Tel Lachish — Shefela
Tel Lachish — Shefela Tell
Bronze to Iron Age (1800–586 BCE)·Canaanite/Judahite·🇮🇱 Southern District, Shefela, Israel
About
About Tel Lachish — Shefela
Tel Lachish — Shefela in Southern District, Shefela, Israel is a Bronze to Iron Age (1800–586 BCE) tell attributed to Canaanite/Judahite 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/Judahite site illustrating Bronze to Iron Age (1800–586 BCE) tell traditions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Urban planning of Tel Lachish — Shefela
- 02Chronology of lower town
Theories
- 01Administrative centre for Canaanite/Judahite
- 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. 1800 BCE
- Period
- Bronze to Iron Age (1800–586 BCE)
- Culture
- Canaanite/Judahite
- Purpose
- Judahite second city 7 ha, Assyrian siege ramp 701 BCE
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1800 BCE
Initial settlement
c. 2000 BCE
Major expansion and fortification
On the ground
Structures & features
31.5622° N · 34.8522° E · 460 m · 3 mapped features
Tel Lachish — Shefela — Main Mound
moundMain tell mound Tel Lachish — Shefela 15 m high with stratified phases
31.5630° N · 34.8530° ETel Lachish — Shefela — Lower Town
settlementLower town settlement 10 ha with houses and kilns
31.5613° N · 34.8517° ETel Lachish — Shefela — Gate Area
gateFortified gate with mudbrick walls and bastions
31.5633° N · 34.8515° E