Tel Hadid

Tel Hadid is an archaeological site situated on an isolated hill in Israel, offering a strategic vantage point over the central coastal plain and the Lydda Valley. The site is historically significant, as it was mentioned in biblical texts as a town resettled after the Babylonian exile and fortified by Simon Thassi during the Maccabean wars. Archaeological findings include remains from the Intermediate Bronze Age through to the Modern Era. Noteworthy features include a Byzantine mosaic floor, evidence of settlement during the Iron Age II, and cuneiform tablets dated to the 7th century BCE, suggesting the presence of deportee communities. The site has been continuously recognized for its strategic importance through various historical periods, including the First Jewish–Roman War.