Tell Jemmeh — Yurza
Chalcolithic to Persian (4000–332 BCE)·Canaanite / Assyrian / Philistine·🇮🇱 Northern Negev, Israel
About
About Tell Jemmeh — Yurza
Tell Jemmeh — Yurza in Northern Negev, Israel is a Chalcolithic to Persian (4000–332 BCE) tell attributed to Canaanite / Assyrian / Philistine. Negev tell identified as Yurza of Amarna letters and Assyrian annals. Petrie's Gerar, Assyrian palace with courtyards and storm god orthostat, Neo-Assyrian cuneiform tablets.
Why it mattersKey Levantine tell with multi-period stratigraphy informing chronology of the Northern Negev
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Stratigraphic sequence
- 02Biblical identification debated
Theories
- 01Border fortress model
- 02Trade route control
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. 4000 BCE
- Period
- Chalcolithic to Persian (4000–332 BCE)
- Culture
- Canaanite / Assyrian / Philistine
- Purpose
- Negev tell identified as Yurza of Amarna letters and Assyrian annals
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 4000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1925 CE
Woolley/Petrie survey
On the ground
Structures & features
31.3850° N · 34.4450° E · 90 m · 3 mapped features
Tell Jemmeh — Yurza — Summit Citadel
citadelCitadel or summit fort on tell
31.3851° N · 34.4451° ETell Jemmeh — Yurza — Glacis and Wall Circuit
glacisOuter fortification glacis
31.3848° N · 34.4451° ETell Jemmeh — Yurza — Lower Town / Cemetery
lower townExtension settlement or cemetery
31.3854° N · 34.4448° E