About the Project

Project Co-Directors: Dr. Itzick Shai, Dr. Steven Ortiz, and Dr. Iossi Borowicz

The excavations areas from the IAA Excavations under Moshe Dothan that took place 1962-1972.

Timeline of the Project

Spring 2025: Ariel University and the LCA worked together in a short, exploratory season of the site. The goals of this season were to explore future excavation opportunities at the site, collaborate with the National Parks Authority, and work on clearing the Iron Age city gate to help the National Parks Authority prepare the site as a national park.

Summer 2026: The Ashdod Project is planning a "soft launch" of the project.

Summer 2027: The estimated date of the official major launch of the Ashdod Project.

This project is a "teaching dig". meaning that anyone and everyone is welcome, no experience or classes needed as the staff will teach you all you need to know. If you are interested in joining us, please visit the Join Us page!

Excavation Areas

Dothan's Area M

Area M

Located at the far east end of the tel, this excavation area currently is concentrated on the Iron Age city gate.

Area M1

Located immediately northwest of the city gate of Area M, this area is located at a higher elevation and is focused on exposing the stratigraphy of the site and how the city gate sits within that stratigraphy.

Area M2

Located approximately 100 meters southwest of the city gate of Area M, this area is focused on exposing the stratigraphy of the site. In addition, another of goal of Area M2 is concerned with is furthering our understanding of the city's fortifications and their location.

Research Goals

The study of coastal sites and the interaction between different cultures that takes place there.
The study of Philistine culture.
To further explore and reassess the work of the IAA excavations under Moshe Dothan.
Community archaeology: in pursuit of reconnecting archaeology to the interest of the broader public, the project will continue to run an open excavation that anyone is welcome to join for as long as they like. In addition, the project continues to work toward the preservation and reconstruction of features that will make the site more understandable and interesting to the public

(The research goals are still being considered and will be confirmed by the official start of the project in the summer of 2027.)

Staff and Consortium Schools

Co-Directors: