These two brand-new areas are located on the upper, flat part of the tell, just below the Acropolis, several meters south of one of the first excavation areas in Azekah—Area T1. Both areas were opened during the last excavation season in 2024, during the third week of the dig. The goal was to enhance our understanding of the inner area of the tell.
Two weeks of excavations have uncovered impressive domestic structures and several installations. One of these (see the photos of Area T3 above) is likely an artificial well or some type of water storage installation. This installation is situated next to a possible building featuring a well-preserved plaster floor.
In Area T4 (see the photos below), a cluster of at least three storage silos and a large plastered ground stone were uncovered. Additionally, a segment of a very thick wall, adjoined by two thinner walls, was found. These walls may be connected to the citadel on the Acropolis, but this has yet to be confirmed. The pottery recovered from both areas dated to the Iron Age and the Persian periods.
Area T3 was supervised by Noga Rapaport, with the assistance of Yael Duvdevani (photo on the left, right to left, respectively), while Area T4 was supervised by Efrat Sheffi (photo on the right). Following these new discoveries, it was decided to extend the investigation below the Acropolis and open a new area—T5.
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The Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition 