The destruction of megiddo at the end of the late bronze age and its historical significance

Renewed excavations at Tel Megiddo - planned on a long-term, systematic basis in order to study the stratigraphy of the site and its material culture - were recently started by the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University under the direction of I. Finkelstein and myself. In 1992, at the request ofthe National Parks Authority, our expedition carried out a small excavation in the Late Bronze Age city gate uncovered at the time by the Chicago Oriental Institute expedition. This excavation prompted me to study afresh the data of Late Bronze Age Megiddo - in particular that of Area AA - and to try to reappraise the final stage of the city of that period. This study follows the previous detailed reappraisals of LB Megiddo, published by K.M. Kenyon (1969), R. Gonen (1987) and A. Kempinski (1989). As Megiddo is undoubtedly a key site for the entire country during this period, such a reappraisal naturally leads me to discuss wider historical and archaeological implications.