Scratching the Surface at Gath: Implications of the Tell es-Safi/Gath Surface Survey

Abstract

A comprehensive surface survey was conducted at Tell es-Safi/Gath as part of the ongoing Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project. The site was divided into distinct topographical and/or cultural units, which were then surveyed separately. The finds from the survey enabled us to reach definitive conclusions as to the various periods represented at the site, the size and location of the settlement during various periods and the planning of present and future excavations. The data from the survey has also enabled inferences on various aspects of the site's past.