Tel Hadid

I have just completed a week of an archaeological probe at Tel Hadid, Israel.

A map of Tel Hadid

Tel Hadid is located on a hill on the north side of the entrance to the Ayalon Valley. Tel Gezer is located on the south side of this important transportation zone which leads up the hill to Jerusalem.

Sheep grazing on olive trees at Tel Hadid

The ancient walled city is listed in the Mishnah (Arachin 9:6) as existing in the time of Joshua. Archaeological researchers are interested in the site because several land transfer documents have been found which date back to the times of King Hezekiah, and to the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests of the land of Israel.

Test probes at Tel Hadid

It is thought that after the deportation of the ten northern tribes of Israel that the Assyrians placed a diverse group of people from many nationalities in the land called Samaria. They did this to prevent uprisings in occupied territories. The cultural identity of the people took years to develop into anything more than displaced peoples.

A day's finds from our hole at Tel Hadid

The Maccabees had a presence in this city, which they called Adiada, which is close to Modi’in. Coins and other remains have been found from this period, one of which was a coin found in the probe I was assigned to dig. I asked if the Maccabean coin was from Judah or Simon, and was told I would have to wait until the final reprot.

A Hasmonean Coin from our hole at Tel Hadid

Other coins and metal objects, some extremely rare were also found during our dig.

Highway 6 runs under Tel Hadid

The work at Tel Hadid began as a salvage operation about twenty years ago, as Israel Highway 6 was being planned. Tel Aviv University is mapping and performing test probes in this area, and will begin an actual dig next year. You can go to their website for more information, or if you want to dig at this place. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will be working with Tel Aviv University as they dig.

Lodging at Neve Shalom

Today we made the transition from Haifa to the Ayalon Valley, half way between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. We are lodging at a Hotel called Neve Shalom, which means “New Peace.”

Lobby at Neve Shalom

The hotel sits in a community intentionally founded in 1970 in order to bring Jews and Arabs together in a place of peace. About 150 families live in the village, which has schools, a youth center and an art museum.

Lobby Patio at Neve Shalom

The rooms are small connected cottages which are arranged along the hillside. Each room has a private entrance and a patio. Steps lead from one set of apartments to the next.

Cottage style rooms at Neve Shalom

Middle Eastern cuisine in the dining room for both breakfast and supper. There is a small cafe and a gift shop located in the village. We ate lunch there and the food was quite tasty.

Swimming Pool at Neve Shalom

The community of Neve Shalom has a swimming pool, which we will visit each day after our work in this area, an archeological dig at Tel Gezer.

Olive Grove at Neve Shalom

There are seating areas located around the facility which are designed to allow for meditation.

The View from Neve Shalom to the the Trappist Monastery and Modi'in

The hotel is on a hill which overlooks the Ayalon Valley. Across the valley is a Trappist Monastery, and beyond the church the highrises of Modi’in are visible in the background.

Looking across the valley to Neve Shalom

The team which digs a Tel Gezer, along with many other teams stay at Neve Shalom. Several tem members have spent three weeks at this hotel every summer for more than ten years.

Looking up to Jerusalem

Neve Shalom is located in a place in Israel with a history of border disputes. The Ayalon valley narrows as it leads up into the hills. This is the place where the sun stood still for Joshua. In 1949, the land on which the hotel sits was “no man’s land,” part of the demilitarized zone between Israel and Jordan.

A Fortress with Neve Shalom in the background

The most difficult battles of the six day war in 1967, were fought around this location. Once the battle was over and the land was secured for Israel, the hotel was built.

A Bench for Prayer at Neve Shalom

There were both Arab and Jewish communities in the area. It was the dream of Father Bruno Hussar to see Arabs and Jews living in peace. His goal is accomplished through the community called Neve Shalom.