptions join the relatively large number of alphabetic inscriptions from Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath, second only in number to contemporaneous Tel Rehov, and provide additional evidence to the outstanding role of the site during the early Iron Age

Palestine Exploration Quarterly

Discussions on daily life in Early Bronze Age society in the southern Levant often focus on subsi... more Discussions on daily life in Early Bronze Age society in the southern Levant often focus on subsistence or ritual phenomena, while aspects relating to entertainment and leisure are rarely discussed. This paper presents evidence for gaming behaviour, in the form of game boards and game pieces, that were recovered in the excavations of the Early Bronze Age (early to mid-3rd millennium BCE) residential neighbourhood at Tell es-S âfi/Gath, Israel. All the objects discussed are considered to be part of games (playing pieces, casting pieces, and boards) based on their resemblance to game boards and pieces published from various Early Bronze sites in the southern Levant (e.g., Arad, Megiddo, and Bab edh-Dhra), serve as the backdrop for: 1) a perspective on the social and cultural relationships reflected in these games; 2) an examination of the origins of the ’Senet/30 Houses’ game; and 3) the appropriation of foreign cultural facets in Early Bronze Age Canaan.

Near Eastern Archaeology, 2021

In 2006, we published in Near Eastern Archaeology a bone tool workshop dating to the Iron IIA des... more In 2006, we published in Near Eastern Archaeology a bone tool workshop dating to the Iron IIA destruction level at Tell eṣ-Ṣafi/Gath. We managed to reconstruct the chaîne opératoire of the production of this workshop and although we did not find a finished object, we suggested that bone arrowheads were manufactured here and that they may have been produced in connection with the Aramean siege and destruction of Tell eṣ-Ṣafi/Gath in ca. 830 BCE. In the present article, we describe and discuss a bone arrowhead from the same destruction, but from Area M in the lower city of the site. We suggest that it may very well have been produced in this previously reported workshop (or in a very similar one).

From an ecological standpoint, islands once held allure as imagined laboratories for the isolated... more From an ecological standpoint, islands once held allure as imagined laboratories for the isolated study of social and cultural change. However, in The Corrupting Sea, Horden and Purcell have compellingly demonstrated that in reality islands were places of “strikingly enhanced interaction … central to the history of the Mediterranean.” Although their detailed meta-history focuses on the historic periods, much of what they discuss can be identified in prehistory. Our contribution focuses on the unique role that island-scapes play in shrinking maritime space among the disparate cultures of the Mediterranean, bringing ancient west and east together through cultural and economic entanglement. Through strong interaction, islands could promote security, but in isolation, they could be a source of danger. However, from Sicily to Cyprus, like the Magical Mystery Tour, islands had “everything you need,” because they were connected nodes in a globalized, unrestricted flow of people and goods, ...

תקציר בעברית: בשנת 2002 טבע פאול קרוטזן את המונח אנתרופוקן (Anthropocene) המגדיר את העת המודרנית ... more תקציר בעברית: בשנת 2002 טבע פאול קרוטזן את המונח אנתרופוקן (Anthropocene) המגדיר את העת המודרנית כתקופה גיאולוגית, מעשה ידי האנושות. בפרק זמן זה, התרחשו שינויים גלובליים משמעותיים כמו: הכחדת מיני בעלי חיים וצמחים, עליה בפליטת גזי החממה והתחממות גלובלית. לדעתו המהפכה התעשייתית שהתרחשה במאה ה-18, מהווה את נקודת הזמן לראשיתה של תקופה זו.מחקרים נוספים, ששחזרו את תנאי הסביבה הקדומה של תקופות ההולוקן והפלייסטוקן, הראו כי שינויים סביבתיים משמעותיים התרחשו כתוצאה של פעילות אנתרופוגנית שהייתה עוד קודם למהפכה התעשייתית. בהתאם לכך נקבע המושג ”פליאו-אנתרופוקן (Palaeoanthropocene) פרק הזמן שבין הופעת ההומינימים (2.8-2.5 מיליון שנה לפני זמנינו) ועד למהפכה התעשייתית (המאה ה-18 לספירה). בפרק זמן זה, התרחשו בין השאר, הכחדה של מגה-פאונה והמהפכה החקלאית, שגרמה כבר בעת העתיקה להגדלת פליטת הפחמן הדו-חמצני ולשינויים בהרכב המינים של הצומח והחי.סקירה של נקודות מפתח בתקופת הפליאו-אנתרופוקן בישראל מראה כי קיימת בנוף טביעת חותם אנושית משמעותית. לדוגמה, כ-50% משטח המדרונות בהרי ירושלים מכוסים בטראסות חקלאיות ק...

Stone Tools in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, 2019

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021

Abstract The ongoing discussion on the nature of the organization of Early Bronze Age settlements... more Abstract The ongoing discussion on the nature of the organization of Early Bronze Age settlements and their social structure in an intensely settled part of the southern Levant (independent 'city-states' vs 'neither cities nor states') calls for data on which to base our understanding of shared economic patterns and regional connections. Here, we report the results of our macrobotanical investigation of the Early Bronze Age III (2,680–2,600 cal BCE) levels at Tell eṣ-Ṣâfī/Gath, a large fortified settlement in central Canaan. A dense residential neighborhood was sampled at high resolution for a multi-faceted analysis of plant use in order to address its economic strategies and regional relationships. The resulting rich and diverse plant assemblage enables reconstruction of the diversity of agriculture, fuel sources, land use practices, mobility, and connectivity. Results of the study provide, for the first time, direct botanical evidence for the structural patterns of an intensive localized agro-pastoral economy and enable comparative analysis of the regional diet. Moreover, the results shed light on rare yet continuous long-distance plant dispersal and human mobility across biogeographical boundaries within the southern Levant.

