Identification:
Taanach is identified with Tell Ta’annek, an 11-acre mound rising over 40 meters above the Jezreel Valley, located 8 km southeast of Megiddo.
Historical References:
The earliest nonbiblical reference to Taanach is from the 15th century BCE Karnak inscription by Thutmose III.
Taanach is listed in the conquests of Thutmose III (1468 BCE) and Shishak I (918 BCE).
The site is mentioned in biblical tradition as a battleground in the story of Deborah and Barak against Sisera and as a city defeated by Joshua.
Biblical Tradition:
Assigned to the tribes of Issachar and Asher, Taanach later fell under Manasseh’s control.
By the 10th century BCE, it became an Israelite administrative and religious center and a Levitical city.
Excavations:
First excavated by E. Sellin (1902-1904), who opened long trenches to locate city defenses and major architecture.
Sellin’s findings included an archive of Akkadian cuneiform tablets and a Canaanite cult stand.
The second excavation by P. W. Lapp (1963, 1966, 1968) aimed to clarify fortifications, domestic and industrial installations, public buildings, and cultic practices.
Excavation Results:
Sellin’s Excavations: Revealed no defensive city walls but a series of fortresses and more than fifteen cisterns. The earliest structure dated between 1500 and 1350 BCE.
Lapp’s Excavations: Confirmed the city was protected by walls in all major periods and traced the earliest city back to the Early Bronze Age II-III.
Stratification and Occupation:
- Sellin identified four major strata of occupation, ranging from the 15th century BCE to the 12th century CE.
- The Akkadian tablets from Taanach include letters to the local king and administrative name lists.
- Lapp’s excavations revealed extensive Middle Bronze Age fortifications and domestic architecture, as well as Iron Age defenses.
Cultural Artifacts:
- A Canaanite cult stand and a cuneiform tablet were found, dating to the 10th and 12th centuries BCE, respectively.
Significant Findings:
- The cuneiform tablets provide insight into the political and social dynamics of the region during the Late Bronze Age.
- The cult stand suggests the presence of religious practices and beliefs during the Iron Age.
Biblical Hiking map