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This volume presents the stratigraphy and architectural remains of the tell of ancient (biblical) Shechem on the eastern outskirts of the modern municipality of Nablus, in what was at the time of excavation the independent village of Bal?tah. First identified as an ancient ruin and proposed as ancient Shechem in 1903, the site was excavated by an Austro-German team in the period between 1913 and 1934, and by the Drew- McCormick Archaeological Expedition, later named the Joint Expedition, between 1956 and 1973. Now, 87 years after Ernest Sellin began the dig, and 27 years after the expedition mounted by G. Ernest Wright left the field, this volume sets out to give that sort of portrayal to this mound of ancient cities that began its history at least 4000 years BCE and ended its premodern history in 107 BCE.
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Teil Baiâtah from the air near the summit of Mt. Gerizim, looking north. SHECHEM III THE STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE OF SHECHEM/TELL BALÂTAH VOLUME 1 : TEXT American Schools of Oriental Research Archaeological Reports Gloria London, editor Number 06 Shechem III: The Stratigraphy and Architecture of Shechem/Tell Balâtah Shechem III The Stratigraphy and Architecture of Shechem/Tell Balâtah Volume 1: Text Edward F. Campbell Illustrated by Lee C. Ellenberger, photographer and G. R. H. Wright, architect s h e c b e r a Archaeological Excavations AMERICAN SCHOOLS OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH • BOSTON, MA Dedicated to the memory of Professor G. Ernest Wright, mentor and friend to all who worked at Shechem CONTENTS ix LIST OF FIGURES Frontispiece: Tell Balâtah from the air near the summit of Mt. Gerizim, looking north. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 12 Fig. 13 Fig. 14 Fig. 19 Shechem: Uncrowned Queen of Palestine, Navel of the Land. Plan of Balâtah village and environs, with inset showing location of tombs. Field IX, Stratum XXIV remains, looking west in Area 4. Section in 3 EF as drawn in 1960, now reversed and serving as part of VI BB. Note the sequence of street numbers placed on the profile of Wall 900, and the layering beneath the foot of Wall 900. Section 3 EF, cut back in 1964. Key plan of Field VIII, showing lines of sections on Areas 1 and 3. "Area 2" was not assigned. Section AA on north face of Area 1 in Field VIII, to bedrock. Field IX, Area 4, looking north. Note Stratum XXI drainage channel 9630 met by Wall 9628 at its north end, plaster-lined installation against Wall 9631 and Firepit 9632. Looking down at the west face of Wall 968 in Field VI, Area 25. The meter stick rests on the fill of the platform retained by Wall 968. Note the smashed MB IIA storage jars fallen from the top of the platform. Silo 130 sunk into MB IIA Surface 122, as filled at left and with its packing removed and bones displayed at right. Section VI PP on the north face of Field VI.2. Section VI RR on the west face of Field V1.2. Structures at the north end of Field VI, showing location of Field V1.2 Section VI LL, showing Wall 935 beneath Fig. 20 Fig. 21 Fig. 22 Fig. 23 Fig. 24 Fig. 25 Fig. 26 Fig. 27 Fig. 28 Fig. 29 Fig. 30 Fig. 31 Fig. 32 Fig. 33 Fig. 34 Fig. 35 Fig. 36 Wall D. Fie. 15 Fig. 16 Fig. 17 Fi*. 18 Wall 935 as it runs beneath Wall D; diagrammatic view, north end of VI BB section. Drain 402 looking north in Field VI, Area 24. Field V section through Wall D and layers leading to it, looking north. The north face of the VI.2 trial trench, revealing Wall D at lower right. Fig. 37 Fig. 38 xi Wall 900 viewed looking east at the seam to the right of the strip of balk. The numbers painted on rocks in the wall show the elevations of some