Ashkelon

From ArchaeoWiki

Ashkelon (Hebrew: Tel Ashqelon; Greek: ’Ασκαλων; Latin: Ascalon) is an important archaeological site situated on the east Mediterranean coast of the southern Levant, some 63 km south of Tel Aviv and 16 km north of Gaza [map reference 107/119].

Contents 1 Excavation 1.1 Areas of Excavation 2 Publication 3 Bibliography 3.1 Excavation Reports 3.2 Derivative Studies 4 External links

Excavation

The first phase of the current Ashkelon excavations (subsequently known as "the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon") started in 1985 and ended in 2006. This phase of excavation was conducted under the auspices of Harvard University and given considerable financial support by Leon Levy.

The second phase of the current excavations was initiated in 2007 under the field direction of Daniel Master.

Areas of Excavation

The area designated the North Slope was investigated from 1986 until 1998, seeking to understand the fortification systems of the ancient city.

Publication

A total of ten volumes is planned for the first phase of the current excavations. The first two volumes appeared in 2008, somewhat alleviating criticism of the expedition for failure to publish any final reports within two decades of excavation.

Bibliography

Excavation Reports

• Johnson, Barbara L. [2008], Ashkelon 2: Imported Pottery of the Roman and Late Roman Periods, [Final Reports of The Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon 2], Winona Lake: Harvard Semitic Museum / Eisenbrauns, 2008. ISBN 9781575069302

• Stager, Lawrence E., Schloen, J. David and Master, Daniel M. (eds) [2008], Ashkelon 1: Introduction and Overview (1985-2006), [Final Reports of The Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon 1], Winona Lake: Harvard Semitic Museum / Eisenbrauns, 2008. ISBN 9781575069296

Derivative Studies

• Baker, Jill L. [2006], "The Funeral Kit: A Newly Defined Canaanite Mortuary Practice Based on the Middle and Late Bronze Age Tomb Complex at Ashkelon", Levant 38 (2006), pp.1-31.

• Bietak, Manfred [2003], "Temple or 'Bet Marzeah'?", in Dever, W.G. and Gitin, S. (eds), Symbiosis, Symbolism and the Power of the Past: Canaan, Ancient Israel, and Their Neighbours from the Late Bronze Age through Roman Palaestina - Proceedings of the Centennial Symposium, W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research and American Schools of Oriental Research, Jerusalem, May 29/31, 2000, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2003, pp.155-168. ISBN 1575060817

• Bietak, Manfred, Kopetzky, Karin and Stager, Lawrence E. [2005], "Stratigraphie comparée nouvelle: The Synchronisation of Ashkelon and Tell el-Dabʿa", in Thalmann, J.-P. and de Miroschedji, P. (eds), ICAANE 3, Paris, 2005, pp.??-??.

• Cross, Frank Moore [1996], "A Philistine Ostracon From Ashkelon", BAR 22 (Jan/Feb 1996), pp.64-65.

• Cross, Frank Moore and Stager, Lawrence E. [2006], “Cypro-Minoan Inscriptions Found in Ashkelon”, IEJ 56.2 (2006), pp.129-159.

• Esse, Douglas [1992], "Ashkelon", Anchor Bible Dictionary, volume I, 1992, pp.477-490.

• Hesse, B. and Wapnish, Paula [1996], "Pigs' Feet, Cattle Bones and Birds' Wings", BAR 22 (Jan/Feb 1996), p.62.

• Johnson, B. and Stager, L.E. [1995], "Ashkelon: Wine Emporium of the Holy Land", Recent Excavations in Israel, [Boston: AIA Colloquia and Conference Papers 1], 1995, pp.95-109

• Lass, E. [1994], "Quantitative Studies in Flotation at Ashkelon, 1986 to 1988", BASOR 294 (1994), pp.23-38.

• Master, Daniel M. [2005], “Iron I Chronology at Ashkelon - Preliminary Results of the Leon Levy Expedition”, Chapter 20 in Levy, T.E. and Higham, T. (eds), The Bible and Radiocarbon Dating - Archaeology, Text and Science, London: Equinox, 2005, pp.337-348. ISBN 184553056X (cloth) ISBN 1845530578 (paper)

• Phythian-Adams, W.J. [1923], “Report on the Stratification of Askalon”, PEFQS 55, January 1923, pp.60-84.

