Tell es-Safi and Tel Zafit (, ''''; , ) are Arabic and Hebrew names for the
ancient mound now widely identified as Gath (variant: "Geth"), one of the five cities in the ancient
Philistine Pentapolis (along with
Gaza,
Ekron,
Ashkelon, and
Ashdod). It is a large multi-period site that is located in central
Israel, approximately halfway between Jerusalem and Ashkelon, on the border between the southern
Coastal Plain of Israel and the
Judean foothills. First noted by explorers in the mid-19th century CE, it was subsequently excavated beginning in 1899 for three seasons by the American archaeologist
F.J. Bliss and the Irish archaeologist
R. A. S. Macalister. Extensive exploration of the site was not conducted until 1996, when a long-term project was commenced at the site, directed by
Aren Maeir of
Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Since 1996, excavations, surveys and other studies have been conducted at the site, focusing on various cultures, periods and aspects relating to the site, its culture and history, and its surroundings.
Chalcolithic The site was inhabited from Proto-Historic through Modern times. The earliest evidence for settlement is from the
Chalcolithic Period (c. 5th millennium BCE), after which there is continuous occupation until the modern Palestinian village of Tell es-Safi, abandoned during the
1948 Arab–Israeli War.
Bronze Age Early Bronze Age During the Early Bronze Age there is evidence of a large urban site, apparently similar to other EB III urban sites in southern Canaan, such as nearby
Tel Yarmut (
Jarmuth). Scant evidence of this period was found on the tell in the form of stray sherds. In the vicinity of the tell (to the east, in Area C6) evidence of tombs and possible domestic activities were found.
Middle Bronze Age Finds from the MB IIB (and a few MB IIA) were found on various parts of the tell in the survey (including a scarab of
Khyan, found in the 1960s). Recently, in the 2006 season, evidence of an impressive MB IIB fortification was found in the vicinity of the summit of the tell, comprising a stone wall/tower and a packed earth rampart/glacis.
Late Bronze Age The Late Bronze remains at the site are impressive as well, evidence of the Canaanite city of Gath, which is mentioned in the El-Amarna letters. Finds from this period include a large, apparently public building, cultic-related finds, and a small collection of Egyptiaca, including two Egyptian Hieratic inscriptions, both inscribed on locally made vessels. This city was apparently destroyed at the end of the Late Bronze Age, most probably with the arrival of the Philistines.
Iron Age Iron I During the Iron Age, the site became a major Philistine site, "Gath of the Philistines", one of the five cities of the Philistine "pentapolis", known from biblical and extra-biblical (such as Assyrian) sources. Settled from the earliest phases of the Philistine culture (c. 1200 BCE), evidence of the various stages of the Philistine culture have been found. In particular, finds indicating the gradual transformation of the Philistines, from a non-local
(Aegean) culture, to a more locally oriented culture abound. This process, which has been termed "
acculturation" or "
creolisation" can be seen in various aspects of the Philistine culture, as the Iron Age unfolds.
Iron II Of particular importance are the strata dating to the 10th–9th century BCE, in which rich assemblages of finds were uncovered. These strata enable the study of the entire sequence of the Philistine culture, since at other Philistine sites (such as
Ekron,
Ashdod, and
Ashkelon) these phases are not well represented. Archaeologists believe it was the largest city of the
Southern Levant during the 10th and 9th centuries BCE. Recent excavations have uncovered dramatic evidence of a siege and subsequent destruction of the site in the late 9th century BCE, which can be related to the biblical verse that mentions its capture by
Hazael of
Aram Damascus. Archaeological excavations have uncovered a Philistine temple and evidence of a major earthquake in biblical times. The excavator
Aren Maeir commented on the dating of this geological event, A very impressive, site-wide destruction is evidenced at the site during the late Iron Age IIA (c. late 9th century BCE). Throughout the site there is evidence of this destruction, and well-preserved assemblages of finds. The dating of this destruction to the late 9th century BCE is a strong indication that it can be related to the conquest of Gath by
Hazael, king of
Aram-Damascus, as mentioned in . Evidence of a large-scale siege system that was found surrounding the site, is apparently related to this event. This siege system, which comprises a man-made siege trench, a related
berm (earth embankment) and other elements, is currently the earliest archaeological evidence "on the ground" for an ancient siege system. Although king
Uzziah is said to have broken down Gath's walls (), this possibly refers to the fact that several sections of the Philistine city wall were used to build the later Judahite buildings. Among the numerous finds from this
destruction level, there is an impressive pottery assemblage, various cultic objects, and a
bone tool workshop. The excavators suggested that during Hazael's siege, the city defenders made weapons from animal bones because they were short of raw materials to make metal weapons.
Goliath shard In the 2005 season, below the late 9th-century BCE destruction level, in a stratum dating to an earlier phase of the Iron Age IIA, an important inscription was found. Scratched on a shard typical of the Iron Age IIA, two non-Semitic names written in Semitic "Proto-Canaanite" letters were found. These two names, "ALWT" () and "WLT" (), are
etymologically similar to the name
Goliath (), the biblical Philistine champion who was a native of Gath. These two name fragments might indicate that names similar to the name Goliath were in use in Philistia during the Iron Age IIA, approximately the same time as Goliath is described in the Bible. Although not proof of Goliath's existence, the
ostracon provides evidence of the cultural milieu of this period. In any case, they provide a useful example of the names used by the Philistines during that time, and the earliest evidence for the use of an alphabetic writing system in the Philistine culture.
Crusader period Following the destruction of the site by Hazael, Philistine Gath lost its role as a primary Philistine city. Although the site was settled during later periods, it never regained its role as a site of central importance. During the
Crusader period, following the conquest of the land during the First Crusade, a small fortress, named for the dramatic white chalk cliffs that guard its western approach, was built at the site as part of the Crusader encirclement of Fatimid Ashkelon. This site was subsequently captured by the Ayyubids, and served the basis for the medieval and modern village of
Tell es-Safi, which existed until 1948. The ruins of the castle and the village can be seen on the site today. Portions of the exterior fortifications of the castle have been excavated in recent years. ==Other Gaths==