Bab edh-Dhra

Bab edh-Dhra is an Early Bronze Age archaeological site located near the Dead Sea, notable for its extensive burial practices and debated identification as the biblical city of Sodom. The site includes an urban settlement and a large cemetery comprising various burial structures such as shaft tombs, charnel houses, and tumulus tombs. These burial methods display a chronological evolution from subterranean to above-ground structures. While the city was not destroyed by a significant fire, evidence suggests a sudden abandonment around 2350 BCE. The site provides critical insights into Early Bronze Age urban and funerary practices in the Levant, contributing to ongoing debates about its biblical significance.