Tel Ashdod
Plan
Rescue excavation, which was carried out by the Israel
Antiquities Authority (IAA) under management of Elena Kogan Zahavi (first
season) and Elena Kogan Zahavi and Perchia Nahshoni (second season),
found evidence of Assyrian presence in Tel Ashdod. The
site is located some 200 m north of Tel Ashdod and its area is about
10 dunams.
Historical background
Following the expansion of Assyrian
Empire to our region
(734 – 627 BC) Philistia in general and Ashdod in particular became
a target for Assyrian armies for its economic status as a coastal city
with a nearby port (Ashdod Yam) and strategic location on the sea route
to Egypt.
From the Bible and written Assyrian source we know about two uprisings in Ashdod against
the Assyrian occupation that happened in the period of Assyrian king
Sargon II (722 – 705 BC). Following the uprisings Ashdod was conquered
and made Assyrian vassal city-state headed by an Assyrian governor.
Where was the governor's residence? Excavations carried
out by professor Moshe Dotan found evidence of destruction of Ashdod
by the Assyrians, but no trace of their construction.
Excavation description
Four excavation areas (A,B,C,D) exposed a large structure
which we relate to a palace from the Assyrian period.
Layer 5: Exposed remains of a structure built
in typical Assyrian style. The building stands on a podium made of square
sun dried bricks. The walls are made of square bricks and are some 3
m thick. Some kiln fired bricks were found in the ruins.
In area C we exposed remains of podium and wall that
enclosed the palace from the west (fig. 2). The remains were in bad
condition due to peneplain. A test section west of the wall showed a
moat that was dug out for defense in this direction.
East to the wall and north-west to the structure we
found the most surprising discovery of this excavation – three
basins in two partly exposed rooms.
The floor and walls of the eastern room was plastered
and on west side we found a plastered niche with terracotta basin.
The western room revealed two more basins on plastered
floor. One of the basins was made of terracotta . The second basine
was made of stone and plastered inside. There were signs of ruination
in the rooms end the basins were moved from their original places. It
is possible that the rooms were bathrooms and the basins were used as
bathtubs although similar basins were used in Assyria as coffins for
burial.
In area A south of area C we exposed a large yard (in
north area), possibly square in shape (30 m from north to south) which
was built on manmade landfill. West of the yard we found parts of two
elongated rooms positioned in east-west direction. South of the yard
there were more halls or rooms built on a podium.
In area B north of area A we exposed the wide brick
wall positioned east-west built on a podium. On north this wall approached
by other walls from the north which enclosed elongated rooms. The rooms
evidently were used for storage at the basement level of the palace.
The rooms were made of mud walls 1.2 m thick built on a podium. Walls
of 4 rooms could be noticed of which one was completely excavated and
found devastated by fire.
The small finds included various ceramics among them
some utensils typical to Assyrian palaces, terracotta figurine and terracotta
mould of figurine and metal utensils.
Layer 4: This layer relates to the period of
activity and building following destruction of the palace In areas C
and D . We discovered remains of buildings and walls based on foundations
made of stones and dirt floors. The walls were preserved only to the
plinth level. The finding included numerous ceramics on the floors dated
to 8 th– 7 th century.
Layer 3: A finding from the Persian
period dated the remains on this level. Preservation was very poor
due to construction in the Hellenistic
period.
In area B the Persian findings were discovered only
in the rubbish pits. In the area C we found part of a stone wall foundation
directed from east to west and a hole which was apparently used for
archives. In the hole we found ceramics fragments of ritual pedestal
with integrated male and female images and two imported lekythoi.
Layer 2: This layer was dated to the Hellenistic
period. It included fragmented remains of buildings, which did not enable
us to understand the whole complex.
In the area B we found remains of walls in two stages
directed from east to west. In both stages we exposed floors approaching
each wall. Ceramics and coins found on the floors were dated to the
Hellenistic period. We also found a rubbish pit from the same period.
In the area C we found a wall section directed from
east to west (wall 101 on the left). Approached by a floor and water
ditch built east of the wall. The water ditch was not connected to the
wall. The find included numerous ceramics.
In the area A, south of the site we found five kilns
that were excavated in the previous seasons (two of the kilns were excavated
by Daniel Varga of IAA, southern district).
Layer 1: This layer relates to a vaulted grave
in southern side of Area A (fig 2). The grave was cast as one concrete
block into a large pre-made hole and only its face was exposed above
the ground. The grave comprised of one central vaulted room and six
burial niches on two of its sides. The grave was not excavated due to
objections from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. A similar grave that
was excavated in Ashkelon was dated to 200 -300 AD. The grave construction
ruined a brick wall of an Assyrian building. Two ark graves made of
stone and covered with stone plates were found east of the vaulted grave.
The graves were not excavated.
Sources: Israeli Foreign Ministry |