Archaeological Reconnaissance At Tel Yavne, Israel: 2-D Electrical Imaging And Low Altitude Aerial Photography

Tel Yavne in Israel is the site of the ancient city of Yavne. Located about 20 kilometers south of<br>Tel Aviv, and about 8 km inland from the ancient seaport of Yavne Yam (meaning Yavne by the Sea), it<br>is believed that underneath the tel (an archaeological mound) are the remains of more than 3,000 years<br>of continuous occupation. The tel, at 4 hectares in area and approximately 30 m in elevation, is<br>relatively large in comparison to other ancient sites in Israel. To date, no excavations have been carried<br>out at the site. In preparation for excavation work at a later date, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)<br>surveys, ground penetrating radar surveys, and low altitude photography from kites and balloons were<br>carried out at the site. This paper will discuss the ERT and photographic surveys. The objectives of<br>these two surveys were to delineate the plan view and vertical extent of accumulated cultural debris, and<br>to identify particular areas for initial test pitting by archaeologists. Eight ERT cross-sections were<br>imaged, ranging in length from 80 to 140 m. Approximately 500 low altitude photographs were shot.<br>Specific features possibly identified include a 9th century B.C.E. (before the common era) water system,<br>the Philistine city wall dating from 790 B.C.E., the ruins of a 12th century C.E. Crusader castle, and<br>numerous architectural features from the Mameluke, Ottoman, and Palestinian periods of habitation.<br>This is the first time that non-destructive techniques have been used in the first phase of an<br>archaeological exploration program in Israel at such an important, well recognised ancient site.