Tel Beth Shemesh

Site Background

Tel Beth Shemesh is one of the ancient sites in the northeastern Shephelah of Israel. It is a 7-acre mound located on the southern bank of the Valley of Sorek, near the modern town of Beth Shemesh, 20 km west of Jerusalem.

Beth Shemesh in the Biblical Account

In the Bible's list of Israelite tribes, Beth Shemesh is allotted to Dan. Following the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines in the battle of Ebenezer, the Ark was returned to the people of Beth Shemesh from Philistia. Beth Shemesh is mentioned as one of the royal centers in King Solomon's second administrative district, and as a "Priestly" town in Judah. Later it was the scene of a battle between King Jehoash of Israel and King Amaziah of Judah, at which time the Judahite army was defeated and Amaziah was captured in the city. The last Biblical reference to Beth Shemesh says that during the reign of Ahaz in Judah "the Philistines had taken Beth Shemesh . . . and settled there" (2 Chronicles 28).

Earlier Excavations

Tel Beth Shemesh was first excavated in 1911-12 by the British Archaeologist D. Mackenzie for the Palestine Exploration Fund. Mackenzie found that the site had three different major phases of occupation. The earliest, dated to the Middle Bronze Age (1750-1550 BCE), included a massive "Strong Wall" which surrounded the town and to which a city gate was related. The second phase, characterized by Philistine Pottery, was destroyed by a tremendous conflagration. The final phase dates to the time of the Judean Monarchy, and was thought by Mackenzie to have been destroyed by the Assyrian king Kennacherib in 701 BCE.

Excavations at Tel Beth Shemesh were resumed in 1928-33 by Elihu Grant of Haverford College. Grant found six levels of occupation instead of Mackenzie's three. He discovered evidence of a flourishing Late Canaanite (1550-1200 BCE) town which contained numerous water cisterns, traces of metallurgical activity, a fine jewelry hoard, a cuneiform Ugaritic tablet, and a Canaanite alphabetic ostracon.

Following the Late Canaanite phase, Beth Shemesh was settled again. Philistine pottery has been found in this level, which was destroyed during a time of conflict between the Israelites and the neighboring Philistines. The next three phases of construction were related to the period of the Monarchy (1020-586 BCE). The first phase reflects central, schematic town planning: there was a new fortification system built around the site, a large governor's house, and public facilities. The town was expanded during the next two phases. One of the earliest centers of industrial olive oil production was built during this last phase of occupation. Royal seals, stoneware, pottery and metal objects were found in this level. These finds led Grant to suggest a different date for the town's final destruction. He related it to Nebuchadrezzar's campaign in 586 BCE, the year Jerusalem and the Temple there were destroyed.

The Renewed Excavations: Prospects and Results

In spite of the previous extensive excavations, many issues concerning the site's long history of occupation remain unclear: the engineering scope of the massive city wall and its detailed history of construction, the cultural and ethnic identification of the site's inhabitants during Early Iron Age, the political and economic organization of Beth Shemesh as a royal border town, the industrial production of olive oil in the 8th century BCE, and the exact date the site's final destruction.

In order to approach these questions and to integrate Beth Shemesh within the broader archaeological framework, a renewed project was initiated in 1990.

Excavations are concentrated at the northeastern part of the site. Beneath the surface an industrial complex of the 8th century BCE has been found. This includes a crushing basin, olive pits, perforated stone weights, pressing vats, and many pottery vessels (some bearing royal inscriptions). A residential quarter was partially exposed adjacent to the industrial complex. A large spacious building, characterized by thick walls and plastered floors, was also uncovered. In another field, a monumental 12th-century building has been excavated. Decorated vessels and a golden earring were found among its fallen bricks. The most outstanding find is a huge fortification system. A massive wall of large boulders was exposed at the edge of the mound, connected to a second large wall and the remains of an impressive city gate, previously unknown.

Field School

The Tel Beth Shemesh Excavations Project is designed and conducted as a field school. Students and volunteers are involved in all aspects of the project, and are trained through field sessions, afternoon workshops and evening lectures.

Project Directors: Schlomo Bunimovitz, Bar-Ilan University, and Zvi Lederman, Ben Gurion University

Quotes

"Beth Shemesh is exceptional in that it is a cooperative American-Israeli project which combines the best of both methodological schools, while also providing a field school of volunteers that both educates and inspires."

Elizabeth C. LaRocca-Pitts, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University

"The Biblical texts came alive for my students through field and classroom instructions by seasoned archaeologists."

William R. Brookman, Professor, North-Central Bible College, Minnesota

"It was my good fortune to have my first encounter with archaeology at Tel Beth Shemesh. The staff's caring attitude made this a very special experience."

Linda Brodski, New York, Volunteer