Yizhar Hirschfeld

Yizhar Hirschfeld (Hebrew: יזהר הירשפלד; 1950 – 16 November 2006) was an Israeli archaeologist studying Greco-Roman and Byzantine archaeology.

He was an associate professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and director of excavations at a number of sites around Israel, including Ramat Hanadiv, Tiberias, and Khirbet ed-Deir.

He also published a book on the archaeology of Qumran[1] in which he proposed an assessment of the site that was contrary to prevailing views.

From 1996–2002 Hirschfeld directed excavations at a site on a terrace overlooking Ein Gedi, which consisted of a series of small dwellings.

His analysis led him to conclude that "[a]ll features of the site—its location above Ein Gedi, simplicity, and unique nature—conform to Pliny the Elder's (d. 79 A.D.) famous passage on the Essenes".