Tel Masos

Tel Masos, located in the northern Negev of Israel, is an archaeological site with a rich history of habitation and trade. Established around 3200 BCE during the Chalcolithic period, the site was part of a settlement chain along the Beer Sheva Valley. It played a crucial role in copper mining and trade, linking it to the economic activities in the Timna Valley. The site features residential structures, including four-room houses and caves, and public buildings with Egyptian-Canaanite influences from the 12th century BCE. Later, a Syriac-Nestorian monastery was established, complete with a church and inscribed sarcophagi, highlighting its religious significance. The site's archaeological remains demonstrate its importance in regional trade networks and cultural exchanges over millennia.