Tell en-Nasbeh
Encyclopedia
Tell en-Nasbeh, likely the biblical city of Mizpah in Benjamin
, is a 3.2 hectare
(8 acre) tell located on a low plateau 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northwest of Jerusalem. The site lies adjacent to an ancient roadway connecting Jerusalem with the northern hill country
, which is how Tell en-Nasbeh gained importance as Judah's
northern border fortress during its prime phase of occupation in the Iron Age
(Strata 3A-C; 1000-586 BCE). There are also archaeological remains
at the site and in surrounding cave tombs that have been dated to the Early Bronze I
(Stratum 5; 3500-3300 BCE), Iron I (Stratum 4; 1200-1000 BCE), Babylonian and Persian
(Stratum 2; 586-323 BCE), Hellenistic, Roman
and Byzantine
Periods (Stratum 1; 323 BCE-630 CE).
in Berkeley
, CA
. The project was jointly sponsored by the Pacific School of Religion (PSR) and the American Schools of Oriental Research
(ASOR), and represents one of the earliest scientific excavations in Israel
/Palestine
. After Badè's untimely death in 1936, his colleagues compiled and published a 2-volume final report for the excavation.
The original dig records, specifically the stratigraphic evidence, were later re-analyzed and published by Jeffrey R. Zorn of Cornell University
. Research of the Tell en-Nasbeh collection continues today, both by staff of the Badè Museum of Biblical Archaeology at the Pacific School of Religion (formerly the Palestine Institute, then Badè Institute of Biblical Archaeology) and by outside scholars from around the world.
Museum staff are also involved in a huge multi-year project to digitize over 5,8000 objects that comprise the Tell en-Nasbeh collection. This project, based in Open Context, is in collaboration with staff of the Alexandria Archive Institute in San Francisco, CA.
in the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze I periods. It was then abandoned until the beginning of the Iron Age, around the 10th century BCE, when it became a sizable agricultural village. By Iron Age II (9-8th centuries BCE), it was a walled settlement with a massive city gate
, on the frontier between the southern
and
northern Israelite kingdoms.
After the fall of Jerusalem
to the Babylonians in 586 BCE, Mizpah became the administrative center (capital) for the district of Binyamin in Judah.
Pottery, coins, and other small finds indicate Tell en-Nasbeh was still occupied by the Hellenistic Period when Judas Maccabeus
gathered his army at Mizpah to confront the Seleucid army
. Later finds, including a tower, tombs in the extramural cemeteries, and the floor of a Byzantine
church near the western cemetery, speak to some occupation in later periods.
Mizpah in Benjamin
Mizpah was a city of Benjamin.Tell en-Nasbeh is one of two sites often identified with Biblical Mizpah of Benjamin, and is located about 8 miles north of Jerusalem. The other suggested location is Neby Samwil, which is some 4 miles north-west of Jerusalem, and situated on the loftiest hill in the...
, is a 3.2 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
(8 acre) tell located on a low plateau 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northwest of Jerusalem. The site lies adjacent to an ancient roadway connecting Jerusalem with the northern hill country
Judean Mountains
The Judaean Mountains, ;, also Judaean Hills and Hebron Hills is a mountain range in Israel and the West Bank where Jerusalem and several other biblical cities are located. The mountains reach a height of 1,000 m.-Geography:...
, which is how Tell en-Nasbeh gained importance as Judah's
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
northern border fortress during its prime phase of occupation in the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
(Strata 3A-C; 1000-586 BCE). There are also archaeological remains
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
at the site and in surrounding cave tombs that have been dated to the Early Bronze I
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
(Stratum 5; 3500-3300 BCE), Iron I (Stratum 4; 1200-1000 BCE), Babylonian and Persian
Achaemenid Empire
The Achaemenid Empire , sometimes known as First Persian Empire and/or Persian Empire, was founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great who overthrew the Median confederation...
(Stratum 2; 586-323 BCE), Hellenistic, Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
Periods (Stratum 1; 323 BCE-630 CE).
Excavation history
The site was excavated over 5 seasons between 1926 and 1935 by William Frederic Badè of the Pacific School of ReligionPacific School of Religion
Pacific School of Religion is an ecumenical seminary located in Berkeley, California. It maintains covenantal relationships with the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ, providing all necessary expectations for candidates to their ordained ministries....
in Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The project was jointly sponsored by the Pacific School of Religion (PSR) and the American Schools of Oriental Research
American Schools of Oriental Research
The American Schools of Oriental Research, founded in 1900, supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present. It is apolitical and has no religious affiliation...
(ASOR), and represents one of the earliest scientific excavations in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
/Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. After Badè's untimely death in 1936, his colleagues compiled and published a 2-volume final report for the excavation.
The original dig records, specifically the stratigraphic evidence, were later re-analyzed and published by Jeffrey R. Zorn of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. Research of the Tell en-Nasbeh collection continues today, both by staff of the Badè Museum of Biblical Archaeology at the Pacific School of Religion (formerly the Palestine Institute, then Badè Institute of Biblical Archaeology) and by outside scholars from around the world.
Museum staff are also involved in a huge multi-year project to digitize over 5,8000 objects that comprise the Tell en-Nasbeh collection. This project, based in Open Context, is in collaboration with staff of the Alexandria Archive Institute in San Francisco, CA.
Occupational history
Tell en-Nasbeh was a small villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze I periods. It was then abandoned until the beginning of the Iron Age, around the 10th century BCE, when it became a sizable agricultural village. By Iron Age II (9-8th centuries BCE), it was a walled settlement with a massive city gate
City gate
A city gate is a gate which is, or was, set within a city wall. Other terms include port.-Uses:City gates were traditionally built to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from a walled city for people, vehicles, goods and animals...
, on the frontier between the southern
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
and
northern Israelite kingdoms.
After the fall of Jerusalem
Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)
In 589 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II laid siege to Jerusalem, culminating in the destruction of the city and its temple in 587 BC.-Siege:Following the siege of 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar installed Zedekiah as tributary king of Judah at the age of twenty-one. However, Zedekiah revolted against Babylon, and...
to the Babylonians in 586 BCE, Mizpah became the administrative center (capital) for the district of Binyamin in Judah.
Pottery, coins, and other small finds indicate Tell en-Nasbeh was still occupied by the Hellenistic Period when Judas Maccabeus
Judas Maccabeus
Judah Maccabee was a Kohen and a son of the Jewish priest Mattathias...
gathered his army at Mizpah to confront the Seleucid army
Seleucid army
The Seleucid army was the army of the Seleucid Empire, one of the numerous Hellenistic states that emerged after the death of Alexander the Great....
. Later finds, including a tower, tombs in the extramural cemeteries, and the floor of a Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
church near the western cemetery, speak to some occupation in later periods.