Location
Tel Sera, also known as Tell esh-Shari’a, is situated in the western Negev desert, on the north bank of Nahal Gerar, approximately 20 km northwest of Beersheba. The site is strategically located on the main road from Gaza to the Beersheba Valley and the Dead Sea.
Identification
The identification of Tel Sera has been a subject of scholarly debate. It has been associated with several biblical cities, including Hormah, Gerar, and Ziklag. The latter identification with Ziklag is supported by historical, geographical, and archaeological data, and is linked to the city where David found refuge from Saul.
Historical Context
Tel Sera’s history spans from the Chalcolithic period to the Byzantine period. The site’s significance is particularly noted for its Iron Age strata, which provide evidence of Philistine and Israelite occupation and suggest a continuity of settlement from the Philistine culture into the Israelite period.
Bible
Biblical references to Ziklag, potentially identified with Tel Sera, include its mention as a city in the territories of Judah and Simeon. It is also noted as a Philistine area and as the Negeb of the Cherethites. The site’s Iron Age findings contribute to the understanding of the Philistine presence and their interactions with the Israelites.
Excavations
Excavations conducted from 1972 to 1979 under the direction of E. D. Oren uncovered extensive strata from various periods. The Iron Age strata revealed a sequence of settlements that provide insights into the transition from Canaanite to Philistine and then to Israelite cultures.
Findings Focused on Iron Age
Iron Age I (Stratum VIII)
- Settlement Phases: Three phases of settlement with installations and silos over the ruins of the Canaanite settlement.
- Pottery: Includes Philistine ware, Ashdod-type ware, and hand-burnished pottery.
- Architecture: Characteristic four-room houses, indicating Philistine architectural traditions.
Iron Age II (Stratum VII)
- Continuity: No signs of destruction or gaps in occupation from Stratum VIII, suggesting an organic transition to Israelite settlement.
- Ethnicity: The findings suggest that the ethnic nucleus of Tel Sera during Iron Age I-II was Philistine.
Iron Age III (Strata V-VI)
- Later Occupation: Evidence of continued occupation into the 8th-6th centuries BCE, although specific findings from these strata were not detailed in the summary provided.