Beth Shean
The archaeological dig at Beth Shean (ancient Scythopolis), modern-day Israel, opened the doors to three millennia of material culture, including the Byzantine period. Beth Shean is remarkable in that its archeological record exists from as early as the 6th millennium BCE, including significant activity in the Late Bronze Age (approx. 1100 BCE). It later resurfaced in the Hellenistic Period, and was a pivotal city during the 4th and 5th centuries CE. During the Byzantine period of 330—638 CE, the city underwent many religious and political changes, including the introduction of Christianity in the fourth century and later the arrival of Islam in the seventh. It fell to an earthquake in 749 CE and would rest relatively untouched until the excavation of the Tel by the Penn Museum in the 1920s.
In this gallery, objects from this excavation are presented in their archeological context. Seen below are a variety of materials, ranging from glass to ceramic to coins as well as domestic items. These objects represent the full geography of Beth Shean, including monastic contexts, funerary sites, and the home. All of these works come from different archeological layers.
Gallery
