The Tel Burna Archaeological Project

http://telburna.wordpress.com

Dr. Itzhaq Shai

Previous Research

• Aharoni and Amiran• Dagan’s Survey of the Shephelah – which

includes this site• Koh’s Survey• No Excavations Conducted at the Site

Tel Burna – Tell Bornât

Tel Burna = Biblical Libnah?

• Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it (Josh. 10: 29)

• In the western foothills: …Libnah, Ether, Ashan… (Josh. 15: 33-42)

• So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah (Josh. 21: 13)

• To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah. Libnah revolted at the same time (2 Kgs. 8: 22)

• Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah (2 Kgs. 23: 31)

• Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah (2 Kgs. 24: 18)

Possible Locations for

Libnah

• Tel Goded• Tel Zayit• Horvat Lavnin• Tel Burna

– Location near Horvat Eter, Mareshah– On Border with Philistia– Iron Age occupation and fortifications– Evidence for Sennacherib’s Campaign– 7th Century Remains

The Survey

Uziel J. and Shai I. 2010. The Tel Burna Surface Survey. Tel Aviv 37: 242-260

Research Goals

• Developing survey methodology for tel sites, using comparative survey data collected through various methods

• “Ground truthing” survey results through excavation – to confirm/refute results of different methods of surveying

• Dating features visible on the surface• Defining the effects of erosion, human

activity, site depletion

The 2009 Survey Season

• Total collection of artifacts from surface as well as documentation of architectural features

• Division of site according to “topographic fields”

• Attempt to define periods of settlement, size per period, and potential areas of excavation

Approx. 16 Hectares of Surface Scatter

EB MB LB

Ir I Ir II

Distribution of Artifacts per Period

Ca. 3 hectares

Ca. 5 hectares

Ca. 6 hectares

Ca. 2 hectares

Ca. 8 hectares

Percentage of Diagnostic Ceramics According to Period

EB7%

IBA0%

MB19%

LB32%

Ir I6%

IR II27%

Post Iron Age9%

Comparison of Distribution Area and Sherd Counts

Size Estimate

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

EB MB LB Ir I IR II

Size Estimate Sherd Count

Lamashtu Plaque from Nahal Guvrin (near Tel Burna) – Published by M. Cogan in IEJ 1995

Survey Conclusions

• Settlement in EB, MB, LB and Iron I-II

• Large LB Settlement• Small Iron I settlement –

including Philistine pottery

• Iron II most significant, possibly fortified 2700 2300 1900 1500 1100 7002700 2300 1900 1500 1100 700

The Ups and Downs of the Settlement Over Time

Excavations: Goals after 3 Seasons

• Micro:– Settlement History of the Site

• Periods, size, character of settlement

– Dating Architectural Elements• E.g. fortifications, silos, walls on surface

Excavations: Goals after 3 Seasons

• Macro:– Survey methodology

• Shovel Pits Surveying

– Use of Landscape• Mapping and documenting agricultural installations, caves

– Studying Ancient Borders • Comparisons of Material Culture

– Archaeology and the Community• Open Excavation• Cleaning Agricultural Installations• Conservation of Chosen Features

– Late Bronze Age Cult

ShovelPits

Agricultural Installations Around the Site

Area B

Summit Center

Eastern Section

21 Squares Thus Far

• LB IIB (13th Century BCE)• Iron Age IIA (9th Century BCE)• Iron Age IIB (8th Century BCE)• Iron Age IIC (7th Century BCE)• Persian Period

LB IIB

• Area B – No Iron Age Settlement Above!• 13th Century BCE• Cypriot and Mycenaean Imports• Bedrock after 0.5 meter• Some unique finds indicate unique activity!

Area B – LB IIB

Noses

Cylindrical Seal

Cup and Saucer

Cypriot Imported Pottery

Unique Cypriot Vessel

Iron Age IIA

• Surface outside the fortifications • Installation on the inside of the inner wall

– Loom weights– Hand Burnished pottery

Iron Age IIA

Iron Age IIA

Iron Age IIAinstallation

Iron Age IIB

• Settlement in all areas of summit• Stamped Handles • Wheel Burnishing

Iron Age IIB

Iron Age IIB

Iron Age IIB

9th-8th Centuries BCE Pottery from Around the Fortifications

9th-8th Centuries BCE Pottery from Around the Fortifications

Hand and Wheel Burnish

Stamped Handles

Judean Pillar Figurine

7th Century BCE

• Primarily Silos with small patches of architecture related to them

7th Century BCE Pottery

7th Century BCE

7th Century BCE

7th Century BCE

The Fortification System

Fortifications

Fortifications

Fortifications

7th century Silo

Persian Period

• Patchy Architecture on the basis of Iron Age Walls

• Boulders in secondary use

Persian Period

Persian Period

All Ages are Welcome!

Join us to the Summer 2013 Season June 2nd – June 21st

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