Adam Zertal

Adam Zartal, January 2005

Adam Zertal (b. 1936) is an Israeli archaeologist.

Biography

Adam Zertal grew up in Ein Shemer, a kibbutz affiliated with the Hashomer Hatzair movement. Zertal was severely wounded in the Yom Kippur War. He later told a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, “I spent a year at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, and I became interested in archaeology. Although I had argued that the Bible was full of myths, I decided after my recovery to travel the land by foot to look for archeological evidence.”[1]

Archaeology career

Zertal identified a structure on Mount Ebal as an early Israelite altar.[2] He headed the excavations at El-ahwat, which he has identified as the Biblical Harosheth Haggoyim, a fortress described in the Book of Judges as the fortress or cavalry base of Sisera, commander of the army of King Jabin. (Judges 4)[1][3]

In 2009, Zertal headed a team that discovered an Ancient underground quarry in the Jordan Valley.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Siegel-Itzkovich, Judy (July 2, 2010). "Long time archaeological riddle solved, Canaanite general was based in Wadi Ara". Jerusalem Post.
  2. ↑ Zertal, Adam. "Shechem and Mount 'Ebal in the Bible: Is this indeed Joshua's altar?". University of Haifa.
  3. ↑ "Archaeological mystery solved". University of Haifa press release. July 1, 2010.
  4. ↑ Lefkovits, Etgar (June 21, 2009). "Huge Roman-era cave found by Jericho". Jerusalem Post.