Yosef Garfinkel | The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (original) (raw)
Papers by Yosef Garfinkel
‘To Aleppo gone…’: Essays in honour of Jonathan N. Tubb, 2023
A letter from R.S. Lamon to J.L. Starkey clarifies how the Megiddo water system was unearthed
Of the numerous Iron Age II (First Temple period) ancient sites across the southern Levant, none... more Of the numerous Iron Age II (First Temple period) ancient sites
across the southern Levant, none has yielded as many inscriptions as
Jerusalem. This abundance manifests in numbers as well as diversity of
forms, media, and subjects. They include personal names and titles of
kings, princes, governors, scribes, priests, sons, daughters, fathers, wives,
and grandfathers (approximately a dozen names are biblically attested)
and feature content of a general historical, geopolitical, financial,
commemorative, and religious nature. These inscriptions broadly span
from the Iron Age IIA to the fall of Jerusalem, ca. 586 BCE. Here, we
review the corpus of provenanced Iron Age II inscriptions from
Jerusalem and conclude that its size and quality demonstrate a significant
literary capacity, the background for the writing of biblical texts.
Scientific Reports, May 6, 2022
Cambridge University Press eBooks, Dec 6, 2017
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, May 1, 1992
The article presents a seal discovered at the Late Neolithic (or Early Chalcolithic) site of ... more The article presents a seal discovered at the Late Neolithic (or Early Chalcolithic)
site of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv. The seal is decorated with concentric circles, and has
close parallels from the n olithique recent layer at Byblos and Layer IV at Ugarit.
Thus, a correlation between the northern, central, and southern Levant at the middle
or end of the fifth millennium B.C.E. may be established
Interdisciplinary contributions to archaeology, 2023
Late Chalcolithic finds were unearthed at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a site overlooking the Valley of Ela... more Late Chalcolithic finds were unearthed at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a site
overlooking the Valley of Elah in Israel’s Judean Shephelah. The small assem
blage includes pottery, flint, a fenestrated basalt chalice, a hematite mace head,
and a limestone seal. These discoveries, as well as fresh data from various
neighboring sites, permit us to add this region to the map of Late Chalcolithic
activities.
Documenta Praehistorica, 2011
Indications for dancing activities in prehistoric Europe appeared as early as modern humans, at t... more Indications for dancing activities in prehistoric Europe appeared as early as modern humans, at the start of the Upper Palaeolithic era. However, only limited data are available for this stage. In the Neolithic period, evidence for dancing appeared at many more sites, but the territory is confined to south-eastern Europe. The dancing in this case is probably part of the ‘Neolithic pack- age’, which diffused from the Near East.
Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology
The earliest fortified sites in the kingdom of Judah in the early 10th century BCE feature a case... more The earliest fortified sites in the kingdom of Judah in the early 10th century BCE feature a casemate city wall lined with an abutting belt of houses, which incorporate the casemates as rear rooms. This urban plan is clearly recognized in the sites of Khirbet Qeiyafa, Tell en-Naṣbeh, Khirbet ed-Dawwara, and, as discussed in detail, Beth Shemesh. Recently, excavations at Lachish, Level V, uncovered a similar pattern comprising a peripheral belt of structures abutting the city wall. This city wall was solid with no casemates. These sites have far-reaching implications for understanding the urbanization process, urban planning, and borders of the earliest phase of the kingdom of Judah.
Bulletin for Biblical Research
International Conference on Archaeology, History and Heritage, 2019
Paléorient, 1987
The widespread use of burnt lime products in the Neolithic villages of the Near East in the seven... more The widespread use of burnt lime products in the Neolithic villages of the Near East in the seventh millennium B.C. is documented from many sites. In order to overcome the chemical and technological obstacles of producing lime, the cooperation of several people is required. The quantitative distribution of burnt lime products between different buildings in the same village can, therefore, reflect social and economic complexities of the community inhabiting it.
Paléorient, 1986
Le site PPNB de Yiftahel en Basse Galilee a livre 8 pieces en obsidienne. Ces obsidiennes furent ... more Le site PPNB de Yiftahel en Basse Galilee a livre 8 pieces en obsidienne. Ces obsidiennes furent analysees par activation neutronique. Leur provenance semble etre le Gollu Dag attestant des contacts culturels entre la Basse-Galilee et l'Anatolie Centrale.
