Tel Gezer — Shefela
Tel Gezer — Shefela Tell
Canaanite to Iron Age (3500–500 BCE)·Canaanite·🇮🇱 Central District, Shefela, Israel
About
About Tel Gezer — Shefela
Tel Gezer — Shefela in Central District, Shefela, Israel is a Canaanite to Iron Age (3500–500 BCE) tell attributed to Canaanite culture. German and Syrian excavations document stratified sequence with ceramic seriation and radiocarbon. The site includes a principal mound and ancillary settlement.
Why it mattersKey Canaanite site illustrating Canaanite to Iron Age (3500–500 BCE) tell traditions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Urban planning of Tel Gezer — Shefela
- 02Chronology of lower town
Theories
- 01Administrative centre for Canaanite
- 02Trade hub on Euphrates/Khabur
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3500 BCE
- Period
- Canaanite to Iron Age (3500–500 BCE)
- Culture
- Canaanite
- Purpose
- Canaanite city with massive gate and Gezer Calendar
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 3500 BCE
Initial settlement
c. 2000 BCE
Major expansion and fortification
On the ground
Structures & features
31.8722° N · 34.9222° E · 312 m · 3 mapped features
Tel Gezer — Shefela — Main Mound
moundMain tell mound Tel Gezer — Shefela 15 m high with stratified phases
31.8730° N · 34.9230° ETel Gezer — Shefela — Lower Town
settlementLower town settlement 10 ha with houses and kilns
31.8713° N · 34.9217° ETel Gezer — Shefela — Gate Area
gateFortified gate with mudbrick walls and bastions
31.8733° N · 34.9215° E