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Excavating at the Crossroads: A Mosaic of History

Sarah Harrington, 2023 Stevan B. Dana Scholarship Recipient

The “At the Crossroads: Arameans, Phoenicians and Israelites” project at Tel Abel Beth-Maacah is located in Northern Israel, just south of the Lebanese border. Like today, in ancient times, the Tel was located at an intersection of cultures. Abel Beth-Maacah, or ABM as it is affectionately called by its excavators sits at the Northern extent of the Kingdom of Ancient Israel, and seems at various periods to have been controlled by Israelites and Arameans, with clear Phoenician influences. Textual evidence at this site is limited, but in conjunction with material culture, particularly in the forms of art and pottery, the excavators are able to piece together an understanding of the systems of trade, influence, and interaction that this region of Northern Israel was experiencing in various periods.

Sarah (left) and a volunteer excavating a probe.

While written evidence for Abel Beth-Maacah is limited, it is not non-existent. The Hebrew Bible mentions the site in a story from the Davidic period. A “wise woman” tells Joab, one of David’s generals, that “long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it” (1 Samuel 20:18) hinting at some sort of divinatory cult at the site. In support of this idea, the archaeological material has turned up a hoard of 406 knuckle bones, or astragali bones, which were commonly used in divination rituals, from the Iron IIA (Reference). The woman also refers to Abel Beth-Maacah as a “mother in Israel”, tying the city to the Israelite Kingdom (2 Sam. 20:19). Later, the Aramean king Ben-Hadad I would conquer the northern border states of Israel, including ABM and neighboring Tel Dan, a conquest confirmed by the discovery of the Tel Dan stele erected by Ben-Hadad after his victory (1 Kings 15:20). A final piece of textual evidence comes from the site itself, where a theophoric name (a personal name which includes the name of a deity) was found on a jar in a massive storage building. Theophoric names rose to prominence in the Iron II in the Southern Levant. For ancient Israel, these are called “Yahwistic names” as they include the name of the god Yahweh. The presence of such a name suggests an Israelite presence at the site during this period.

While evidence such as names and material culture can give insight into who lives at a site during a given period, archaeologists still must proceed with caution. The Iron Age Levant was interconnected. As discussed above, political boundaries shifted, especially near borders. It was not uncommon for things like personal names or pottery styles to shift in order to give the owner a social or economic advantage. To the west, Phoenicians on the Levantine coast were trading widely in the Mediterranean during the Iron II.

Sarah excavating in Area A Downtown

At Abel Beth-Maacah, evidence for Phoenician trade is seen in the Phoenican style pottery, such as a Phoenician Bi-chrome jar, as well as a seal bearing the impression of a Phoenician ship. The seal could have been used practically, but may have also been a prestige item. It is shaped like a lotus flower, a distinctly Egyptianizing art feature, again pointing to the interconnectedness of art and trade in this period. Phoenician material culture at the site is a good example of how archaeologists must be careful when interpreting data. While it is not unlikely that some Phoneincians did reside at ABM, the presence of Phoenincian pottery does not have to mean the owners were “Phoenician,” especially when knowledge of Phoenician trade patterns is considered. People and materials were moving widely through the Levant and the Ancient Near East, and it is not surprising that the material culture reflects this.

My squares (T15/A15) with the Lebanese hills in the background.

These issues are particularly relevant for a border site like Abel Beth-Maacah. Because the ancient world was interconnected and fluid, archaeologists must connect together evidence from texts, archaeology, and art, from their own excavations and others, to piece together an understanding of the past.

For more information, please visit our website: www.abel-beth-maacah.org

A cow decided to help us sift one morning!
A cow decided to help us sift one morning!

Sarah Harrington is a Ph.D. Student in Levantine Archaeology at UCLA. She is researching rituals of the Ancient Near East and the archaeological material associated with them. This summer she was an Assistant Area Supervisor in Area A Downtown at Tel Abel Beth-Maacah.

Want to help more students and early career archaeologists get into the field? Donate to the cause today by selecting “Student Support” as your gift purpose!

