Tel Anafa

Tell Anafa (Arabic Tell el- Ahdar ) is a Tell in the Upper Galilee, north of the Hula lake in the grounds of Kibbutz Shamir. The Tell has been explored in several archaeological excavations 1968-1986. Erosion and activities of animals complicate stratigraphic assignment of individual finds.

The oldest finds date from the Early Bronze Age and have more similarities with the northern than the southern neighbors. Also from the Middle and Late Bronze Age there are some finds, while the findings are difficult to classify for the Iron Age and subsequent eras until the early Hellenistic period. In part, this is due to the extensive and profound structural changes in the Hellenistic period. For the Persian period can generally have a strong Phoenician influence.

However, the most important finds date from the late Hellenistic period, when a large, palace -like building was erected on the hill. This building was lavish. Thus, remains of wall paintings are preserved, but also a bathing room with mosaics and hypocaust. Around the same time can be an increase in imported luxury goods and changes in dietary habits prove. The livestock included not only cattle and sheep but also pigs. The trade contacts suggest turn on the Phoenician room. In the early first century BC, however, the settlement ends at Tell plenty of half a century. It was not until the time of Christ can again demonstrate smaller, scattered on the hill building. However, the small finds of this period now testify of strong ties to the south. In addition, however, pigs are detectable as pets, which is why a Jewish settlement seems impossible. This phase of settlement but also ended after only a few decades. For the following centuries scattered and isolated finds from the Arabic into modern time again smaller settlements are detectable.