גבעת רבי

In July 2020, a trial excavation was conducted at the parking lot by the entrance to Banias National Park (Permit No. A-8793; map ref. 265077–143/794681–797; Fig. 1), prior to the development of the site. The excavation was undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and financed by the Nature and Parks Authority. Work in the field was directed by Y. Tchekhanovets (field photography), with the assistance of R. Assis (archaeological probes), Y. Yaʽacobi (administration), M. Kahan (field surveying), A. Kleiner (aerial photography and digitalization), Z. Badihi (metal detecting), A. Shapiro (field laboratory and petrography), E.J. Stern (pottery), H. Ben-Dov and T. Moav (IAA Education Department), D. Gazit (studio photography), C. Hersch (pottery drawing) and A. German-Levanon (digital documentation of pottery). Thanks are also due to colleagues from the Northern District of the IAA, R. Be’eri and O. Zingboim, and to the workers of Banias National Park.

In October 2020, a trial excavation was conducted in Yattir Forest, north of Metar and near Metar Crossing (Permit No. A-8857; map ref. 193824–906/583259–346; Fig. 1), prior to laying a water pipe. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Mekorot Water Company, was directed by D. Biton (field photography and flint), with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), E. Aladjem (surveying, drafting and aerial photography), I. Azulay (plans), D. Gazit (studio photography), M. Smilanski (flint drawing), T. Abulafia and A. Golani (scientific guidance), F. Kobrin and S. Talis.

In August 2015, a trial excavation was conducted on the northern outskirts of 'Illut (Permit No. A-7478; map ref. 224829-5329/736472-806), after seven stone heaps containing flint artifacts were identified in a development survey prior to expansion of the town. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Israel Land Authority, was conducted by M. Shemer with the assistance of A. Yaroshevich and A. Shapiro (area supervision), K. Covello-Paran (scientific guidance), A. Peretz (field photography), Griffin Company (aerial photography), R. Liran, R. Mishayev and M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), B. Zidan and Y. Yaakobi (administration), D. Avshalom-Gorni (on-site pottery reading), I. Taxel (pottery analysis), D. Gazit (studio photography) and I. Lidsky-Reznikov (finds drawing).

During May-June 2006, a trial excavation was conducted at Khirbat Beit 'Anava (West; Permit No. A-4804*; map ref. NIG 194394/614520, OIG 144394/114520), after ancient remains were exposed in soundings conducted along the route of Highway 431 and Ramp 200. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and with the financial support of the Department of Public Works, was directed by L. Rauchberger, with the assistance of E. Bachar (administration), A. Hajian (surveying and drafting), T. Sagiv (field photography), B. Ajami (safety), C. Amit (studio photography), E.C.M. van den Brink (pottery reading) and D.T. Ariel and A. Berman (numismatics). Additional assistance was rendered by A. Re'em, T. Kanias, R. Lupu and Y. Elisha (Central District), M. Peilstöker , R. Kletter, J. Ben Michael (Antiquities Authority) and O. Abadi.

In June–July 2021, a trial excavation was conducted in Mi z pe Ramon (Permit No. A-9051; map ref. 179198–80492/502746–3946; Fig. 1) prior to the installation of a sewage pipeline. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by Mi z pe Ramon Regional Council, was directed by T. Sapir (field photography), with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), E. Aladjem (surveying, aerial photography and field photography), A. Azoulay (drafting and plans), T. Abulafia (flints), D. Eisenberg-Degen (flint photography), Y. Asscher and M. Shor (sediment analysis), A. Golani (scientific guidance) and G. Seriy and A. Rasiuk from the IAA Southern district, as well as laborers from ‘Ar‘ara in the Negev.

In April-May 2011 and May 2013, two salvage excavations were conducted in the Lower Aqueduct near Rav Hovel Street in the Arnona neighborhood in Jerusalem (Permit Nos. A-6150, A-6776; map ref. 221740-73/628387-416, map ref. 221761-5/628392-7 respectively), after ancient remains of the aqueduct were exposed in an area slated for construction. The excavations, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Danya Cebus Company, Ltd., were directed by R. Be'eri (field photography), with the assistance of N. Nahama (administration), A. Hajian, M. Kunin, M. Cohen and B. Antin (surveying and drafting), A. Peretz (field photography), F. Fartush and D. Gahali of Sky View Company (aerial photography), O. Shor (restoration of terracotta pipes), I. Lidski-Reznikov (drawing), C. Amit (studio photography), L. Kupershmidt and R. Vinitsky (metallurgical laboratory) and D.T. Ariel and R. Kool (numismatics).

In May 2017, a salvage excavation was conducted in Neighborhood 9 at ʻArʻara-in-the-Negev (Permit No. A-7996; map ref. 203079-488/562379-959). The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by Construction & Project Management Ltd. (CPM), was directed by M.D. Pasternak (field photography), with the assistance of H. Mamalya (area supervision and field photography), Y. Al-'Amor (administration), M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), V. Lifshits (aerial photography), N. Zak (plans), I. Lidsky-Reznikov (pottery drawing), M. Oron (flint items) and C. Amit (studio photography), as well as Y. Abadi-Reiss, S. Talis, G. Seriy and E. Aladjem.

