The eighth season of excavations at Hippos (Sussita) will be run by the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa between July 1-26, 2007. The site is located on the eastern shore of Tiberias Lake, a short distance from kibbutz Ein-Gev in Israel. Hippos is relatively small and the city space is naturally bordered by cliffs and slopes of the hill on which Hippos was built. Hippos-Sussita is located on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee, on the top of a flat, diamond-shaped mountain, 350 m above the lake level. City and mountain are almost entirely isolated from their surroundings, with just a narrow 'saddle' bridge leading towards the western slopes of the Golan Heights.
Sussita, or as it was known by its Greek name, Antiochia-Hippos, was founded after 200 BC, when the Seleucids seized the Land of Israel from the Ptolemies. During the Roman Period Hippos belonged to the Decapolis, a group of ten cities which were regarded as centers of Greek culture in an area predominantly populated by Semitic peoples such as Jews, Aramaeans, Ituraeans, and Nabataeans.Plans for the 2007 season include: continue the excavation of the Hellenistic Compound and unearthing the Roman Temple; reveal public buildings adjacent the forum; complete the excavation and preservation of the North-West Church; complete the excavation and preservation of the North-East Church; probes at the Church in the leaving quarters; contunue to expose the Roamn fortification wall at the South city wall; continue the preservation works of all the areas.
Several volunteer positions are available; see the Hippos-Sussita website for more details.
- Hippos-Sussita Project Website, at the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa
- Middle Eastern Archaeology Digs, 2007
- Archaeological Digs, 2007 Season
- Archaeology of Israel
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