To Explore the Land of Canaan, 2021

Worked stone architecture in Philistia is rare and usually limited to highly visible elements suc... more Worked stone architecture in Philistia is rare and usually limited to highly visible elements such as column bases, ritual features such as altars, and pavements. Our contribution presents a study of a selected group of minimally preserved but nonetheless important Iron I monumental buildings in Areas A and C at Tell es-Safi/Gath. These remains are situated within the context of what is known about "Sea Peoples'" architecture in the Mediterranean as seen at the 12th century BCE "Anaktoron" at Pantalica, Sicily and architectural changes in Sardinia. Our study demonstrates that monumental architecture was more widespread in the early Philistine period than originally thought.

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2019

The organization of craft production has long been a marker for broader social, economic, and pol... more The organization of craft production has long been a marker for broader social, economic, and political changes that accompanied urbanism. The identity of producers who comprised production groups, communities, or workshops is out of reach using conventional archaeological data. There has been some success using epidermal prints on artifacts to identify the age and sex of producers. However, while age estimates are well developed, determining the sex of ancient potters is complicated by similarities between the prints of adult women and adolescents of either sex. Forensic research indicates that a combination of ridge breadth and density would best identify the age and sex of individuals. To this end, we propose an identification framework to classify fingerprints grounded in experimental and forensic research. In this study, we classify 38 fingerprints on Early Bronze Age (EB) III pottery from the early urban neighborhood at Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath, Israel. Mean ridge breadth (MRB) and mean ridge density (MRD) are used to distinguish the age and sex of prints after accounting for the shrinkage of calcareous fabrics used to make four type of vessels. We apply a modified version of the Kamp et al. (1999) regression equation to the MRB for each individual print. The MRD data are correlated to comparable data from populations with appropriate ancestry to infer sex. When the results are combined, our analyses indicate that two thirds of the fingerprints were likely made by adult men and teenage boys and the remainder by adult women and adolescent girls. This result suggests that men or women were not exclusively making pottery at early urban centers in the Levant. This pattern contrasts a fingerprint study of post-state urban pottery production during the EB in northern Mesopotamia, which suggested women no longer made pottery after cities and states were established in the region.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018

In this paper, we propose an alternative analytical method for identifying vessel shaping techniq... more In this paper, we propose an alternative analytical method for identifying vessel shaping techniques at the mesoscopic scale to complement current micro and macro methods in ceramic analysis. We demonstrate how this simple and low cost method permits clear and rapid identification of the signatures indicative of different pottery shaping techniques. The datasets that are generated using this method provide a new perspective on vessel structure for characterising neglected stages of the chaîne opératoire, with the analytical potential to shed further light on economic life, learning frameworks, and group identities. Material from the Early Bronze Age III of Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath, Israel are used to demonstrate the utility of the method on a site assemblage. We identify different combinations of coiling techniques used to make different vessel types and propose that potters are specialising in the production of specific parts of the repertoire.

The Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages of Southern Canaan, 2019

Open Quaternary, 2018

It is often assumed that domestic animals in early urban Near Eastern centres either are a reflec... more It is often assumed that domestic animals in early urban Near Eastern centres either are a reflection of the local pastoral economy, or were raised at a distance by pastoral specialists. In this paper, we test these assumptions through detailed isotopic analyses (carbon, oxygen and strontium) of caprines (sheep and goat) from Tell es-Safi/Gath, an Early Bronze Age urban centre in central Israel. The isotopic analyses demonstrate that the bulk of the caprines were raised within the general vicinity of the site, suggesting that the majority of food resources were largely produced at the local level, within the territory of the city-state, and not at a distance by specialised pastoralists. It is the rare specimen that comes from a great distance and would have entered the local system through long distance trade networks.

A letter to an imaginary colleague who didn't check in with me after the October 7th, 2023 massac... more A letter to an imaginary colleague who didn't check in with me after the October 7th, 2023 massacres conducted by HAMAS.

A personal testimonial about a visit to some of the sites of the massacres conducted by HAMAS on ... more A personal testimonial about a visit to some of the sites of the massacres conducted by HAMAS on October 7th, 2023, and in particular, about the new subfield in archaeology - "the archaeology of terrorism" - which our brave colleagues from the Israel Antiquities have been, and are still carrying out, searching for remains of victims of the massacres.

MOOC on the archaeology of Iron Age Israel and Judah on the edX.org website.

Online versions (YouTube files) of the Lectures presented at the 2nd day of the 2nd Annual Confer... more Online versions (YouTube files) of the Lectures presented at the 2nd day of the 2nd Annual Conference of the RIAB Minerva Center, which took place at the Israel Institute of Advanced Studies (on the Givat Ram Campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, on March 2nd, 2017), can now be watched online.

Discussion (in Hebrew) on how one can use the study of archaeological remains of food and eating ... more Discussion (in Hebrew) on how one can use the study of archaeological remains of food and eating habits among the Philistines to understand who the Philistines were and what were their relationship with neighboring cultures (such as the Israelites and Judahites), and how food in general can be used to help understand issues relating to the definition of cultural and ethnic identities in the past.

This paper will introduce and discuss the utility of a LiDAR ground-based approach to data collec... more This paper will introduce and discuss the utility of a LiDAR ground-based approach to data collection and

analysis within archaeological sites that are complex topographically and stratigraphically. LiDAR

technology can capture millions of data points in a brief span of time allowing for more subtle imagery

and multivariate analysis far beyond simple photogrammetric data capture approaches. In recent years,

LiDAR technology has been utilised within archaeology in two ways. The more common approach is its

use for aerial survey in order to capture three-dimensional imagery of topography and other landscape

features. The second, which is far less common, is ground survey to capture a more detailed 3D image of

architectural units upon the conclusion of an excavation or excavation season. It allows for disparate

parts of large sites to be integrated into a single analytical unit. While LiDAR survey is often proposed as

a solution to the problems of archaeological digital data capture, there are many pitfalls that must be

considered. In this paper, we will discuss various methodological issues and present the first run of data

analysis whereby all of the areas of a large multi-period and topographically complex early urban

settlement are integrated into a single analytical unit. Data from the archaeological site of Tell es-

Safi/Gath, Israel will be used to demonstrate the utility of this kind of approach to data collection and

analysis.

