Abstract
Tell Abil el-Qameḥ, identified with the Biblical site of Abel Beth Maakah, is an imposing site strategically located on the farthest northern border of Israel, a border in antiquity as well as today. In the Iron Age, this boundary separated – and joined – Israelites, Phoenicians and Arameans. In the Bronze Age, it served as a springboard for relations with the great kingdoms in Syria and Mesopotamia. Despite its prominence and strategic importance, the site had never been excavated. Following a survey in 2012 led by the authors, excavation began in the summer of 2013. Iron Age remains exist just under the topsoil in the two areas explored this first season. In the center of the eastern slope (Area A) a series of Iron Age occupation levels were found and in the southern end of the lower mound (Area F) there was a large stone structure that might be a fortification overlooking the Huleh Valley.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 27-42 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Strata |
| Volume | 31 |
| State | Published - 2013 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:8. The excavations, co-directed by the authors, were made possible by the very generous support of friends and alumni of Azusa Pacific University, and funding from Cornell University (the Institute for the Social Sciences, the President’s Council of Cornell Women, and the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies), initiated by Professors Lauren and Chris Monroe. The participation of Ph.D. students led by Prof. John Monson of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School made a major contribution to the excavation. Ruhama Bonfil of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem served as the field surveyor. For details online, see www.abel.beth.maacah.org and www.facebook.com/AbelBethMaacah.
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