Tell el-Burak
Burak · Botrys hinterland
MB II (c.2000–1600 BCE)·Canaanite MB II coastal → Phoenician·🇱🇧 South of Sidon, Coastal Lebanon, Lebanon
About
About Tell el-Burak
Small Middle Bronze II fortified town (1.6 ha) on a coastal hill south of Sidon, Lebanese-German excavations by Uwe Finkbeiner. Exceptionally preserved MBA mudbrick defensive wall 3 m thick with glacis and Egyptian-style plaster, beside a MB palace with Phoenician-precursor painted ware.
Why it mattersKey South of Sidon, Coastal Lebanon sequence for MB II (c.2000–1600 BCE); coastal fort controlling sidon–tyre corridor.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Tell el-Burak relative to neighbouring centres?
Theories
- 01Regional centre hypothesis for South of Sidon
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- MB IIA c.2000 BCE fortified
- Period
- MB II (c.2000–1600 BCE)
- Culture
- Canaanite MB II coastal → Phoenician
- Builders
- Canaanite MB II coastal communities
- Purpose
- Coastal fort controlling Sidon–Tyre corridor
- Rediscovered
- 20th century survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1960
Foundation/earliest horizon
1980
Major excavations
2020
Conservation/monitoring
On the ground
Structures & features
33.5100° N · 35.2900° E · 19 m · 2 mapped features
MB town wall
fortification3 m thick mudbrick wall with glacis and Egyptian plaster
33.5102° N · 35.2903° EMB palace
palacePalace with pithoi storerooms and Phoenician-precursor ware
33.5098° N · 35.2897° E