Archaeology & Ancient Near East
Subject: Seasonality in the "Israelite Settlements" of the Early Iron Age Southern Levant.
Advisor: Dr. Ori Davidovich
Abstract: I aim to investigate the hypothesis that many of the "Israelite Settlements" — hamlets from the early Iron Age Southern Levant associated with ancient Israel — functioned as seasonal sites ("Ezbah"), occupied during specific times of the year based on local environmental conditions. I will develop a theoretical framework derived from historical documentation, ethnography, ethnoarchaeology, and the known archaeological record, which will outline the anticipated archaeological record of seasonal sites. Subsequently, I will conduct a systematic survey of the known archaeological remains of various settlements, evaluating their alignment with the established theoretical framework. Additionally, I will examine the spatial dispersion of the settlements, assuming that a settlement pattern characterized by seasonal sites will exhibit a distinct and recognizable spatial signature.
MA Honors 2024/25