The Tel Burna Archaeological Project

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The Tel Burna Archaeological Projecthttp://telburna.wordpress.comDr. Itzhaq Shai

Previous ResearchAharoni and AmiranDagans Survey of the Shephelah which includes this siteKohs SurveyNo Excavations Conducted at the SiteTel Burna Tell Bornt

Tel Burna = Biblical Libnah?Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it (Josh. 10: 29)In the western foothills: Libnah, Ether, Ashan (Josh. 15: 33-42) So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah (Josh. 21: 13)To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah. Libnah revolted at the same time (2 Kgs. 8: 22)Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah (2 Kgs. 23: 31)Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah (2 Kgs. 24: 18)

Possible Locations for LibnahTel GodedTel ZayitHorvat LavninTel BurnaLocation near Horvat Eter, MareshahOn Border with PhilistiaIron Age occupation and fortificationsEvidence for Sennacheribs Campaign7th Century Remains

The SurveyUziel J. and Shai I. 2010. The Tel Burna Surface Survey. Tel Aviv 37: 242-260Research GoalsDeveloping survey methodology for tel sites, using comparative survey data collected through various methodsGround truthing survey results through excavation to confirm/refute results of different methods of surveyingDating features visible on the surfaceDefining the effects of erosion, human activity, site depletion The 2009 Survey SeasonTotal collection of artifacts from surface as well as documentation of architectural featuresDivision of site according to topographic fieldsAttempt to define periods of settlement, size per period, and potential areas of excavation

Approx. 16 Hectares of Surface Scatter

EB

MB

LB

Ir IIr IIDistribution of Artifacts per PeriodCa. 3 hectaresCa. 5 hectaresCa. 6 hectaresCa. 2 hectaresCa. 8 hectaresPercentage of Diagnostic Ceramics According to Period

Comparison of Distribution Area and Sherd Counts

Lamashtu Plaque from Nahal Guvrin (near Tel Burna) Published by M. Cogan in IEJ 1995Survey ConclusionsSettlement in EB, MB, LB and Iron I-IILarge LB SettlementSmall Iron I settlement including Philistine potteryIron II most significant, possibly fortified

The Ups and Downs of the Settlement Over TimeExcavations: Goals after 3 SeasonsMicro:Settlement History of the SitePeriods, size, character of settlementDating Architectural ElementsE.g. fortifications, silos, walls on surface

Excavations: Goals after 3 SeasonsMacro:Survey methodologyShovel Pits SurveyingUse of LandscapeMapping and documenting agricultural installations, cavesStudying Ancient Borders Comparisons of Material CultureArchaeology and the CommunityOpen ExcavationCleaning Agricultural InstallationsConservation of Chosen FeaturesLate Bronze Age Cult

ShovelPits

Agricultural Installations Around the Site

Area BSummit CenterEastern Section

21 Squares Thus FarLB IIB (13th Century BCE)Iron Age IIA (9th Century BCE)Iron Age IIB (8th Century BCE)Iron Age IIC (7th Century BCE)Persian PeriodLB IIBArea B No Iron Age Settlement Above!13th Century BCECypriot and Mycenaean ImportsBedrock after 0.5 meterSome unique finds indicate unique activity!Area B LB IIB

Noses

Cylindrical SealCup and Saucer

Cypriot Imported Pottery

Unique Cypriot Vessel

Iron Age IIASurface outside the fortifications Installation on the inside of the inner wallLoom weightsHand Burnished potteryIron Age IIA

Iron Age IIA

Iron Age IIA

installationIron Age IIBSettlement in all areas of summitStamped Handles Wheel Burnishing

Iron Age IIB

Iron Age IIB

Iron Age IIB

9th-8th Centuries BCE Pottery from Around the Fortifications

9th-8th Centuries BCE Pottery from Around the Fortifications

Hand and Wheel Burnish

Stamped Handles

Judean Pillar Figurine

7th Century BCEPrimarily Silos with small patches of architecture related to them7th Century BCE Pottery

7th Century BCE

7th Century BCE

7th Century BCE

The Fortification System

Fortifications

Fortifications

Fortifications

7th century SiloPersian PeriodPatchy Architecture on the basis of Iron Age WallsBoulders in secondary usePersian Period

Persian Period

All Ages are Welcome!

