Area B

Area B

This large area was opened next to a small four squares trench that was excavated by the Lachish expedition in 1977. In this short season, two relatively well preserved strata from the Iron Age II, which were dated to the mid 9^th – mid 8^th centuries BCE, were unearthed. Our excavations in area B had two aims, which lead to the expansion of the excavation area in two directions.

1) We aimed to open a new line of squares in order to continue the original line (excavated by the Lachish expedition in the upper terrace) in the lower terrace to the west. The final aim of this line was to make a section in the tel.

2) We aimed to expand the area opened by the Lachish expedition on the upper terrace, to the north and south, in order have a large exposure of the Iron Age II architecture, as to expose whole buildings which will allow us to discuss the use of space within the buildings, and perhaps even some aspects of town planning.

Area B – upper

In the upper part of area B we aimed at expanding the area excavated by the Lachishexpedition in 1977. In the course of the four seasons conducted so far, we cleaned part of the area exposed by the Lachish expedition, and opened five squares to the north of this area, and one to its south. It appears as if parts of three architectural units were exposed in this area – all destroyed in the late 8^th century BCE. In the northern house, only partially excavated, dozens of complete vessels were unearthed on the plastered floors.

On the slopes, connecting the upper terrace and the lower terraces, we uncovered the edges of the 8^th century walls that belonged to the above mentioned buildings, and below them an earlier phase, probably dating to the Iron Age IIA.

Area B lower

 Schematically, the latest period of use of this part of the site was the Byzantine period, when it was used for agricultural purposes. The area was used also in the Persian period, when some buildings in the western part of the area were re-used. Most of the finds in this area seem to date to the Iron Age II, although floors were unearthed only in the western slope.

The lower part of area B also presents us with the earliest remains unearthed so far in the excavations at Tel 'Eton, and in one square we uncovered remains from the Iron Age I and even the later part of the Late Bronze Age.

2009

In work