Discussion of new perspectives, find and understandings on the Philistines and their relations wi... more Discussion of new perspectives, find and understandings on the Philistines and their relations with surrounding cultures, based primarily on the finds from Tell es-Safi/Gath. Lecture given at the College de France, Feb. 25th, 2015.

Results and conclusions: Using domestic pigs as a local reference for isotope based mobility stud... more Results and conclusions: Using domestic pigs as a local reference for isotope based mobility studies for ancient human populations is an potential alternative to small mammals or game, if those sample types are not available in significant amounts. But since domestic animals are always dependent on human impact, cultural, economic and agricultural specifics must be reconsidered. Pig data can show a narrower distribution than humans. Still, it is hard to assess, if this reference range really represents the local human population as well. Pig isotopic ratios from Tel Nami might exceed the local distribution due to trading and extensive herding. Not only human, but also animal mobility seems to have taken place in Nami in high amounts (in the case of pigs not necessarily as living animals but possibly also as trading goods, like salted pork).
The strontium results hint at connections to the inland, more precisely Mount Carmel and the Jezreel valley etc. All strontium outliers can be explained with locations close to the investigated area, pointing inland to the Jordan valley or even the site Megiddo. The analyzed data further support the hypothesis that there was a close relation between Tel Nami and Megiddo. Even children and pregnant women seem to have been mobile in between those two settlements, which are less than a day-trip apart. Isotopic ratios which fall in between the two sites could be explained as mixtures, as the individuals were moving in between the two locations of Megiddo and Nami during their childhood.

Introduction: The recursive extent of influence between the Aegean influence and neighboring regi... more Introduction: The recursive extent of influence between the Aegean influence and neighboring regions remains an area of investigation that continues to generate enthusiastic scholarly interest and lively debate. Here, we outline the importance of current theoretical perspectives on Aegean interaction with the East (particularly Philistia and Cyprus), which may be conceptually helpful to the study of similar interactions with central and western Europe. The archaeological, historical, and anthropological approaches we touch upon include gift exchange, entanglement, transculturalism, transnationalism, and piracy as a model of limited migration. Gold Regalia from EM Mochlos Tombs (Photo: Hitchcock) Secondary State Forma7on: The Aegean was drawn within the Near Eastern sphere of influence in the late Early Bronze Age (ca. 2200 BCE) with the importation of raw materials from the Near East including copper, tin, gold, and ivory. Gold and exotic materials were used in the Aegean to manufacture items of elite regalia such as diadems, mace-heads, and other luxury items. Seafaring: Minoan acquisition of technology for constructing deep-hulled ships with masts enabled the Aegean to shrink maritime space (Broodbank 2002, 342-344, fig. 115) and create social networks throughout the Mediterranean. MM II sealing depicts deep-hulled ship with mast Conclusion: Our understanding of both the emergence of complexity in the Early Bronze Age and the collapse that took place in the Aegean ca. 1177 BCE (Cline 2014) has gone from simplistic models of colonization, migration, conquest, or mercantilism, to more sophisticated models of entanglement, transculturalism, transnational identity, limited migration, and piratical activity. It is our hope that such considerations offered by Phospheros provide useful insights to Hesperos.

Conclusions •The soil erosion rate was relatively lower when the area was settled due to constant... more Conclusions
•The soil erosion rate was relatively lower when the area was settled due to constant housing and field
maintenance.
•Small fields contributed to lower erosion intensity and higher plant biodiversity.
•Traditional methods of land management (e.g., shallow plowing, terrace walls, grazing in forests) helped
sustain the Mediterranean landscape.
• Modern management of cultural and natural areas should rely on preservation of ancient remains as well as
the application of traditional practices.

As they traveled, the Sea Peoples engaged in attacks in the Aegean and the East, they took on fol... more As they traveled, the Sea Peoples engaged in attacks in the Aegean and the East, they took on followers, formed new entangled identities, and some eventually migrated to, and settling in Anatolia, Cyprus, and the Levant (as the Philistines). We believe that this was a more realistic means to account for migration than the traditional narrative around the Sea Peoples, which regards them as Mycenaean elites that violently plundered, then colonized various parts of the Mediterranean. Two articles investigating these topics have been written, while others are projected on geography, assemblages, and linguistic issues. Yo Ho, Yo Ho: A Philistine's Life For Me! Louise A. Hitchcock (lahi@unimelb.edu.au) and Aren M. Maeir (arenmaeir@gmail.com)

Last call: PhD Stipends from the Minerva Center for Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical... more Last call: PhD Stipends from the Minerva Center for Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RIAB)

The Minerva Center for Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RIAB; aramisrael.org) is offering several stipends for PhD candidates in fields related to the center’s topics. The stipends are meant for students with an excellent academic record who are interested in conducting PhD studies at Bar-Ilan University, under the supervision of one of the center’s members who are on the BIU faculty (aramisrael.org/center-members).

The stipends are based on the BIU “President’s Stipends” (graduate-school.biu.ac.il/files/gradschool/shared/b-ilan_mlga_167x254.pdf), which include: ca. $1000 per month for 4 years, travel to one international conference to present a paper related to the student’s PhD research, and full exemption from tuition.

PhD candidates associated with the center receive additions to the standard stipend, such as travel to academic conferences organized by the center (in Israel and Germany), and in some cases, additional monthly funding from a specific research project (such as the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project; gath.wordpress.com).

Deadline for final submissions is May 30th, 2017.

If you are interested in submitting through the RIAB Center, please contact Prof. Aren M. Maeir (arenmaeir@gmail.com) in the next few days.

