Ancient Fortifications near Gaza Border

January 20, 2015

Fortifications ranging back 2,500 years have been unearthed by archaeologists near Israel’s border with Gaza. The structure, which was found together with arms, indicates the site was a fortified military barracks or community, and is dated back to the fourth-century Persian Empire’s war with Alexander the Great.

Ironically, at present, the location—Israeli community Netiv HaAsara—is surrounded by fortifications in light of the omnipresent rocket threat from Gaza. After Operation Protective Edge ended, work began to revamp the community’s infrastructure, which suffered a heavy blow during the 50-day conflict. The community is a few hundred meters from Israel’s border with Gaza.

When the project began, bulldozers begun pulling up unique stones that made them stop their work and call in archaeological experts. They began to extract amazing artifacts ranging from sifters to stone ovens, to small storage units and pottery. However, these were only trinkets compared to the dig’s truly impressive find: a fortified tower, which attests to the time and nature of the community.

“At the top of the hill we discovered a fortified tower built of kurkar stone and mud bricks. A staircase was used to climb atop the massive tower, which has been preserved in part. During the dig we found weapons, including arrowheads and spearheads made of bronze and iron. The arms teach us about the military nature of the site. It was violently destroyed, likely near the end of the Persian era, when Alexander the Great conquered the area in the 4th century BC. The site wasn’t re-populated until the Byzantine period, some 1,000 years later,” Israel Antiquities Authority’s Dr. Abadi-Rice said.

Source: Excerpt of article by Matan Tzuri, Ynetnews

Photo Credit: Photos by Israel Antiquities Authority