2018 Season

SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF THE ITALIAN-PALESTINIAN EXPEDITION TO TELL ES-SULTAN (2018), PALESTINE

XIV Campaign - 2018

Lorenzo Nigro - Sapienza University of Rome 

1. INTRODUCTION

The XIV campaign of archaeological activities at Tell es-Sultan/Jericho (Fig. 1), Palestine, conducted by the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and the Department of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage (MOTA - DACH) of the Palestinian National Authority, took place from 22 June 2018 to 9 July 2018, and was supported by the aforementioned institutions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

The main objectives of the 11th campaign were:

a) the continuation of the archaeological investigations in Areas A, B, G, P (§ 2);

b) the continuation of the restoration and musealisation works in Building G (§ 3);

c) the maintenance of the archaeological site and implementation of the tourist route (§ 4);

d) the training of Palestinian archaeologists and restorers (§ 5);

e) the scientific dissemination of the results achieved.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (AREAS A, B, G, P)

The archaeological survey activities involved four different areas: Area A (fig. 2), in the southern sector of the site, where investigations on the architectural structure of the Middle Bronze I-III walls were resumed; Area B, at the south-western corner of the town, where excavations on the Early Bronze III fortifications continued Area G, the sector of the two overlapping Early and Middle Bronze Age Palaces on the eastern flank of the so-called 'Spring Hill', where the excavation of the Middle Bronze Age Palace II-III ('Hyksos Palace') was extended; Area P, on the south-western corner of Spring Hill, the area of the Middle Bronze Age temple, where the sector was mapped.

3. RESTORATION AND MUSEALISATION OF TELL ES-SULTAN

Restoration works in the fourteenth campaign (2018) concerned Area G, where the restoration of the Early Bronze Age 'Palace G' continued through the application of protective layers of mudbrick, concentrating on the terracing walls and the transverse structures of the middle terrace. In this campaign, the installations and banquettes of the central reception area were consolidated (Fig. 3).

4. MAINTENANCE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

The Tell es Sultan Archaeological Park was further implemented during the XIV excavation campaign (2018). The tourist enhancement of the site continued by restructuring the paths on the site and updating the explanatory panels, with the addition of new QR codes.

5. TRAINING LOCAL STAFF (TRAINING ON THE JOB)

The Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Jericho, supported by MAECI, continued training activities for local staff, in cooperation with both MOTA-DACH and the Municipality of Jericho, also in the fourteenth excavation campaign (2018). Palestinian archaeologists and students participated in the individual excavation and restoration works, documentation and cataloguing activities, as well as the drafting of final reports. As for MOTA staff, training continued in archaeological heritage management, through the use of GIS and in tourism enhancement.