Khirbet el-Mastarah is an archaeological site that includes the largest of the complex oval compound type habitation sites located in the middle Jordan Valley in the West Bank.[2]
Location
Khirbet el-Masratah is located 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Jericho and 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Ain Aujah in Wadi Auja on a small hill hidden by three larger hills. These surrounding hills cause the 1.0-hectare (2.5-acre) site to be hidden from view.[3]
Excavation history
The site was discovered and surveyed in April 2004 by Adam Zertal during the course of the Manasseh Hill Country Survey.[4]
An excavation directed by David Ben-Shlomo and Ralph K. Hawkins took place in June 2017.[5] During the course of the excavation a number of large and small rounded and oval enclosures of single-course limestone rubble walls were discovered, all of them almost entirely empty of finds.[6]
Significance
The site's hidden location most probably indicates the presence of a new population migrating to the central hill country from the east during Iron I, avoiding contact with the native population.[2] On this basis the excavation directors believe the site is possibly an early Israelite site, constructed during the early stages of the Israelite Settlement.[1]
References
Bibliography
- Ben-Shlomo, David; Hawkins, Ralph K. (2017). "Excavations at Khirbet el Mastarah, the Jordan Valley, 2017". Judea and Samaria Studies. 26 (2). Ariel University Publishing. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- Ben-Shlomo, David; Hawkins (July–August 2018). "Khirbet el-Mastarah: An Early Israelite Settlement?". Biblical Archaeology Review. 9 (5).
- Zertal, Adam (2012). The Manasseh Hill Country Survey, Vol. V: The Middle Jordan Valley (from Wadi Fasael to Wadi 'Aujah) (in Hebrew). University of Haifa.
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