Tel Hazor

The Canaanite city of Hazor is mentioned in the biblical text as the "head of all those kingdoms". Indeed it is the largest biblical site in Israel. The large scale excavations at the site, in the 1950's and in the last 30 years uncovered fortifications and gates, temples and cult areas, houses, and very rich pottery and metal artifacts. About 20 Akkadian inscriptions written on clay tablets were found at Canaanite Hazor.

Hazor at the time of the Kingdom of Israel was a strong fortified city, with city walls, gates and a deep water installation cut in bedrock to water table. A gate with six chambers may be from the time of King Solomon.

 

Tel Abel Beth Maacah

This site is located in Upper Galilee, northern Israel, near Metulla. It controls the ancient international roads in this region, leading to the north, to Syria and Mesopotamia, or to the west, to Lebanon and the Phoenician cost. The site was occupies during the second and first millennia BC. The expedition has specific interest in the remains dated to the Iron Age. These include important remains from the Iron I (time of the Judges) and Iron II (time of the northern Kingdom of Israel). An outstanding discovery made in the last season is a bearded male head made of faience (glazed pottery).

 

Jerusalem

The Institute of Archaeology conducted large scale excavations in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount excavations, Jewish Quarter excavations and City of David. Today intensive archaeological work is devoted to the analysis of the data already uncovered and for the publication of final excavation reports.

New fieldwork is conducted in the Ophel, adjacent to the temple mount. Here rich finds had been uncovered from both: the First Temple period and the Second Tempe period. Among the outstanding discoveries from the First Temple period is a seal impression of Hezekiah, King of Judah. Another outstanding discovery is a hoard of gold objects, including 50 coins and a medallion with the menorah.