“The Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times” is an internatio... more “The Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times” is an international, inter-disciplinary, and inter-university center for the study of various aspects of the relations between the cultures of Israel and Aram – primarily in ancient periods – but in some cases, up until the modern period. The center is located at Bar-Ilan University (BIU), and collaborates with the University of Leipzig in Germany, as well as other academic institutions in Israel and the world. The center’s directors are Prof. Aren Maeir (BIU) and Prof. Angelika Berlejung (Leipzig), and the center members at BIU are Prof. Esther Eshel, Dr. Yigal Levin and Dr. Leeor Gottlieb.
As part of the center’s activities, we are calling for applications from suitable candidates, for stipends for doctoral studies at BIU, in topics related to the fields covered by the center, to be carried out in one of the following departments: Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Jewish History, and Bible (according to the topic to be researched, the advisor, and previous studies). For more details - see attached file

Please check out the trailer for my MOOC (massive open online course) "Biblical Archaeology: The ... more Please check out the trailer for my MOOC (massive open online course) "Biblical Archaeology: The archaeology of Ancient Israel and Judah," which will be online from early December 2018 on the EdX platform. The course will be a equivalent of a semester long course on the archaeology of Iron Age Israel and Judah. The course is open to all - and for a fee, one can receive a certificate from EdX or academic credit from Bar-Ilan University.

Check it out - and pass the word on to friends, colleagues and students - to sign up for the course as soon as registration is open!

Here is the link:
https://youtu.be/lymUIdk6bEk

http://gath.wordpress.com

Updated schedule of a workshop on the excavations at Abel Beth Maacha, to be held at the Hebrew U... more Updated schedule of a workshop on the excavations at Abel Beth Maacha, to be held at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, April 26th, 2018, under the auspices of the RIAB Minerva Center

The title of this workshop has a question mark. This question mark has proven to be justified, fo... more The title of this workshop has a question mark. This question mark has proven to be justified, for I have not succeeded in finding clear evidence of masks in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. This, of course, does not mean that there were no masks in ancient Israel/Palestine, since we now have archaeological evidence of many things that are not mentioned in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Masks (and protomes) of all sizes are well-documented in Israel/Palestine until the Roman Period.
When the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible does not speak of something for which there is clear archaeological evidence in Israel/Palestine (especially for the 1st millennium BCE), it can be asked why it is not mentioned. In the case of masks the question is: are masks censored, ignored or simply forgotten? Are they so important that they are intentionally erased, or so unimportant that they are not worth talking about? If it is true that masks are media through which their bearer can physically contact “the Other” (god/gods, ancestors, etc.), what are the alternatives in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible if there are really no masks? Or have masks remained hidden in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible without being discovered thus far?
The workshop takes as its starting point the different terms which have been discussed in past scholarship as possible evidence for masks. There will be an introduction into the different types and possible uses of masks which were not limited to be worn on human faces.
Following the lecture, there will be a hands-on discussion at which several examples of masks from archaeological contexts in Israel will be presented.

The Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RIAB) A Workshop... more The Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RIAB)

A Workshop:

Five Seasons of Excavation at Tel Abel Beth Maacah: An Interim Assessment

The Institute of Archaeology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Thursday, April 26

Overview:
This workshop will present a summary of the stratigraphic and architectural contexts, as well as major material culture finds, uncovered during the course of five seasons of excavation. Focus will be on the Iron Age I and II, with highlights from the Middle and Late Bronze Age, as well as the Persian-early Hellenistic period, in order to better understand the occupation sequence.
Following this presentation, a discussion will take place on issues generated by the finds and the research questions that guide the project, particularly, how the archaeological data from Abel Beth Maacah illuminate cultural and historical developments in the Hula Valley, from the Late Bronze Age city state of Hazor to the Iron Age IIA territorial kingdoms of Israel and Aram-Damascus. A presentation of pottery and other finds from these periods will take place and serve as the basis for a chronological, contextual and cultural discussion.

Schedule:
15:00: Convening and refreshments
15:15-17:00: Presentation of the archaeological field and artefactual data
17:00-17:30: Break
17:30-19:00: Presentation of pottery and other finds and discussion

If you are interested in participating, please contact: panitz@mail.huji.ac.il

Research Colloquium of the RIAB Minerva Center (aramisrael.org): "(Re)Constructing Identities in... more Research Colloquium of the RIAB Minerva Center (aramisrael.org):
"(Re)Constructing Identities in the Bronze and Iron Ages Levant", 14th November, 2017, Universität Leipzig

Schedule of the 2nd Annual Conference of the Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and ... more Schedule of the 2nd Annual Conference of the Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (RIAB): Ramat-Gan/Jerusalem, March 1-3, 2017

Schedule of the RIAB Minerva Center (aramisrael.org) workshop on archaeological evidence of the H... more Schedule of the RIAB Minerva Center (aramisrael.org) workshop on archaeological evidence of the Hazael Campaign to the South of the Land of Israel/Canaan, January 19, 2017, Bar-Ilan University

Detailed schedule of the 3rd workshop of the Minerva Center for the Relations Between Israel and ... more Detailed schedule of the 3rd workshop of the Minerva Center for the Relations Between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (aramisrael.org), to be held in Leipzig, January 25-26, 2016

Invitation and details on the 2nd workshop of the Minerva Center for the Relations Between Israel... more Invitation and details on the 2nd workshop of the Minerva Center for the Relations Between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (aramisrael.org), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel, Jan. 19, 2016

Initial details on the 1st International Conference of the Minerva Center for the Relations Betwe... more Initial details on the 1st International Conference of the Minerva Center for the Relations Between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (aramisrael.org), to held in Leipzig, on June 5-9, 2016

Review of Biblical Literature, 2019

Maeir, A. M. 2019. Anne-Maria Wittke (ed.), The Early Mediterranean World, 1200-600 BC. Brill's N... more Maeir, A. M. 2019. Anne-Maria Wittke (ed.), The Early Mediterranean World, 1200-600 BC. Brill's New Pauly. Supplements, 9. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2018. Pp. xxi, 593. ISBN 9789004339323. BMCR 2019.11.46

