Perhaps no other Philistine city can be so closely associated with the earliest lore of the Israelite tribes as Tell es-Safi, believed to be Biblical Gath. The Bible describes Gath as one of the five cities of the Philistines and the home of the giant Goliath. David fled to the city of Gath when he was being chased by the vengeful Saul, and the Ark of the Covenant was said to have been brought here when it was captured by the Philistines during the battle of Ebenezer. Without question, the Philistines of Gath were key players in the formation of Israelite identity.

Archaeology is now helping to reveal a great deal about the archenemies of Samuel, Saul and David and, in excavating at Tell es-Safi this summer (one of the largest archaeological sites in southern Israel), you too can explore the remnants of one of the most fascinating peoples from the Bible. In past seasons, the Tell es-Safi excavations have uncovered important evidence for the Philistine occupation of the site, including houses, cultic finds, rare Philistine burials and the so-called “Goliath” inscription—a small sherd inscribed with two non-Semitic names possibly related to the name Goliath. Excavations into the Iron Age II levels have also revealed evidence of the destruction wrought by King Hazael of Damascus during the late ninth century B.C.E. and the massive siege system he employed to conquer the site.

During the 2009 dig campaign, director Aren Maeir of Bar-Ilan University will continue to expose the Philistine levels at the site but will also dig deeper into the great mound of Tell es-Safi, exposing archaeological features from the Early Bronze, Middle Bronze, and Late Bronze Ages. Volunteers will be housed in comfortable “Zimmer”-like accommodations near the site. Rooms have private bath and air conditioning.

Aren Maeir, a former captain in the Israeli army, heads the excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath, which began in 1996. He has also excavated at Hazor, Beth Shean and Qasile and directed archaeological excavations and surveys in Jerusalem (the Western Wall Tunnels, Mamilla, Kikar Safra, Malha), the Beth Shean Valley and Tel Yavneh. He is currently chairman of the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University.

Dr. Maeir has published more than 80 studies, both popular and scholarly, and recently authored Bronze and Iron Age Tomb Finds at Tel Gezer, Israel (Archaeopress, 2004).