[Magazine] The Biblical Archaeologist. Vol. 21. No 2

20 Pages·1958·2.59 MB·English

BIBLICAL
ARCI-IAEOLOGIST
-O P
Published By
The American Schools of Oriental Research
(Jerusalem and Baghdad)
Drawer 93A, Yale Station, New Haven, Conn.
Vol. XXI May, 1958 No. 2
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Fig. 1. Hazor, 1957: Air View of Area A. In the left is the newly found
Solomonic city gate with the double or casemate wafollr egrleoaudainndg to it. At the upper
right is the fine dwelling of the 8th cent. B. C. (Strata VI-V): see Fig. 15. In the
center is the pillared building of King Ahab's time. For a view of this same area at
the end of the 1956 campaign, see Vol. XX. No. 2, Fig. 1.
CONTENTS
The Third Season of Excavation at Hazor, 1957, by Yigael Yadin ...................... 30
Two New Books (Ancient Library of Qumran, by F. M. Cross, Jr., and
Digging uip Jericho. by K. Kenyon) ......................................... 4.1
30 THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST (Vol. XXI,
'The Biblical Archaeologist is published quarterly (February, May, September, Decemb6r)
by the American Schools of Oriental Research. Its purpose is to meet the need: for a readable,
non-technical, yet thoroughly reliable account of archaeological discoveries as they are related
to the Bible.
Editors: G. Ernest Wright and Frank M. Cross, Jr., with the assistance of Floyd V. Filson
in New Testament matters. Editorial correspondence should be sent to one of the above
at 2330 N. Halsted St., Chicago 14, III.
Ed;torial Board: W. F. Albright, Johns Hopkins University; Millar Burrows, Yale University.
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Entered as second-class matter, October 2, 1942, at the Post Office at New Haven,
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Copyright by American Schools of Oriental Research, 1958
The Third Season of Excavation at Hazor, 1957 *
Yigael Yadin
Lecturer in Archaeology at the Hebrew University,
Jerusalem, and Director of the James A. de Rothschild
Expedition at Hazor *
The city of Hazor - which the previous two seasons' digs had already
proved to be the largest city in the Holy Land in accordance with its
biblical description as "the head of all those kingdoms" (Joshua 11:11) -
was during the third season (August-October, 1957) the scene of a most
exciting experience to all those who participated in the excavations.
Holding the Bible in one hand and a spade in the other, seemed to be
a most successful method for discovering the relics of that biblical city,
and determining their dates. Thus, for example, the fact that Solomon
rebuilt both Hazor and Megiddo (I Kings 4:15) was not only strikingly
confirmed in this year's dig, but also enabled us to outline in advance, on
the surface, the plan of Solomon's city gate by simply copying that of the
gate discovered in Megiddo some years back by an expedition of Chicago's
Oriental Institute. When finally the gate at Hazor was revealed and actu-
ally turned out as expected (Fig. 1), our labourers thought we were wizards
indeed.
But with these remarks we are already anticipating the description of
the whole dig, so very rich with interesting finds. Let us therefore proceed
step by step from one area to another.
* The James A. de Rothschild Expedition at Hazor operates on behalf of the Hebrew University
Jerusalem, with funds contributed by the P.J.C.A., The Anglo-Israel Exploration Society (Head-
ed by Lord Cohen. Sir Maurice Bloch and Dr. A. Lerner) and the Government of Israel. The
director was ably assisted by Mr. M. Dunayevsky (Chief architect to the expedition) as well as
by the memhbers of the staff who are mentioned in the course of this article. Photos by A.
Volk chief nhotoranhpr to the -xpedition. For reports of the first two campaigns see B.A. Vols '
XIX. 1 (1956), and XX. 2 (1957).
1958, 2) THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST 31
Five main areas were excavated in the third season: Areas A, B
(als:,
excavated during the previous seasons) and G, on the eastern edge of the
tell proper, and F (also excavated during the second season), and H, in
the big lower Canaanite city lying within the rectangular enclosure (150
acres) to the north of the mound. A small trench, Area 210, dug in the
center of the lower Canaanite city, confirmed our conclusion that the whole
enclosure was inhabited from about 1700 B.C. to the end of the 13th century.
