Casey Sharp | University of Haifa (original) (raw)

Papers by Casey Sharp

Palestine Exploration Quarterly, 2017

This study presents a late 19th to early 18th cent. BCE, MBIIA settlement in the immediate vicini... more This study presents a late 19th to early 18th cent. BCE, MBIIA settlement in the immediate vicinity of Tel Nami on the Carmel Coast of Israel. Site 104-106 has been all but destroyed by modern agricultural activity as well as quarrying, but a large number of ceramics and small finds were salvaged during a 1985-6 survey of Tel Nami's hinterland as well as subsequent geoarchaeological research of the area. Little of the site remains, and the current study functionally amounts to a salvage project for an MBIIA coastal site, which was mentioned in an earlier survey. Geomorphology reveals how the sandstone Kurkar ridges in this area of the coast governed the dynamic relationship between Tel Nami and its hinterland. Comparable ceramic chronology for Site 104-106 presented derives from Aphek-Antipatris, Megiddo, Kabri, Tel Ifshar, Tel Nami itself, and other MBIIA coastal sites of the Southern Levant. The ceramics include well-produced local wares as well as imports from coastal Lebanon, Syria, and Cyprus confirmed by Petrographic analyses. Finds suggest a small agro-industrial site in the immediate periphery of the coastal Tel Nami.

The excavations at Tel Burna (southern Israel) have exposed a large public building where cultic ... more The excavations at Tel Burna (southern Israel) have exposed a large public building where cultic activity took place. The finds that were recovered in this complex include imported artifcats from the eastern Mediterranean. In this paper, we will present these finds and discuss how they reflect trade and foreign connections with the eastern Mediterranean to the Southern Levant in the 13th century BCE, as well as their importance for understanding the local material culture and ritual activity.

Near Eastern Archaeology, 2020

Tel Burna is located in the southern Shephelah in modern-day southern Israel. Work at the site ha... more Tel Burna is located in the southern Shephelah in modern-day southern Israel. Work at the site has revealed remains dating to the Late Bronze II through the Persian period with peaks of activity during the Late Bronze and Iron Age IIA–B. Occupation reached its apex at the site during the Late Bronze Age, when both the summit and the lower plateau were inhabited. An impressive cultic enclosure, with numerous items related to ritual activities, dating to the Late Bronze was excavated in Area B1, on the lower platform. Excavations of the summit have exposed a well-fortified casemate wall (70 × 70 m) dating to the Iron II. This occupation is clearly related to the kingdom of Judah and it appears that Tel Burna was built as a border site between the largest cities in the region, namely, Philistine Gath and Judahite Lachish.

Judea and Samaria Research Studies, 2020

In the summer of 2015, the Tel Burna Excavation Project in Israel opened Area C, with the goal of... more In the summer of 2015, the Tel Burna Excavation Project in Israel opened Area C, with the goal of better understanding the adjacent agricultural areas. During the 2015 and 2016 seasons, installations of various sizes and shapes were found carved out of the limestone bedrock. Although some Byzantine and Persian occupation is known at the site, survey results from this area demonstrate the predominance of Bronze Age occupations and Iron Age II finds concurrent with excavated areas on the tell. Rock-cut installations revealed exclusively Bronze and Iron Age finds. Finds on the limestone bedrock surface included basalt grinding stones, flint blades, and several incomplete ceramic vessels from the Late Bronze IIB and Iron Age II. Although the lack of architecture and stratified contexts obscures an exact dating, ceramic finds suggest that these agricultural installations were used and reused throughout the occupation of Tel Burna. The results from Area C provide insights into the agricultural economy of the Bronze and Iron Age Shephelah.

