During one of the first excavation seasons in Tel Azekah, the excavation team of area N1e uncovered a monumental entrance gate in the northern part of the site. It was completely unexpected, as we were anticipating a gate at the southern end of the mound – though never did find it. Yet.
The gate complex was located on the northeastern edge of Area N, adjacent to the northern slope of the tell. It included water drainage channels and a large plaza with a thick white plaster floor, extending from the interior to the threshold of the gate and beyond. The threshold was marked by the remains of a city wall and possibly an outer tower. Following a renewed analysis of the finds, it was concluded that the gate was destroyed at the end of the 8th century BC by the Assyrian army during Sennacherib’s campaign.
During the last excavation season in 2024, the team, led by Noga Rapaport, returned to the gate area to answer specific questions regarding the gate’s dating and phases of use. Noga is writing her thesis on “The Iron Age II ‘Gate Complex’ at Tel Azekah” under the supervision of Prof. Oded Lipschits and Prof. Zeev Herzog. The results showed that the gate was built in the end of the Iron IIa and renovated during the Iron IIb, when Tel Azekah became a part of the Kingdom of Judah.
The Lautenschläger Azekah Expedition 