Journal of Field Archaeology, 2002
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2001
... Biblical Archaeologist 58: 2-13. Banning, EB; Rahimi, D.; and Siggers, J. 1994 The Late Neoli... more ... Biblical Archaeologist 58: 2-13. Banning, EB; Rahimi, D.; and Siggers, J. 1994 The Late Neolithic of the Southern Levant: Hiatus, Settlement Shift or Observer Bias? ... 1994 The History of the Chalcolithic Settlement in the Nahal Beer Sheva Area: The Radiocarbon Aspect. ...
Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology, 2021
This introduction presents a context for the collection of 15 articles published in the first vol... more This introduction presents a context for the collection of 15 articles published in the first volume of the new journal: Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology. These publications are the outcome of the conference on state formation processes in the 10th century BCE Levant
Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 1998
Dancing is depicted in the earliest art of the ancient Near East. It appears in many variations f... more Dancing is depicted in the earliest art of the ancient Near East. It appears in many variations from the ninth to the sixth millennium BP over a vast geographical range. This article discusses the dancing performance, the social context of the dance and cognitive aspects of the dancing scenes. Ethnographic observations are used in order to gain a wider view of dancing and dancing scenes in pre-state societies. A correlation can be observed between art, symbolism, religion and social organization.
‘To Aleppo gone…’: Essays in honour of Jonathan N. Tubb, 2023
A letter from R.S. Lamon to J.L. Starkey clarifies how the Megiddo water system was unearthed
Of the numerous Iron Age II (First Temple period) ancient sites across the southern Levant, none... more Of the numerous Iron Age II (First Temple period) ancient sites
across the southern Levant, none has yielded as many inscriptions as
Jerusalem. This abundance manifests in numbers as well as diversity of
forms, media, and subjects. They include personal names and titles of
kings, princes, governors, scribes, priests, sons, daughters, fathers, wives,
and grandfathers (approximately a dozen names are biblically attested)
and feature content of a general historical, geopolitical, financial,
commemorative, and religious nature. These inscriptions broadly span
from the Iron Age IIA to the fall of Jerusalem, ca. 586 BCE. Here, we
review the corpus of provenanced Iron Age II inscriptions from
Jerusalem and conclude that its size and quality demonstrate a significant
literary capacity, the background for the writing of biblical texts.
Scientific Reports, May 6, 2022
Cambridge University Press eBooks, Dec 6, 2017
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, May 1, 1992
The article presents a seal discovered at the Late Neolithic (or Early Chalcolithic) site of ... more The article presents a seal discovered at the Late Neolithic (or Early Chalcolithic)
site of Herzliya, near Tel Aviv. The seal is decorated with concentric circles, and has
close parallels from the n olithique recent layer at Byblos and Layer IV at Ugarit.
Thus, a correlation between the northern, central, and southern Levant at the middle
or end of the fifth millennium B.C.E. may be established
Interdisciplinary contributions to archaeology, 2023
Late Chalcolithic finds were unearthed at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a site overlooking the Valley of Ela... more Late Chalcolithic finds were unearthed at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a site
overlooking the Valley of Elah in Israel’s Judean Shephelah. The small assem
blage includes pottery, flint, a fenestrated basalt chalice, a hematite mace head,
and a limestone seal. These discoveries, as well as fresh data from various
neighboring sites, permit us to add this region to the map of Late Chalcolithic
activities.
Documenta Praehistorica, 2011
Indications for dancing activities in prehistoric Europe appeared as early as modern humans, at t... more Indications for dancing activities in prehistoric Europe appeared as early as modern humans, at the start of the Upper Palaeolithic era. However, only limited data are available for this stage. In the Neolithic period, evidence for dancing appeared at many more sites, but the territory is confined to south-eastern Europe. The dancing in this case is probably part of the ‘Neolithic pack- age’, which diffused from the Near East.
Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology
The earliest fortified sites in the kingdom of Judah in the early 10th century BCE feature a case... more The earliest fortified sites in the kingdom of Judah in the early 10th century BCE feature a casemate city wall lined with an abutting belt of houses, which incorporate the casemates as rear rooms. This urban plan is clearly recognized in the sites of Khirbet Qeiyafa, Tell en-Naṣbeh, Khirbet ed-Dawwara, and, as discussed in detail, Beth Shemesh. Recently, excavations at Lachish, Level V, uncovered a similar pattern comprising a peripheral belt of structures abutting the city wall. This city wall was solid with no casemates. These sites have far-reaching implications for understanding the urbanization process, urban planning, and borders of the earliest phase of the kingdom of Judah.
