Ancient 5,500-year-old gate unearthed in Israel, sheds light on early urbanisation

Tel Aviv: Researchers have unveiled a remarkable ancient gate, believed to be the oldest known gate in Israel, offering a glimpse into the historical development of urban centres and their defensive strategies in ancient times.

The discovery, announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority on Tuesday, showcases an imposing stone and mud-brick entrance leading to the ancient city of Tel Erani.

Unearthed during excavations near Kiryat Gat's industrial zone, the gate's origins date back approximately 5,500 years. This structure was discovered just prior to the installation of a water pipeline, shedding light on the meticulous process of constructing such a monumental gateway during that era.

The excavations at Tel Erani not only revealed the grand gate but also unveiled a section of an intricate fortification system, all dating back to the Early Bronze Age, around 3,300 years ago.

The Israel Antiquities Authority emphasises that this revelation provides invaluable insights into the evolution of urban centres and the sophisticated defence mechanisms employed in ancient societies.

According to Emily Bischoff, Director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This is the first time that such a large gate dating to the Early Bronze IB has been uncovered. To construct the gate and the fortification walls, stones had to be brought from a distance, mud bricks had to be manufactured, and the fortification walls had to be constructed. This was not achieved by one or a few individuals. The fortification system is evidence of social organisation that represents the beginning of urbanisation."

Martin-David Pasternak, an Israel Antiquities Authority researcher specialising in this period, notes, "It is probable that all passers-by, traders or enemies, who wanted to enter the city had to pass through this impressive gate."

Dr Yitzhak Paz, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, specialising in the Early Bronze Age period, adds, "Tel Erani, which is about 150 dunams in size, was an important early urban centre in this area in the Early Bronze period. The site was part of a large and important settlement system in the southwestern area of the country during this period. Within this system, we can identify the first signs of the urbanisation process, including settlement planning, social stratification, and public building."

"The newly uncovered gate is an important discovery that affects the dating of the beginning of the urbanisation process in the country. The extensive excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority over recent years have led to dating the beginning of urbanisation to the end of the fourth millennium BCE, but the excavations carried out at Tel Erani have now shown that this process began even earlier, in the last third of the fourth millennium BCE," he added.

Tel Erani, occupying a 150-dunam (37-acre) area, is historically linked to the ancient Philistines. Located on the present-day outskirts of Kiryat Gat, this city experienced destruction in the 6th Century BCE, possibly attributed to the Babylonians. The revelation of this ancient gate is a significant milestone in understanding the early stages of urban development and fortification strategies within ancient civilisations.