Folia Theologica 16. (2005)
Solomon Pasala: Archaeological Evidences for Solomonic period
132 S. PASALA Excavations at HAZOR Y. Yadin and others have excavated Hazor in 1952-58. It is an area of 180 acres of mounds. They excavated in area A, comprising ca 6.5 acres. The Stra. XB-A of the upper city is securely dated to the mid-late 10th century BC. In the Israelite settlement area, a casemate wall and a fine four-entryway gate were exposed15. In area A and Stra XI: no definite structures in Stratum XI were uncovered16. Stratum X represents Hazor rebuilt as a fortified city. Its main features are a casemate wall and a large gate with six chambers - three on either side and two towers flanking the passage way. On the basis of both the stratigraphy and pottery, these fortifications are to be attributed to Solomon as related in the Bible (I Kgs 9/15). The resemblance of plan of the gate and the wall similar to Solomonic structures at Gezer and Megiddo confirm this conclusively. This stratum has been subdivided by the excavators into two phases (XA and XB)17. Yadin also says that stratum IX shows a certain decline in the quality of the Buildings. This stratum is assigned to the period between Solomon and that of the Omrid dynasty which was destroyed by fire. In area B: in stratum X are the remains of the Solomonic city, in particular the casemate wall surrounding the mound are well preserved. In stratum IX very few traces of stratum are found and no plan could be established with certainly.18 2.1.3. Megiddo The excavations conducted on the mound have shown that in the Early and Middle Bronze ages, Megiddo was already a fortified city of major importance, despite the fact that it is not mentioned in historical courses until the 15th century BC19. 15 W.G. DEVER, «Monumental Architecture in Ancient Israel in the period of United Monarchy», In ed. T. Ishida, Studies in the Period of David and Solomon and other Essays (Indiana 1982), 272. 16 Y.YADIN, - A. BEN-TOR, «Hazor». 601 17 Y. YADIN,-A. BEN-TOR, «Hazor, 601. 18 Y.YADIN, - A. BEN-TOR, «Hazor», 602. 19 Y. AHARONI, - Y. YADIN, - Y. SHILOH, «Megiddo», The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in Holy Land 3 (Jerusalem 1993) 1003.
