The 2018 excavation season at Shiloh, overseen by archaeologists and experts from the Associates for Biblical Research, has concluded. In all, over 200 people from 30 states and 4 countries, including students from 11 different universities, participated in the dig. The excavations continued to expose the Amorite fortification wall around Shiloh on the northern side of the site. New technology, such as state-of-the-art, high-resolution 3-D photography, as well as the newly-built wet-sifting station, greatly increased the effectiveness of the fieldwork. The discoveries were numerous and included coins, sling stones, beads, seal impressions, scarabs, oil lamps, pithoi jugs, and much pottery from the Bronze and Iron Ages through to the Islamic era. ABR's archaeologists continued to see evidence of transition from the Amorite period to the Israelite period in the bones and pottery discovered. The teams also worked together to uncover a glacis – a 35-degree sloping earthen rampart, constructed around the outside of the ancient perimeter wall to hinder attacking armies from reaching the base of the fortifications. Perhaps the most significant discovery was a ceramic pomegranate. The pomegranate was a common decoration in the tabernacle and temple (1 Kgs 7:18, 20, 42; 2 Kgs 25:17; 2 Chr 3:16; 4:13; Jer 52:22–23) and on the priestly garments (Ex 28:33–34; 39:24–26). While the actual excavations have been completed for this season, the work of studying, interpreting, and publishing will continue throughout the year.
Links:
Week 1 Report – http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2018/05/28/Go-Now-To-Shiloh-The-2018-Excavations-Week-One.aspx
Week 2 Report – http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2018/06/05/Go-Now-To-Shiloh-The-2018-Excavations-Week-Two.aspx
Week 3 Report – http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2018/06/14/Go-Now-To-Shiloh-The-2018-Excavations-Week-Three.aspx
Week 4 Report – http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2018/06/22/Go-Now-To-Shiloh-The-2018-Excavations-Week-Four.aspx
Shiloh 2018: What A Dig Needs video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=82&v=dz2mKkP1lOU