Tel Arad

Tel Arad (Hebrew תל ערד ) is an archaeological site near the modern Arad in Israel's Negev desert; the archaeological sites are a National Park today. There was both a Bronze Age city as well as a Judean fortress from which come some significant ancient Hebrew inscriptions at this place.

Bronze age

The earliest traces of settlement form the stratum V and belong to the period of 4000-3400 BC This settlement was scattered over several hills and belonged to Beersheba culture. In the last two centuries of the 4th millennium BC dated a small, unpaved village. From this period dates Egyptian pottery, some with the name of the pharaoh Narmer, which trade links between the southern Canaan and the pre-dynastic Egypt are occupied, while the dating of this settlement is secured. The settlement traces of this time include not only smaller houses also a grave chamber with 16 burials. At the beginning of the 3rd millennium Arad was fixed with a 1.2 km long wall with projecting towers, as well as public facilities, namely a "marketplace", a sanctuary and a palace were built and created a water reservoir at the lowest point of the city. To 2800 BC Arad was destroyed and soon rebuilt. In the aftermath Arad shrank until it was completely abandoned by 2650 BC. In the Bronze Age Arad agriculture was predominant, in addition, there are also evidence of trade and commerce.

Iron Age

Contrary to the Bible (Num 21.1 EU; Num 33,40 EU; Jos 12,14 EU) Arad was unsettled in the Late Bronze Age. Only in the 11th century BC ( Iron Age I) Arad was settled again. First, there was a small village on the ruins of the Early Bronze Age urban system, which was abandoned only a few decades later. Shortly thereafter, a 55 × 50 m large rectangular fortress was built in the northwest of the Bronze Age city, at the highest point of the area, built. End of the 10th century BC the system of Sheshonk I. destroyed (around 946-925 ) was (mentioned on the relief at Karnak ). Tell Arab formed with tell Maso's an economic zone, which the Arava Valley and the Dead Sea with the Mediterranean union, presumably as a stopover for overland transport of copper and probably also of goods from the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean. Soon afterwards rebuilt, now with a square floor plan and a side length of 52 m the fortress. The new facility also contained a small YHWH Temple, which was abandoned in the cult reform of Hezekiah to 710 BC again; the remaining area was occupied by residential and commercial buildings. From this period over one hundred ostraca and pottery described, which are of great scientific importance.

Antiquity

In the Persian period ( from 538 BC) Arad was inhabited only sparsely, a program begun in the Hellenistic period fort was not completed. The site was re-attached in Roman times and abandoned around 200 AD again.

Arab and medieval

Recent residues represent an Arab Street station and a medieval cemetery dar.