Tel Burna
Burna · Tell Bornata
EB to Iron Age (c.3000–600 BCE; peak Canaanite–Philistine 1600–600)·Canaanite → Philistine? → Judah (Shephelah)·🇮🇱 Southern District, Shephelah, Israel
About
About Tel Burna
Tel Burna is Shephelah unfortified town (maybe Libnah?) excavated by Itzhaq Shai/Ariel University since 2009; LB courtyard palace, Iron Judahite silos and cultic precinct with Cypriot/Faience figurines. Markus and Uziel note MB–Iron continuity without major fortification — Shephelah open settlement model.
Why it mattersShephelah open town model; Libnah candidate.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Libnah identification?
- 02Why unfortified?
Theories
- 01Open settlement resilience
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.3000 BCE
- Period
- EB to Iron Age (c.3000–600 BCE; peak Canaanite–Philistine 1600–600)
- Culture
- Canaanite → Philistine? → Judah (Shephelah)
- Builders
- Canaanite Shephelah → Judah
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.600 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 2009 (Itzhaq Shai)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1600 BCE
LB palace courtyard
c.900 BCE
Iron Judahite silo town
2009
Shai/Uziel excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
31.6300° N · 34.8700° E · 120 m · 3 mapped features
LB Courtyard Palace (Area B)
palaceLate Bronze courtyard building with Cypriot imports
31.6303° N · 34.8702° ECultic Precinct (Area A)
templeIron cult room with standing stones and Faience figurines
31.6296° N · 34.8703° EIron Age Silo Complex
storageJudahite grain silo cluster, southern slope
31.6306° N · 34.8695° E