The Pyramid Texts are the oldest body of religious texts, and, in fact, literature in general, kn... more The Pyramid Texts are the oldest body of religious texts, and, in fact, literature in general, known from ancient Egypt. They are inscribed in the tombs of eleven kings and queens from the late Old Kingdom (mainly from the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, but one also from the Eighth Dynasty), located in the royal necropolis of Saqqara. The first group of these texts (and, in fact, their majority) were discovered and published by Gaston Maspero in 1880, and subsequently, a concordance of these texts was published in 1908 by Kurt Sethe. Since then, the ongoing process of excavation, discovery, interpretation, and publication has continued. In fact, the last known text was discovered in 2010, but research on these texts still continues. James P. Allen, among the world's preeminent Egyptologists and currently the Wilbour Professor of Egyptology at Brown University, has long studied the Pyramid Texts, commencing with his 1984 PhD dissertation on the verbal system of these texts. The first edition of the volume under review appeared a decade ago (in 2005), and the many changes and understandings that can be seen between the two versions, result of slightly less than a decade of research, is telling evidence of the vibrant state of the research of the earliest known stage of the written ancient Egyptian language.

The volume under review, the most recent in several very interesting and important volumes that E... more The volume under review, the most recent in several very interesting and important volumes that Edelman and Ben Zvi have edited (whether together or with others), is a collection of excellent and for the most part very sophisticated studies dealing with conceptions of the other (and " Othering ") and the construction of identity in the Second Temple period. While most of the studies deal with the Persian and Hellenistic periods, the Roman period (through a discussion of Qumran) is represented as well, so the Early in the title is perhaps not needed.

The site of Gezer, in central Israel, in the northern Shephelah, straddling the Ayalon and Soreq ... more The site of Gezer, in central Israel, in the northern Shephelah, straddling the Ayalon and Soreq Valleys, has been the focus of archaeological research since the very beginning of the modern study of the Levant. Starting with the excavations conducted by Macalister (1912), followed by Weill (Maeir 2004) and Rowe (1935) (which, unfortunately, were conducted and published at standards far below what was required for significant research), it was only with the American expedition at the site in the 1960s and 1970s that the true significance of the site began to transpire. This latter expedition, conducted in two phases, was carried out on a large scale and over an extensive period.

This review was published by RBL 2013 by the Society of Biblical Literature. For more informatio... more This review was published by RBL 2013 by the Society of Biblical Literature. For more information on obtaining a subscription to RBL, please visit http://www.bookreviews.org/subscribe.asp. character in the use and interpretation of the biblical text-so much so that an overlying tendenz is apparent.

Convegno in onore di prof. Atzeni, 2019

Worked stone in Philistia has been frequently limited to highly visible elements such as column b... more Worked stone in Philistia has been frequently limited to highly visible elements such as column bases, ritual
features such as altars, and pavements. This poster presents a study of a selected group of Iron I monumental
buildings in Areas A and C at the Philistine site of Tell es-Safi/Gath (Israel). These remains can be
potentially situated within the context of what is known about Sea Peoples’ architecture in the Mediterranean
as seen at 12th century “anaktoron” at Pantalica, Sicily. Stratigraphic excavations of the siege tower in the
lower city in Area C at Tell es-Safi/Gath indicate that the tower was built on the foundations of an Iron I
building. This earlier building is interpreted as a temple based on the ceramic and faunal remains associated
with it. The monumentality of the building is indicated by the size of the blocks, three of which were drawn
and cataloged by Hitchcock. Remains of a similarly monumental Iron I wall were uncovered and cataloged
in the final season conducted in Area A at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Although the Area A structure was not
completely excavated, it demonstrates that monumental architecture was more widespread in the early
Philistine period than originally thought.

During the same period (12th century BC) in Sardinia appeared cult buildings such as holy wells and
rectangular temples that had a wide diffusion and frequentation during the Late Bronze Age and the Early
Iron age. According to some scholars, this phenomenon could be linked to a climate change that, between
1550 and 550 a. C., gave rise to a period of drought. This situation, still to be verified about Nuragic
Sardinia, has been documented for the north-western area of the Mediterranean. However, the search for
water as a primary good seems to be the basis of holy well and water temples where the water itself became
the object of cult maybe to prevent a further decrease in water reserves.

The social changes that occurred during the Late Bronze Age led, in some cases, also to the transformation
of Nuraghi into places of cult. The monumentalization of the spring vein present inside the Nuraghe Nurdole
(Orani, NU) occurred during the Final Bronze Age is an example of this phenomenon. The monumentality of
the architectures, realized through the use of large blocks sometimes also carefully worked, continues to be a
peculiarity of the nuragic buildings that are distinguished for their specific physiognomy in the
Mediterranean panorama of the Bronze Age.

