Tel Avel Bet Ma‘akha (Abel Beth Maacah) – 2018–2021

In 2018–2021, the sixth to ninth excavation seasons at Tel Avel Bet Ma‘akha (Abel Beth Maacah; Abil el-Qame h ; License Nos. G-49/2018, G-48/2019, G-50/2020, G-8/2021; map ref. 254400–600/795500–600) were conducted as a research project on behalf of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles. The excavation project, directed by N. Yahalom-Mack (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem), N. Panitz-Cohen (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) and R.A. Mullins (Azusa Pacific University) was supported by an Israel Science Foundation grant (Grant No. 859/17) and by generous private donors. The area supervisors included F. Loew, assisted by C. Kobs, J. Kobs, K. Williams, C. Shafer-Elliot, M. Susnow, I. deHulster, L. Stone, C. Staley and K. Shipplehote (Area A, 2018–2019); D. Finn and P. Myerson (Area A, 2021); A. Shatil and H. Shochat, assisted by S. Booth, Z. Thomas, C. Collins and K. Webb (Area B); A. Rabinovich, assisted by M. Shaish, E. Geller, D. Benton (Area K); and J.P. Dessel (Area O). The field staff also included C. Johnson, K. Reed, N. DeBord and S. Lee (Area A, registrars), J. Maidrand and Y. Shemesh (Area B, registrars) and M. Karey-McKenna (Area O, registrar); R. Bonfil and S. Matskevich (surveying, drafting and preparation of maps, plans and sections), A. Weigmann, Y. Shmidov and A. Kleiner (drone photography), B. Arubas and T. Rogovski (3-D models), I. Wachtel and U. Davidovich (survey, 2021), L. Savorai, R. Cohen, D. Davis and A. Stehney (office managers), as well as O. Gutfeld and his team from Israel Archaeological Services (technical field administration). The technical and research staff included N. Marom and T. MacLeod Kassbaum (archaeozoology), M. Rosenzweig and G. Hedges-Kynrim (archaeobotany), A. David (scarab identification and research), A. Barash (physical anthropology), M. Lavi (conservation), O. Mazar, A. Ganor and A. Elharar (pottery restoration), as well as M. Shaish and Y. Shemesh (inventory and administration). Lodgings as well as processing and storage facilities were provided by S. Gottshalk and the rest of the staff of ‘Bakfar Country Lodging’ at Kibbutz Kefar Szold. We thank the Israel Antiquities Authority Northern Region, especially U. Berger and A. Kleiner, and the Nature and Parks Authority, especially I. Bordowicz, for their assistance. We are particularly grateful to the many dedicated volunteers, students and laborers who excavated with us. All photos are courtesy of the ‘Tel Abel Beth Maacah’ excavation project and were taken by staff members, mainly by R. Mullins and K. Williams (field photography), T. Rogovski (object photography) and G. Laron (Figs. 22, 42, 43). Figures for this report were prepared with the help of I. Brin (IAA).