• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Archaeologists unearth 5,500-year-old city gate in Israel

by Dario Radley
August 16, 2023

Archaeologists have uncovered a 5,500-year-old city gate, constructed using both imposing stone and mud-brick components, at the archaeological site of Tell Erani, situated in the Southern District of Israel.

Tell Erani, also known as ʻIrâq el-Menshiyeh, has been occupied since the Chalcolithic period, with the majority of its archaeological remains dating from the Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Previous excavations by the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland suggested that artifacts at the site could be traced back to around 4,000 BCE, aligning with the Amratian culture of the Naqada I period.

A recent study conducted by archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) revealed a 1.5-meter-tall gate and accompanying fortifications that date back approximately 3,300 years to the Early Bronze IB period.

The gate is composed of a passageway constructed from large stones, flanked by two stone guard towers. Remarkably, it was built within a settlement surrounded by mud-brick walls, a puzzling contrast in construction materials.

RelatedStories

Ancient gold ring from Second Temple period unearthed in Jerusalem’s City of David

Ancient gold ring from Second Temple period unearthed in Jerusalem’s City of David

May 21, 2025
4,000-year-old cemeteries and rock art reveal forgotten ritual landscape of Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula

4,000-year-old cemeteries and rock art reveal forgotten ritual landscape of Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula

May 14, 2025

Emily Bischoff, Director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, emphasized that this is the first time such a large gate from the Early Bronze IB period has been uncovered.

Constructing the gate and its accompanying fortifications involved collaborative efforts, indicating the early stages of urbanization and social organization. The monumental gate not only served as a defensive structure but also conveyed the settlement’s strength politically, socially, and economically.

Martin David Pasternak, a researcher from the IAA, speculated that the gate’s presence could have been a signal to Egypt, as the process of unification of Lower and Upper Egypt was underway during that time.

Dr. Yitzhak Paz, an archaeologist specializing in the Early Bronze Age period, explained that Tell Erani played a crucial role as an early urban center in the area during that time. The discovery will contribute to identifying the initial signs of urbanization, including settlement planning, social stratification, and public building. This finding challenges previous assumptions and pushes the timeline of urbanization in the region earlier.

The significance of this discovery lies not only in the monumental gate itself but also in what it reveals about the development of urban centers and social organization during the ancient past. As travelers, traders, and potentially adversaries passed through this impressive gate, it conveyed a message of strength and well-organized governance.

Tel Erani, an expansive site covering approximately 150 dunams, represents an integral part of the ancient urban landscape. Previously associated with the ancient Philistines, the site’s historical importance has been reaffirmed by these recent excavations.

The uncovering of Israel’s oldest known city gate and its accompanying fortifications has rewritten history and illuminated the intricacies of urban existence in antiquity. The excavation and findings have been supported by the Israel Antiquities Authority, shedding light on a pivotal period in Israel’s history.


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Earliest use of psychoactive plant 'harmal' uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing
Archaeology

Earliest use of psychoactive plant ‘harmal’ uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

May 24, 2025
roman-massacre-myth-at-maiden-castle-1
Anthropology

New study debunks Roman massacre myth at Maiden Castle, Britain’s iconic ‘war cemetery’

May 24, 2025
18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising
Archaeology

18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising

May 23, 2025
High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine
Archaeology

High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine

May 23, 2025
Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care
Anthropology

Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care

May 22, 2025
Rare winged Roman goddess statue unearthed near Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda
Archaeology

Rare winged Roman goddess statue unearthed near Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda

May 22, 2025

Comments 1

  1. Randall Brown says:
    2 years ago

    How much did the gate weigh?

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

December 15, 2024
Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

May 17, 2025
Ancient DNA confirms Picuris Pueblo’s ancestral link to Chaco Canyon

Ancient DNA confirms Picuris Pueblo’s ancestral link to Chaco Canyon

May 1, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Earliest use of psychoactive plant 'harmal' uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

Earliest use of psychoactive plant ‘harmal’ uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

May 24, 2025
roman-massacre-myth-at-maiden-castle-1

New study debunks Roman massacre myth at Maiden Castle, Britain’s iconic ‘war cemetery’

May 24, 2025
18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising

18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising

May 23, 2025
High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine

High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine

May 23, 2025
Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care

Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care

May 22, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.