Methods: In order to identify the presence of different breeds of sheep (and goats) at Tell es‐Sa... more Methods: In order to identify the presence of different breeds of sheep (and goats) at Tell es‐Safi/Gath, we chose to use 3D Geometric Morphometric (GMM) variation in the astragali. GMM is a far more detailed and precise technique to identify differences in the size and shape of bone elements to identify intra‐species variation (breed). It is a computer‐assisted system that measures distances between discrete anatomical landmarks. Photogrammetric modelling is used to create an accurate 3D digital model of each astragalus. A series of 250‐300 photographs are taken of each astragalus using fixed markers and a turntable to ensure accurate measurements (Fig. A). These are assembled in AgiSoft PhotoScan to form a point cloud (Fig. B) which reproduces the location of each portion of the astragalus and its associated markers in three dimensions. Once the point cloud is built, a mesh is overlaid in Photoscan and the distance between the centre of each marker to its fellow markers is recorded (Fig. C). Landmarks are determined with the use of a statistical program " R " using the GMM package 'geomorph' (Fig. D). The landmark measurements are analysed in multivariate statistical programs to determine differences in size and shape between populations (e.g. Cucchi 2008; Duval et al. 2015; Evin et al. 2013). Measurements obtained from these landmarks are normalized to the same axis of orientation and gross size through a General Procrustus Analysis (GPA) and the shape‐only geometry compared using Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Results: Given the small sample size from Safi, the astragali morphometrics (totality of all landmark measurements) are compared against those of other assemblages to determine the presence of breeds at the site. The initial results suggest that sheep from Safi form a distinct population from those of Titriş Höyük, and that there appear to be 'outlier' sheep present in the initial Safi sample, which may come from different populations to the main group of sheep present at the site. Goat populations do not appear to vary regionally, based upon these initial data. A much larger sample from Safi (currently under analysis) will eventually provide more detailed information about sheep and goat populations at the site. EB III neighbourhood with four houses divided by an alleyway Goal: To be able to determine if there are different sheep and/or goat breeds present at Tell es‐Safi/Gath during the (Early Bronze (EB) III (2850‐2500 BCE) occupation in order to provide insights into the animal husbandry strategies at Tell es‐ Safi/Gath. Will use the ovicaprine remains from the EB occupation at Tell es‐Safi/Gath, Israel. Data: The site of Tell es‐Safi, located in the Shephelah region in Israel, has yielded the remains of an EB neighbourhood with a rich assemblages of animal bones from several houses, courtyards and an adjacent alleyway. This neighbourhood is thought to be a merchant's quarter since it has evidence of extensive trade with the surrounding regions. Using ovicaprine astragali recovered from these deposits, geometric morphometric comparisons were conducted to determine the composition of and changes to sheep and goat breeds during this period. 3D Geometric Morphometrics and Sheep/Goat Breeds in the Early Bronze Age of Tell es‐Safi/Gath A: An example of one of the many photographs taken for photogrammetric modelling, B: The 3D point cloud built in PhotoScan from the series photographs taken. C: Mesh overlaid upon the 3D point cloud to form a model of the photographed astragalus. Measurements between the highlighted markers allow for the calculation of accurate scale (+/‐ 70 microns).

The poster presents the results of a pilot study aimed at identifying techniques used to shape Ea... more The poster presents the results of a pilot study aimed at identifying techniques used to shape Early Bronze III holemouth jars and platters from Tell es-Safi/Gath, Israel. We propose an alternative analytical method for identifying different procedures of vessel forming and manufacture at the mesoscopic scale. Ceramic thick sections are scanned onto a computer using a standard desktop printer scanner to create high-resolution digital images, which are viewed and enhanced using Macnification® software. We demonstrate how this "low-tech" method permits clear and rapid identification of the features indicative of different shaping techniques to complement conventional macroscopic (radiographic) and microscopic (thin section analyses) approaches. The mesoscopic signatures of shaping techniques provides an additional line of evidence to decipher steps in the production chain of hand-built holemouth vessels and platters. This is achieved through profiling the orientation, morphology, and distribution patterns of non-plastics and voids. The examples considered in this study revealed novel structural arrangements of features not previously discussed in the literature on preferred orientation — most of which is suited to radiography at the macroscopic scale of analysis. The results from this analysis evidence a surprising degree of technical diversity and this simple method was particularly effective on the coarse ware fabrics of the holemouths. The pilot study lays the foundation for characterising the technological traditions of ceramic production represented at Tell es-Safi/Gath.

Area F at Tell es-Safi (Biblical Gath) is a controlled stratigraphic trench, excavated into the c... more Area F at Tell es-Safi (Biblical Gath) is a controlled stratigraphic trench, excavated into the cliffside at the uppermost part of the tell, the ancient city's elite zone. The primary purpose of this excavation area is to determine the history and sequence of the tell through all periods. While excavating by means of a stratigraphic trench is a well-known classical approach, the standard 10m wide trench offers only a narrow window through which to understand the material. To avoid sacrificing control in favor of a larger context, the decision was made in 2004 to establish Area F as a 20m wide by 40m long trench. Stretching from the Early Bronze III through the British Mandate period, the 18 distinct stratum in Area F represent the complete historical sequence of Gath and could not have been documented without the increase in the trench area. Indeed, many of the area's most compelling questions, including the Early Bronze fortifications, the complex terrace system, and the disruption caused by the erecting of the Crusader fortress would have remained a mystery. In extending the excavation area outwards, Area F provides Gath with a historical and cultural narrative spanning an unparalleled 5,000 years.

Aegaeum

YouTube, 2023

See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Kfar Aza Oct. 7th massacre, remembering Bi... more See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Kfar Aza Oct. 7th massacre, remembering Bialik's poem - "City of Slaughter". 6th of six clips of my visits there. Hard stuff...
Please share, far and wide!

YouTube, 2023

See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Be'eri, where a ... more See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Be'eri, where a family was killed. 5th of six clips of my visits there. Hard stuff...
Please share, far and wide!

YouTube, 2023

See the 2nd video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Nova music festival. 4... more See the 2nd video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Nova music festival. 4th of six clips of my visits there. Hard stuff...
Please share, far and wide!

YouTube, 2023

See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Kfar Aza, where ... more See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Kfar Aza, where a family was killed. 3rd of six clips of my visits there. Hard stuff...
Please share, far and wide!

YouTube, 2023

See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Be'eri and the e... more See my first hand video testimonial of my visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at Be'eri and the excavations of the remains. 2nd of six clips of my visits there. Hard stuff...
Please share, far and wide!

See my first hand video testimonial of a visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at the Nova Music fe... more See my first hand video testimonial of a visit to the Oct. 7th massacre site at the Nova Music festival. First of six clips of my visits there. Hard stuff...
Please pass on, far and wide!

Personal testimonial of my visit to several of the October 7th, 2023 massacre sites, perpetrated ... more Personal testimonial of my visit to several of the October 7th, 2023 massacre sites, perpetrated by HAMAS, and how archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority helped to identify remains of the victims of these atrocities.

