Ein Feshkha

Ain Feshkha ( Hebrew: Einot Tzukim ) is an archaeological site on the north west coast of the Dead Sea, about three kilometers south of Qumran in the West Bank. The place is named after one of the nearby brackish water source. He is probably identical with the ancient Engallim. In connection with the work at Qumran, a space of the system by Roland de Vaux of the École in 1956 biblique excavated; the complete excavation was carried out in 1958. Additional work led Yizhar Hirschfeld 2001.

The now existing in Ain - Feshkha source is a hundred meters south of the main building and at least three feet below. In ancient times, a meantime parched source supplied directly to the north the plant. Since this source is a few meters higher, it is assumed that they delivered fresh and no brackish water.

The complex consists of a 24 by 18 meter main building with a central courtyard, a small-scale installation with two paved basin in the northeast because then, as well as buildings that give the impression of stables, on the west side. De Vaux was able to show that was Ain - Feshkha settled simultaneously with Qumran and concluded that it was used by the same group.

The main building has the same layout as the Qumran on a smaller scale in the same direction. The input consisted of two adjacent doors on the east side. A staircase, from which opens up the existence of an upper level, at least on the west side was on the southeast corner of the building.

By means of a channel was directed by the (older ) source in the north by the enclosure to a rectangular tank at both pools of water. The purpose of this device is unknown. An early theory took a tannery (eg for the production of leather for the Dead Sea Scrolls ), but this was refuted by Zeuner, who proved that the necessary for this trade organic materials such as hair, were not available, so that he instead suggested a fish farm. Recent studies suggest an indigo factory, a production of Dattelwein, date honey or Mecca balsam.

The road to the south leads you through the perimeter wall to the west, so that the stables have been completely destroyed.