Northern Exposure: Launching Excavations at Tell Abil el-Qameḥ (Abel Beth Maacah)

Nava Panitz-Cohen, A. Mullins Robert, Ruhama Bonfil

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-42
Number of pages16
JournalStrata
Volume31
StatePublished - 2013

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