Zeitah: One of the major goals of the project consists in clarifying our understanding of life in a local, town setting in ancient Israel. Since nearly all archaeological work throughout Israel has concentrated on large, urban sites, our current view of the lives of the majority of ancient Israel’s population is scant and skewed. (External Link)

Bethsaida: In addition to uncovering the Hellenistic-Roman city of Bethsaida, a surprising discovery happened in 1996. In this season, the remains of an Iron Age (time of Hebrew Bible) City Gate complex were uncovered, which has led the scholars on a new quest-to find out more about the Iron Age city that no one expected to find underneath the Hellenistic-Roman remains. It is now believed the Iron Age Bethsaida was the capital of the kingdom of Geshur. Geshur is notable in the Hebrew Bible for its visit by King David, and his subsequent marriage to Ma'achah, the daughter of the king of Geshur. (External Link)

Sha'ar HaGolan: The Neolithic village of Sha`ar Hagolan (ca. 8000-7500 years ago) is the largest and most important prehistoric art center in Israel. Over 150 art objects were collected from its surface over the course of many years. In the past it was not possible to conduct large scale excavations at the site, since it was covered by fish-ponds and olive trees. (External Link)

Tell Rehov: Major goals of this season will be the continued study of the structures and sanctuary in Areas B,C, and E, dating to the 10th-9th centuries BCE, the continued study of the Iron Age I and Late Bronze levels in Area D, and continued study of the Early Bronze Age fortifications discovered in the 2001 season. (External Link)

Ashkelon: The oldest and largest seaport yet known in Israel, and a thriving Middle Bronze Age (2000-1550 B.C.) metropolis of more than 150 acres, with commanding ramparts where the silver calf was found, including the oldest arched city gate in the world, still standing two stories high. (External Link)

Tell es-Safi/Gath: Tell es-Safi, which is identified by most scholars as the Biblical city of “Gath of the Philistines” (Goliath’s home town), is one of the largest tells (ancient ruin mounds) in Israel and was settled almost continuously from the fifth millennium BCE until modern times. (External Link)

Tell Hazor: Hazor was an ancient Canaanite and Israelite City located in the north of modern day Israel. Recent archaeological excavations have revealed how important this city was in antiquity. (External Link, See also Hatsor by Jacqueline Schaalje)