Tel Aphek 2000 Overview

The purpose of the project is to publish the significant results of the excavations carried out by Tel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology at the Upper City of Aphek in the years 1976 - 1985.

Tel Aphek is situated at the River Yarkon headwaters in the Sharon Plain of Israel. It was inhabited continuously through the last five thousand years, and is securely identified with Aphek-Antipatris of the ancient sources. Guarding the Aphek Pass of the Via Maris, the 30 acre site is one of the most important biblical sites in the country.

Two rescue excavations and a long-term excavation project carried out by Tel-Aviv University Institute of Archaeology (P. Beck and M. Kochavi, 1972-1985) were undertaken at the site. The most significant remains revealed were: 1) Early Bronze Ib fortifications, which rank Aphek among the earliest fortified Canaanite cities; 2) Impressive second millennium BC fortifications, dwellings, burials and rich finds, which make Aphek the best site known to date for studying the stratigraphy and the cultural stages of the initial Middle Bronze Age of the southern Levant; 3) Five superimposed palaces of the second millennium BC in the Upper City. The uppermost, an Egyptian Residence, has been securely dated on the basis of finds and of written documents.

Preliminary excavation reports of the Tel-Aviv University expedition have dealt with all the written material unearthed as well as a large part of the initial Middle Bronze Age pottery. Aphek¬Antipatris I, at present in press, covers the historical sources relating to the site and the archaeological results of the excavations on the northern and western slopes of the mound.

The second volume - the object of this grant application - should cover the Bronze Age and Iron Age remains from the Upper City of Aphek (Area X of the Excavation).

Two Middle Bronze Age palaces, three Late Bronze Age Palaces and the overlying Early Iron Age strata will be dealt with. Some unique items in this context are: 1) A sequence of Canaanite palaces covering most of the second millennium BC; 2) The earliest known palace of the initial MBA; 3) The last palace, which constitutes the only final LBA complex in the country with an absolute date for its destruction; 4) This absolute date presents a better chance for dating the various phases of the LB-IA transition. It is evident that publishing Tel Aphek, Israel: The Upper City will be important not only for the history of Aphek, but will be welcomed by all biblical archaeologists.

After the untimely death of Prof. Pirhiya Beck, only two of the original staff, Kochavi and Yadin, are now available for proceeding with the publication plan. Y. Gadot, a Ph.D. student specializing on the Late Bronze Age, will undertake much of the daily work and the preparation for publication. The team will be ready with a camera-ready manuscript within three years. The grant is needed for Gadot's salary, his computer and software, processing the finds and obtaining the specialists reports. The Tel-Aviv University Institute of Archaeology will contribute its cost-sharing in the processing of the material and publication of the volume in its monograph series.