The site of Tel Burna is located in the Shephelah region, which served as a border between the kingdoms of Judah and Philistia in the Iron Age. A fertile area that supported agricultural production, the region became known as the breadbasket of the south and is believed by some scholars to be a candidate for biblical Libnah, a Canaanite town that was conquered by Joshua who allotted it to the tribe of Judah.
The tell’s prominence is notable in its flat-topped shape, extensive size, and fortification, which are still visible today. Survey finds indicate the city was important throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages. Excavations have revealed a Late Bronze Age (Canaanite) public building with a large assemblage of cultic finds (masks, figurines, feasting vessels, etc.). In addition, a few strata dating to the ninth, eighth, and seventh centuries B.C.E. have been exposed, including a fortification wall that enclosed the summit of the tell.
Shephelah, South-Central Israel
June 19 - July 15, 2022
1 Week
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
3 or 6 credits are offered by Ariel University. $200/3 credits or $400/6 credits
Itzick Shai: Ariel University
Steven Ortiz: Lipscomb University