Tel Hazor
Tel el-Qedah, the Arabic name of Hazor, was first identified with biblical Hazor by J.L. Porter in 1875. In 1928, the British archaeologist, J. Garstang, conducted a limited excavation at the site. Large-scale excavations were conducted at Hazor was during 1955-58, and 1968-69 by a team led by the late Yigael Yadin. These excavations were conducted on behalf of the Hebrew University.
In Joshua 11:11, the Bible says that the Children of Israel burned "Hazor with fire." Archaeologists digging at Hazor found that the fire was so hot it turned the mud bricks into glass.
Tel Hazor includes ruins from a number of different periods:
- The tell (mound composed of the remains of successive settlements) has two parts: the 30-acre acropolis and the 175-acre lower city.
- Fortifications from the middle Canaanite period;
- A large structure from the late Bronze period (the "castle");
- A casement wall and gate thought to have been built during King Solomon's reign;
- A late-Canaanite altar;
- Storehouses apparently constructed at the time of King Ahab.
- The waterworks, presumably built during Ahab's reign.
- Two clay tablets written in Cuneiform found in the vicinity of the Canaanite palace.
Learn more about the Tel Hazor excavation and the Tel Hazor National Park
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