AREAF
(excavated under the supervision of J. Perrot)
Altar and Underground Tunnels: It may be recalled that in this area
Fig2. A group of Mycenaeant vessels imported from the mainland of Greece during the 13th
cent. B. C. They were found in the burial cave of Area F.
- excavated for the first time during the previous season - a large Canaan-
ite altar was discovered in the midst of an open courtyard surrounded by
buildings in which were found ritual objects (including a basalt statue,
alabaster incense burners, an offering table, etc.), which formed most
probably part of a large Canaanite temple of Late Bronze II (14th-13th
century). Below this stratum, we discovered last season the ruins of a
large structure with thick walls, which had a net of underground channels
built and covered with stone slabs. This building (Stratum III) belongs
to the end of Middle Bronze II (ca. 1400 B.C.). At the end of last year's
dig we found, a few meters below this building, a tunnel hewn in the rock,
82 THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST (Vol. XXI,
which led to a chamber, the ceiling of which had completely collapsed.
The unique altar, the net of channels and the large structure as well
as the hewn tunnel, induced us to renew excavations there again this year.
An Unexpected "Treasure"
While searching for the remains of the large structure mentioned above
we came across a cave hewn in the rock outside the north-east corner of
the building, accessible through a small vertical shaft, the opening of which
was blocked by two stone slabs, some 1.5 m. long. This cave, used as a
Fig. 3. Two juglets from Cyprus ("bucchero ware") found in the burial cave of Area F.
burial place during Late Bronze II, was littered with an abundance of
pottery (some 500 vessels) which complemented the repertoire of pottery
of that period found elsewhere in Hazor. Amongst these, the following are
worth special mention: a large group of beautiful imported Mycenaean pots
(Fig. 2; type IIIB from the end of Late Bronze), more than ten "bilbils"
from Cyprus, two ribbed pots (of the Cypriote Bucchero-ware type; Fig. 3),
of which only very few specimens have hitherto been found outside Cyprus,
and a number of local pots (mainly bowls, lamps and jars). It should be
said that the bones of skeletons found in the cave were not in place, but
were piled up and thrown towards the back of the cave. This fact, as
well as the large amount of pottery, testifies that the grave must have
1958, 2) THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST 33
been in use for a long period and seems to have been cleared from time to
time as the need arose.
Our main efforts in Area F were devoted to the rock-hewn tunnel
(Stratum IV) of the Middle Bronze II period.
This season's excavations made it clear that the tunnel and its chamber
were actually part of a ramified net of underground tunnels. These tunnels
~F~.-?"?4~z""r??C;r-~iri~$, "krl .. Y
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I ???
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.? 1
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-I ~C .Vt - - I-- -~---n~-r j '' ~I
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:e
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e ,L
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~I ?:
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II~N~C~ ? I- -~ vl --U~~ILF~.t:~Rrr~L~~r~
Fig. 4. A rock-cut catacomb of the Middle Bronze Age, found at a depth of about twelve
yards below the surface.
