Megiddo of the Omride Dynasty

This article deals with the remains of Stratum VA-IVB at Megiddo. From the perspective of relative chronology (i.e., ceramic typology), it dates to the late Iron IIA. Monuments belonging to this stratum, especially two ashlar-built palaces and the six-chambered gate, had previously been associated with the construction activities of King Solomon in the tenth century BCE. Traditional archaeology considerations and radiocarbon dating now put it in the first half of the ninth century—the period of the Omride dynasty of the Northern Kingdom (Israel). First, the history of research of Stratum VA-IVB is described, followed by the presentation of new evidence from the field on two of its monuments: Palace 6000, first excavated by Yigael Yadin, and the gate, unearthed by the University of Chicago team. Finally, general issues, such as the layout of the city and its cult, are discussed.