Ephraim Stern

Ephraim Stern (; January 15, 1934 – March 23, 2018) was an Israeli archaeologist and professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He specialized in the archaeology of ancient Israel and Judah and Phoenicia, and was known for his excavations at Tel Dor (1980–2000). He received the EMET Prize in 2005. the director of the Yad Ben Zvi Institute for the Research of the Land of Israel, the chairman of the Archaeological Committee of the State of Israel, and the chairman of the board of directors of the Israel Exploration Society. Over the course of his career he also held visiting professorships at London University, Harvard University, Boston University, New York University, the Annenberg Institute, and the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies in Philadelphia.

Excavations Stern led a excavations at a number of sites, including Gilam, Tel Kadesh and Tel Mevorakh. He also worked at Massadah and Hazor, Tel Be'er Sheva, and En Gedi.

His most notable work was at Tel Dor, where he directed twenty seasons of excavation between 1980 and 2000, in collaboration with American archaeologists Andrew Stewart and Rainer Mack.

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 Stern published several 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.

Books New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land (1993, four volumes with a Supplement published in 2008) The material culture of the land of the Bible in the Persian period (Hebrew edition 1978, English edition 1982) Dor – Ruler of the Seas (Hebrew edition 1992, English editions 1994 and 1999) Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Volume II: The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian Periods Eretz Israel (Volume 29: the Ephraim Stern Volume)

Archeological reports The excavations at Tel Mevorakh (2 volumes, Qedem Publications, no. 9 and 18; 1978 and 1984), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Tel Dor excavations (2 volumes, Quedem Reports Ia-b, 1995), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society. En-Gedi excavations (2007), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society. Figurines and cult objects from Dor (2010), Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Israel Exploration Society.