Confessions of a makeshift Archeologist: Azeka, Sokho, and Gezer

On Thursdays, we eat lunch our dig site and then visit other archaeological sites, some of which have already been excavated and other that are in the process of being excavated. The three sites that we have visited so far have been Azeka, Sokho, and Gezer. Azeka and Sokho are in the Elah Valley are are on either side of Qeiyafa and Gezer is located more in central Israel.

Azeka was a biblical town which was responsible for guarding the Elah Valley from the highest point. Azeka is mentioned in the books of Joshua, I Samuel, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah. During 10th century BCE, this was the area that the Philistines used to mass their forces against Saul and where Goliath taunted the army of the Lord as written in I Samuel 17.

Tel Azeka

Overlooking the Elah Valley from Tel Azeka.

Another view...Qeiyafa is the hill in the middle of the picture.

At Azeka.

The next site we visited was Sokho which is on the opposite side of Qeiyafa. Like Azeka, Sokho was used by the Philistines and it is where they camped before David fought Goliath. Sokho is not currently being excavated, but I believe Professor Garfinkel has plans to start excavating there in 2014.

The Elah Valley.

Another view.

On top of Sokho.

View from Sokho.

The last site we visited was Gezer which was one of the most prominent cities in the Canaanite and Israelite periods. Like Megiddo and Hazor, Gezer has a gateway from the time of Solomon, which has been confirmed through the layer of destruction underneath it. One of Solomon's wives was given Gezer as a dowry once they were wed. Apart from the gateway, their have been other findings, like the water system which link this city to both Solomon's time and the cities of Megiddo and Hazor.