Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2019 20:22:48 GMT
The city was well-planned, and it was situated in a fertile area, which was also on some important trade routes. It was probably very rich for its time and people from a diverse range of cultures possibly lived side-by-side. Itai Elad, Paz, and Dr. Dina Shalem, excavation directors at the site, stated that the city was “the Early Bronze Age New York of our region; a cosmopolitan and planned city”, reports the Times of Israel .
The city was enclosed by walls and fortifications and there were also public spaces and private dwellings that were built around squares. Some alleys and streets have also been uncovered. The sophistication of “the remains exposed indicates an organized society and a social hierarchy”, according to the Xinhua news site.
Ritual Temple
A very large public building was also uncovered and inside was a number of burnt animal bones. These were possibly a result of animal sacrifices suggesting that the structure was a temple or a shrine. Also found here were some figurines including a human head and the imprint of a man with his hands up and next to him an animal figure. This find is allowing researchers to understand the spiritual life and religious practices of the ancient inhabitants.
The city was probably inhabited by ancient Caninities. It was built at a time when they were adopting a more complex style of living and social organization. The Canaanites greatly influenced the early Hebrews, despite them often being enemies.
Among the finds made at the site were Bronze Age figurines from Egypt which indicates that the city was an important trading center. Also found were “flint tools, millions of pottery sherds and basalt stone vessels” reports the Times of Israel .
Archaeologists have been trying to preserve the site for the past two years. This large-scale project was made possible by the financial support of the National Transport Infrastructure Company Ltd. Some 5,000 students, both Arabs and Jews, volunteered to work on the excavations and to help in the conservation of the site.
Itai Elad, Yitzhak Paz, and Dina Shalem, who are directing the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority told Fox News: "There is no doubt that this site dramatically changes what we know about the character of the period and the beginning of urbanisation in Israel.
"This is a huge city – a megalopolis in relation to the Early Bronze Age, where thousands of inhabitants, who made their living from agriculture, lived and traded with different regions and even with different cultures and kingdoms in the area."
Figurines and and an area for sacrificial offerings were also discovered in the temple.
The site is said to be the largest Early Bronze Age settlement ever excavated in Israel.
Due to its location next to important trade routes 5,000 years ago, experts think it would have been a rich city with a diverse range of people.
The city was likely inhabited by people known as ancient Caninities and its complexity suggests a hierarchical society with social organisation.