During October 2010, a trial excavation was conducted at Moshav Ha-Bonim (Permit No. A-6014; map ref. 19406-10/72706-10), prior to the installation of an electric line. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Israel Electric company, was directed by L. Talmi, with the assistance of Y. Amrani (administration), M. Kahan (surveying), H. Ben-Ari (GPS), A. Peretz (field photography), A. Oshri (preliminary inspections), N. Zak (drafting), E.J. Stern (pottery reading), M. Shuiskaya (pottery drawing), Y. Gorin-Rosen (glass), C. Amit (studio photography), N. Raban (archaeozoology), A. Gorzalczany (guidance), C. Sa'id (IAA Haifa District) and laborers from Umm el-Fahm.

During March-April 2007, a trial excavation was conducted in the Bayit Va-Gan neighborhood of Jerusalem (Permit No. A-5087; map ref. 217723/630879; Fig. 1), prior to construction. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Jerusalem municipality, was directed by I. Zilberbod, with the assistance of Y. Ohayon (administration), A. Hajian (surveying and drafting), T. Sagiv (field photography), T. Kornfeld and I. Berin (plans), C. Amit (studio photography), D.T. Ariel (numismatics and stamped impressions on handles) and I. Lidski-Reznikov (pottery drawings).

During April-May 2003, a trial excavation was conducted next to the Bet She'an stadium (Permit No. A-3896; map ref. 24794-8/71181-7), in the wake of discovering antiquities by IAA inspector M. Zou'abi, while a trench for an electric cable was dug. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Israel Electric Company, was directed by D. Syon (field photography, numismatics), with the assistance of Y. Ya'aqobi (administration), V. Essman and V. Pirsky (surveying), L. Kupershmidt (metallurgical laboratory), H. Smithline (studio photography) and H. Tahan (pottery drawing). Thanks to Benny Arubas for his help in the matter of the city wall.

In December 2012 and January 2013, a trial excavation was conducted at Holot Yavne (Permit No. A-6952; map ref. 17258/64004; Fig. 1), prior to the installation of a water pipeline. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Mekorot Company, was directed by Y. Marmelstein (field photography), with the assistance of Y. Amrani and E. Bachar (administration), C. Ben-Ari (GPS), D. Golan and M. Molokandov (preliminary inspections), A. Gorzalczany (scientific guidance and studio photography), A. Hajian and M. Kunin (surveying and drafting), N. Zak (plans), M. Shuiskaya (drawing of finds), F. Volynsky and M. Ajami.

In August 2016, a trial excavation was conducted in Ofaqim Park (Permit No. A-7775; map ref. 165573-643/577989-8073) after mechanical equipment damaged ancient remains. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Ofaqim Economic Company, was directed by O. Shmueli (field photography), with the assistance of H. Mamalya (area supervision), M. Balila, S. Gal and Y. Al-‘Amor (administration), A. Hajian and M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), I.E. Delerson (plans), S. Gal (G.I.S. applications) and A. Peretz (studio photography). Youth from Ofakim participated in the excavation.

In December 2016, a trial excavation was conducted at 4 Ha-‘Aliya Street in Gedera (Permit No. A-7868; map ref. 178715/636256), prior to construction. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by Amissar Engineers Ltd., was directed by A. Dagot-Ziv, with the assistance of Y. Amrani and E. Bachar (administration), I. Marmelstein (antiquities inspection and field photography), D. Golan (pottery reading), P. Gendelman (assistance and scientific consultation), M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), A. Gorzalczany (studio photography), M. Shuiskaya (pottery drawing) and R. Moshe (preliminary inspections).

In August-September 2015, a trial excavation was carried out on the eastern edges of Khirbat Ibreika (Permit No. A-7497; map ref. 196504-974/678584-9253), prior to installing a gas pipeline. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by A. Nagorsky, with the assistance of E. Bachar and Y. Amrani (administration), E. Jakoel and Y. Agmon (area supervision), V. Essman, Y. Shmidov, R. Mishayev and R. Liran (surveying and drafting), A. Peretz (field photography), O. Ackermann (geomorphology), C. Ben-Ari and A. Dagot (GPS), A. Yaroshevich (prehistory), I. Lidsky-Reznikov (pottery drawing), D.T. Ariel (numismatics), C. Amit (studio photography), N. Zak (plans) and E. Ayalon and Y. Dray (discussion and consultation on ancient winemaking technologies). J. Marcus conducted preliminary inspections of the site.

During August 2004, a trial excavation was conducted at the site (Permit No. A-4219; map ref. 21500-9/77609-23), prior to widening the road from Shelomi to Qibbuz Hanita. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, was directed by D. Syon (field photography and numismatics), with the assistance of L. Porat (area supervision and pottery restoration), Y. Ya'aqobi (administration), L. Kupershmidt (metallurgical laboratory), H. Smithline (studio photography), H. Tahan (pottery drawing) and Y. Gorin-Rosen (glass identification). Thanks are due to N. Getzov and H. Smithline for their help with the pottery reading.