must have been already known to the inhabitants of the "large structure",
who used them as reservoirs and outlets for the built canals, and also by
the residents of the Late Bronze period who looted whatever was still
available in them. In many places we found the ramification entrances
blocked off by rubble stone walls and we could not always determine the
exact date of such blocks. Except for the chamber discovered already
34 THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST (Vcl. XXI,
last season, we did not succeed this year, for technical reasons, in getting to
the end of the tunnels. But it can be assumed that they too, during their
early stage, led to chambers which must have served as burial places for
the aristocracy. This assumption was unexpectedly confirmed when at the
end of the season, we cleared the debris covering the large vertical shaft
(approximetely 8 x 8 m.) hewn near the first tunnel. At its bottom, on the
west, we discovered three enormous caves, rock-hewn, of which the largest
was 17 m. long and 3 m. wide and high (Fig. 4). These caves accessible
through the deep shaft were certainly meant for burial, but it is doubtful
whether their hewers managed to use them for that purpose or for any
other. They were found completely empty (except for a few pots and
jugs most probably abandoned there by the labourers), and the southern-
most cave in that group was abandoned still unfinished. This set of tunnels,
shafts and caves, however, has no parallel so far in this country, and it
testifies to the high technical skill and engineering ability of the Middle
Bronze people at Hazer. Since in Area D, too, excavated during the first
season, we found the earliest remains of Middle Bronze II in burial caves
hewn in the rocks, on top of which were clear ruins of settlement of the
same period (though a bit later), one can assume that before the city was
built in the large enclosure, this area, especially its eastern rocky side, served
as a necropolis for the inhabitants of the acropolis on the tell. Later, when
this area began to be inhabited, the burial places, as yet undiscovered,
must have been shifted further away, outside the tell and the enclosure.
AREA H
(excavated under the supervision of Miss C. Epstein)
Our prize-find in the Lower Canaanite city was no doubt the temple,
discovered by chance at the most northern tip of the enclosure (Fig. 5).
This temple is unique in the country and most interesting for the following
reasons: its plan, its building system and the finds therein. The plan is
rather simple, consiting of three chambers built in succession from south to
north: a porch, a main hall and a holy of holies. The building's length is
25 m. and its width 17. A large opening leads from the porch - which is
somewhat narrower than the rest of the building - to the main hall; and a
similar opening on the same axis in the center of the building leads from
there to the holy of holies. In the porch, on either side of the opening
leading to the main hall, we found two round pillar bases made of basalt.
The technique of building in this temple is unique in the country. The
walls of the porch and holy of holies are lined at the lower part with
beautifully dressed basalt slabs (orthostats) up to 1.70 m. long and an
1958, 2) THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST 35
average of 60 cms. high with a varying width cf 20-40 cms. The narrow
top edge of each orthcstat had well-drilled round holes of 4 cms. diameter
(mostly two holes at both ends of the slab). The row of orthostats was
lying on a ledge of rubble stones (2 m. wide), forming the lowest part
of the building's wall. In this building system, typical of Hittite Anatolia
and northern Syria, the round drilled holes served as a base for horizontal
wooden beams meant to strengthen the brick or mud built above the stone
foundation.
The Holy of Holies and Cult Furnitureo f the Temple
This year we proceeded to clear, in addition to the outline of the
,L .
?z_??;~~: ~.?
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tt~
-? iC~?-~r~?-P-' . i3:.-?c-cL *~p9jZ P-E ~E~-L -.:; "?i .?~?; ?r Cr~ -JI
??s~ VC'r3 )i ...~fir--L?~?~ .~619C~ L-? `~CT'-- ' ~ "-r.n? Y:_ ??;??
i.?. ..~i4P'
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?1 ~l~y~:1c; r?8 L -rC r , 4. C '?? ~T"jB~i~AI?IL: :,:
?? ~icirtz~~ltac*2:; , IIr. ~ ?, c I r c. ?-r 1
?--
?? ~~7C-.I4~ C~ C?' " Z ?'' r ??-?? z
c.i~ ;-I~ .~?e'I . tr .r. .~ti .9?ir;z~:t 'r)? r?5?'? e ~t1'i'? ~T~-- ?Yt h-- ~.T?
f?P i. ?r~ ~4~-tr: ?
