Blog for a New Excavation – Tel Burna

A new excavation is planned for a site called Tel Burna. It is a candidate for the biblical Libnah. The blog introduces the site, and explains some of the process in preparing for an excavation. The info is easy to read and avoids unnecessary technicality.

A survey of the site was conducted in June. As the blog explains:

…the idea behind survey is archaeological study of a site without excavation (which is a very destructive process).  The primary survey tool used today is surface artifact collection.  This is done by simply walking around the site, in a systematic manner… and collect the artifacts from the surface.  Most of the artifacts collected are pottery sherds.

The survey information is still being analyzed, but the initial results are available on the blog.

The Tel Burna blog includes information about site identification, and a bit of Libnah’s history in the Bible. It’s too early to know if this is indeed Libnah, but that’s one question excavation may help to answer.

There is a flowering of new excavation in the Shephelah (Judean foothills) right now. Tel Burna should begin next summer. I heard a rumor that Israel Finkelstein is planning to excavate Azekah. We also have – of course – Khirbet Qeiyafa (also here), which became important after just one full excavation season. Perhaps Khirbet Qeiyafa is a driving force behind these fresh efforts in the Shephelah? The area was the border region between Philstia and Israel. Many questions are being raised about the history of the Shephelah, especially in the early Iron Age. Sounds exciting.

HT: Aren Maeir (Tel es-Safi)