Kh. el-Maqatir 2000 Dig Report -- By: Bryant G. Wood

Journal: Bible and Spade (Second Run)
Volume: BSPADE 13:3 (Summer 2000)
Article: Kh. el-Maqatir 2000 Dig Report
Author: Bryant G. Wood


Kh. el-Maqatir 2000 Dig Report

Bryant G. Wood

From May 22 to June 15 a fifth season of excavation was carried out at Kh. el-Maqatir, 15 km (9 mi) north of Jerusalem. The project is sponsored by the Associates for Biblical Research, endorsed by the Near East Archaeological Society, and under the direction of the author. Two groups of volunteers, with over 60 in each group, participated in the dig. In addition, a tour group of about 50 joined the dig for one day, and a number of people living in Israel volunteered one or more days to help excavate. Participating consortium members included Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies, Bryan College, Dallas Theological Seminary, Master’s College IBEX (Israel Bible Extension), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southwest Institute of Biblical and Theological Studies. The following institutions were also represented: Francis Marion University, Gordon College, Grace Theological Seminary, Northwestern College, Ozark Christian College, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of North Carolina, Washington Bible College and Wheaton College.

Plan of the LB I fortress at Kh. el-Maqatir, 2000.

Pavement and wall collapse in Square F24. On the west side of the square, just below the modern agricultural surface, are flagstones of a pavement from the time of Joshua. They are oriented north-south, presumably parallel to the eastern wall of the fortress located to the east. The pavement was covered with a layer of ash 10 cm (4 in) thick, perhaps from the burning of the fortress by the Israelites as recorded in Joshua 8:28. On the east side of the square is a pile of stones, possibly collapse from the eastern wall of the fortress.

Megalithic stones on a flagstone pavement in Squares R14 and R13. On top of the pavement was a thin layer of ash and clumps of burned material. Between the pavement and the megalithic stones is a layer of soil 20–25 cm (8–10 in) thick, indicating that a significant period of time elapsed between the destruction of the fortress and the gravitation of the stones to their present locations.

Hard work by the core staff and dedicated volunteers during the 2000 dig season allowed a great deal to be accomplished. It was a breakthrough season in that solid evidence for the burning of the Canaanite fortress was recovered and the lines of both the east wall and the west wall were located. Tomb excavation was initiated under the ...

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