Under the joint direction of Israel Finkelstein (Tel Aviv University), Christophe Nicolle (CNRS-Collège de France) and Thomas Römer (Collège de France), a new archaeological mission to Israel at the site of Deir el-Azar, ancient Kiriath-Jearim or Kiriath-Ba'al, will begin in summer 2017, from August1 to 31. The archaeological mission at Kiriath-Jearim(The Vlad and Sana Shmunis Archaeological Excavation at Biblical Kiriath-Jearim) is a joint project of Tel Aviv University and the Collège de France.
Kiriath-Jearim, an important place in the Hebrew Bible
The biblical town of Kiriath-Jearim (Cariathiarim) is strategically located on one of the highest hills (756 m) in Judea, 12 km west of Jerusalem, just west of Abu Gosh; the site is already well known from French excavations of the Neolithic period. The name Kiriath Jearim means "city of forests" in Hebrew. Its Arabic name of Deir el-Azar may derive from a reference to Eleazar who, according to 1 Samuel 7:1-2, took charge of the Ark of the Covenant when it was brought to Kiriath-Jearim: " The people of Kiriath-Jearim came and brought up the Ark of Yhwh; they brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the Ark of Yhwh. Much time had passed since the day the ark was deposited at Kiriath-Jearim; twenty years had passed. Then all the house of Israel groaned to Yhwh. "
The site is mentioned several times in the Bible, notably as the place where the Ark of the Covenant was temporarily deposited, as a border town between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and in genealogical notices and a list of people returning from exile[1]. In particular, the first book of Samuel (chapters 4-6) recounts how the Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines following Israel's defeat at the battle of Eben-Ezer. The presence of the sacred object, however, was said to have caused curses in Philistine territory, forcing them to return it to Israel. It was then that the ark was placed in Abinadav's house in Kiriath-Jearim, and it was not until decades later that David brought it to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6).
These mentions reveal the important status of Kiriath-Jearim, which was also probably the site of a temple of Ba'al, as suggested by its earlier name: Kiriath-Baal (Jos 15:60; 18:14), Baala (Jos 15:9.11; cf. Baalath in 1 K 9:18; 2 Ch 8:6), or Baalé-Juda (2 Sam 6:2). It has also been established that the Romans had set up an outpost at Kiriath-Jearim along the road from Jerusalem to Antipatris (Tel Aphek), as revealed by Latin inscriptions found in the surrounding area.
An unexplored site
In 1905, while ploughing, a farmer discovered a semi-circular wall with mosaics at the top of the hill. A brief excavation revealed column bases, capitals and other mosaics: the remains of a5th-century Byzantine church. In 1911, Sister Joséphine Rumebe, a French member of the Congregation ofthe Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition, had the convent of Our Ladyof the Arkof the Covenant and its church built on this site.
The site measures around 250 m by 250 m, making a tell of over 6 ha in area, one of the largest Iron Age tells in this hilly region. A few years ago, a surface survey carried out by an archaeologist working for the IsraelAntiquities Authority provided an initial estimate of the site's various occupations, yielding a few sherds from the Early and Middle Bronze periods (3rd and 2nd millennia), but above all the indication of a major Iron Age occupation (Iron I: 1100-900 B.C. and Iron II: 900-750 B.C.), with the possibility of a platform layout at the top of the tell.
This is one of the few as yet unexcavated biblical sites which, judging by the place it occupies in the biblical texts, was undoubtedly an important city and religious center. With the exception of the small monastery at the summit, the tell is well preserved, as its slopes are still used exclusively for olive growing. The archaeological levels are therefore both well protected and accessible.
Objectives and resources of the Kiriath-Jearim archaeological mission
The aim of the excavation is to provide first-rate new information on the history of the Judean mountains and the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, which are at the heart of the Bible. The elements gathered will provide a better understanding of the status, extent and organization of the territory of these kingdoms in the Iron Age. The dig will also enable us to determine whether there was a temple in the Judean mountains contemporary with the first temple in Jerusalem (dedicated to the god Baal?), an important question for our knowledge of the religion of ancient Israel. In addition, the dig will provide a better understanding of the historical background to important biblical passages, particularly those relating to the Ark of the Covenant.
The Kiriath-Jearim archaeological mission has obtained the excavation permit from the relevant local authorities, as well as the agreement of the monastery, which owns the land. It will benefit from the infrastructure of the Megiddo archaeological mission, renowned for its cutting-edge methods in the field of archaeology. It will thus have at its disposal the most advanced methods and techniques for carrying out excavations, data recording and all the necessary analyses. The excavations will involve some sixty experienced researchers and students from Israel, France and other countries. This international cooperation will mark a renewal of French archaeological activities in the Iron Age period in Israel.
[1] The name Kiriath-Jearim appears in Joshua 9:17; 15:9.60; 18:14.15; Judges 18:12; 1 Samuel 6:21; 7:1.2; Jeremiah 26:20; Nehemiah 7:29; 1 Chronicles 2:50.52.53; 13:5.6; and 2 Chronicles 1:4.
