Excavations at Givat Yonah (the Hill of Jonah) in Ashdod
Excavations at Givat Yonah (the Hill of Jonah) in Ashdod
February 15, 2012
Archaeological Finds were Uncovered that Verify the Existence of Life there at the time of Jonah the Prophet
A new excavation, this time in city port of Ashdod.
The foundation of a large fortress and remains of massive walls more than 1 m wide were found that are dated to the early eighth century and late seventh century BCE, that was situated there during the First Temple period was exposed in an excavation the Israel Antiquities Authority conducted with funding provided by Hofit – Ashdod Development & Tourism Company, Ltd.
At ‘Giv’at Yonah’ (the Hill of Jonah) in Ashdod, which according to various traditions is identified with the burial place of the prophet Jonah, archaeological finds were exposed that verify the existence of life there during the First Temple period, at the time of this prophet.
According to Sa’ar Ganor, the Ashkelon District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “Giv’at Yonah, which rises c. 50 m above sea level, is the highest hill in Ashdod, whence one can look out to sea, to Tel Mor – located in the Nahal Lachish estuary which was probably an ancient anchorage, and to Tel Ashdod. Due to its strategic location, it is not surprising to find there remains of a fortress that overlooked the region in the First Temple period”. Ganor adds, “There are two possibilities regarding who inhabited the fortress at that time: one possibility is that it was controlled by the Assyrians who were the regional rulers in the Iron Age. Another possibility is that Josiah, king of Judah, occupied the fort at the time, who we know conquered territory from the Assyrians and controlled Ashdod-Yam in the seventh century BCE”.
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