Khirbet Qeiyafa
Overview
Khirbet Qeiyafa is an ancient fortified city located in the Elah Valley, near the modern-day city of Beit Shemesh, Israel. The site is significant for its potential to contribute to the understanding of the Iron Age Kingdom of Judah. The city was occupied during the late 11th to early 10th centuries BCE and is notable for the discovery of a fortified city from the time of King David.
Archaeological Excavations
The site of Khirbet Qeiyafa was first identified in 1875 but was not extensively excavated until 2007. The excavations were led by Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Saar Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The excavations revealed a fortified city with two gates, which is unusual for a city of its size during this period. The city's fortifications included casemate walls and two gates, leading archaeologists to identify it as a Judahite city.
Architectural Features
The city's architecture is characterized by casemate walls, a type of fortification common in the Levant during the Iron Age. The city also had two gates, which is unusual for a city of its size. The larger of the two gates is known as the western gate and is built of massive stones. The smaller, southern gate is less well-preserved but is of similar construction.
Inscriptions
Two inscriptions have been found at Khirbet Qeiyafa. The first, known as the Qeiyafa Ostracon, is a pottery shard with five lines of text written in ink. The text is written in a script that is considered an early form of the Hebrew alphabet. The second inscription, found on a storage jar, is believed to be the earliest example of the use of the word 'Israel' outside of the Bible.
Interpretations
The interpretation of Khirbet Qeiyafa has been the subject of much debate. Some archaeologists believe that the site is evidence of a centralized state in Judah during the time of King David, while others argue that it represents a Canaanite or Philistine city-state. The presence of pig bones at the site has also been used to argue for and against the identification of the city as Judahite.