Message to a colleague who didn't check in with me after the October 7th, 2023 massacres, and who... more Message to a colleague who didn't check in with me after the October 7th, 2023 massacres, and who didn't take a stand against the war crimes conducted by HAMAS against Israeli civilians.

Hebrew article in the online paper NRG on ethnoarchaeological perspectives of a feast in Papua Ne... more Hebrew article in the online paper NRG on ethnoarchaeological perspectives of a feast in Papua New Guinea

Participants booklet with schedule, abstracts, venue maps and field trip materials for the partic... more Participants booklet with schedule, abstracts, venue maps and field trip materials for the participants of the 2nd annual conference (March 1-3, 2017) of the Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times (aramisrael.org)

PLoS ONE 18 (10), 2023

Burnt materials are very common in the archaeological record. Their identification and the recons... more Burnt materials are very common in the archaeological record. Their identification and the reconstruction of their firing history are crucial for reliable archaeological interpretations. Commonly used methods are limited in their ability to identify and estimate heating temperatures below ~500⁰C and cannot reconstruct the orientation in which these materials were burnt. Stepwise thermal demagnetization is widely used in archaeomagnetism, but its use for identifying burnt materials and reconstructing paleotemperatures requires further experimental verification. Here we present an experimental test that has indicated that this method is useful for identifying the firing of mud bricks to 190⁰C or higher. Application of the method to oriented samples also enables reconstruction of the position in which they cooled down. Our algorithm for interpreting thermal demagnetization results was tested on 49 miniature sun-dried “mud bricks”, 46 of which were heated to a range of temperatures between 100⁰C to 700⁰C under a controlled magnetic field and three “bricks” which were not heated and used as a control group. The results enabled distinguishing between unheated material and material heated to at least 190⁰C and accurately recovering the minimum heating temperature of the latter. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) on the same materials demonstrated how the two methods complement each other. We implemented the thermal demagnetization method on burnt materials from an Iron Age structure at Tell es-Safi/Gath (central Israel), which led to a revision of the previously published understanding of this archaeological context. We demonstrated that the conflagration occurred within the structure, and not only in its vicinity as previously suggested. We also showed that a previously published hypothesis that bricks were fired in a kiln prior to construction is very unlikely. Finally, we conclude that the destruction of the structure occurred in a single event and not in stages over several decades.

Israel Exploration Journal, 2019

TOC and abstracts of articles in Israel Exploration Journal 69/2 (2019), eds. S. Ahituv, A. Maeir... more TOC and abstracts of articles in Israel Exploration Journal 69/2 (2019), eds. S. Ahituv, A. Maeir and Z. Safrai

Worldwide, human impact on natural landscapes has intensified since prehistoric times, and this i... more Worldwide, human impact on natural landscapes has intensified since prehistoric times, and this is well documented in the global archaeological record. The period between the earliest hominids and the Industrial Revolution of the late 18-19 th centuries is known as the Paleo-Anthropocene. The current study reviews key geoarchaeological, floral and faunal factors of the Paleo-Anthropocene in Israel, an area that has undergone human activities in various intensities since prehistoric times. It discusses significant human imprints on these three features in the Israeli landscape, demonstrating that its current form is almost entirely anthropogenic. Moreover, some of the past physical changes still dynamically shape Israel's zoological, archaeological and geomorphic landscape today. It is hoped that insights from this article might aid in guiding present-day management strategies of undeveloped areas through renewal of human activity guided by traditional knowledge.

Pebble stone installations are commonly found at various Early Bronze Age sites in the southern L... more Pebble stone installations are commonly found at various Early Bronze Age sites in the southern Levant. However, their function is often assumed or unknown. Thirteen circular pebble installations were found scattered throughout a residential neighbourhood dating to the Early Bronze Age III at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Five such installations were recently studied by implementing an integrated micro-archaeological approach by which all micro-and macro-artefacts were analysed using various analytical techniques. Based on the analysis of ash-micro remains identified in the sediments, associated plant remains, flint and pottery, we suggest that these installations were used for food-processing, cooking and/or other domestic low-heat tasks. The installations first appear at Tell es-Safi/Gath during the Early Bronze Age III, and seem to disappear during later periods. The functional roles of these installations are discussed in comparison to finds from other Early Bronze Age sites, and of other food preparation traditions known from other periods and cultures.

In this paper, we present an alternative approach for identifying pottery production groups by cl... more In this paper, we present an alternative approach for identifying pottery production groups by classifying shaping techniques on freshly cut thick sections. We expand existing identification criteria by piloting a new method for characterising vessel structure. We demonstrate how this simple and low-cost method permits clear and rapid identification of the signatures indicative of shaping techniques to complement conventional macroscopic (radiographic) and microscopic (thin section analyses) approaches. Ceramic thick sections are scanned onto a computer using a desktop printer scanner to create high-resolution images, which are enhanced using Photoshop and Macnification® software. Material from Early Bronze Age houses at Tell es-Safi/Gath are used to demonstrate the utility of the method for understanding the domestic economy. We discovered that methods of vessel manufacture were far from homogenous. The paper discusses how shaping techniques intersect with the domestic repertoire to understand how an early urban neighbourhood was supplied with ceramic containers. We propose that this alternative approach has considerable analytic potential for addressing ‘producer specialisation’ at the spatial scale of the household.

Substantial portions of the Hebrew Bible are devoted to the physical description of sacred object... more Substantial portions of the Hebrew Bible are devoted to the physical description of sacred objects and structures. These descriptions are the primary means by which the biblical authors, who do not tend towards abstract theological discourse, express their views of the religious world of ancient Israel, and thus they constitute our most important window into this world. However, these texts are characterized by an abundance of specialized terms and linguistic conventions, mostly lost to us, that have rendered them enigmatic. Recent research has shown that material finds from ancient Egypt and elsewhere in the Near East can help us understand these texts. To fully exploit the explanatory potential of these data, our group will bring together scholars of biblical and cognate texts with those who specialize in material and pictorial remains from ancient Egypt, Israel, and neighboring areas.

