The Tel Burna Archaeological Project
http://telburna.wordpress.com
Dr. Itzhaq Shai
Previous Research
• Aharoni and Amiran• Dagan’s Survey of the Shephelah – which
includes this site• Koh’s Survey• No Excavations Conducted at the Site
Tel Burna – Tell Bornât
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
Libnah
• Tel Goded• Tel Zayit• Horvat Lavnin• Tel Burna
– Location near Horvat Eter, Mareshah– On Border with Philistia– Iron Age occupation and fortifications– Evidence for Sennacherib’s Campaign– 7th Century Remains
The Survey
Uziel J. and Shai I. 2010. The Tel Burna Surface Survey. Tel Aviv 37: 242-260
Research Goals
• Developing survey methodology for tel sites, using comparative survey data collected through various methods
• “Ground truthing” survey results through excavation – to confirm/refute results of different methods of surveying
• Dating features visible on the surface• Defining the effects of erosion, human
activity, site depletion
The 2009 Survey Season
• Total collection of artifacts from surface as well as documentation of architectural features
• Division of site according to “topographic fields”
• Attempt to define periods of settlement, size per period, and potential areas of excavation
Approx. 16 Hectares of Surface Scatter
EB MB LB
Ir I Ir II
Distribution of Artifacts per Period
Ca. 3 hectares
Ca. 5 hectares
Ca. 6 hectares
Ca. 2 hectares
Ca. 8 hectares
Percentage of Diagnostic Ceramics According to Period
EB7%
IBA0%
MB19%
LB32%
Ir I6%
IR II27%
Post Iron Age9%
Comparison of Distribution Area and Sherd Counts
Size Estimate
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
EB MB LB Ir I IR II
Size Estimate Sherd Count
Lamashtu Plaque from Nahal Guvrin (near Tel Burna) – Published by M. Cogan in IEJ 1995
Survey Conclusions
• Settlement in EB, MB, LB and Iron I-II
• Large LB Settlement• Small Iron I settlement –
including Philistine pottery
• Iron II most significant, possibly fortified 2700 2300 1900 1500 1100 7002700 2300 1900 1500 1100 700
The Ups and Downs of the Settlement Over Time
Excavations: Goals after 3 Seasons
• Micro:– Settlement History of the Site
• Periods, size, character of settlement
– Dating Architectural Elements• E.g. fortifications, silos, walls on surface
Excavations: Goals after 3 Seasons
• Macro:– Survey methodology
• Shovel Pits Surveying
– Use of Landscape• Mapping and documenting agricultural installations, caves
– Studying Ancient Borders • Comparisons of Material Culture
– Archaeology and the Community• Open Excavation• Cleaning Agricultural Installations• Conservation of Chosen Features
– Late Bronze Age Cult
ShovelPits
Agricultural Installations Around the Site
Area B
Summit Center
Eastern Section
21 Squares Thus Far
• LB IIB (13th Century BCE)• Iron Age IIA (9th Century BCE)• Iron Age IIB (8th Century BCE)• Iron Age IIC (7th Century BCE)• Persian Period
LB IIB
• Area B – No Iron Age Settlement Above!• 13th Century BCE• Cypriot and Mycenaean Imports• Bedrock after 0.5 meter• Some unique finds indicate unique activity!
Area B – LB IIB
Noses
Cylindrical Seal
Cup and Saucer
Cypriot Imported Pottery
Unique Cypriot Vessel
Iron Age IIA
• Surface outside the fortifications • Installation on the inside of the inner wall
– Loom weights– Hand Burnished pottery
Iron Age IIA
Iron Age IIA
Iron Age IIAinstallation
Iron Age IIB
• Settlement in all areas of summit• Stamped 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 BCE
• Primarily Silos with small patches of architecture related to them
7th Century BCE Pottery
7th Century BCE
7th Century BCE
7th Century BCE
The Fortification System
Fortifications
Fortifications
Fortifications
7th century Silo
Persian Period
• Patchy Architecture on the basis of Iron Age Walls
• Boulders in secondary use
Persian Period
Persian Period
All Ages are Welcome!
Join us to the Summer 2013 Season June 2nd – June 21st
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