Tel Beit Shemesh

 archaeological site, tell (mound)

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Ancient city of biblical Beit Shemesh
www.indiana.edu/~relstud/betshem/background.shtml
Ancient Bet Shemesh, Israelite (Judean) site, no non-kosher bones in food remnants and no idols) since 10th century. Earliest found metal smith shop in the world, 500 years earlier than previously thought. Ancient Canaanite settlement before. Large water cistern, was covered during the Babylonian conquers and not settled again since the destruction of the first temple.
A line of ancient burial caves is found on the west side of the Tel, the main road to modern Bet Shemesh crosses the middle of the Tel, and the memorial monument for Israeli soldiers who fell in war is on the eastern side, with a few buildings on site as well.
There is a tiny amphitheater like structure with each step 25 cm and altogether 2.5 meters high on the northern hill seemingly cut in two by an earthquake. It is not clear what this structure was used for and when it is from.
The Tel is proof that there was an early "David or Solomon" kingdom (as opposed to the minimalist theories). Bet Shemesh was mentioned in the bible in the book of Samuel as a place of Judean location where the holy arc passed on return from the Philistines. Nearby village of Deir Raban - owned by Christians (probably Greek Orthodox) was on remnants of a Crusader outpost, that has not been dug up yet. During WWI an anti British (and pro German) spy cell was found, after the area was captured in August 1918. There are detailed areal images of British and German origin, which can be found in the book A second look on the land of Israel, by Prof. B.Z. Kedar.
The Arabs were uprooted in 1948.
Today the village of Yishii is on the western border of the Tel (mount, created by repeated dwellings constructed one on the other). Every summer the northern area of the Tel is penned up and becomes a Beduin camp

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O2zUzopiRo&t=
worldisraelnews.com/highway-construction-threatens-newf...
www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2024-05-16/ty-article/enigm...