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We are glad to announce a walking tour of Boston’s "Little Syria", which thrived between the 1880s and 1950s in today’s Chinatown and South End, for ASOR Annual Meeting attendees. Led by the Boston Little Syria Project, the tour will be on Wednesday, November 19 from 3:00–5:00pm. Space is limited, and advance sign-up is required, click the link (https://buff.ly/LxbQLN5) in our bio to register.


The Ancient Near East Today is seeking new members
The Ancient Near East Today is seeking new members for its Editorial Advisory Committee. The committee supports and advises the editor of ANE Today regarding matters of content and strategy for both the main platform and the corresponding Substack Newsletter. All ASOR members are welcome to apply, and we especially encourage early-career scholars to apply. To receive full consideration, please fill out the online form by October 31, 2025: click the link (https://buff.ly/2MyvjcP) in our bio to access the form.



Happy International Archaeology Day! 🏛️📜🏺Today we celebrate the discoveries, stories, and people who bring the ancient world to life. ASOR supports research, preserving cultural heritage, and connecting people across the globe through humanity’s shared history. From excavations to digital archives, publications, and handbooks, from our Annual Meeting, webinars, and tours to community engagement, archaeology connects us all.
📸: @mozia.unipa
#InternationalArchaeologyDay #IAD2025 #ASOR #CulturalHeritage


Our #ObjectoftheWeek: A Cypriot terracotta statuet
Our #ObjectoftheWeek: A Cypriot terracotta statuette depicts a bearded charioteer driving a biga (two-horse chariot), dating to c. 6th century BCE. Source: The J. Paul Getty Museum Collection/https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103SR1
#Archaeology #Cyprus


One of the famous scenes of antiquity is that of t
One of the famous scenes of antiquity is that of the visit purportedly paid by Alexander the Great to the temple of Jerusalem. But did Alexander actually visit Jerusalem? And does it matter? Read the newest ANE Today by Ory Amitay by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/alexander-great-jerusalem/) in our bio.
#AlexandertheGreat #Jerusalem


This October, two anonymous donors have generously
This October, two anonymous donors have generously pledged $3,000 in matching gifts to support the Friends of ASOR webinar program. Every gift through Oct. 31 will be matched dollar for dollar until we reach $3,000. Be a part of ensuring our webinar program can continue to be free and available for all! Make your gift today to help ASOR meet the October Webinar Challenge (please select “Webinars” when making your gift). https://buff.ly/ppDKVDZ


Over the past few months, ASOR has offered free tr
Over the past few months, ASOR has offered free training in its cultural heritage documentation curriculum to Syrian and Yemeni students and heritage professionals in collaboration with Syrians for Heritage (SIMAT) and Heritage for Peace. ASOR’s freely accessible curriculum aims to help cultural heritage specialists perform surveys and condition assessments through mostly open-source tools and software, including KoboToolbox, QGIS, LibreCAD, and Agisoft Metashape. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/Tvocl38) in our bio.
#CulturalHeritage #Syria #Yemen


Mark your calendars for our next webinar on Octobe
Mark your calendars for our next webinar on October 29 at 12:00pm ET: "Alexander the Great in Jerusalem: Myth and History", presented by Dr. Ory Amitay. The episode of Alexander’s visit to Jerusalem is familiar mostly through the story of Flavius Josephus—this version of the story dominates not only the public imagination but also scholarly discussion. Dr. Amitay’s recent book, Alexander the Great in Jerusalem: Myth and History, explores the four different versions of the Alexander in Jerusalem story and concludes that the story, in all its versions, cannot be regarded as history; it is a political myth. Tune in to the webinar to learn about the stories and the contexts of their creation. Click the link (https://buff.ly/GHbmf8a) in our bio to register.


