Ashkelon 8: The Islamic and Crusader Periods

This eighth installment in the series of Final Reports of The Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon presents a synthetic study of the remains dating to the seventh through the twelfth centuries. Bringing together contributions from specialists on architecture, fortifications, ceramics, small finds, and organic remains, Ashkelon 8 opens a window onto everyday life during a period when Ashkelon was one of the most important cities in the southern Levant.

The first chapters survey the citys architecture and fortifications, including a detailed analysis of the history of Ashkelons walls. The copiously illustrated chapters on ceramics cover both local and imported goods, including an unparalleled collection of Chinese ceramics. Essays on glass, metals, and coins shed light on the economy and trade practices, while the chapters on organic material provide valuable insight into the site and serve as a model for similar studies at Islamic- and Crusader-period sites throughout the Levant. Together these studies detail daily life, reconstruct vast trade networks, and illuminate cultural events previously known only from textual sources.

Based on thirty years of work in more than two dozen areas of excavation, Ashkelon 8 is an essential resource for scholars investigating the history and archaeology of the Islamic and Crusader periods in Ashkelon.