5,000-Year-Old Settlement Plus Early Temple Uncovered in Israel

Archaeologists working in Israel have discovered a 5,000-year-old settlement at Hurvat Husham, near Beit Shemesh, as a prelude to the expansion of Beit Shemesh’s western industrial area. What they found, instead, was a beautiful Early Bronze Age structure dating to the 4th millennium BC, that was likely a temple or ritual center. Within the settlement, a large hall, with nearly 40 intact ritual vessels, were all preserved in the exact positions where they were likely left thousands of years ago.

• Archaeologists Discover a 3,200-Year-Old Pagan Ritual Hall in Israel
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Public Function: Open-Air Communitarian Ritualism?

The vessels, small and well-preserved, clearly weren’t designated for everyday purposes, likely having specific symbolic or ceremonial roles. This discovery, led by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), is providing a fresh lens into the dawn of urbanization in one of humanity’s historically richest regions, reports a press release by IAA.