IN SEARCH OF THE 'ISRAELI METHOD OF EXCAVATION'.

In 1973 Yohanan Aharoni published a polemic against criticism of Israeli excavations by supporters of the Wheeler-Kenyon method of excavation. He claimed that a unique 'Israeli method' of excavation was invented during the large 1950s' excavations at Hazor, allegedly equal or even superior to the Wheeler-Kenyon method. Following Aharoni, the 'Israeli method' became an accepted fact. Some archaeologists repeated Aharoni's story and harmonised the encountered difficulties and contradictions. However, critical analysis shows that such a method never existed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]