Tell el-Farah South (Tell el-Farah S)
Tell el-Farah South · Sharuhen
Middle Bronze – Iron Age (2000–900 BCE)·Hyksos–Philistine·🇮🇱 Southern District, Negev Border, Israel
The original uploader was The devious diesel at Hebrew Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5
About
About Tell el-Farah South (Tell el-Farah S)
Tell el-Farah South (Tell el-Farah S) in Southern District, Negev Border, Israel is a Middle Bronze – Iron Age (2000–900 BCE) tell of Hyksos–Philistine tradition. Negev border fortress identified as biblical Sharuhen, Hyksos siege of Ahmose. 2000 BCE, the site forms a stratified mound/karst tell 10 ha, mound 120×100 m, hyksos rampart 8 m. Excavations since the mid-20th c. expose hyksos glacis and mudbrick rampart, philistine bichrome, scarabs architecture with diagnostic ceramics, lithics and administrative finds.
Archaeobotany and radiocarbon anchor the sequence, informing regional Hyksos–Philistine networks across the Southern District. Threats include military activity, agriculture, erosion; research continues on Hyksos–Philistine chronology.
Why it mattersType-site for Hyksos–Philistine Middle Bronze – Iron Age (2000–900 BCE) in Southern District, Negev Border; key for chronology, technology and interaction.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Hyksos–Philistine levels?
- 02Function of extramural cemetery?
Theories
- 01Demic diffusion vs local adoption
- 02Ritual aggregation centre
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.2000 BCE
- Period
- Middle Bronze – Iron Age (2000–900 BCE)
- Culture
- Hyksos–Philistine
- Purpose
- Negev border fortress identified as biblical Sharuhen, Hyksos siege of Ahmose
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.2000 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation
c.1200 BCE
Major expansion / fortification phase
20th c.
Systematic excavation begins
On the ground
Structures & features
31.2800° N · 34.4800° E · 90 m · 3 mapped features
- Tell el-Farah South (Tell el-Farah S) — Central MoundtellCentral mound with stratified architecture Levels I–IV31.2804° N · 34.4805° E
- Tell el-Farah South (Tell el-Farah S) — Lower Town WorkshopworkshopWorkshop/midden with pottery, slag or lithics31.2794° N · 34.4794° E
- Tell el-Farah South (Tell el-Farah S) — Cemetery/GatecemeteryExtramural cemetery or gate area31.2802° N · 34.4792° E
Gallery