Join us to the Summer 2013 Season June 2nd June 21st

http://telburna.wordpress.comChart13911111803715250

Sheet1CommentsOtherFlintRomanLateHellensticPersianIr IIBIr IIAIR IIIr I/IIIr ILB/Ir ILBMB/LBMBIBAEBUnidentfiedDiscardedField#12211267782811 mosaic23623132932very washed1 UFO ceramic1215831 tabun frgament1111121414341 Philistines?1311214551 grinding stone7161 stone vessel11 (Attic ware)1128171 grinding stone1131 (Phil?)4134269832 (1 Phil?)1416392 basalt; 1 chalice; 1 basin2619 (1 BR?)24529010112523921131160123913121213very washed233262634415141 alabster4152123154154 stone objects4743152433316142217866112717113222184181 Ott62 (1 Phil.)6122201191 Potmark117151783600202 Philistine37454365211 potter's mark2 stone objects81 Byz, 1 Med11158223 stone (1 grinding)12323no indicatives111184242 stone objects1327742367251 stone1144147261 basering113211215527382927114242842814301 potters mark2 Basins3286121166669312 potter's marks1 stone object255224632no indicatives118139119717331 stone object141613647634no indicatives21 Ott. Pipe, 1 Byz5615862162235very washed1 stone object122 Ott.43123528361 spindle172338397371 White Slip111211102401 ottoman45211745476371322112913461583198391111112811852724

Sheet2Field#DiscardedUnidentfiedEBIBAMBMB/LBLBLB/Ir IIr IIr I/IIIR IIIr IIAIr IIBPersianHellensticRom/ByzMedievalOtt.CommentsOtherFlintRoman182877261122122933132631 mosaic235812very washed1 UFO ceramic1414341211111 tabun frgament1514521131 Philistines?16711 grinding stone78121111 stone vessel1826943141 (Phil?)311 grinding stone19163412 (1 Phil?)3102905429 (1 BR?)162 basalt; 1 chalice; 1 basin21192325211121601313212131931441543626233very washed2151543212511 alabster41633342513474 stone objects4171127668172214181842223111920122162 (1 Phil.)612060038715171 Potmark112136545472 Philistine32258111111 potter's mark2 stone objects823233 stone (1 grinding)124841111no indicatives253672477232 stone objects1264714411 stone12715521123111 basering2938282844241172(Attic ware)3014316696611126821 potters mark2 Basins33224625522 potter's marks1 stone object33717191931811no indicatives3447663161411 stone object356221268156511no indicatives236528321342very washed1 stone object1237397833271 spindle14010211211 White Slip114511725411112811139198311586341129122323915Total:11809476Total Indicative:570

Sheet3EBIBAMBLBIr IIR IIPost Iron Age39111118037152502700230019001500110070039111118037152EBMBLBIr IIR IISherd Count3911118037152Size Estimate3050602080

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Size EstimateSherd Count

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Size EstimateSherd CountSize Estimate



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Size EstimateSherd CountSize Estimate

Field#DiscardedUnidentfiedEBIBAMBMB/LBLBLB/Ir IIr IIr I/IIIR IIIr IIAIr IIBPersianHellensticRom/ByzMedievalOtt.CommentsOtherFlintRoman182877261122122933132631 mosaic235812very washed1 UFO ceramic1414341211111 tabun frgament1514521131 Philistines?16711 grinding stone78121111 stone vessel1826943141 (Phil?)311 grinding stone19163412 (1 Phil?)3102905429 (1 BR?)162 basalt; 1 chalice; 1 basin21192325211121601313212131931441543626233very washed2151543212511 alabster41633342513474 stone objects4171127668172214181842223111920122162 (1 Phil.)612060038715171 Potmark112136545472 Philistine32258111111 potter's mark2 stone objects823233 stone (1 grinding)124841111no indicatives253672477232 stone objects1264714411 stone12715521123111 basering2938282844241172(Attic ware)3014316696611126821 potters mark2 Basins33224625522 potter's marks1 stone object33717191931811no indicatives3447663161411 stone object356221268156511no indicatives236528321342very washed1 stone object1237397833271 spindle14010211211 White Slip114511725411112811139198311586341129122323915Total:11809476Total Indicative:570

Chart139111118037152




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The Tel Burna Archaeological Project