,13: ~~ cl ?x ....F~uI~ ~ ~II , ~rp~r,
" '"
~~ ?c~?U--1~.~~ a~a? "^' ?~hr~ktr~ jZI. ~Y~ ~LW~3~~
''r? -'-" ~sGbi~ ? -I~ h .r .r~ r ;r5 ?.:
r.. ~ECi ?i?t~ .. ?~T~t?;~L;
k~? ? ~~ iP. i? ;?s~ nl. ,,,
Fig. 5. A Canaanite temple, destroyed during the latter part of the 13th cent. It was
found at the northern tip of t he huge enclosure at Hazor (Area H): for a plan of the
site see Vol. XIX, No. 1, Fig. 2. View looks south, from the niche in the holy of
holies (below) through the entrances to the main room, anteroom, and porch.
porch and the hall, the holy of holies only, which had a wealth of ritual
vessels, especially near the square niche at the narrow northern wall of the
building. Since the building was destroyed by fire, as is testified by the
charred beams found on the floor, it must have collapsed quickly and thus
buried most of the implements. Amongst these, the most complete set of
ritual implements and furniture as yet found in this country (Fig. 6), the
following are noteworthy:
1. An incense altar made of basalt, about 50 cms, square and 1.40 m.
high. On one side and on top there is a relief of a disc in a square frame
36 THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST (Vol. XXI,
with a four-rayed star in the center, i.e. the emblem of the sun-god in the
Canaanite pantheon. Below this are chiselled two elongated depressions
giving the front of the altar an impression of a column's relief. At the back
the surface is similarly dressed except that the dented square frame has
no relief. The other two sides of the altar have a long upright depression
in each, completing in style the above description.
2. Near the altar we found a large basalt basin, some 80 cms. in
diameter.
3. South of the altar and the basin, in the center of the holy of
holies we found in situ and at some distance from each other, two large
,... Trri; i '~;i~i~rj p?~~:?-.~~?:.2?z?~. ~,J ?~e? ;~) re?~~~ `eF:~'1 e ~e?~?re ~e~e~e~?e;~~e*;~~3 ?re~u?~2,?te;~. r~~ ' 'eI J~~y?ey~L?~:~ ? ~~?P- .-i ,Xi t ?rr:r7-.:.? 'r :.z.. .UM?~.'T: I ~L~CI"IiF? ' :~?I?I ? ; bt7I ~: _I=_?r ' L' ;d~r i~_~Tli
?.S ?Rs ?4;2 7-,?ciLi 'l'l c?r~5??\ l.??Ii , r ?";, ' .:\ ?~;L3.,' r?* r? ?-; -,`-^. 1:~LYj: .?ii-;1~~.L~?.~..:. .? 1SJj~?~.?t ~i~ ~?.: i ~,~"?~s~-
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"I :t,?~-s I~i t- :~cc~? ~?~'
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~ 191~S~i ;7~~Z:'L~- ~3;r6ccf_`~~ry? R~-~? --:?~ ? ? ;~:.T$ ' ~~?
~' ?
~- tS9 .?~~ XI
Lii
,g~ "' i~-?r. ???? ~~?c.~;;;
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:?; ??.I:~-~a~
?, c?? ? \c.
1- ., ?t~`l
r ?~ ?~ 4 j, i? , ,? ;" '??): ?L:
s:~?-?l??v~~4~ ?~- ?- . 1--? ".;-:~- L~LS, i
i"-~ r;'::2 cr~ .-?C-5- ~:1C)C- .~. .~t~C'T ' `5 ?3~.~:: ?i :x~i5? . l'r?i ? r
7
zs~X\- --; , ?C f, L\?'-3
-?r~.! .-..i~i-. .?i?i ~. ..2?+'?`' .n 'Jr *I~2~SFc~c~-2?
Fig. 6. A closer view of sormie of the furnishings in the holy of holies of the temple, as they
were found.
earthenware pots, and near them a large number of dipping juglets. These
pots served no doubt as oil, wine or other liquid containers used in con-
nection with the temple's rituals.
4. Between the containers and the altar we found two basalt slabs,
both of which had rectangular depressions at the comers. These slabs
must have served as a sort of offering tables for the liquids mentioned
above (Fig. 6).
5. Near the southern container a carinated basalt bowl was found, 50
cms. in diameter and 40 cms. high, its upper part decorated with a relief
of a fine running spiral design (Fig. 7).
