Archaeological Studies on the Social and Religious Changes in the Palestinian Cities

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24251015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: SUGIMOTO Tomotoshi 慶應義塾大学, 文学部(三田), 教授 (80338243)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高井 啓介 東京大学, 人文社会系研究科, 研究員 (00573453) ; 渡部 展也 中部大学, 人文学部, 准教授 (10365497) ; 菊池 実 東京基督教大学, 神学部, 准教授 (20296354) ; 西山 伸一 中部大学, 人文学部, 准教授 (50392551) ; 岡田 真弓 北海道大学, 学内共同利用施設等, 研究員 (80635003) ; 牧野 久実 鎌倉女子大学, 教育学部, 教授 (90212208)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ベテル / パレスチナ / 一神教 / 都市 / 教会堂 / 墓 / 文化遺産

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted an overarching archaeological investigation in Beitin, Palestine, a village identified with the biblical city of Bethel. We determined four areas in the village where archaeological remains are concentrated.
Archaeological excavations at Burj Beitin, the southeastern hill in the village, revealed a large church from the Byzantine period, which commemorates the biblical patriarchs. The remains of a smaller chapel and the nucleus of an agricultural community were dated to the Crusader and Mamuluke periods. Approximately 120 shaft and cave tombs were identified at the necropolis; the former come from the Intermediate Bronze Age, and the latter from the Iron Age to Roman period.
This new data will be significant in evaluating the social and religious changes in the city of Bethel throughout history.

Free Research Field

西アジア考古学