The excavations at Tell el-Mutesellim between 1903 and 1905 resulted in the first formal documentation of the ruins of Megiddo. Gottlieb Schumacher directed this project, employing a trenching method to analyze the mound's strata. This work provided a foundational reference for subsequent archaeological investigations conducted by the University of Chicago during the 1920s and 1930s.
Background and Early Engineering
Born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1857, Schumacher was the son of Jacob Schumacher, a member of the German Temple Society. The family relocated to the German Colony in Haifa, Palestine, in 1869, where his father served as a builder and architect. Schumacher received his engineering training in Germany before returning to Palestine in 1881 to pursue a career in civil engineering and infrastructure development.
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As the Chief Engineer for the Province of Akko, Schumacher oversaw numerous construction projects, including the Russian hostel in Nazareth, Scottish hostels in Safed and Tiberias, and the bridge over the Kishon River. He contributed significantly to the region's transport network by extending the Haifa port mole and surveying the Golan, Hauran, and Ajlun districts for the Damascus-Haifa railway, which connected to the Hejaz line at Deraa. His maps of Transjordan and the Golan provided the first detailed geographical records of these territories.
Archaeological Methods and Discovery
Schumacher’s approach to archaeology prioritized architectural remains over stratigraphic dissection. His work at Megiddo focused on a large north-south trench, a technique common at the time but later critiqued for its limited stratigraphic precision. Despite these methodological constraints, he uncovered significant structures, including an Iron Age IIA palace and corbel-vaulted tombs. He also identified the ancient synagogue at Khirbet ed-Dikke. His findings were regularly published in the Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins.
Final Years
The onset of World War I prompted many members of the Templer community to leave the region. Schumacher moved to Germany but returned to his residence on Mount Carmel in Haifa in 1924. He remained in Palestine until his death in 1925.
Fast facts
- Born: 1857, Zanesville
- Died: 1925, Haifa
- Citizenship: United States; Germany
- Primary Occupations: Architect, engineer, archaeologist
- Key Excavation Site: Megiddo (Tell el-Mutesellim)
- Professional Affiliation: German Society for the Exploration of the Holy Land
Questions readers ask
What was Schumacher’s role in the Megiddo excavations?
He directed excavations at Tell el-Mutesellim from 1903 to 1905, producing the first volume of findings on the site's architecture and stratigraphy.
Did Schumacher serve as a government official?
Yes, he held the position of Chief Engineer for the Ottoman government in the Province of Akko.
