Excavation at Beth She’arim, which uncovered catacombs 1–11, sponsored by the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society (now the Israel Exploration Society [IES]) and directed by Benjamin Mazar, began in 1936 and continued until 1940. In 1953 excavations were resumed by the IES and the Hebrew University, directed by Nahman Avigad, leading to exposure of catacombs 12–21. Mazar led two additional campaigns in 1956 and 1959 which revealed public structures and six more catacombs.