Tel Beth-Shean: Research and Publication Program

The high mound of Beth-Shean dominates the fertile Beth-Shean Valley at the juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys.  From earliest times, this region has been a strategic crossroads linking the Mediterranean coast with Transjordan, and the southern part of Israel with the Syro-Mespotamian world.  Some four thousand years of history have been traced at Beth-Shean, making it one of the important archaeological sites in Israel. 

Beth-Shean was first investigated on a large scale by the University of Pennsylvania expedition from 1921 to 1933, during which time important discoveries were made, mainly regarding three hundred years of Egyptian rule in the Land of Canaan (ca. 1450 to 1150 BCE).  Among the finds was the largest group of Egyptian monuments ever found in the Land of Israel.  In 1983 Y.Yadin and S.Geva of the Hebrew University conducted small scale excavation on the site. After a break of many years, nine seasons of excavations were carried out at Tel Berth Shean from 1989 to 1996 under the direction of  Prof. Amihai Mazar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the framework of the large scale archaeological project at Beth-Shean, initiated by the Beth-Shean Tourism organization. The work was carried out in six excavation areas; they enabled to restudy the results of previous expedition and achieve more precise results, utilizing modern  research methods.

Among the new discoveries were:

•  An exceptional public building from the Early Bronze I period (around 3,100 BCE), a period  which marks the transition from village life to urban life.
• Dwelling are of the Early Bronze III period, including Khirbet Kerak pottery, produced by immigrants from the north.
• Dwelling quarter and burials of the Midddle Bronze II period (17-16^th centuries BCE).
• Temple of the Late Bronze I period (16/15^th centuries BCE).
• Clarification and continued excavations a 14^th century BCE sanctuary previously excavated by the University of Pennsylvania expedition. 
•  Administrative buildings serving the Egyptian New Kingdom garrison at Beth-Shean during the 13^th-12^th centuries BCE
• Remains of the Canaanite city from the time 12-11^th centuries BCE
• remains of a solid public structures dated to the 10^th centuries BCE, when Beth-Shean was an administrative center of the Israelite monarchy.
• A large dwelling  from the 8^th century BCE , when Beth-Shean was a city in he Northern Kingdom of Israel. The buildings was destroyed with the rest of the city by the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III in 732 BCE. 
• Remains from the Hellenistic period related to the establishment of the Hellenistic city named now Nysa Scytholpois, which was the core for the development the large Roman city at the foot of the mound.
• Remains of Byzantine dwellings quarter on the mound.
• Remains of Early Arab dwelling quarter on the mound.
• Remains of fortification system surrounding the mound during the Medieval period.

Since the end of the field work in 1996, research of the many finds and their prompt scientific publication is an ongoing project.

The Publication of Tel Beth-Shean will include four volumes, edited by A.Mazar.

Tel Beth-Shean Volume I.

The first part of the volume includes the finds in Area Q, an investigation of Building 1500 of Level VI (12^th century BCE)  and two strata below it (13^th century BCE). The chapter provides also information on the reconstruction and conservation works of the Egyptian governor building (Building 1500).

The second part of this volume includes report on the finds Areas P, H, G and L, covering all the remains from the Iron IIA (10^th century) until the medieval period.  The volume also includes a study of molluscs from the entire excavation at Tel Beth-Shean.

For more information on how to order this book click here!

Tel Beth-Shean Volume II:  The Middle Bronze and Late Bronze I-IIA Levels at Area R. (main authors: R.Mullins, A.Mazar, A.Maeir).

Tel Beth-Shean Volume III: The New Kingdom and Iron Age I Remains in Areas N and S.

 This volume will include discussion of the stratigraphy and rich finds from the 13^th to the 11^th centuries  in Areas N and S.  

Tel Beth-Shean Volume IV:  The Early Bronze period at Tel Beth-Shean (Areas R and M)

This volume will include report on the EBIb, EBIII and Intermediate Bronze Age remains in areas M and R.

Back to index!