Journal of Landscape Ecology, 2017

The Shephelah, known as the breadbasket of the southern Levant, is one of the more extensively in... more The Shephelah, known as the breadbasket of the southern Levant, is one of the more extensively investigated regions of the southern Levant in terms of archaeobotanical research. However, studies dealing with agriculture are scarce in comparison to the archaeobotanical data available. The analysis of the archaeobotanical assemblage in combination with the archaeological remains from Tel Burna will contribute to the investigation of the agriculture of the Shephelah. Several seasons of excavation revealed a cultic complex dating to the Late Bronze Age and an Iron Age II settlement with various agricultural installations such as silos and wine or olive presses. In this paper, we present the agricultural features in conjunction with the systematical archaeobotanical sampling, which enables us to reconstruct the types of crop plants cultivated at the site. Grass pea seeds dominate the assemblage collected from the Late Bronze Age complex, which may point to a connection to the Aegean. The Iron Age assemblage is distinguished by a significantly broad range of crop plants which were cultivated in vicinity of the tell. The archaeological Iron Age remains indicate that the processing of secondary products such as olive oil, wine, or textiles took place within the Iron Age settlement of Tel Burna. This first comprehensive overview describes the character of agricultural production in the Late Bronze Age to Iron Age environmental and geopolitical transformations.

This study presents a late 19th to early 18th cent. BCE, MBIIA settlement in the immediate vicini... more This study presents a late 19th to early 18th cent. BCE, MBIIA settlement in the immediate vicinity of Tel Nami on the Carmel Coast of Israel. Site 104–106 has been all but destroyed by modern agricultural activity as well as quarrying, but a large number of ceramics and small finds were salvaged during a 1985–6 survey of Tel Nami’s hinterland as well as subsequent geoarchaeological research of the area. Little of the site remains, and the current study functionally amounts to a salvage project for an MBIIA coastal site, which was mentioned in an earlier survey. Geomorphology reveals how the sandstone Kurkar ridges in this area of the coast governed the dynamic relationship between Tel Nami and its hinterland. Comparable ceramic chronology for Site 104– 106 presented derives from Aphek-Antipatris, Megiddo, Kabri, Tel Ifshar, Tel Nami itself, and other MBIIA coastal sites of the Southern Levant. The ceramics include well-produced local wares as well as imports from coastal Lebanon, Syria, and Cyprus confirmed by Petrographic analyses. Finds suggest a small agro-industrial site in the immediate periphery of the coastal Tel Nami.

Four figurines were discovered in Late Bronze Age IIB Tel Burna in the Judean Shephelah. The figu... more Four figurines were discovered in Late Bronze Age IIB Tel Burna in the Judean Shephelah. The figurines come from a large public building that probably had a cultic function. These include a rare Revadim-type plaque figurine, a nude female plaque figurine, a Mycenaean- style bull figurine, and the head of an equine figurine. Their iconography represents a cross section of Egyptian, Mycenaean, Mesopotamian, and local traditions, illustrating the syncretism of Canaanite religion at the site.

Conference Papers by Casey Sharp

The Hebrew Bible describes two main forms of altars, and these forms indicate rival traditions pr... more The Hebrew Bible describes two main forms of altars, and these forms indicate rival traditions preserved in the same canon. The current study examines biblical legislation relating to altars and their archaeological parallels in the Iron II at sites such as Arad, Megiddo, Lachish, Dan, Be’er Sheva, Ekron, Ashkelon, Akko, and Tel Motza. Exod 20:24-26 and Deut 27:5-6 describe simple altars made of uncut fieldstones while the Priestly source of Exod 27:1-8 describes a more ornate four-horned and bronze-plated altar. These forms draw on a stock of older altar forms and general Iron II cultic practices in the attempt to establish the norms of ancient Israelite religion. References to these forms continue in the Deuteronomistic History (DtrH) and Chronicles, with earthen altars favored in DtrH and metal plated four horned altars exclusively mentioned in Chronicles, Ezekiel, and texts that emphasize the priesthood of Aaron. This interdisciplinary study employs Fredrik Barth’s theory of ethnogenesis by which ethnic and religious groups define themselves in their difference with other groups. The archaeological analysis of well identified altars shows that both forms fit in the Iron II, and the rivalry and influence of other cultic centers in the Northern Kingdom, Judah, and Philistia may have contributed to the formation of both altar traditions. The current study situates altars within the Documentary Hypothesis, synthesizes archaeological information on altars, and illustrates how the text could be reflected in the cultic milieu of Iron II Judah, Philistia, and the Northern Kingdom.

