The excavations at Ramat Raḥel, just south of Jerusalem, revealed a complex of structures that existed for hundreds of years in which the Kingdom of Judah was a vassal of diverse empires. Over some 500 years, jars bearing seals were stored at the site. The findings throw new light on the late First Temple period and on most of that of the Second Temple. During these centuries Ramat Raḥel was the administrative contact point between Judah and the ruling empires. This is what enabled independent Judean control of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the ability to maintain Jewish identity within Jerusalem almost without outside intervention and supervision. All this came to an end during the Hasmonean revolt.
Preface
Introduction
Ramat Raḥel—Excavation Staff 2005–2010
Section One: Introductory Chapters
Chapter One: Strategic Location, Natural Surroundings and Processes in Site Formation
Chapter Two: The Question of the Site's Ancient Name
Chapter Three: History of Research
Section Two: Government and Administrative Center—Late Iron Age to the Early Hellenistic Period
Chapter Four: Historical Introduction to the First Building Phase—Judah under Assyrian Rule
Chapter Five: First Building Phase (Late 8th / Early 7th Century BCE)
Chapter Six: Historical Introduction to the Second Building Phase—Judah under Egyptian and Babylonian Rule
Chapter Seven: Second Building Phase (Late 7th Century BCE)
Chapter Eight: Historical Introduction to the Third Building Phase—Judah under Persian Rule
Chapter Nine: Third Building Phase (Late 6th or 5th Century BCE)
Chapter Ten: Destruction and Oblivescence of the Administrative Center in Ramat Raḥel
Section Three: From Government Center to Jewish Village—Ramat Raḥel between the Hasmonean Period and the First Jewish–Roman War
Chapter Eleven: Fourth Building Phase—The Hasmonean and Early Roman Periods
Section Four: The Rural Settlement—Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad Periods to the Days of Kibbutz Ramat Raḥel
Chapter Twelve: Fifth Building Phase—Late Roman and Byzantine Period Settlements
Chapter Thirteen: Abbasid to Ottoman Periods (660–1517 CE) (Itamar Taxel)
Chapter Fourteen: Coins and Hoards (Yoav Farhi)
Chapter Fifteen: Subterranean Space Survey in the Southern Ramat Raḥel Hilltop (Uri Davidovich and Roi Porat)
Chapter Sixteen: "Landscape Archaeology" in the Western Slopes or Ramat Raḥel (Uri Davidovich)
Chapter Seventeen: Modern Period—the Story of Kibbutz Ramat Raḥel (Efrat Bocher)
Conclusion: The Ramat Raḥel Excavations, and a Few Thoughts about the Significance of Archaeology for Understanding the History of Judah
