Ephraim Stern

Biography

Prof. Ephraim Stern was born in Haifa, Israel in 1934. He graduated from the city's the Hebrew Reali School in 1952 and joined the newly established Israeli army (Israel Defense Forces) the same year. Participating in Israel's wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973, he had later risen to the rank of Major. In 1953, while still a young adult, he lost both of his parents within a six-month period and subsequently helped support his younger brother. He married Tamar (ne'e Brutzkus) in 1960 and raised two sons. Prof. Stern lives with his wife in Jerusalem, Israel.

Academic career

Prof. Stern started his academic career at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he studied in the Departments of Archaeology and History of the Jewish People. Prof. Stern completed his Ph.D. (with distinction) in 1968. After receiving his M.A. he began teaching in the Department of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University. In 1971, after eight years there, Prof. Stern returned to the Hebrew University following Professor Yigael Yadin's invitation.

Prof. Stern is widely recognized as expert in the study of three historical periods: the Late First Temple period (Assyrian Age), the Babylonian period and the Persian period. In addition, he has studied and written about the culture of the Phoenicians.

Prof. Stern served as a visiting professor in numerous universities, teaching in most of them. These include: London University, Harvard University, Boston University, New York University, Annenberg Institute, Center for Advanced Judaic Studies in Philadelphia and other leading universities in South Korea.

Notable excavations

Prof. Stern participated in numerous archaeological excavations in various sites in Israel including the initial excavations at Massadah and Hazor, Tel Be'er Sheva, Tel Mor and En Gedi. In addition, he led numerous excavations, including those at Gilam, Tel Kadesh and Tel Mevorakh.

In addition to the abovementioned excavations, Prof. Stern was closely associated with Tel Dor, as he directed the excavations of the site for twenty years, while leading large groups of archeologists and layman volunteers from the U.S., Europe and Asia. Tel Dor is one of the major sites in Israel preserving important relics from the Israelites - Phoenicians and Northern Sea Peoples cultures. The documented history of the site begins in the Late Bronze Age and ends in the Crusader period. The port dominated the fortunes of the town throughout its 3000-odd year history and It served as the main port of the region up to the time of Herod the Great.

Prof. Stern initiated the Tel Dor Project in 1980 and directed it until 2000. He continues to be involved with the publication of areas excavated under his directorship.

Public roles and recognition

In addition to his active role as a scholar, Prof. Stern has served as chairman of the Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology and as director of the Yad Ben Zvi Institute for the Research of the Land of Israel, as well as chairman of the Archaeological Committee of the State of Israel and the chairman of the board of directors of the Israel Exploration Society.

Awards

Prof. Stern received the Israel Museum's Percia Schiemmel Award for his contributions to the archaeology of Israel. He was also awarded prizes for his various publications from Yad Ben Zvi Institute, The American Society of Biblical Archaeology and Levi Sala prize on behalf of the Ben-Gurion University in the Negev.

In 2005, Prof. Ephraim Stern was awarded with the EMET Prize for his research and professional work, which have placed him in the forefront of Israeli archaeology; for "disseminating archaeological knowledge through scientific editing and publishing; for the extensive excavations in which he has been involved as team member and director; and for his broad and in-depth knowledge of the Land of Israel and its material culture between the First Temple Period Solomon's Temple and Second Temple periods".

Books and other publications

Prof. Stern has published numerous books based on his research and field work. Further, he served as editor of the journal Qadmoniot, published by the Israel Exploration Society, and was co-editor of Cathedra, published by the Yad Ben-Zvi Institute. His most significant written contributions are as follows:

1. The Excavations at Tel Mevorakh (2 Vols. Qedem Publications Nos. 9 and 18, 1978 and 1984), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
2. Tel Dor Excavations (2 Vols. Quedem Reports Ia-b, 1995), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society.
3. En-Gedi Excavations (Vol. 1, 2007), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society.
4. Figurines and Cult Objects from Dor (2010), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Israel Exploration Society.

1. Goddesses and Cults at Tel Dor
2. The Many Masters of Dor, Part 1, Ephraim Stern, BAR 19:01, Jan/Feb 1993
3. The Many Masters of Dor, Part 2: How Bad Was Ahab? Ephraim Stern, BAR 19:02, Mar/Apr 1993. -
4. The Many Masters of Dor, Part 3: The Persistence of Phoenician Culture, Ephraim Stern, BAR 19:03, May/Jun 1993.
5. Buried Treasure: The Silver Hoard from Dor, Ephraim Stern, BAR 24:04, Jul/Aug 1998.
6. Prize Find: Priestly Blessing of a Voyage, Ephraim Stern, BAR 21:01, Jan/Feb 1995.
7. The Babylonian Gap - The Assyrians impressed their culture on Israel … the Babylonians left no trace:
8. Yes There Was - The Babylonian Gap Revisited
9. The Babylonian Gap: The Archaeological Reality
10. Judah and the Judeans in the Persian period