Introduction and Identification:
- Tell el-Hesi is situated 26 km northeast of Gaza and 7 km south of Qiryat Gat.
- The site comprises a 25-acre lower city with a 4-acre acropolis at its northeast corner.
- The ancient identity of Hesi remains uncertain. It was initially identified with Lachish, but later discoveries have challenged this.
- Another proposition was that Hesi could be identified with Eglon, a Canaanite city-state. However, this remains inconclusive.
Exploration and Excavation:
- Tell el-Hesi holds significance in Near Eastern archaeology as the first site excavated using scientific archaeological methods.
- W. M. F. Petrie conducted the first excavation in 1890, laying the foundation for modern archaeological methods.
- Petrie’s work was followed by F. J. Bliss from 1891 to 1893.
- After a long gap, the Joint Archaeological Expedition resumed work at Hesi between 1970 and 1983.
Archaeological Findings:
- Early Bronze Age: The inhabitants initially settled on the acropolis’s sand dune. Seven phases of the Early Bronze Age were identified, associated with Early Bronze Age I and II pottery. By the late Early Bronze Age II/III, the site expanded to its full 25 acres.
- Iron Age I: A mud-brick wall, about 1.5m wide, was discovered. The few sherds found date back to the eleventh century BCE.
- Iron Age II: A significant construction project took place during the ninth century BCE. This involved a double wall system around the acropolis and a platform on its summit. The first structure on this platform dates back to the ninth century BCE, with subsequent structures from the eighth to sixth centuries BCE. The site’s strategic location suggests it might have served as a defense outpost for Lachish and southwestern Judah.
- Persian Period: The site underwent significant changes during the Persian period. A citadel was constructed in the early fifth century BCE, likely serving as a governmental grain storehouse. Subsequent phases saw the construction of brick-lined pits, possibly used as grain silos.
- Hellenistic Period: Three phases of Hellenistic occupation were identified. Stone construction became more prevalent during this period, with stone walls, foundations, and drains being common.
sources
Stern, E-New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land 4-Israel Exploration Society (1993) page 630-634