The Initial Settlement at Tell Qasile in the Context of Philistine Material Culture

This article deals with the initial settlement at Tell Qasile in Stratum X I I, dated to the second half of the twelfth century BCE. The Hearth Building, south of the sacred enclosure and belonging to this occupation phase, is discussed in detail, along with other aspects of the local material culture. The foundation of Tell Qasile is explained as a result of the territorial expansion of one or more of the Philistine cities in their attempt to establish a port town serving maritime connections along the eastern Mediterranean coast. The settlers arrived from the Philistine urban environment and retained the hybrid Philisto-Canaanite material culture almost identical to that in the core cities.