Tel Ashdod 2000 Overview

Excavations at Tel Ashdod, Israel
T. Dothan and D. Ben-Shlomo

Tel Ashdod lies 4. 5 km east of the Mediterranean sea and 7 km south of the city of Ashdod in Israel. The site includes an acropolis with an area of 80 dunams and a lower city extending over an additional 280 dunams. Seven excavation seasons were conducted in Ashdod during 1962-1972 as a joint venture of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums (now the Israel Antiquities Authority) and the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, under the direction of M. Dothan and J.L. Swauger. A total of about 6500 square meters was excavated. So far five volumes of final reports have been published: the first three describing the results of the first three years of excavations (‘Atiqot volumes VII-1967, IX-X-1971); the fourth describing the results of the excavations in area M, in the lower city (‘Atiqot XV-1982); and the fifth describing the results of the fourth and fifth seasons in area G in the acropolis (‘Atiqot XXIII-1993).

Still unpublished are the results of the fourth and fifth seasons of excavations (1968-69) in areas H and K on the western edge of the acropolis, and some material from area G. The preparation for final publication of these areas (volume VT of the series) had begun but was not completed due to the illness of M. Dothan. The project will consist of the completion of the work on these areas and the publication of the final volumes of Ashdod.

The site of Ashdod was settled continuously from the end of the Middle Bronze period until the Arab period. During the Iron Age and the Hellenistic period both the upper and lower city were settled; in other periods only the upper city was settled.

In area H the remains date from the end of the Late Bronze Age to the end of the Early Iron Age. In area K the remains are mainly from the late Iron Age to the Hellenistic period.

Area H can be considered the “elite zone” of the Early Iron Age Philistine city of Ashdod. This area exemplifies the well-planned and organized city. Some of the buildings, built on both sides of a main street, show Aegean affinities and are possibly public or “high-class” buildings. The finds in this area also show many Aegean affinities. Of special importance are a rich and varied assemblage of monochrome MycIIIC1b and Philistine bichrome pottery; a large group of Aegean-style anthropomorphic figurines, “Philistine” seals, ivories, jewelry etc.