Seminar: The Environs of Jerusalem during the Biblical Period / Between Caesarea and Jerusalem

Seminar Part 1: Between Caesarea and Jerusalem – The development of urban centers and their Hinterlands in the Byzantine period.

Speaker: Prof. Gideon Avni, head of the Archaeological Division at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and a professor of archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Date: Wednesday, 24 February 2016, 16:30
Venue: The Cyprus Institute - GOB, Seminar Room, 1st Floor, Athalassa Campus
Abstract: This lecture will provide a brief introduction to the archaeological work at the IAA and will address the main large projects conducted recently by IAA expeditions in Jerusalem, Beth Shemesh and Caesarea.

About the speaker:
Professor Gideon Avni is the head of the Archaeological Division at the Israel Antiquities Authority, and a professor of archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In his former positions he was the Regional Archaeologist of Jerusalem (1989 – 2000) and the director of the Excavations and Surveys Department (2000- 2011).
Gideon Avni studied at the Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (PhD – 1997). His academic interests focus on various aspects of Classical, Late Antique and Early Islamic archaeology, the cultural and religious transformation of the Near East from Byzantine to Islamic rule, and the archaeology of desert societies in the Levant. During the last 30 years he has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Negev Desert (1979-1988; 2005-2013), Beth Govrin (1983-1992), Jerusalem (1984-2003) and Ramla (2002-2005). In 1996-2002 he headed a comprehensive survey and excavations project at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and in 2002-2005 he was the director of excavations at Ramla, the capital of Early Islamic Palestine. In 2004-2007 he co-directed a research team supported by the Israel Science foundation on the urban centers of Palestine in the Early Islamic period. He was a fellow at Institute of Advanced Studies of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2008-2009), and currently a CI of an ISF Center of Excellence Program on the formation of Muslim Society in Palestine (600-1500 CE). He is currently co-directing an interdisciplinary study on the ancient agriculture of the Negev and the Judaean Hills.

Seminar Part 2: The Environs of Jerusalem during the Biblical Period – The Site of Motza

Speaker: Dr. Zvi Greenhut, Head, Artifacts Treatment, Conservation and Laboratories Dep. Israel Antiquities Authority. May 2010 – today.

Date: Wednesday, 24 February 2016, 17:00
Venue: The Cyprus Institute - GOB, Seminar Room, 1st Floor, Athalassa Campus
Abstract: The presentation will deal with the results of an extensive salvage excavation at the site of Biblical Motza, approximately 7 kms west of Jerusalem. This excavation had revealed habitations at the site since prehistoric times, as well as during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and the Classical, Crusader Mamluk and Ottoman periods. The presentation will focus on the results from the Iron Age, trying to illuminate the relations between Jerusalem (the capital), and Moza (the periphery), in Biblical times. During this period, Motza became a Judahite administrative center, concentrating on grain storage as testified by the discovery of numerous silos at the site.The stratigraphy of the site, in addition to its special finds, enable us to better understand and appreciate the history and archaeology of the area, with direct and indirect implications to the debated history and archaeology of the capital of Jerusalem during the Iron Age.

About the speaker:
Dr. Zvi Greenhut is Head, Artifacts Treatment, Conservation and Laboratories Dep. Israel Antiquities Authority. May 2010 – today. His previous positions include: Deputy Director, Excavations and Surveys Department (2007-2010), Archaeological Instructor of the Jerusalem District (2002-2007), Judaea District Archaeologist (1997-2002), Head of the Education and Information Department (1994-1997), and Jerusalem District Archaeologist (1989-1994) - all at the IAA.
Field Experience: Co-director of a rescue Excavations at the Holyland Park Compound (foremerly: Holyland Compond Hotel). IB and MB II Cemetery. (Alternately during 2006, 2007, 2008).
Director of 3 rescue Excavations at the City of David, Jerusalem. (Alternately during 2005, 2006 and 2009).
Co-director of three seasons of large rescue excavation at the site of Motza, nearby Jerusalem, in the years 1993, 2002 and 2003.
During the last two decades, he was directing various rescue excavations dating to various periods in Jerusalem and in Judaea including: Middle Bronze Age, Iron Age, Early Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic sites. In particular should be mentioned three seasons of excavations at the site of Hurvat Hermeshit near Lod during the years 1988-1990. Also should be mentioned the excavation, co-directed by Dr. Gideon Avni and Dr. Zvi Greenhut , of the very rich and elaborate tombs at Akeldama south of the City of David in 1989, and the excavation directed Dr. Zvi Greenhut , at the famous Caiaphas Burial Cave at the Hill of the Evil Council in southern Jerusalem in 1990.
The study results of his excavations are summed up at some 70 publications which appeared in various periodicals and platforms.

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