Haifa U. archaeologist finds evidence of Israelite arrival

Two days before Passover, a University of Haifa archaeologist has unearthed foot-shaped structures he believes were constructed by the Israelites at the time of the Exodus from Egypt and move into the Promised Land.

The large structures were found in the Jordan Valley by Prof. Adam Zertal, who describes them as "the first structures the Israelites built on entering Canaan, and [which] testify to the biblical idea of ownership of the land."

Zertal's excavating team exposed five such complexes, all of which he has dated to the beginning of the Bronze Age (1200-1300 BCE), and which he collectively identifies with the biblical Gilgal, the site the Israelites reached after crossing the Jordan River.

As described in the Book of Joshua, the Israelites were ordered to take 12 stones from the river, one for each tribe, to commemorate the event for posterity.

Most modern archaeologists believe do not see the biblical accounts of the Exodus from Egypt and conquest of Canaan as historically reliable, but Zertal is one of the few in Israel who believe they have found archaeological evidence directly corroborating these events. Zertal has previously referred to archaeologists doubtful of the Bible's historical veracity as "Bible deniers."

The archaeologist's best-known discovery until now has been on Mount Ebal near Nablus, which he identified as the location of the first great stone altar the Israelites dedicated to God. He also believes he has found potsherds characteristic of those believed to be left by the ancient Israelites. Still, no evidence has been found definitively linking the site to the biblical Gilgal.

Zertal said the foot carried significance for ancient peoples in the region as a symbol of ownership over territory and superiority over their enemies. He believes the "foot" complexes he has discovered served as meeting places for Israelite communities after entering Canaan.

Zertal said even after Jerusalem became the center of worship, and the Israelites were commanded to make pilgrimages there, the "foot" concept had not vanished, as evidenced in the Hebrew term for pilgrimage, "aliyah laregel" - literally, "ascending on foot."