Archaeological fieldwork can provide a powerful opportunity for dialogue between stakeholders in ... more Archaeological fieldwork can provide a powerful opportunity for dialogue between stakeholders in ethnic and territorial conflicts. The highly physical and complex nature of archaeological fieldwork requires cooperation and problem solving, attributes that also foster camaraderie and lasting relationships. Founded on this premise, the Society for Humanitarian Archaeological Research and Exploration (SHARE) seeks to actively engage young people in conflict zones through archaeology, giving them the opportunity to engage with the past, the present, and one another in neutral settings.

Since 2012, SHARE’s “Common Ground” initiative in Israel/Palestine has provided fellowships for Palestinian, Israeli, and American volunteers to participate in joint excavations, fieldtrips, and educational programs at the city of Ashkelon, Israel. In 2013, the program expanded to engage Jewish and Arab Israeli youth in the city of Akko, providing opportunities for dialogue at the community level. Building on these successful seasons, SHARE plans to open a third program for local youth through excavations in Jaffa.

As a non-partisan organization, SHARE has no political or religious affiliation. Our participant driven programs provide structure and opportunities for engagement rather than dictating the terms of interaction. This unique approach has proven highly successful, receiving broad support from academic, non-profit, and private institutions across the region. This paper presents the philosophy, approach, and results of the 2012-2014 “Common Ground” initiative with the hope of stimulating further interest and discussion about how community archaeology and the study of the past may be used to address conflict in the present, and find solutions for the future.

The following paper examines four Late Bronze Age figurines from Tel Burna in the Judean Shephela... more The following paper examines four Late Bronze Age figurines from Tel Burna in the Judean Shephelah (Sharp et al. in preparation). All four were discovered in Area B1 at Tel Burna, which contains a large 13th cent. structure with a central courtyard measuring approximately 20 x 23 m (Building 29305). While it is too early to speak with certainty regarding the general function of the structure, several elements suggest that cultic activity was practiced along the western side of the courtyard. The current study examines the history and iconography of the four figurines of Area B1 as well as their relation to the syncretic religious practices of the Bronze Age southern Levant.

Tel Burna was settled from the Early Bronze Age until the Iron II period (c. 3300-586 BCE). Located on the bank of the Nahal Guvrin, the surrounding region includes the sites of Maresha, Tel Zayit, Gezer, Beth-Shemesh, Tell es-Safi/Gath, Azekah, Lachish, and Tel ‘Eton. The initial surface survey of Tel Burna in 2009 indicated extensive occupation in the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, which has been confirmed by subsequent excavation (Uziel and Shai 2010; Shai and Uziel 2014; McKinny et. al 2015). In Area B1 of the lower tel we uncovered large amounts of locally made goblets and chalices, Cypriot imports of many different types, a cylinder seal, an Egyptian scarab, fragments of two ceramic masks, a large amount of animal bones, and two Cypriot pithoi with a capacity of c. 200 l (Shai et al. in preparation). Three small Cypriot votive vessels and fragments of Cypriot zoomorphic vessels were also uncovered along with the four figurines, which include two different types of plaque figurines, the head of an equine figurine, and a Mycenaean style bull figurine.

The structure and its remains were found merely a few centimeters under topsoil in the lower area of the tell, which is west of the Iron II fortifications and buildings (Areas A1, A2, and B2 on the acropolis). It is odd that Area B1 contains so little from the Iron Age despite multiple levels of extensive Iron Age occupation on top of the tell. It is worth noting that Area B1 is on the western side of Tel Burna within view of Philistine Gath, and a lack of buildup on this side of the tell during the Iron II may have been intentional and strategic at a time when the site functioned as a Judahite fortress on the border with Philistia. The Late Bronze occupation of Area B1 rests directly on bedrock, which was utilized as a surface. Uneven areas of bedrock and cracks in the stone were filled in and/or paved with stones to create a flat surface. Deeper cracks and depressions in the bedrock contained fill with a notable amount of Early and Middle Bronze Age ceramics. We have yet to encounter any EB and MB ceramics in situ, but we will most likely encounter these occupation levels in future seasons as we continue to excavate the western slope of the tell moving east from Area B1 towards Area A1 on the acropolis.

