RARE final report summing up the excavations at Kuntillet `Ajrud ("solitary hill of the water source"; called Horvat Teman in Hebrew) - an Iron Age II religious Israelite site, unique in character and finds, located in eastern Sinai, 50 km south of Kadesh-Barnea. The author - Dr.Ze`ev Meshel excavated the site in 1975-76 on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, where he is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology. Among the most important finds at the site are inscriptions, murals and drawings, mostly religious in nature, referring to "YHWH of Samaria and his Asherah" and "YHWH of Teman and his Asherah". Apparently constructed about 800BCE, on the orders of King Joash of Israel, who had defeated King Amaziah of Judah and taken control of his territory, apparently in a dispute over renewed Red Sea trade and its profits. The contents of the inscriptions and most of the finds attest to the unparalleled uniqueness of the site as a religious center related to royal journeys to Elat and Ezion-Geber, and perhaps also to pilgrimage to southern Sinai. Contains numerous tables, color and b&w figures and plans. 310x250mm. XXXVI+364 pages (altogether 400 pages). Illustrated Hardcover. Rear cover slightly rubbed. Cover and spine edges slightly bumped. Cover front bottom corner slightly rubbed. Else in good condition.