A new site was added in the Jordan Valley region: Mizpe Elot (esh Sheikh Muzeighit) – Ruins of a Bronze/Iron Age site and observation place west of Menahemia.
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Author Archive: Admin
Survey Permit granted
A positive outcome of the BibleWalks Jordan Valley Archaeological Survey initiative is a new survey permit that was granted by the IAA on February 23, 2025 to Ayelet Keidar, on behalf of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. (Permit# S-1386/2025).
The purpose of this survey is the study of the Iron age fortresses that were positioned along the Bronze/Iron age roads ascending from the valley. The sites include Tel Issachar, Horvat A-Dir, Horvat Ziwan, Horvat Hardon and Horvat Kush.
The survey includes pottery dating, photographing, documentation and analysis of the sites.
These sites were visited multiple times by BibleWalks team since May 2022. Their initial study lead to this important research project that will shed light on the construction and demise of the Iron Age fortresses.
We thank Prof. A. Mazar, Prof. Y. Garfinkel and Dr. A. Kohn-Tavor and the IAA for the assistance in obtaining the permit.
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Judea & Samaria Conference
The first International Conference on Archaeology & Site Conservation of Judea and Samaria took place in Jerusalem from February 10-13, 2025.
Speakers shared insights, discoveries, and findings from numerous excavations, research projects, and conservation efforts conducted in the region.
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New site: El Araj
A new site added in the Sea of Galilee area:
El Araj (Beit Habek) – Ruins of the Roman/Byzantine period village, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This could have been Bethsaida, the site of Jesus’ two miracles.
Explore the site
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Mazar and Kohn-Tavor visit
Today we were honored to host two distinguished archaeologists, visiting several of the Iron Age fortresses on the northern Jordan valley. The sites we covered today: Horvat Kush, Horvat A-Dir, Tel Issachar.
- Professor Emeritus Amihai Mazar is one of the most senior experts on Biblical Archaeology, and among his major projects are the Beth Shean Valley Archaeological Project and the excavation and publications of Tel Beit Shean and Tel Rechov.
- Doctor Kohn-Tavor is leading excavations in Israel and has published a report on the area of central Jordan valley.
Dating pottery sherds on Horvat A-Dir (Left to Right, Top to bottom: Ahia Kohn-Tavor, Ron Hofman, Ayelet Keidar, Amichai Mazar)
Visiting Tel Issachar (Left to Right: Amichai Mazar, Ahia Kohn-Tavor, Yoram and Roni Hofman, Ayelet Keidar)
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Field Survey Videos
BibleWalks has added a new aspect of the exploration of the Bible Lands. As reported on 11/9/24, a new video camera (DJI Osmo Pocket 3) was added to BibleWalks survey team. It assists in recording our field surveys, adding live video capture options. The survey videos are also embedded in our reviews of the sites.
The following field surveys were released and available on YouTube:
- Horvat Kush – an Iron age fortress on bank of Jabneel stream, northern Jordan valley area.
- Horvat A-Dir – ruins of an Iron Age fortress, later converted to a Byzantine period monastery
- Horvat Nurit (Khirbet Nuris) – archaeological ruin on the northern foothills of Mt. Gilboa
- Tell Ubeidiya – archaeological site located near the Jordan River crossing
- Tel Issachar – Canaanite and Israelite city, located on the north bank of Issachar brook
- Tel Nami – Middle and Late Bronze port city in HaBonim Nature reserve
- Horvat Ziwan (Khirbat ez-Zawiyan) – An impressive Iron age II fortress south of Nahal Tabor
We hope this additional media option will enrich your Bible Walking experience.
Enjoy!
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Prof. Garfinkel’s visit
Distinguished archaeologist, Professor Yosef Garfinkel, visited with BibleWalks team in several sites in the northern Jordan valley. Yosef Garfinkel is a renown professor of Prehistoric Archaeology and Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His many researches and works include famous Biblical sites: Kh. Qeyafa (Shaaraim), Tel Lachish, Kh. al-Ra’i, and world renowned prehistoric sites: Tel Tsaf, Horvat Minha (Kh. Munhata), Prehistoric Gesher, Ubeidiya and Sha’ar Hagolan.
The tour included several of the Iron Age forts south of the Sea of Galilee that were reviewed as part of BibleWalks Jordan valley Archaeological survey. These sites were: Horvat Hardon, Horvat A-Dir and Horvat Kush.
Prehistoric sites were also visited: Ubeidiya and Horvat Minha (Kh. Munhata).
Garfinkel and Yoram at Ubeidiya prehistoric site.
Garfinkel and Ayelet at Ubeidiya prehistoric site.
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New Site: Mazarim
Ruins of multi-period archaeological site on the summit of a high hill of Mount Gilboa.
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New Gallery: Gilboa
Added a new gallery of sites – Mt. Gilboa. New sites will be added in association with the Mt. Gilboa archaeological survey.
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New site: Giv’at Yehonathan
Giv’at Yehonathan (Jonathan Hill, Horvat Karmet, Karmat) is the site of an ancient walled city dating back to the Bronze Age, located on a low projecting spur of Mount Gilboa.
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