ASOR, 2019

Worked stone in Philistia has been frequently limited to highly visible elements such as column b... more Worked stone in Philistia has been frequently limited to highly visible elements such as
column bases, ritual features such as altars, and pavements. This paper presents a study of
a selected group of Iron Age I monumental buildings in Areas A and C at Tell es-
Safi/Gath. These remains can be potentially situated within the context of what is known
about Sea Peoples’ architecture in the Mediterranean as seen at 12th-century “anaktoron”
at Pantalica, Sicily. Stratigraphic excavations of the Iron Age IIB siege tower in the lower
city in Area C at Tell es-Safi/Gath indicate that the tower was built on the foundations of
an earlier Iron Age I building. This earlier building is interpreted as a temple based on the
ceramic and faunal remains associated with it as well as its rectangular layout. The
monumentality of the building is indicated by the size of its blocks, three of which were
drawn and cataloged by Hitchcock. Remains of a similarly monumental Iron Age I wall
were uncovered and catalogued in the final season conducted in Area A at Tell es-
Safi/Gath. Although the Area A structure was not completely excavated, it demonstrates
that monumental architecture was more widespread at early Philistine Gath than
originally thought. In addition, we will argue in this paper that the tradition of worked
masonry survives the Late Bronze to Iron Age transition, and that it was more widespread
than originally thought, by recognizing the western Mediterranean component of the Sea
Peoples’ tradition.

Tel Aviv, 2020

An iron and bronze workshop in the lower city of Tell es-Safi/Gath, dated to the mid-late Iron II... more An iron and bronze workshop in the lower city of Tell es-Safi/Gath, dated to the mid-late Iron IIA, contributes new data on the chronology, organization, and practice of metal production in the urban Philistine setting. Analyses show that iron objects were likely produced and maintained on a large scale, alongside bronze, employing regionally unique forms of crucibles and tuyères. The material culture of metalworking is discussed in relation to contemporaneous iron production sites in the region, building a more robust picture of the adoption of iron metallurgy in the Levant versus the status of bronze and iron.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021

Conclusive evidence has surfaced for the production of iron objects in urban workshops in the Sou... more Conclusive evidence has surfaced for the production of iron objects in urban workshops in the Southern Levant during the early Iron Age. While nearly a dozen sites with metallurgical debris and technical ceramics dating to the 10th-8th c. BCE have contributed to the visibility of the craft, in situ high-temperature installations remain enigmatic in the archaeological record. Our ability to reconstruct the chaîne opératoire of iron production processes within each working context is restricted by the lack of this critical data. In this study we employ methods of experimental archaeology in order to investigate and interpret an assemblage of vitrified technical ceramics found in an early Iron Age metal workshop at the site of Tell es-Safi/Gath situated on the border between the southern coastal plain and the Judean foothills of Israel. As part of a broader research framework, iron smelting experiments were carried out in a simple, clay-built bowl furnace. Materials analogous to the archaeological ceramics were employed to address high temperature alterations occurring in a single installation. Using structural mineralogical and chemical analyses (FTIR, pXRF and SEM-EDS) we characterize the experimental and archaeological technical ceramics to identify the processes that affect and transform these materials during iron production activities. Results were then utilized to interpret production processes and the implementation of technical ceramics in ironworking at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Based on our observations, we address the specialized preparation of technical ceramics in early ironworking, possible reasons for the alteration and preservation of metallurgical installations following their abandonment and attempt to improve the interpretation and classification of vitrified ceramic waste from ancient metallurgical contexts.

Time of Israel, 2023

An imaginary letter I wrote to a colleague who didn't check in with me following the October 7th,... more An imaginary letter I wrote to a colleague who didn't check in with me following the October 7th, 2023 massacres by HAMASisISIS

Times of Israel, 2023

Testimonial of my visit to several sites of the massacres conducted by HAMAS on Oct. 7th, 2023. V... more Testimonial of my visit to several sites of the massacres conducted by HAMAS on Oct. 7th, 2023. Very hard experience - and not an easy read - but very important to understand the depravity and barbarity of these murderous rampages.

Vaknin, Y., Shaar, R., Lipschits, O., Mazar, A., Maeir, A. M., Garfinkel, Y., Freud, L., Faust, A... more Vaknin, Y., Shaar, R., Lipschits, O., Mazar, A., Maeir, A. M., Garfinkel, Y., Freud, L., Faust, A., Tappy, R. E., Kreimerman, I., Ganor, S., Covello-Paran, K., Sergi, O., Herzog, Z., Arav, R., Lederman, Z., Münger, S., Fantalkin, A., Gitin, S., and Ben-Yosef, E. 2022. Reconstructing Biblical Military Campaigns Using Geomagnetic Field Data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119 (44): e2209117119.

Abstract:

The Hebrew Bible and other ancient Near Eastern texts describe Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns to the Southern Levant during the 10th to sixth centuries BCE. Indeed, many destruction layers dated to this period have been unearthed in archaeological excavations. Several of these layers are securely linked to specific campaigns and are widely accepted as chronological anchors. However, the dating of many other destruction layers is often debated, challenging the ability to accurately reconstruct the different military campaigns and raising questions regarding the historicity of the biblical narrative. Here, we present a synchronization of the historically dated chronological anchors and other destruction layers and artifacts using the direction and/or intensity of the ancient geomagnetic field recorded in mud bricks from 20 burnt destruction layers and in two ceramic assemblages. During the period in question, the geomagnetic field in this region was extremely anomalous with rapid changes and high intensity values, including spikes of more than twice the intensity of today’s field. The data are useful in the effort to pinpoint these short-term variations on the timescale, and they resolve chronological debates regarding the campaigns against the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the relationship between the two kingdoms, and their administrations.