New archaeological discoveries at Gath (summer 2019)
This new article explains how the archaelogical dig this summer at Tell-es-Safi/Gath uncovered evidence that the "iron age city was the New York of the Levant":
A giant of a man may have sprouted from an equally giant-sized city. Super-sized remains of “enormous” architecture and fortifications from a new, unexpected “biblical-era” layer of the Philistine city of Gath were unearthed this summer at the ongoing Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project.
Whereas most of the site’s previously excavated areas date to the 10th and 9th centuries BCE, this new layer dates to the 11th century, when, according to the biblical narrative in Samuel I 17, the future King David slew the giant Goliath.Other significant finds regarding Goliath and Gath:
1. The "Goliath" inscription, 10th century BC
The oldest Philistine inscription ever discovered was recently excavated in Goliath's home town of Gath (Tel es-Safi) by an expedition headed by Aren Maeir of Bar-Ilan University.
The inscription was scratched with a needle-like instrument on a small pot-sherd and dates from the tenth to mid-ninth century B.C.E. Of the two names on the sherd, the first consists of four Semitic letters: TWLA [Hebrew font, alef-lamed-vav-tav], which Maeir says may be the equivalent of the name Goliath.
2. The "RFA" inscription, 10th century BC
A jar with "RFA" inscribed was found at Gath. My wife and I saw this displayed at the Corinne Maman Museum of Philistine Culture in Ashdod. Goliath descended from the giant Rafa people (2 Samuel 21:19-20).
Tracking developments on Gath
For those interesting in following developments or catching up with the buzz on this archaeological dig, check out these links.
- Gath blog, with official posts from Gath's excavation director
- Weekend Roundup at the BiblePlaces' blog
- Info on Gath at BiblePlaces (with several external links)
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