The Tell El Burak Archaeological Project

Tell el-Burak is located in southern Lebanon, between Sidon and Sarafand. Excava tions by a joint AUB - University of Tubingen- GAI expedition started in Septemb er 2001. The aim of this archaeological project was to investigate the settlemen t formation of Lebanese coastal sites. Tell el-Burak yielded Middle Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Medieval Islamic remains. On the Tell summit, the Middle Bronze Ag e is represented by a massive mud-brick building and a pit burial, which is the subject of this thesis. The Tell el-Burak tomb was found in a very bad preservation state. It contained the remains of at least five individuals buried with ceramic vessels and bone in lays, all of which were highly damaged. The material studied consisted of 25 dia gnostic pottery sherds, in addition to two complete piriform juglets, Tell el-Ya hudiyeh ware with a so far unattested shape, and fragmented bone inlays. The rec onstruction and the study of the funerary material was essential for the dating of the mud-brick building because erosion had destroyed all its occupation floor s, making dating difficult if not impossible. The present study is a detailed description and discussion of the archaeological and stratigraphic context of the Middle Bronze Age tomb. It determined the tomb 's relationship to the neighboring mud-brick building and helped narrowing down the date of the latter's construction and use. This study also includes a comparison of the Tell el-Burak tomb and of its funer ary contents with other Middle Bronze Age tombs in Lebanon. This comparative stu dy helped place the Tell el-Burak discovery in its historical context and emphas ized its contribution to the understanding of Middle Bronze Age funerary traditi ons in Lebanon.

Tell el- Burak is located in southern Lebanon, between Saida and Sarafand. Excavations by a joint AUB- University of Tubingen- GAI expedition started in September 2001. The aim of this archaeological project was to investigate settle ment formation on the Lebanese coast. Tell el- Burak has been the focus of three continuous excavation seasons (2001- 2003) that have uncovered three areas of architectural finds, dating to the Mamluk/ Ottoman Period, and the Iron and Middle Bronze Ages. In Area I a Mamluk/ Ottoman Period structure was found overlaying a monumental mud- brick building. Area II yielded a massive wall that was first built in the Middle Bron ze Age and rebuilt later in the Iron Age. In Area III buildings dating from the Middle Iron Age (c. 800 B.C.) through to the Late Persian Period (c. 400 B.C.) were uncovered. Nearly 20, 000 sherds of pottery that belong to the Middle Bronze Age were found during the course of the exacavations. These were examined for chronologic al and geological information, to help understand the settlements historical contex t and economic role within the MBA. This study has helped confidently date the mud- brick building of Area I and retaining wall of Area II to the MBA II. In addition, this study has also improv ed our understanding of some the manufacturing traditions of ceramics during the MBA at Tell el- Burak and their relationship to the later Iron Age ones.

A unique monumental building dating to the early part of the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1900-1700 BCE) was uncovered at the southern Lebanese coast by the joint Lebanese-German excavation project at Tell el-Burak. The impressive architecture of the building was exposed in eight excavation seasons during the years 2001-2011. Inside the largest room of the Monumental Building at Tell el-Burak the excavations brought to light the sensational discovery of Middle Bronze Age mural paintings in situ on lime plaster covering the inner faces of its completely preserved mud-brick walls. This volume edited by Jens Kamlah and Helene Sader consists of the final publications of all excavation results concerning the Middle Bronze Age at Tell el- Burak. It furthermore includes an introduction into the joint Lebanese-German excavation project, chapters related to the site and the final publication of the excavated remains of the Late Medieval Period.

An insightful historical account of Phoenicia that illustrates its cities, culture, and daily life Hélène Sader presents the history and archaeology of Phoenicia based on the available contemporary written sources and the results of archaeological excavations in Phoenicia proper. Sader explores the origin of the term Phoenicia; the political and geographical history of the city-states Arwad, Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre; and topography, climate, and natural resources of the Phoenician homeland. Her limited focus on Phoenicia proper, in contrast to previous studies that included information from Phoenician colonies, presents the bare realities of the opportunities and difficulties shaping Phoenician life. Sader’s evaluation and synthesis of the evidence offers a corrective to the common assumption of a unified Phoenician kingdom. Features Historical as well as modern maps with the locations of all relevant archaeological sites Faunal and floral analyses that shed light on the Phoenician diet Petrographic analysis of pottery that sheds light on trading patterns and developments

Manetho's obscure reference to a race of invaders has been a constant source of debate and controversy. This book assesses the rise to power of the Hyksos, exploring the preliminary stages that enabled them to gain control over a portion of Egyptian territory and thus to merit a small mention in Manetho's history.

The Phoenicians created the Mediterranean world as we know it--yet they remain a poorly understood group. In this Handbook, the first of its kind in English, readers will find expert essays covering the history, culture, and areas of settlement throughout the Phoenician and Punic world.

This Handbook aims to serve as a research guide to the archaeology of the Levant, an area situated at the crossroads of the ancient world that linked the eastern Mediterranean, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. The Levant as used here is a historical geographical term referring to a large area which today comprises the modern states of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, western Syria, and Cyprus, as well as the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and the Sinai Peninsula. Unique in its treatment of the entire region, it offers a comprehensive overview and analysis of the current state of the archaeology of the Levant within its larger cultural, historical, and socio-economic contexts. The Handbook also attempts to bridge the modern scholarly and political divide between archaeologists working in this highly contested region. Written by leading international scholars in the field, it focuses chronologically on the Neolithic through Persian periods - a time span during which the Levant was often in close contact with the imperial powers of Egypt, Anatolia, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. This volume will serve as an invaluable reference work for those interested in a contextualised archaeological account of this region, beginning with the 'agricultural revolution' until the conquest of Alexander the Great that marked the end of the Persian period.

Tel Kabri was the center of a Canaanite polity during the first half of the second millennium BCE. This volume presents the results of the archaeological work done at the site from 2005 to 2011.