Aren Maeir, director of the Tell es-Safi /Gath excavations, has an update on the 2013 season. Highlights include:
1. Discovery of the earliest phases of Gath (Caananite) from the 3rd millennium BCE
2. Discovery of imported Egyptian mace head
3. Duscivert of imported pottery (Aefean and Cypriot) as well as an Egyptian ring with an inscription (undeciphered)
4 Excavation of the early Philistine Iron age levels with discovery of a complete ivory bowl, virtually identical to older bowls found at Megiddo (late 12th century
5. Excatation of later Philistine levels (10th and 9th centuries) at the same time as the united monarchy in Israel. This suggests that Gath was still quite important up until the late 9th century, suggesting that it had not been conquered during the United Monarchy.
Work also continues on post-Philistine and Crusader period Gath. Full article here.
