Final Report On 2016-17 Excavations At Tell Sufan, Nablus, Palestine

Abstract

Tell Sufan, also known as Tell Sofer, is located on the western side of the city of Nablus. An-Najah National University has been carrying out large-scale exploration projects at and around the site since summer, 1999. Excavations were preceded by detailed mapping of the site; it was subsequently divided into 625 squares. This was followed by a survey using shovel-tests in each square, and then full-scale excavations were carried out in two areas. Our research suggests the site was first settled in the early Bronze Age, and was occupied from the middle Bronze Age to the late Iron Age (8th century BCE). This was followed by a settlement gap during the Persian and Hellenistic eras among the major discoveries are Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic structures, among which we found numerous pottery vessels, and a coin. Our aim is to present a summary the results of the 2016–17 explorations at the site. Keywords: Tell Sufan, Tell Sofer, Neapolis-Palestine, late Byzantine era, Early Islamic period.