THE first report from Mr. Gerald M. FitzGerald, field director of the Museum’s expedition to the site of ancient Beth-shan, tells of very satisfactory progress in the opening weeks of the season. The programme of work for the season is twofold: First, a small amount of excavation in the sixth level at the north side of the mound, with the intention of rounding off the work towards the east of the last (1931) season and of linking up the area with that excavated by Mr. Rowe in earlier years. Second, the main work of the year, in a very restricted area on the south side of the mound, where it is hoped that virgin soil may be reached before the conclusion of the season; this entails an excavation of eleven meters depth from the level which was uncovered in 1931.
The above-mentioned Level VI is that attributed to the reign of the Egyptian King Sethos (or Seti) I, about 1300 B. C. In this stratum, during the first week of excavations, part of a building was cleared which was bounded on two sides by a substantial stone foundation and which was doubtless of the same character as one found in 1931. On a small patch of stone paving just beyond was found a bronze tripod stand excellently preserved; further away towards the edge of the mound were a bronze bowl, another smaller bronze stand, and some small lead objects, U-shaped and of unknown purpose. The larger tripod is similar to one from Cyprus; it belongs to a well-defined group of such bronzes and dates probably from about 1000 B.C. The smaller stand is similar to candelabra found at Megiddo and belonging to the time of Solomon. A stone wall foundation and some pottery of early Hellenistic type were also found. It becomes clear, therefore, that at the edge of the summit of the mound the levels are somewhat confused and intermingled.
In connection with the main work of the season, a small area was selected on the south side of the mound and so far five levels have been excavated. These all consist of mud-brick walls, most of them built on a single course of stone foundation [Plate IV]. The buildings of the various levels are very close one above another and often follow the same lines. From this it may be concluded that there was a continuous occupation of the site and that nothing in the way of a catastrophic destruction of the town occurred in the Middle Bronze Age (about 2000-1600 B.C.), to which period the levels belong. Two rooms contained storage jars for grain; another had two rows of three post-holes in its floor; while another had a post-hole at three of its corners, as if for the support of a roof running along two sides and leaving the rest of the room open. A pottery series of no little archaeological interest was established, including not only typically Middle Bronze Age ware, but also ware obtained from burials such as that shown in Plate V and associated with the age of the Hyksos kings of Egypt, that is, about 1700-1600 B. C.