Rafael Y Lewis
A field archaeologist specializing in Landscape archaeology, the archaeology of Jerusalem and Crusader archaeology. A senior lecturer in the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University. Co-Directs The Landscape of Hattin Archaeological Project.Co--Directs The Mount Zion Excavations project and The Tel Ashkelon (ASKGATE) Excavations Project.
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and the functions they fulfilled. Similarity also exists in the basic lines of their buildings, fortifications, towers, central entrance gates and living and supply units within the inner courtyards. This article therefore discusses the considerations and reasons for choosing the location of the Tegart fortresses compared to the Crusader strongholds, concerning borders, roads, settlement patterns, architectural influence and the provision of ongoing field security in their surroundings. Our conclusions suggest economic, administrative and internal security reasons for constructing Crusader strongholds, as opposed to internal and external administrative and security needs for establishing the Tegart fortresses. We deduce that the reasons for the similarity in location were mainly geographical, due to the use of communication routes that did not change between the periods. On the other hand, the location of the Crusader strongholds was not a consideration in determining the location of the Tegart fortresses
excavations were conducted in Sep. 2022. The excavations were led by Dr. Rafael Y. Lewis from Ashkelon Academic College
and the University of Haifa and Prof. Cecilia Luschi from the University of Florence, PI of archaeological mission. The two were joined
by a team of architects, students, and volunteers. The academic sponsorship was provided by MAECI and the University of Haifa. The
aim of the excavations was to reinvestigate the building and its main historical/archaeological phases though it was excavated and published
in the past by the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon. The interdisciplinary research has developed in two major strands: the first
of historical contextualization and analysis of documents; the second of direct study and excavation of the site. The work is organized
on different scales, from the territorial one to that of the architectural composition up to the detail of the archaeological excavation.
Ascalon, the author has been able to reconstruct the historical landscape of Tel Ascalon through various periods. Creating reconstructions of the landscape on the Tel and the surrounding area enables us to learn about the interrelationship between people and their natural environment in this area. It also enables us to examine various historical events within their environmental and archaeological contexts, such as the 1099 Battle of Ascalon and the 1153 and 1187 sieges of the city. This study has identified various surviving landscape and archaeological features which we can relate to historical events, demonstrating how these events continue to resonate and influence the development of the Ascalon landscape, and even the post- crusader city.
of Jerusalem. The kingdom’s key personnel gathered in King Guy’s tent
for a quarrel that would last for most of the night. The question they faced was
whether the kingdom’s forces should march on Tiberias to recapture it from Saladin’s troops, or stay put at the well-watered and well-protected encampment by the Springs of Saforie. 1 The results of this dispute are well known, 2 and therefore will not be discussed in this chapter. Instead, we will deal with the Saforie encampment itself, and present the first material evidence of a Frankish and/or Ayyūbid encampment site. Since this kind of site was never excavated before, we will attempt to reconstruct the layout of such an encampment according to various sources. By doing so, we should be able to point to the main characteristics as well as to the common denominators of such site, which may be of help for further studies of encampments in the Latin East.
and the functions they fulfilled. Similarity also exists in the basic lines of their buildings, fortifications, towers, central entrance gates and living and supply units within the inner courtyards. This article therefore discusses the considerations and reasons for choosing the location of the Tegart fortresses compared to the Crusader strongholds, concerning borders, roads, settlement patterns, architectural influence and the provision of ongoing field security in their surroundings. Our conclusions suggest economic, administrative and internal security reasons for constructing Crusader strongholds, as opposed to internal and external administrative and security needs for establishing the Tegart fortresses. We deduce that the reasons for the similarity in location were mainly geographical, due to the use of communication routes that did not change between the periods. On the other hand, the location of the Crusader strongholds was not a consideration in determining the location of the Tegart fortresses
excavations were conducted in Sep. 2022. The excavations were led by Dr. Rafael Y. Lewis from Ashkelon Academic College
and the University of Haifa and Prof. Cecilia Luschi from the University of Florence, PI of archaeological mission. The two were joined
by a team of architects, students, and volunteers. The academic sponsorship was provided by MAECI and the University of Haifa. The
aim of the excavations was to reinvestigate the building and its main historical/archaeological phases though it was excavated and published
in the past by the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon. The interdisciplinary research has developed in two major strands: the first
of historical contextualization and analysis of documents; the second of direct study and excavation of the site. The work is organized
on different scales, from the territorial one to that of the architectural composition up to the detail of the archaeological excavation.
Ascalon, the author has been able to reconstruct the historical landscape of Tel Ascalon through various periods. Creating reconstructions of the landscape on the Tel and the surrounding area enables us to learn about the interrelationship between people and their natural environment in this area. It also enables us to examine various historical events within their environmental and archaeological contexts, such as the 1099 Battle of Ascalon and the 1153 and 1187 sieges of the city. This study has identified various surviving landscape and archaeological features which we can relate to historical events, demonstrating how these events continue to resonate and influence the development of the Ascalon landscape, and even the post- crusader city.
of Jerusalem. The kingdom’s key personnel gathered in King Guy’s tent
for a quarrel that would last for most of the night. The question they faced was
whether the kingdom’s forces should march on Tiberias to recapture it from Saladin’s troops, or stay put at the well-watered and well-protected encampment by the Springs of Saforie. 1 The results of this dispute are well known, 2 and therefore will not be discussed in this chapter. Instead, we will deal with the Saforie encampment itself, and present the first material evidence of a Frankish and/or Ayyūbid encampment site. Since this kind of site was never excavated before, we will attempt to reconstruct the layout of such an encampment according to various sources. By doing so, we should be able to point to the main characteristics as well as to the common denominators of such site, which may be of help for further studies of encampments in the Latin East.