The Late Bronze Age figurines of Area B1 will be presented in their regional, chronological, and iconographic context. This assemblage of four figurines will provide an introduction to Tel Burna’s late 13th century occupation as well as the probable religious function of Building 29305. The Revadim type plaque figurine from Area B1 is the forth example of its kind. It shows a nude woman with her hands at opening her vulva and two “twins” at her breasts. The Revadim type probably had some kourotrophic (child-bearing) function, and its iconography reveals a mixture of Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and local elements (Ornan 2007). A Mycenaean style bull figurine from Area B1 is likewise rare, and it is contrasted with known parallels at Tel Dan and Tel Abu Hawam (Biran 1994; Hamilton 1935). A second fragmentary zoomorphic figurine from Area B1 depicts the head of an equid, and this example is related to nearby comparisons from Lachish and Ashkelon (Kletter 2004; Press 2012). The fourth and final figurine is a nude female plaque figurine of the same variety as those commonly found in the Late Bronze Age Levant, which show a mixture of Egyptian and Mesopotamian symbolism (Keel 1998; Tadmor 1982). Like the overall ceramic assemblage, these four figurines show a cross section of local and imported traditions and influences in the rich Late Bronze IIB level of Tel Burna.

Works Cited
-Biran, A., (1994). Biblical Dan (Jerusalem).
-Hamilton, R.W., (1935). ‘Excavations at Tel Abu Hawam.’ Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities of Palestine IV: 1-69.
-Keel, O., and Uehlinger, C., (1998). Gods, Goddesses, and Images of God in Ancient Israel (Minneapolis).
-Kletter, R., (2004). ‘Section D: Clay Figurines,” Pp. 1572-1583 in D. Ussishkin (ed.), The Renewed Archaeological Excavations at Lachish (1973-1994) (Tel Aviv).
-McKinny, C. Cassuto, D., and Shai, I., (2015) ‘The Late Bronze and Iron Age Remains After Five Seasons,’ The Bible and Interpretation April.
-Ornan, T., (2007). ‘Labor Pangs: The Revadim Plaque Type,’ Pp. 215-235 in Bickel, S., Schroer, S., Schurte, R., and C. Uehlinger (eds.), Images as Sources: Studies on ancient Near Eastern artefacts and the Bible inspired by the work of Othmar Keel (Fribourg).
-Shai, I. and Uziel, J., (2014). ‘Addressing Survey Methodology in the Southern Levant: Applying Different Methods for the Survey of Tel Burna, Israel,’ Israel Exploration Journal 64(2): 172-190.
-Tadmor, M., (1982). ‘Female Cult Figurines in Late Canaan and Early Israel: Archaeological Evidence,’ Pp. 139-173 in T. Ishida (ed.), Studies in the Period of David and Solomon and Other Essays (Winona Lake, Indiana).
-Uziel, J. and Shai, I., (2010). ‘The Settlement History of Tel Burna: Results of the Surface Survey,’ Tel Aviv 37(2): 227-245.

