Tell Jemmeh

Tell Jemmeh is a significant archaeological site located in the northwestern Negev region of Israel. This prominent mound has been a focal point for human settlement and activity since the Chalcolithic period, around 4000 BCE. It was initially settled by hunter-farmers and later became an important site during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, particularly under Egyptian influence. Notably, Tell Jemmeh was known as Yursa in the Amarna Letters and played a strategic role in the region. The site also features structures from the Philistine and Neo-Assyrian periods, including defensive walls, kilns, and granaries. In the Hellenistic period, it was transformed into a grain storage center. Its archaeological significance is underscored by its role in ancient trade and military strategies.