Tel Gezer

Israel • June 15-July 17, 2009

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Royal City of Solomon

Mentioned in the Bible as one of the three royal cities fortified by Solomon (1 Kings 9:16-17), the site of Gezer has long attracted the attention of archaeologists and Biblical scholars. The large mound of Tel Gezer (covering over 30 acres) was first excavated by R.A.S. Macalister in the first decade of the 20th century and then witnessed more intensive and scientific excavation in the 1960s and 1970s, led most notably by William Dever.

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Together, these projects revealed an impressive multi-period archaeological site, with over 21 layers of occupation identified, ranging in date form the late Chalcolithic to the Roman period. Among the major finds discovered were a massive Middle Bronze Age fortification system, a standing stone cultic site also from the Middle Bronze Age, a six-chambered Iron Age gate (famously attributed to Solomon), and the Gezer Calendar, one of the earliest known Hebrew inscriptions.

And now with new questions concerning the date and authenticity of the Israelite monarchy and recent concerns about the traditional Iron Age ceramic chronology, Gezer has again become the focus of intensive archaeological excavation. Co-directors Steve Ortiz and Sam Wolff are probing the Iron Age levels of Gezer anew to see if the site can furnish fresh data to help resolve these ongoing archaeological debates. This summer, the excavation will be focused on extending the existing exposure of the Iron Age II “Solomonic” city and its fortifications.

Volunteers on this year’s dig will be housed four to a room at the nearby Neve Shalom Hotel. Rooms are air-conditioned and also are equipped with TVs and refrigerators. Both the hotel lobby and the project’s dig house offer wireless internet access.

Steven Ortiz

The director of the Tel Gezer expedition, Steven Ortiz is Associate Professor of Archaeology and Biblical Backgrounds at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Director of the Charles C. Tandy Archaeology Museum. Dr. Ortiz has also excavated at Tel Dor, Tell el-Hamma, Lachish, Ketef Hinnom, Tel Miqne-Ekron and Tel Zeitah. He began as a volunteer at Tel Dor in 1984.

Dr. Ortiz has given numerous lectures and papers throughout the United States and is currently working on the upcoming publication of Intersections of Archaeology and Biblical Interpretation (projected publication date Spring 2007).

Sam Wolff

Sam Wolff, of the Israeli Antiquity Authority, co-directs the excavations at Tel Gezer and returns to the site nearly 30 years after it was last excavated.