Archaeologists Return to Ancient Megiddo

Discussion in 'Middle East' started by Margot2, Nov 17, 2014.

  1. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    This is a layer cake of ancient construction and various battles over time. Might interest those who are interested in history and archeology.


    Archaeologists Return to Ancient Megiddo

    Archaeologists are now onsite at Tel Megiddo, in northern Israel, to continue large-scale excavations at what has often been called the "crown jewel" of archaeological sites of the Levant, or Eastern Mediterranean region.

    Led by well-known archaeologists Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University and Eric Cline of the George Washington University, a team of archaeologists, students, volunteers and other specialists will be excavating where they left off in 2012, when they encountered a large building featuring 18 pillars dated to the Iron Age IIA period, (around 1000 BCE). South of the building they uncovered a hoard of six iron daggers and two bronze bowls, dating to the Iron Age I (1200 - 1000 BCE).

    Tel Megiddo, a World Heritage site, is best known for the remains of a large Canaanite center that once ruled at a location strategically placed at one of the most important military and trade routes in the ancient Near East, the Via Maris, dominating trade and commercial traffic for over 6,000 years beginning around 7000 BCE.

    The city is often mentioned in ancient literature and documents such as the Hebrew Bible and the el-Amarna letters of ancient Egypt, particularly as the site of epic battles that changed the course of ancient history in the region. As the inspiration for James Michener's novel, The Source, the site affords a layer-cake of remains of ancient civilizations that came and went at the location, each succeeding civilization building upon the ruins of predecessors.

    This has created a treasure for archaeologists and their sponsors, who for decades have been unearthing monumental temples, palace complexes, massive fortifications, and sophisticated water systems, adding to our understanding of Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement and lifeways in the Levant. Some of the major finds of recent seasons have included a hoard of gold, silver and bronze jewelry, all wrapped in fabric and hidden in a vessel dated to around 1100 B.C.; and an Early Christian prayer hall with a mosaic floor discovered at a prison site near the Tel.

    continued here

    http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/fall-09012014/article/archaeologists-return-to-ancient-megiddo
     
  2. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    FYI...................
     
  3. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    FYI...............
     
  4. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    Pharaoh Thutmose III and the Battle of Megiddo

    Egypt vs. Kadesh

    The Battle of Megiddo is the first battle that was recorded in detail and for posterity. Pharaoh Thutmose III's military scribe inscribed it in hieroglyphs at Thutmose's temple at Karnak, Thebes (now Luxor). Not only is this the first extant, detailed battle description, but it is the first written reference to the religiously important Megiddo: Megiddo is also known as Armageddon.

    Historically, Megiddo was an important city because it overlooked the route from Egypt through Syria to Mesopotamia. If an enemy of Egypt controlled Megiddo, it could block the pharaoh from reaching the rest of his empire.

    continued...........

    http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/egyptmilitary/qt/070607Megiddo.htm
     
  5. klipkap

    klipkap Well-Known Member

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    Margot, Maybe Prof Finkelstein and his students will discover even more confirmatory proof that the Canaanite city-states came into conflict with the monotheistic Canaanite hill-people .... who became known as the Israelites. Egypt wasn't necessary.
     
  6. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    Perhaps... I haven't followed the latest finds, but it appears that for much of its history Israel and all the Canaanite cities were vassal states under Egypt... and paid tribute to Egypt.
     
  7. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    Cupid Dave.. I bumped this for you.

    - - - Updated - - -

    For the 2014 season, archaeologists will continue work on the pillared structure exposed in 2012; expose some late Middle Bronze Age (1800 - 1540 BCE) domestic architecture; continue to excavate parts of the early Middle Bronze Age fortification system which includes a massive mudbrick wall and glacis (defensive slope construction); study areas related to Late Bronze-Iron Age street levels; expose more of the Late Bronze Age levels excavated previously; and conduct exploratory soundings in three new locations.

    There are some great photos at the link.
     
  8. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    They have unearthed a large Egyptian temple in Sinai and more Egyptian houses in Israel.
     
  9. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    Tel Megiddo, a World Heritage site, is best known for the remains of a large Canaanite center that once ruled at a location strategically placed at one of the most important military and trade routes in the ancient Near East, the Via Maris, dominating trade and commercial traffic for over 6,000 years beginning around 7000 BCE.

    The city is often mentioned in ancient literature and documents such as the Hebrew Bible and the el-Amarna letters of ancient Egypt, particularly as the site of epic battles that changed the course of ancient history in the region. As the inspiration for James Michener's novel, The Source, the site affords a layer-cake of remains of ancient civilizations that came and went at the location, each succeeding civilization building upon the ruins of predecessors.
     

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