Hellenistic Phoenician fortifications discovered in Galilee

The Israeli Antiquities Authority reported yesterday (March 6, Hebrew) on discoveries dating to the Hellenistic period during salvage excavations that the IAA is carrying out in the home of a resident of Kfar Nahif. This includes Hellenistic fortifications built from chiseled field stones and large hewn stones. The fortifications include a large wall that is more than 3.5 meters high and 1.2 meters wide. Also discovered were large quantities of jug fragments, some of which are of local production while others were imported from Greece. Howard Smithline, who is managing the dig for the IAA, said that this is Phoenician building from 2200 years ago.

Related Links:

• Israel Antiquities Authority Press Release (Hebrew)
• Nahif village website

Related References:

• Grainger, John D. Hellenistic Phoenicia. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Show ReviewsHide Reviews
  • Billows, Richard A. "Review of Hellenistic Phoenicia, by John D. Grainger" (JSTOR). In American Historical Review 98/3 (1993): 843-844.
  • Pollard, Nigel. "Review of Hellenistic Phoenicia, by John D. Grainger". In Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 1993. http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/1993/04.01.13.html
  • Walbank, F. W. "Review of Hellenistic Phoenicia, by John D. Grainger" (JSTOR). In Classical Review New Ser. 42/2 (1992): 369-370.
• Sharon, Ilan. "Phoenician and Greek Ashlar Construction Techniques at Tel Dor, Israel " (JSTOR). Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 267 (1987): 21-42.
• Stern, Ephraim. "The Excavations at Tell Mevorach and the Late Phoenician Elements in the Architecture of Palestine" (JSTOR). Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 225 (1977): 17-27.