Rising from the Ashes An Archaeological Study of the Land of 'Palistin' and the Early Iron Age in the Eastern Mediterranean

This thesis examines the Early Iron Age of the Eastern Mediterranean immediately following the destruction of many sites along the coast at the end of the Late Bronze Age and attempts to understand the connection of Palistin, centered in the Amuq Valley, to Philistia, further south in Canaan. Using pottery assemblages, it is clear that cities in Philistia show evidence of both Mycenaean IIIC:1b pottery and later Philistine Bichrome, those further north in Phoenicia show no substantial evidence of any Philistine wares, and those furthest north in Palistin yield Myceanaean IIIC:1b types but later a different Bichrome technology. This implies that Palistin and Philistia were connected, perhaps ethnically, before the advent of Philistine Bichrome but separated after its introduction. It also appears that the Sea Peoples were not the militaristic power they have been portrayed as for decades but likely more a migrating, economic force.