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Aren M. Maeir

Aren M. Maeir is professor of archaeology at the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University and is co-director of the Bar-Ilan University/Weizmann Institute of Science joint program in Archaeological Science. Dr. Maeir completed a B.A. in Archaeology and Jewish History and attained his Ph.D. in Archaeology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1997. His primary expertise is Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, and he has participated in excavations at numerous sites in Israel, including: Hazor, Jerusalem, Beth Shean and Qasile, and has directed archaeological excavations and surveys in Jerusalem (The Western Wall Tunnels, Mamilla, Kikar Safra, Malha), Tell es-Safi/Gath, the Beth Shean Valley and Tel Yavneh. He as published over 100 scholarly and popular studies, and has written and edited several books. He is director of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project, a long-term, multi-national excavation of one of the largest ancient sites in Israel.

Presenter at

Special lecturer for the Biblical Archaeology Society’s 2012 “Exclusive Israel” program, October 13 - 25, 2012

Bible & Archaeology Fest XIV, November 18-20, 2011
The Horned Altar of Gath: Recent Discoveries from Tell es-Safi
The 2011 excavation season at Tell es-Safi/Gath (Gath of the Philistines) produced some astounding new finds, including one of the largest and earliest stone altars yet discovered. The altar is reminiscent of the description of the incense altar in the Biblical tabernacle, but has a unique aspect apparently typical of the Philistines: It has two—not four—horns! This presentation will discuss this exciting find as well as several other new discoveries that came to light during the most recent excavations of the city that was home to the Biblical Goliath.

Bible & Archaeology Fest XII, November 20-22, 2009
Fleshing Out the Bible at Philistine Gath: The Interface of Bible and Archaeology
The ongoing excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath, which is Biblical Gath of the Philistines, home of Achish and Goliath and one of the largest sites in Israel, have yielded a wide variety of rich and—at times—surprising finds. Of much significance are the many finds from the excavations that have a direct and clear connection with the Biblical text. This includes explicit evidence of several events mentioned in the Bible such as Hazael’s conquest of Gath (II Kings 12:17/18), the earthquake during the reign of Uzziah (e.g., Amos 1:1) and Hezekiah’s westward expansion (e.g., II Kings 18:8), as well finds that have enabled a new, and more new nuanced understanding of various events, customs, and objects mentioned in the Biblical text. All told, the finds from the excavations provide many examples of how the archaeological discoveries from the Iron Age Levant can serve as excellent tools both for a deeper understanding of the Biblical text and provide a new and hitherto unknown perspective based on the material remains from the times in which the biblical texts were initially composed.