Ein Gedi (archaeological site)
עתיקות עין גדי | |
Ein Gedi archaeological site Shown within Northern Negev region of Israel | |
| Alternative name | En Gedi Antiquities National Park Tell Goren/Tell el-Jurn |
|---|---|
| Location | Israel |
| Region | Judaean Desert |
| Coordinates | 31°27′41″N 35°23′33″E / 31.46139°N 35.39250°E |
| Altitude | 638 m (2,093 ft) |
| Type | Settlement |
| Part of | Ein Gedi |
| History | |
| Founded | 4th millennium BCE (Chalcolithic temple) 8th/7th century BCE (Judahite outpost and settlement), 5th century BCE (rebuilt Jewish settlement) |
| Abandoned | 6th century BCE; 7th century CE |
| Periods | Chalcolithic, Iron Age, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine |
| Cultures | |
| Events | Babylonian captivity, First Jewish–Roman War, Bar Kokhba revolt |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1949, 1958, 1961–1965, 1970–1972, 1980s, 1993–1995, 1996–2002 |
| Archaeologists | Benjamin Mazar, Yohanan Aharoni, Yosef Porath, Gideon Hadas, Yizhar Hirschfeld, Dan Barag |
| Condition | In ruins |
| Management | Israel Nature and Parks Authority |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | En Gedi Antiquities National Park |
Ein Gedi (Hebrew: עין גדי) was an ancient settlement located in the Judaean Desert, along the western shore of the Dead Sea. In antiquity, it was an important Jewish settlement. The remains of the settlement are part of an archaeological park situated in southern Israel.
Ein Gedi is frequently mentioned in the Bible, in the works of Josephus, in rabbinic literature, and in early Christian sources. The site was inhabited during different periods, and the earliest activity dates to the Chalcolithic period. The ruins, including a 6th-century synagogue, testify to a continuous Jewish settlement in the area between the 5th century BCE to the 7th century CE.
Adjacent to the archaeological park is the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a national park known for its oasis, waterfalls, and walking trails. To the south lies modern Ein Gedi, a kibbutz (collective community) established in 1954. The site was excavated in the 20th century.