Tel HazorIsrael • June 21-July 31, 2009 |
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 The Head of All Those KingdomsFor several millennia during the Bronze and Iron Ages, history tells us that Hazor was the city in northern Palestine and perhaps one of the greatest cities in all of the Eastern Mediterranean. Hazor and its kings are mentioned in the militaristic boasts and diplomatic correspondences of ancient Near Eastern rulers, while the Book of Joshua famously refers to Hazor as “the head” of all the Canaanite kingdoms. Even after the Israelites had conquered and resettled the city, Hazor still dwarfed the rest of the major cities of the Israelite kingdom of David and Solomon, including Jerusalem. Hazor remained a principle settlement in the northern kingdom of Israel until the Assyrian ruler Tiglath-Pileser III destroyed the city in 732 B.C.
Biblical Archaeology: From the Ground Down Survey the remains of a raging fire that destroyed Hazor thousands of years ago. Be there when Hazor volunteers uncover a magnificent prize find, right before your eyes! In this documentary DVD, learn how excavators work and what we can learn from archaeology. More information. Recently named a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hazor is one of the largest archaeological sites in all of Israel, with its great, bottle-shaped mound covering over 200 acres. The site has an upper mound as well as a lower city, and excavations over the decades have revealed 22 strata of occupational debris, the earliest dating to the 18th century B.C. Amidst those layers, archaeologists have uncovered the impressive remains of a grand Canaanite (and then Israelite) city that was once only known from history and the Bible. Among the major discoveries at Hazor have been colossal Canaanite temples and buildings, curious cultic statues and installations, an expansive city water system and a famous monumental six-chamber gate widely attributed to Solomon. This season, dig directors Amnon Ben-Tor and Sharon Zuckerman plan to complete the final phases of excavation of the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze Age Canaanite city, while also uncovering more of the Iron Age town.
Amnon Ben-Tor Amnon Ben-Tor has led the Hazor excavations since 1990. He is the Yigael Yadin Professor in the Archaeology of Eretz Israel at the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a post he has held since 1988. He has participated in digs since 1963 and has spent many seasons at Yoqne’am and Tel Qashish, as well as at Horvat Usa, Tel Yarmuth, Azor, Tel Qiri and Athienou (Cyprus).He co-authored Yoqne’am I: The Late Periods (Jerusalem, 1996) and Tel Qashish, A Village in the Jezreel Valley (Jerusalem, 2003). He recently edited Yoqne’am II: The Iron Age (Jerusalem, 2005) and Yoqne’am III: The Bronze Age (Jerusalem 2005).
Sharon Zuckerman Dr. Sharon Zuckerman is co-director of the Hazor excavations and a lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University. She received a Fulbright Fellowship for Postdoctoral Studies in 2004-2005. |
Dig DirectorsGeographic Location20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee Dates of OccupationBronze and Iron Ages Dates of the DigJune 21-July 31, 2009 Minimum StayThree weeks Application DueMay 2009 Cost$400 per week, $2200 for full six weeks Academic Credit/Cost per Credit/InstitutionYes (up to six credits), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, $120/credit AccommodationsKibbutz Kefar-Hanassi Village Inn ContactSharon Zuckerman Open for toursYes, park open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (with entrance fee) |
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