Tel Jezreel, Archaeological site in eastern Jezreel Valley, Israel.
Tel Jezreel is an archaeological mound in the eastern Jezreel Valley that rises on a rocky ridge roughly 330 feet (100 meters) above the surrounding plain. The site contains a rectangular fortified compound with casemate walls and square corner towers that frame the excavated ruins.
The site became the main fortress of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the ninth century before the Common Era when King Ahab established a base for his chariot forces. Later occupation left Byzantine buildings and a medieval church from the Crusader era on the summit.
The location features remains from multiple periods, including Bronze Age settlements, Byzantine structures, and a medieval church used during the Crusader period.
The archaeological mound offers wide views across the Jezreel Valley and surrounding hills from its summit, making the strategic importance of the location clear. Visitors can spot several rock-cut cisterns around the site and a large spring to the northeast that remain visible today.
The rectangular fortress displays an unusually symmetrical design with casemate walls and projecting corner towers that was built between 882 and 852 before the Common Era under kings Omri and Ahab. This architecture combines military function with thoughtful planning that was exceptional for its time.
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