1958, 2) THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST :37
6. In the south-east corner we found an offering table with several
and one small round indention at each of the four
rectangular depressions
corners.
7. Left of the entrance to the holy of holies, inside it, there was a
small basalt statue of a man sitting on a chair and holding a goblet in
his right hand. The head, broken off, was found close by. The shape of
the chair and its workmanship are identical with the simliar statue found
(headless) in Area F during the second season (Fig. 8).
8. Four bronze figurines: the first that of a male deity with out-
?-c- ?-~-!
.i,,
~~ i~???:?I~ ? ~0'1 '?." ,?.? ?~ir'i' .s ?I?ri- .?? v-?~ t,,-, .?1 ;.-4e." 5rI:? -??)i'~"* . L: iX ir?:i,?"'~ :" ,r:i r c' ' ? I?u~;~J~~c :~ n:4 Ii~: ~3 ?r*Zl.?fp it-i;?i -' 'i.~' . ?C-,"? ??r ,.,. ?r ?~:iri::?'o . ~. ~i?. ?:~ 1. : ?:
c.
M~2?:'?.
'; .?
r?~ ?;??
'? ?
~Sr, ...
?4~-;~-ssra
tc: , ;U~~J=~~t~?!?T)~co~s;?
?r
g r ~?k?r~3Yf ~c~ ~ r
r ?-.;. J ' 'r? -- ?.
r ??,~ I_
5:;7q?:iA ? I I I-I il?:? ~i
?Ca
I?I
<.
1 r k: ''
?Y~.
...
'=?;~9
f: ,
.? ~"t '5`i 6 ~'t~.?'??~ \?yI ~ " ~_:c~C5:,'.5~ .'~ - L
r~': ~ '??-,:~ ? :? '-3C~C'?F ? Ir 9~ ? p~~A;-JL~P~a~ t
cr=:ar ix~d5A~; r-;
Fig. 7. The basalt bowl with carved decoration: behind it a pottery vessel for offerings.
stretched arms and a conical helmet. This figurine must have been stuck
in a wooden or other base, as is visible from its pointed bottom. The
second is that of a bull, made of wrought bronze; here again the four legs
must have been stuck in a base of some sort. Thirdly, two figurines of
female deities, the face features of which were barely indicated by shallow
incisions in the thin metal foil from which they were made.
9. A sizeable group of cylinder seals and faience beads scattered
on the western part of the floor of the holy of holies. One of the seals,
made of hematite, bears a complicated engraving superbly executed, in its
38 THE BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST (Vcl. XXI,
center a deity sitting on a chair under a winged sun-god disc, and in front
a king offering presents with a line of present-bearers behind him. This
cylinder seal is one of the finest examples known of the Syro-Mitannian
type.
10. A large amount of pottery, including ritual vessels, scattered on
the floor and on the stone bench which ran along the walls of the holy of
holies.
"~`??r ,
?~ r
"~i?its
"' ?:):
?51~:?.I I\I
~~ "~
r?i ,
~ .?Tirr-~ ?- ? ~ ar
.?~? ?
rt ,5r,
i -r,~TEl~t~3~LlZ~i;lZ~Vlr?:;~~ ~ k;?;l~,pi~O~ZE~ci~U?~r
:: r r: 1:; .i~ri?~~ ? ~? v ?._
rri- t
:"
.i
,1
ii*
;'?-,?i -
;( ?::
Fig. 8. The statue of the deity (?) of the temple with head, which had been broken off,
restored. For a similar statue found in 1956 within the Canaanite shrine where
important deceased ancestors were revered (Area C), see Vol. XX, No. 2. Fig. 12.
11. A large scarab seal, naming Pharaoh Amenophis III, identical in
measurements and workmanship with the scarabs found in the third phase
of a temple at Lachish (13th cent.) and with a scarab of the same period
found in a temple in Beisan.
The finds of this temple belong mostly, as is indicated by the pottery,
to the last Canaanite settlement at the end of the Late Bronze period,