Join ASOR's Early Career Scholars on Friday, Octob
Join ASOR's Early Career Scholars on Friday, October 17th from 12:00-1:15pm EDT via Zoom for a virtual Brown Bag workshop, "How to Get Involved in Archaeological Field Projects." Curious about how to join an archaeological dig or how to expand your field experience? Join us for a panel session featuring directors of field projects in Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt, who will share firsthand insights into what fieldwork really looks like and how students at all levels can get involved. Click the link (https://buff.ly/hhAGoMp) in our bio to register!


While the ASOR Annual Meeting offers a robust acad
While the ASOR Annual Meeting offers a robust academic program, attendees joining us in Boston can also enjoy a range of special events. These include workshops, the Early Career Scholar reception, roundtables, and even free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum of Fine Arts is offering complimentary general admission to Annual Meeting attendees from November 19–26, 2025. Simply show your ASOR name badge at the admissions desk for free entry. Some events require advance sign-up for registered participants. Click the link (https://buff.ly/6EuvOJO) in our bio for more information.


Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantasti
Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantastic two-day adventure through some of the city’s exceptional museums. Thirty participants enjoyed exclusive, behind-the-scenes access at @isac_uchicago's special exhibition Megiddo: A City Unearthed, A Past Imagined, curated by Kiersten Neumann. Later, Morag Kersel led a walking tour of Chicago’s monuments, offering fresh perspectives on the city’s public spaces. Day two brought a visit with @artinstitutechi curators Ashley Arico and Lisa Çakmak, who shared insights into how the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine collections are curated. The trip concluded with an unforgettable afternoon at the @fieldmuseum, where Bill Parkinson treated the group to a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s world-class anthropology collections. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/FmVOgIG) in our bio.


Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET
Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET for our next FOA webinar: "Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture" presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. Register now if you haven't: https://buff.ly/1oKIpSA


ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Studen
ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Student Paper Award (pictured is Nicole Constantine, winner of the 2024 award). The award is accompanied by a $500 prize—applications and recorded paper presentations are both due by November 5. Read more about eligibility and how to apply by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/NcjivIT) in our bio.


Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new A
Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new Assistant Editor! Biblical Archaeology Review is a quarterly archaeology magazine that acts as a bridge between the academic study of archaeology and a broad general audience eager to understand the world of the Bible better. See their job announcement for more details: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/about-the-biblical-archaeology-society/employment/


The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today:
The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today: 12,000 year old rock art panel of life-sized camels discovered in the Nefed Desert, Saudi Arabia. Orthophoto with tracings digitally outlined in color. Image source: M. Guagnin et al. 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63417-y). CC By 4.0. #Archaeology #RockArt #SaudiArabia


The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical art
The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical artifact that is easy for people to imagine. Because its function is ambiguous, there is a rich and diverse interpretive history of the object that is as old as the Bible itself. Read more in the newest ANE Today by Kevin McGeough by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/imagining-the-ark/) in our bio.


ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help c
ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help capture our upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza from November 19–22, 2025, including our 125th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday evening. This is an uncompensated position, but reimbursements and hotel nights are negotiable. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/aZQB5kS) in our bio. Applications due October 15th.


Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fi
Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient, excavated at Makounta-Voules in Cyprus this summer. With a strong interest in zooarchaeology, Gabrielle shares her experience digging with views of the Mediterranean in the background. Read her report by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/2CSjLkn) in our bio.
#Fieldwork #Archaeology #Cyprus


Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeologi
Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeological tour of Cyprus! Experience exclusive, behind-the-scenes access as scholars, archaeologists, and museum curators personally guide you through a specially curated itinerary of sites and museums. The Early Bird rates are only till tomorrow, September 30. Read more about how to reserve your spot here: https://buff.ly/GHulteg
#Cyprus


The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern reg
The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern region, invites abstracts for its annual conference. With opportunity to participate in more than 20 units and 50 sessions, scholars and students of religious studies, theology, and biblical literature located in the southeast are encouraged to apply. There will be ASOR member-sponsored sessions on Field Reports and Related Scholarship, and Shifting Identities and the Archaeology of the Ancient World.
The Call for Papers deadline is October 1, 2025. Learn more at https://relse.org.



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