The Iron Age Gates of Megiddo: New Evidence and Updated Interpretations

Abstract

Excavations carried out in the summer of 2018 shed new light on the entire system of four super-imposed Iron Age gates at Megiddo, including the celebrated ‘Solomonic gate’, which has played a pivotal role in biblical archaeology discussions since the 1930s. A fragmentary gate, earliest in the system (Gate 3165) dates to Stratum VIA in the late Iron I and was destroyed along with the entire city represented by this layer. The six-chambered ‘Solomonic gate’ (Gate 2156) was built during the days of Stratum VA-IVB in the late Iron IIA—the time of the Omride dynasty. Remains of two additional gates—of four and two chambers (described here as Gates 500b and 500a)—date to the time of Strata IVA and III (both Iron IIB) respectively.