Category Archives: Website news

Survey Permit granted

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A positive outcome of the BibleWalks Jordan Valley Archaeological Survey initiative is a new survey permit that was granted by the IAA on February 23, 2025 to Ayelet Keidar, on behalf of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.  (Permit# S-1386/2025).

The purpose of this survey is the study of the Iron age fortresses that were positioned along the Bronze/Iron age roads ascending from the valley. The sites include Tel Issachar, Horvat A-Dir, Horvat Ziwan, Horvat Hardon and Horvat Kush.

The survey includes pottery dating, photographing, documentation and analysis of the sites.

These sites were visited multiple times by BibleWalks team since May 2022. Their initial study lead to this important research project that will shed light on the construction and demise of the Iron Age fortresses.

We thank Prof. A. Mazar, Prof. Y. Garfinkel and Dr. A. Kohn-Tavor and the IAA for the assistance in obtaining the permit.

 

 

 

 

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Mazar and Kohn-Tavor visit

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Today we were honored to host two distinguished archaeologists, visiting several of the Iron Age fortresses on the northern Jordan valley. The sites we covered today: Horvat Kush,  Horvat A-Dir,  Tel Issachar.

  •  Professor Emeritus Amihai Mazar is one of the most senior experts on Biblical Archaeology, and among his major projects are the Beth Shean Valley Archaeological Project and the excavation and publications of Tel Beit Shean and Tel Rechov.
  • Doctor Kohn-Tavor is leading excavations in Israel and has published a report on the area of central Jordan valley.

  Dating pottery sherds on Horvat A-Dir  (Left to Right, Top to bottom: Ahia Kohn-Tavor, Ron Hofman, Ayelet Keidar, Amichai Mazar)

Visiting Tel Issachar  (Left to Right: Amichai Mazar, Ahia Kohn-Tavor, Yoram and Roni Hofman, Ayelet Keidar)

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Field Survey Videos

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BibleWalks has added a new aspect of the exploration of the Bible Lands.  As reported on 11/9/24, a new video camera (DJI Osmo Pocket 3) was added to BibleWalks survey team. It assists in recording our field surveys, adding live video capture options.   The survey videos are also embedded in our reviews of the sites.

The following field surveys were released and available on YouTube:

  • Horvat Kush – an Iron age fortress on bank of Jabneel stream, northern Jordan valley area.
  • Horvat A-Dir – ruins of an Iron Age fortress, later converted to a Byzantine period monastery
  • Horvat Nurit (Khirbet Nuris) – archaeological ruin on the northern foothills of Mt. Gilboa
  • Tell Ubeidiya – archaeological site located near the Jordan River crossing
  • Tel Issachar – Canaanite and Israelite city, located on the north bank of Issachar brook
  • Tel Nami – Middle and Late Bronze port city in HaBonim Nature reserve
  • Horvat Ziwan (Khirbat ez-Zawiyan) – An impressive Iron age II fortress south of Nahal Tabor

We hope this additional media option will enrich your Bible Walking experience.

Enjoy!

 

 

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Prof. Garfinkel’s visit

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Distinguished archaeologist, Professor Yosef Garfinkel, visited with BibleWalks team in several sites in the northern Jordan valley. Yosef Garfinkel is a renown professor of Prehistoric Archaeology and Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His many researches and works include famous Biblical sites: Kh. Qeyafa (Shaaraim), Tel Lachish, Kh. al-Ra’i, and world renowned prehistoric sites: Tel Tsaf, Horvat Minha (Kh. Munhata), Prehistoric Gesher,  Ubeidiya and Sha’ar Hagolan.

The tour included several of the Iron Age forts south of the Sea of Galilee that were reviewed as part of BibleWalks Jordan valley Archaeological survey. These sites were:  Horvat Hardon, Horvat A-Dir and Horvat Kush.

Prehistoric sites were also visited: Ubeidiya and Horvat Minha (Kh. Munhata).

 



Garfinkel and Yoram at Ubeidiya prehistoric site.



Garfinkel and Ayelet at Ubeidiya prehistoric site.

 

 

 

 

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New Video recorder

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A new video camera (DJI Osmo Pocket 3) was added to BibleWalks survey team. It will assist in recording our surveys, adding live video capture options.

First released survey: Horvat Kush – an Iron age fortress in the northern Jordan valley area.

 

 

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Website restored (2)

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The BibleWalks.com website was down for the past 24 hours due to a hosting service issue. We apologize for this disruption, and looking forward for a smooth and continuous operation.

The Google maps are still down, due to a change in Google Map interface. The fix will take some time.

In case some of the photos or content are found missing or non functional – please report this to us.

 

 

 

 

 

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