• Schloen, J. David [1995], "Recent Discoveries at Ashkelon", Oriental Institute Notes and News 145 (Spring 1995), pp.1-6.

• Stager, Lawrence E. [1996], "The Fury of Babylon: Ashkelon and the Archaeology of Destruction", BAR 22 (Jan/Feb 1996), pp.54-77.
  • "Ashkelon and the Archaeology of Destruction: Kislev 604 BCE." Eretz-Israel (Aviram Volume, 1996) 25: 61*-74*.
  • "Ashkelon and the Fall of the Philistines," in A Heap of Broken Images: Essays in Biblical Archaeology, Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, forthcoming.
  • "The Impact of the Sea Peoples in Canaan (1185-1050 BCE)", in Levy, T. (ed.), The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land, New York: Facts On File, 1994), pp.332-348.
  • "Ashkelon", New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, Volume I, Simon and Schuster, 1993, pp.103-112.
  • "Das Silberkalb von Aschkelon", Antike Welt (1991), pp.271-272.
  • "Canaanite Calf of Ashkelon", Le Monde de la Bible, (May/June, 1991), pp.50-52.
  • "When Canaanites and Philistines Ruled Ashkelon", BAR 17 (March/April 1991), pp.24-43.
  • "Why Were Hundreds of Dogs Buried at Ashkelon", BAR 17 (May/June 1991), pp.27-42.
  • "Eroticism and Infanticide at Ashkelon", BAR 17 (July/August 1991), pp.35-53.
  • Ashkelon Discovered, Biblical Archaeology Society, 1991.
  • Two Chapters (with 40 color photographs) entitled "Ashkelon Excavations, 1985-88" and "In the Footsteps of the Philistines" appeared in History of Ashkelon, David Appel, ed. (in Hebrew), 1990. [Hebrew]
  • et alii [1994], "The Dating of Ancient Water-Wells by Archaeological and 14C Methods: Comparative Study of Ceramics and Wood", IEJ 44 (1994), pp.184-200.
  • [1995], “The Impact of the Sea Peoples (1185 - 1050 BCE)”, in Levy, T.E. (ed.), The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land, London: Leicester University Press, 1995, pp.332-348.
  • [1995], "Ashkelon and the Archaeology of Destruction", Semitic Museum News Volume 1, No. 2-4 (December 1995) pp.1, 7-11.
  • [2001], “Port Power in the Early and the Middle Bronze Age: The Organization of Maritime Trade and Hinterland Production”, in Wolff, S.R. (ed.), Studies in the Archaeology of Israel and Neighbouring Lands in Memory of Douglas L. Esse, [SAOC 59], Chicago: Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, 2001, pp.625-638.
  • [2006a], "The House of the Silver Calf of Ashkelon", in Czerny E., Hein I., Hunger H., Melman D. and Schwab A. (eds), Timelines - Studies in Honour of Manfred Bietak, [Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 149], Leuven: Peeters, Volume II, 2006, pp.403-410. ISBN 904291730X
  • [2006b], “Chariot Fittings from Philistine Askhelon”, in Gitin, S., Wright, J.E. and Dessel, J.P. (eds), Confronting the Past—Archaeological and Historical Essays on Ancient Israel in Honor of William G. Dever, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2006, pp.169-175. ISBN 1575061171

• Smith, P. and Kahila, G. [1992], "Identification of Infanticide in Archaeological Sites: A Case Study from the Late Roman-Early Byzantine Periods at Ashkelon, Israel", JAS 19 (1992), pp.667-675.

• Wapnish, Paula and Hesse, Brian [1993], "Pampered Pooches or Plain Pariahs? The Ashkelon Dog Burials", BA 56.2 (1993), pp.55-80.

• Wapnish, Paula [1991], "Beauty & Utility in Bone: New light on Bone Crafting", BAR 17 (May/June 1991), pp.?

• Wimmer, Stephan Jakob [2008], “A New Hieratic Ostracon from Ashkelon”, TA 35.1 (2008), pp.65-72.

External links

• the Ashkelon Excavations - Harvard University web site