The iron age sequence of tel ashdod: A rejoinder to ‘ashdod revisited’ by i. finkelstein and l. singer–avitz

In a recent issue of Tel Aviv, Finkelstein and Singer-Avitz (2001) presented a revised interpretation of the Tel Ashdod excavation results. Several of their conclusions could have far-reaching implications, particularly with regard to chronology. However, these conclusions derive in many cases from either limited or negative data, and at times the archaeological facts are disregarded. The soon-to-be-published new data from Ashdod were also not taken into account. On the basis of both the archaeological and textual evidence, the Iron Age sequence at Tel Ashdod is far more reasonably interpreted as a continuous occupation without any gaps and, therefore, the original stratigraphy and dating suggested by the excavators should be retained.