Khirbet et-Tibbaneh

Khirbet et-Tibbaneh, potentially identified with the historical Timnah of Judah, is an archaeological site situated on a high ridge in the Judaean mountains. This site features the remnants of a square Iron Age fortress, thought to have served as a defensive structure along vital communication and trade routes between the Elah valley and Jerusalem. Additional features include ancient cisterns and traces of a 200-meter-long roadway, indicating the site's strategic significance in regional transportation. While the site has not been fully excavated, surface surveys have revealed late Iron II sherds, suggesting occupation during the 1st millennium BCE. The site also holds historical relevance as one of the fortifications mentioned in 1 Maccabees, linked to the fortification efforts of Bacchides around 160 BCE. Overall, Khirbet et-Tibbaneh presents a significant archaeological site with ties to both biblical narratives and historical events in the region.