Ruth Amiran
Encyclopedia
Ruth Amiran was an Israeli archaeologist. Her book, Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land: From Its Beginnings in the Neolithic Period to the End of the Iron Age became a bible-like work in the academic field of archaeology quite soon after it was published in 1970, and remains a basic reference for archaeologists excavating in the region, to this day.
. She attended high school at the Reali School
in Haifa
. In 1935, she began studyng archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, earning her MA in 1939. She wrote her thesis on "The Pottery of Grar", supervised by Professor Eleazar Sukenik, an analysis of the pottery of Tel Jemmeh (10 km south of Gaza).
She married geographer David Amiran during these years. After the establishment of the state of Israel
, Amiran worked in the Department of Antiquities (later the Israel Antiquities Authority
), as the supervisor of artifacts in the Galilee and in Jerusalem and as the inspector of regional museums.
As an excavator in the Antiquities Department, she directed various excavations.
Amiran was part of the archaeological team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s excavation of Tel Hazor headed by Yigael Yadin
. As director of Area B, and she oversaw the processing of the ceramic finds from the excavation.
From 1962 until 1984, Amiran directed the excavations at the Canaanite
city of Arad
. The prolonged excavations exposed a large Canaanite city, with sophisticated urban planning. The city was surrounded by a fortified wall, with two gates and two posterns. Inside, a network of streets, laid out in a grid extended into a topographic depression in the city's center. Here, rainwater flowed into a large reservoir, thus guaranteeing a continued water supply during the long rainless summers.
In 1965, Amiran helped to prepare plans for the establishment of the Israel Museum
. Her main contribution was the design and planning of the archaeological wing. She was appointed the wing’s field archaeologist, and served in that position until her retirement.
Amiran died on December 14, 2005 in Jerusalem at the age of ninety-one. She left behind a legacy of more than 150 scientific publications in Hebrew and English, many of which have had a major impact on the study of the archaeology of Israel in the early periods.
Biography
Ruth Brandshteter Amiran was born in 1914 in Yavne'elYavne'el
Yavne'el is a moshava and a local council in the North District of Israel. It is named after a village in the tribe Naphtali , which was probably located on the tel north of the moshava. Located south-west of Tiberias, it was declared a local council in 1951...
. She attended high school at the Reali School
Hebrew Reali School
The Hebrew Reali School of Haifa , located in Haifa, Israel, is one of the country's oldest private schools.-History:...
in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. In 1935, she began studyng archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, earning her MA in 1939. She wrote her thesis on "The Pottery of Grar", supervised by Professor Eleazar Sukenik, an analysis of the pottery of Tel Jemmeh (10 km south of Gaza).
She married geographer David Amiran during these years. After the establishment of the state of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Amiran worked in the Department of Antiquities (later the Israel Antiquities Authority
Israel Antiquities Authority
The Israel Antiquities Authority is an independent Israeli governmental authority responsible for enforcing the 1978 Law of Antiquities. The IAA regulates excavation and conservation, and promotes research...
), as the supervisor of artifacts in the Galilee and in Jerusalem and as the inspector of regional museums.
As an excavator in the Antiquities Department, she directed various excavations.
Amiran was part of the archaeological team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s excavation of Tel Hazor headed by Yigael Yadin
Yigael Yadin
Yigael Yadin on 21 March 1917, died 28 June 1984) was an Israeli archeologist, politician, and the second Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.-Early life and military career:...
. As director of Area B, and she oversaw the processing of the ceramic finds from the excavation.
From 1962 until 1984, Amiran directed the excavations at the Canaanite
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
city of Arad
Tel Arad
Tel Arad or 'old' Arad is located west of the Dead Sea, about 10 km west of modern Arad in an area surrounded by mountain ridges which is known as the Arad Plain. The site is divided into a lower city and an upper hill which holds the only ever discovered 'House of Yahweh' in the land of...
. The prolonged excavations exposed a large Canaanite city, with sophisticated urban planning. The city was surrounded by a fortified wall, with two gates and two posterns. Inside, a network of streets, laid out in a grid extended into a topographic depression in the city's center. Here, rainwater flowed into a large reservoir, thus guaranteeing a continued water supply during the long rainless summers.
In 1965, Amiran helped to prepare plans for the establishment of the Israel Museum
Israel Museum
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem was founded in 1965 as Israel's national museum. It is situated on a hill in the Givat Ram neighborhood of Jerusalem, near the Bible Lands Museum, the Knesset, the Israeli Supreme Court, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
. Her main contribution was the design and planning of the archaeological wing. She was appointed the wing’s field archaeologist, and served in that position until her retirement.
Amiran died on December 14, 2005 in Jerusalem at the age of ninety-one. She left behind a legacy of more than 150 scientific publications in Hebrew and English, many of which have had a major impact on the study of the archaeology of Israel in the early periods.
Awards
- In 1981, Amiran received the Percia Schimmel prize from the Israel Museum.
- In 1982, she was awarded the Israel PrizeIsrael PrizeThe Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
, for Land of Israel studies.