Gezer

Gezer is an archaeological site and national park in the Central District of Israel, located roughly halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on the western foothills of the Judean Hills. The ancient mound rises above the Ayalon Valley and reveals settlement layers spanning over four millennia, including city walls, residential quarters, and fortifications from different periods.

Settlement began around 4000 BCE and continued until roughly 100 CE, with the Middle Bronze Age bringing the construction of massive defensive works. In the tenth century BCE, a monumental six-chambered gate was built, likely during the reign of King Solomon.

The Gezer Calendar, discovered at the site, represents one of the earliest known Hebrew texts and documents agricultural activities across different seasons.

The site extends across uneven terrain with exposed structures from several periods, so sturdy footwear is advisable. Visitors can explore an underground water system as well as remains of gates and fortifications scattered throughout the grounds.

Nine boundary stones with Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek inscriptions encircle the ancient city area and mark its administrative limits. The so-called Gezer Calendar, a small limestone tablet from the tenth century BCE, lists agricultural tasks by month and ranks among the earliest known written documents in ancient Hebrew.