The Stratigraphy of Tel Lachish - The BAS Library

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(as interpreted by the current expedition)

Present to 1000 A.D.	Medieval graves; remains of Israel’s 1948 War of Independence
Post-exilic period (Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic) 1st century B.C.–6th century B.C.	Level I: fortified city in main phase; city wall and gate; Residency; Solar Shrine; houses and pits
588/6 B.C.	Destruction: Babylonian conquest Level II: sparsely populated Judean city; city wall and gate; the Lachish letters Intermediate stage in deserted gate area
701 B.C.	Destruction: Assyrian conquest Level III: densely populated city; same fortifications and rebuilt palace-fort (Palace C) Level IV: royal Judean fortified city; two city walls and gate; palace-fort (Palace B)
Late 10th century B.C.	Level V, Late Phase: Palace A—Rehoboam’s fort (?)
c. 925 B.C. (?)	Destruction: Shishak’s campaign (?) Level V, Earlier Phase: unfortified (?) settlement; cultroom; houses
gap in habitation—site deserted
12th century B.C. Late Bronze Age III	Destruction: Israelite conquest (?) Level VI: prosperous, densely populated and unfortified Canaanite city under Egyptian control; Fosse Temple III
14th century B.C. Late Bronze Age II	Destruction Level VII: city of el-Amarna period; Fosse Temple II
Late Bronze Age I	mound sparsely populated; Fosse Temple I
16th century B.C. Middle Bronze Age III	Destruction Level VIII: fortified city, glacis and fosse; palace
Middle Bronze Age I–II	Mound levels not excavated
Intermediate EB–MB Period	Cemetery 2000; settlement outside mound
Early Bronze Age 3rd millennium B.C.	Mound levels not excavated; tombs; caverns; Khirbet Kerak ware
Chalcolithic Period (Ghassulian) 4th millennium B.C.	First settlement on mound
Prehistoric periods	Remains in general area of Lachish