Yotvata Fort — Yaqush Samra Ravine Fort
Iron Age II (900–600 BCE) Egyptian–Israelite frontier·Edomite/ Israelite desert frontier·🇮🇱 Southern District, Israel
About
About Yotvata Fort — Yaqush Samra Ravine Fort
Yotvata Fort — Yaqush Samra Ravine Fort in Southern District, Israel is a Iron Age II (900–600 BCE) Egyptian–Israelite frontier fortress attributed to Edomite/ Israelite desert frontier. Desert oasis fort 50 × 30 m controlling Arabah copper route. Yotvata oasis fort controlling Timna–Aqaba copper road.
Why it mattersKey Negev–Anatolian highland site
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Desert agriculture technology
- 02Roman frontier model
Theories
- 01Incense trade water management
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. 900 BCE
- Period
- Iron Age II (900–600 BCE) Egyptian–Israelite frontier
- Culture
- Edomite/ Israelite desert frontier
- Purpose
- Desert oasis fort 50 × 30 m controlling Arabah copper route
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 900 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Systematic survey
On the ground
Structures & features
29.9000° N · 35.0700° E · 100 m · 4 mapped features
Yotvata Fort — Yaqush Samra Ravine Fort — Fort Wall
wallCircuit wall
29.9001° N · 35.0701° EYotvata Fort — Yaqush Samra Ravine Fort — Tower
towerCorner tower
29.9003° N · 35.0699° EYotvata Fort — Yaqush Samra Ravine Fort — Gate
gateGate with flanking towers
29.8998° N · 35.0703° EYotvata Fort — Yaqush Samra Ravine Fort — Reservoir
reservoirWater storage
29.8996° N · 35.0699° E