Theses by Casey Sharp

The current study reviews the 1985-6 land survey of Tel Nami’s hinterland, as well as ceramics lo... more The current study reviews the 1985-6 land survey of Tel Nami’s hinterland, as well as ceramics located at the site in 2012, during a Ground Penetrating Radar project, with special attention to an MBIIa settlement approximately 700m southeast of the tel. The site was designated as areas 104-106 in the survey, and material from subsequent research on this area is also presented. Site 104-106 appears to encompass an MBIIa settlement that is concurrent with the main Middle Bronze Age period excavated on Tel Nami, which dates to the very end of the MBIIa. The most useful comparable ceramic chronology for Site 104-106 comes from Aphek.-Antipatris. Megiddo, new material from Tel Ifshar, and other coastal MBIIa sites provide additional ceramic correlation. The rich assemblage of Site 104-106 includes well-produced local wares as well as imports from coastal Lebanon, northern coastal Syria, and Cyprus. Finds suggest an agro-industrial site, which benefited from the far-reaching trade connections of the anchorage at Tel Nami. The study of the geomorphology of the area is also considered and reveals how the sandstone Kurkar ridges in this area of the Carmel Coast governed the dynamic relationship between Tel Nami and its hinterland. Petrographic analysis of select sherds provides additional confirmation of local manufacture as well as imports for the MBIIa material at Site 104-106, which includes Levantine Painted Ware, Tell el-Yahudiyeh Ware, and an abundance of red slip burnished wares. An overview of previous research on the area is presented, which provides some information on the site before it was destroyed by recent agricultural activity. Following Ground Penetrating Radar study, it became clear that very little or even none of the original site remains undamaged, and the current research presents what functionally amounts to a salvage mission as much as an archaeological survey.

The Hebrew Bible describes numerous forms of altars. Discoveries in the archaeology of Israel hav... more The Hebrew Bible describes numerous forms of altars. Discoveries in the archaeology of Israel have provided new data for the comparison of altars in the text and what is known archaeologically. The current study begins by examining altars in the text's various sources. Exod 20:24-26 and Deut 27:5-6 describe simple altars made of uncut fieldstones. The Priestly source in Exod 27:1-8 describes a more ornate four-horned and bronze-plated altar. These two forms represent competing practices that are defined in their difference with one another and the general Iron Age cultic climate in which these traditions developed. They also draw on a stock of older altar forms in the establishment of norms in ancient Israelite religion. This study employs Fredrik Barth's theory of ethnogenesis by which ethnic groups define themselves in their difference with other groups. The textual analysis of these verses shows this process in the formation of ancient Israelite religion. This is supported by references to various altars outside of the Pentateuch and the correlation with archaeological evidence further supports this hypothesis.

Other by Casey Sharp

A Medium blog for popular audiences on biblical studies, archaeology, and their relation to curre... more A Medium blog for popular audiences on biblical studies, archaeology, and their relation to current events.

Talks by Casey Sharp

An interview with the You Don't Know Me Podcast about archaeology in the Holy Land

Palestine Exploration Quarterly, 2017

Near Eastern Archaeology, 2020

Judea and Samaria Research Studies, 2020

Journal of Landscape Ecology, 2017

This study presents a late 19th to early 18th cent. BCE, MBIIA settlement in the immediate vicini... more This study presents a late 19th to early 18th cent. BCE, MBIIA settlement in the immediate vicinity of Tel Nami on the Carmel Coast of Israel. Site 104–106 has been all but destroyed by modern agricultural activity as well as quarrying, but a large number of ceramics and small finds were salvaged during a 1985–6 survey of Tel Nami’s hinterland as well as subsequent geoarchaeological research of the area. Little of the site remains, and the current study functionally amounts to a salvage project for an MBIIA coastal site, which was mentioned in an earlier survey. Geomorphology reveals how the sandstone Kurkar ridges in this area of the coast governed the dynamic relationship between Tel Nami and its hinterland. Comparable ceramic chronology for Site 104– 106 presented derives from Aphek-Antipatris, Megiddo, Kabri, Tel Ifshar, Tel Nami itself, and other MBIIA coastal sites of the Southern Levant. The ceramics include well-produced local wares as well as imports from coastal Lebanon, Syria, and Cyprus confirmed by Petrographic analyses. Finds suggest a small agro-industrial site in the immediate periphery of the coastal Tel Nami.

An interview with the You Don't Know Me Podcast about archaeology in the Holy Land