Stern's parents both died in 1953, leaving him to support his younger brother. He married Tamar Brutzkus in 1960 and settled in Jerusalem. They had two sons.[citation needed]
His most notable work was at Tel Dor, where he directed twenty seasons of excavation between 1980 and 2000,[7] in collaboration with American archaeologists Andrew Stewart and Rainer Mack.[8]
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". [3]
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)[9]
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.