chain of Muslim coastal fortifications. Documents from the Crusader period indicate that Ashdod and Ashdod-Yam belonged to the lordship of Ramla, and it appears probable that in 1169 the old Arab sea fort (Minat al-Qal'a) was given by Hugh, lord of Ramla, to his knight Nicolas de Beroard. From this period the fort is known as Castellum Beroart. Ayyubid and Mamluk periods The port stops being mentioned during the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, making it likely that it was destroyed by the Muslims along with the other port cities, due to fears that they might again be used by Crusader invasions from the sea. With the destruction of the port city, its inland counterpart regains its importance. Excavation The Iron Age site was excavated by Jacob Kaplan from 1965 to 1968 on behalf of the Tel Aviv-Yafo Museum of Antiquities. Finds at the site include sections of city fortification walls and a glacis. Pottery found at the site suggests that the fortifications were built in the second half of the 8th century BCE and that a second phase of occupation occurred during the 7th century BCE when the site was no longer fortified. The medieval fort has been most recently worked on by Dov Nachlieli and his team. In 2012, a survey of Tel Ashdod was conducted by Paran Nir-Shims on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Further reading H. Tadmor, Journal of Cuneiform Studies 22 (1958): pp. 70–80 J. Kaplan, Israel Exploration Journal 19 (1969): pp. 137–149 L. Y. Rahmani, Israel Exploration Journal 37 (1987): pp. 133–134. The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land''. Jerusalem: The Israel Exploration Society and Carta: pp. 102–103 See also Ashdod, the historic twin city of Ashdod on the Sea; modern Ashdod now includes Ashdod on the Sea Minat al-Qal'a, the Early Muslim castle at Ashdod on the Sea References Ancient sites in Israel Ashdod Medieval sites in Israel Former populated places in Israel