Tell Qasile
Encyclopedia
Tell Qasile is an archaeological
site in Tel Aviv
, Israel
. Over 3,000 years old, the site contains the remains of a port city founded by the Philistines
in the 12th century BC
. It is located near the Yarkon
River, on the grounds of the Eretz Israel Museum
.
, the first archaeological exploration permit issued by the nascent state of Israel. The excavations revealed the gradual development of the Philistine city over 150 years, from its founding (Level XII) to the peak of its growth (Level X) at the end of the 11th century BC
.
building, dating from the Abbasid era. The building has been dated by its excavators to a period between the ninth and eleventh century, though both earlier (Umayyad
) and later (Crusader) occupations of the site were found.
The design of the building and its position (at a river crossing point), indicate that it was a khan
.
Only the northern part of the building was excavated, the rest only visible as robber trenches. From the excavated parts, it is estimated that the building was 28 meters square. A paved entrance in the middle of the north wall led to a courtyard, paved with gravel. The courtyard had arcade
s on the east and west sides, supported by column
s. In the north-west corner of the courtyard were the remains of a staircase. Several small rooms, lining the courtyard, were exposed.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
site in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Over 3,000 years old, the site contains the remains of a port city founded by the Philistines
Philistines
Philistines , Pleshet or Peleset, were a people who occupied the southern coast of Canaan at the beginning of the Iron Age . According to the Bible, they ruled the five city-states of Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath, from the Wadi Gaza in the south to the Yarqon River in the north, but with...
in the 12th century BC
12th century BC
-Overview:The 12th century BC is the period from 1200 to 1101 BC. Although many human societies were literate in this period, most individual persons mentioned in this article ought to be considered legendary rather than historical...
. It is located near the Yarkon
Yarkon
Yarkon may refer to:* Yarkon River, an Israeli river which originates at Tel Afek, north of Petah Tikva.* Yarkon Park, a large urban park in Tel Aviv, Israel.* Yarkon Sports Complex, a sports complex located in the Baptist Village in Petah Tikva....
River, on the grounds of the Eretz Israel Museum
Eretz Israel Museum
The Eretz Israel Museum is a historical and archeological museum in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel.Eretz Israel Museum, established in 1953, has a large display of archaeological, anthropological and historical artifacts organized in a series of exhibition pavilions on its grounds...
.
History
Excavation of the site was begun in 1948 by Benjamin MazarBenjamin Mazar
Benjamin Mazar was a pioneering Israeli historian, recognized as the "dean" of biblical archaeologists. He shared the national passion for the archaeology of Israel that also attracts considerable international interest due to the region's biblical links...
, the first archaeological exploration permit issued by the nascent state of Israel. The excavations revealed the gradual development of the Philistine city over 150 years, from its founding (Level XII) to the peak of its growth (Level X) at the end of the 11th century BC
11th century BC
The 11th century BC comprises all years from 1100 BC to 1001 BC. Although many human societies were literate in this period, some of the individuals mentioned below may be considered legendary rather than fully historical.-Events:...
.
Archaeological findings
The sacred area of the Philistine city was unearthed to reveal three temples, built one on top of the other. The temples were constructed with walls of sun-dried mud bricks covered with light-colored plaster. Low benches were built along the length of the walls. Many offering and cult vessels were found on the floors, concentrated mainly around the "bamah" and in the storage alcoves of the temples. A residential block was found on the north side of the street, while in the south side workshops and storehouses were unearthed. The houses were built to a standard plan - they were square, with an area of approximately 100 square meters per apartment. Each apartment comprised two rectangular rooms with a courtyard separating them.Islamic Khan
Excavations in the 1980s revealed a large courtyardCourtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
building, dating from the Abbasid era. The building has been dated by its excavators to a period between the ninth and eleventh century, though both earlier (Umayyad
Umayyad
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...
) and later (Crusader) occupations of the site were found.
The design of the building and its position (at a river crossing point), indicate that it was a khan
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
.
Only the northern part of the building was excavated, the rest only visible as robber trenches. From the excavated parts, it is estimated that the building was 28 meters square. A paved entrance in the middle of the north wall led to a courtyard, paved with gravel. The courtyard had arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
s on the east and west sides, supported by column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s. In the north-west corner of the courtyard were the remains of a staircase. Several small rooms, lining the courtyard, were exposed.
External links
- Link to the site of Prof. Amihai Mazar, regarding Tell Qasile
- Philistine facts on the ground, by Yaacov ShavitYaacov Shavitthumb|right|200pxYaacov Shavit is a professor at the Department of Jewish History, Tel Aviv University. His main fields of study are the history of modern Israel and modern Jewish intellectual and cultural history...
, Haaretz - Tell Qasile Final Report, by Etan Ayalon and Semadar Harpazi Ofer, 7/6/2004, Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel, #116
- Tell Qasile Final Report, by Etan Ayalon, 23/7/2007, Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel, #119
- Tell Qasile Final Report, by Alexander Glick, 13/1/2008, Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel, #120
- Tell Qasile Final Report, by Etan Ayalon and Nitza Bashkin-Yosef, 29/5/2008, Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel, #120
- Tell Qasile (West) Final Report, by Alexander Glick, 14/2/2009, Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel, #121
- Tell Qasile (West) Final Report, by Alexander Glick, 13/10/2009, Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel, #121
- Tell Qasile (West) Final Report, by Alexander Glick, 28/12/2009, Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel, #121