Yizhar Hirschfeld
Encyclopedia
Yizhar Hirschfeld was an Israeli archaeologist studying Greco-Roman and Byzantine archaeology. He was an associate professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and director of excavations at a number of sites around Israel, including Ramat Hanadiv, Tiberias, and Khirbet ed-Deir. He also published a book on the archaeology of Qumran
in which he proposed an assessment of the site that was contrary to prevailing views.
Professor Hirschfeld was born at Kibbutz Beth Keshet in Israel in 1950. He was already working on an excavation site in 1974 at Emmaus
where he acted as excavation and survey director. From 1984 to 1987 he directed digs at Ramat HaNadiv
. He received his doctorate at the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology in 1987 and the following year he was awarded a Rothschild fellowship. He returned to Ramat Hanadiv in 1989, the year he also started work on excavations at Tiberias. In 1998 he was appointed as associate professor at the Hebrew University.
From 1996-2002 Hirschfeld directed excavations at a site on a terrace overlooking Ein Gedi
, which consisted of a series of small dwellings. His analysis led him to conclude that "[a]ll features of the site--its location above Ein Gedi, simplicity, and unique nature--conform to Pliny the Elder
's (d. 79 A.D.) famous passage on the Essenes
". His proposal on the site (compare Aharoni 1958 BIES) has found little acceptance among archaeologists.
The experience he gained working on Greco-Roman period rural settlements gave him the background to write his controversial book Qumran In Context (2004), in which he concluded on morphological grounds that Qumran was "a Judean manor house" (and thus not the home of Essenes).
Articles from Liber annuus:
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...
and director of excavations at a number of sites around Israel, including Ramat Hanadiv, Tiberias, and Khirbet ed-Deir. He also published a book on the archaeology of Qumran
Qumran
Qumran is an archaeological site in the West Bank. It is located on a dry plateau about a mile inland from the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, near the Israeli settlement and kibbutz of Kalia...
in which he proposed an assessment of the site that was contrary to prevailing views.
Professor Hirschfeld was born at Kibbutz Beth Keshet in Israel in 1950. He was already working on an excavation site in 1974 at Emmaus
Emmaus
Emmaus was an ancient town located approximately northwest of present day Jerusalem...
where he acted as excavation and survey director. From 1984 to 1987 he directed digs at Ramat HaNadiv
Ramat HaNadiv
Ramat HaNadiv is a nature park and gardens in northern Israel, covering 4.5 kilometers at the southern end of Mount Carmel between Zichron Ya'akov to the north and Binyamina to the south...
. He received his doctorate at the Hebrew University Institute of Archaeology in 1987 and the following year he was awarded a Rothschild fellowship. He returned to Ramat Hanadiv in 1989, the year he also started work on excavations at Tiberias. In 1998 he was appointed as associate professor at the Hebrew University.
From 1996-2002 Hirschfeld directed excavations at a site on a terrace overlooking Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi is an oasis in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the caves of Qumran.-Etymology:The name En-gedi is composed of two Hebrew words: ein means spring and gdi means goat-kid. En Gedi thus means "Kid spring."...
, which consisted of a series of small dwellings. His analysis led him to conclude that "[a]ll features of the site--its location above Ein Gedi, simplicity, and unique nature--conform to Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
's (d. 79 A.D.) famous passage on the Essenes
Essenes
The Essenes were a Jewish sect that flourished from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE which some scholars claim seceded from the Zadokite priests...
". His proposal on the site (compare Aharoni 1958 BIES) has found little acceptance among archaeologists.
The experience he gained working on Greco-Roman period rural settlements gave him the background to write his controversial book Qumran In Context (2004), in which he concluded on morphological grounds that Qumran was "a Judean manor house" (and thus not the home of Essenes).
Hirschfeld on the internet
Articles from Liber annuus:
- The Monastery of Chariton. Survey and Excavations Plates
- Qumran in the Second Temple Period. Reassessing the Archaeological Evidence Plates
- En-Gedi: “A Very Large Village of Jews” Plates