Khirbet al-Ra‘i
Winter: January 26 – February 13, 2020
israel
Border Town Between Judah and Philistia
Khirbet al-Ra‘i is a relatively small site (1.7 hectares) located 3 km west of Tel Lachish at the western edge of the Judean Shephelah, on a hill above the southern bank of the Nahal Lachish. We are focusing on two periods of occupation here:
1. Iron Age IB (12th–11th centuries B.C.E.): In this occupation phase, we have at the site the activities of the Philistines and the Canaanites. The transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age I in the Lachish region represents a drastic change in the settlement pattern, from dense and flourishing urban communities to rather sparse small villages. The site of Khirbet al-Ra‘i now adds a new data for this poorly known era.
2. Iron Age IIA: Judging by its pottery assemblage, this well-built phase is contemporary with the fortified city of Khirbet Qeiyafa. This is now the second settlement in Judah from the time of King David.
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Details
Geographic Location
Judean Shephelah, 3 km west of Lachish
Periods of Occupation
Iron Age I, Iron Age IIA (12th–10th centuries B.C.E.)
Dates of the Dig
Winter: January 26 – February 13, 2020
Academic Credit/Cost per Credit/Institution
3 credits; $120 per credit plus an $80 application fee. Credits awarded by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Accomodations
Ein Zutim Kibbutz
Open For Tours
No
Directors
Yosef Garfinkel
Yosef Garfinkel is Professor of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Kyle Keimer
Kyle Keimer is Lecturer in the Archaeology, History, and Language of Ancient Israel at Macquarie University.
Sa'ar Ganor
Sa'ar Ganor is an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Contact
Yosef Garfinkel
Institute of Archaeology
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
[email protected]