Bulletin for Biblical Research
International Conference on Archaeology, History and Heritage, 2019
Paléorient, 1987
The widespread use of burnt lime products in the Neolithic villages of the Near East in the seven... more The widespread use of burnt lime products in the Neolithic villages of the Near East in the seventh millennium B.C. is documented from many sites. In order to overcome the chemical and technological obstacles of producing lime, the cooperation of several people is required. The quantitative distribution of burnt lime products between different buildings in the same village can, therefore, reflect social and economic complexities of the community inhabiting it.
Paléorient, 1986
Le site PPNB de Yiftahel en Basse Galilee a livre 8 pieces en obsidienne. Ces obsidiennes furent ... more Le site PPNB de Yiftahel en Basse Galilee a livre 8 pieces en obsidienne. Ces obsidiennes furent analysees par activation neutronique. Leur provenance semble etre le Gollu Dag attestant des contacts culturels entre la Basse-Galilee et l'Anatolie Centrale.
Journal of Field Archaeology, 2002
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2001
... Biblical Archaeologist 58: 2-13. Banning, EB; Rahimi, D.; and Siggers, J. 1994 The Late Neoli... more ... Biblical Archaeologist 58: 2-13. Banning, EB; Rahimi, D.; and Siggers, J. 1994 The Late Neolithic of the Southern Levant: Hiatus, Settlement Shift or Observer Bias? ... 1994 The History of the Chalcolithic Settlement in the Nahal Beer Sheva Area: The Radiocarbon Aspect. ...
Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology, 2021
This introduction presents a context for the collection of 15 articles published in the first vol... more This introduction presents a context for the collection of 15 articles published in the first volume of the new journal: Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology. These publications are the outcome of the conference on state formation processes in the 10th century BCE Levant
Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 1998
Dancing is depicted in the earliest art of the ancient Near East. It appears in many variations f... more Dancing is depicted in the earliest art of the ancient Near East. It appears in many variations from the ninth to the sixth millennium BP over a vast geographical range. This article discusses the dancing performance, the social context of the dance and cognitive aspects of the dancing scenes. Ethnographic observations are used in order to gain a wider view of dancing and dancing scenes in pre-state societies. A correlation can be observed between art, symbolism, religion and social organization.
This volume presents the data and analyses of the ground-stone assemblage from the renewed excava... more This volume presents the data and analyses of the ground-stone assemblage from the renewed excavations at the Pottery Neolithic site of Sha‘ar Hagolan, a Yarmukian culture site in the Jordan Valley of Israel, dated to ca. 8,400-8,000 CalBP During the excavation at the site, conducted over eleven excavation seasons (in the years 1989-1990 and 1996-2004), hundreds of ground-stone implements were unearthed. These items are at the focus of this monograph, aims at presenting their characteristics and discussing their significance to our understanding of the Pottery Neolithic period of the southern Levant.
From time to time in archaeological research, a single find is able to illuminate and clarify an ... more From time to time in archaeological research, a single find is able to illuminate and clarify an entire world. We have had this privilege with the discovery of such a find in our excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa: a model of an elaborate stone-carved structure dated to the early tenth century BCE, i.e., from the time of King David. The very fact that this object was carved in stone is unusual, because such objects found so far had been fashioned out of clay by potters. The fact that our item was made by an expert stoneworker reveals the great importance that was attached to it in antiquity. The structure had an ornate façade in which a number of architectural elements that are typical of biblical-period royal construction were chiseled. Structures with similar façades are known from archaeological sites and from artistic depictions uncovered in Mesopotamia, Turkey, Syria and Cyprus. But our find, from the Kingdom of Judah, predates these examples by some 150–200 years. As we studied the architectural style represented in the model, it emerged to our surprise that it also reflects a number of components that appear in the biblical description of Solomon’s palace and even the biblical description of the First Temple. Moreover, this model also displays architectural elements that appeared centuries later in the Second Temple.
conference announcement, 2019
The study of this 10th century (or the Iron I - Iron II transition) in the Levant seems to have r... more The study of this 10th century (or the Iron I - Iron II transition) in the Levant seems to have reached a stalemate, with different "schools" simply repeating claims and countering their opponents' claims. The aim of the workshop, therefore, is not to repeat the maximalist-minimalist debate, but rather to allow different scholars to present possible "positive" reconstructions of the reality at the time, either based on the finds from a certain site, region, or wider synthesis.The workshop will therefore bring together a group of leading scholars in order to present new data and new synthesis concerning the 10th century BCE, or on the nature of the Iron I-Iron II transition.