Horvat Uza, Archaeological site in Negev desert, Israel
Horvat Uza is an archaeological site in the northeast Negev desert overlooking the Qinah and Arad valleys. The excavations across the grounds have uncovered the remains of a settlement built in multiple layers over thousands of years.
Settlement began in the Iron Age and continued through the Byzantine period, spanning nearly two millennia. The site shows how this location remained important and was repeatedly rebuilt and adapted over that long timespan.
The settlement left behind pottery marked with Hebrew names and writings that hint at the people who lived here. These objects offer a window into daily life and the community that occupied this place over many centuries.
The site can be reached on foot through marked paths that connect the different excavation areas. It is best visited during cooler months since the location sits exposed in open desert with little shelter.
Excavations here uncovered large storage rooms sealed since Byzantine times, revealing how systematically supplies were kept and organized. This discovery sheds light on how the community managed resources during its final occupation period.
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