Region | West Bank |
---|---|
Coordinates | 31°57′41″N 35°24′32″E / 31.961393°N 35.408925°E |
Altitude | 7 – −3 m (23 – −10 ft) |
Type | Complex oval compound |
Length | 70-100m |
Area | 2.5 acres |
History | |
Founded | Iron Age I |
Periods | Iron Age I and II |
Cultures | Israelite [1] |
Site notes | |
Discovered | April 2004 |
Excavation dates | 5-29 June 2017 |
Archaeologists | Adam Zertal, David Ben-Shlomo, Ralph K. Hawkins |
Condition | Ruins |
Website | https://www.jvep.org/khirbetel-mastarah |
Khirbet el-Mastarah is an archaeological site that includes the largest of the complex oval compound type habitation sites located in the middle Jordan Valley in the West Bank. [2]
Khirbet el-Masratah is located 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Jericho and 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Ain Aujah in Wadi Auja on a small hill hidden by three larger hills. These surrounding hills cause the 1.0-hectare (2.5-acre) site to be hidden from view. [3]
The site was discovered and surveyed in April 2004 by Adam Zertal during the course of the Manasseh Hill Country Survey. [4]
An excavation directed by David Ben-Shlomo and Ralph K. Hawkins took place in June 2017. [5] During the course of the excavation a number of large and small rounded and oval enclosures of single-course limestone rubble walls were discovered, all of them almost entirely empty of finds. [6]
The site's hidden location most probably indicates the presence of a new population migrating to the central hill country from the east during Iron I, avoiding contact with the native population. [2] On this basis the excavation directors believe the site is possibly an early Israelite site, constructed during the early stages of the Israelite Settlement. [1]