The archaeological site of Squeezed is lying in Tel Gezer Natural Park near the kibbutz Karmei Yosef in the Schefela in southern Israel.
 Tel Gezer in the evening light | ||
| Gezer, Tel Gezer, Tell el-Jezer, Gazara | ||
| District | Southern District | |
|---|---|---|
| height | unknown | |
no value for height on Wikidata:  | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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background
The archaeological site with the excavations of the ancient city Squeezed lies on the settlement mound of Tel Gezer, which as a whole was placed under protection as a nature park. It is north of the kibbutz Karmei Yosef and can be reached from there via a gravel road; access is not possible from Kibbutz Gezer in the north.
Tel Gezer was probably already settled in prehistoric times, a Bronze Age sacrificial site made up of several megaliths could correspond to a Canaanite sanctuary - in any case, the settlement surrounded by stone and earth walls was destroyed by fire. These events are possibly related to a conquest by the Egyptians in the temple of the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III in Karnak is in the 15th century. B.C. mentions the conquest of a city that could be Gezer. From the 14th century. come several letters from the Canaanite king or prince of Gezer to the Egyptian pharaoh, these were found in the cuneiform archives of Amarna. In the late Bronze Age the city was fortified with four meter thick city walls and a palace was built on the western hill, an inscription on the Merenptah stele from the year 1208 BC. reports of Gezer's submission.
Later, according to Biblical tradition, the Israelites subjugated the city (1st kings 9,15-17 ) Solomon rebuilt the city located on the border with the Philistine cities after it had been given to him by the Pharaoh as a bridal gift for his daughter after it had been captured and destroyed. Even if a number of details are unclear and the subject of discussion, a city gate system was found on the south side, which is similar to those of other Solomonic cities (Megiddo, Hazor). In 734/32 the city was probably taken over by the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III besieged and taken, at least one inscription reports the submission of the city "Gazru".
Later, at the time of the Maccabees (in the 2nd / 1st century BC), the city was called Gazara Since late antiquity, the settlement hill has been visibly depopulated, just a Roman Catholic titular bishopric Gezara reminded of the biblical city.
In modern times, the Tel Gezer was excavated from 1871 by the French archaeologist Charles Clermont-Ganneau, further excavations were carried out in 1902/07, 1932 and 1964, and from 2006 the excavations will be continued by Steve Ortiz and Sam Wolff.
A kibbutz with the name Gezer is a modern establishment (1945, renovation 1974) a little north, access to Tel Gezer is via the agricultural settlement in the south Karmei Yosefwhich was founded in 1984.
getting there
By plane
Most overseas travelers will be by air via the Ben Gurion Tel Aviv Airport arrive.
By train / bus
By rail you can take the trains of the Israel Railways until after Ramla and Beit Shemesh drive, from there you can only continue by bus, a stop is on the main road 44 at the entrance to the settlement Karmei Yosef.
In the street
The main road 44 leads from the greater area Tel Aviv past Ramla, crosses the main street 40 and a little later the toll motorway A6 (at the Nesharim Interchange) and then leads in a south-easterly direction to the junction of Karmei Yosef and on towards Beit Shemesh.
From 1 Branch on the street 44 one drives after Karmei Yosef and stops right at the entrance to the village (at the first 2 Spinning top ) Left (Gefen Street). This paved road runs on the western outskirts and goes to a parking lot on 3 End of paved road into a gravel road. From here you can walk to the archaeological site in 10-15 minutes or on the dusty gravel road up to one 4 parking spot right on Tel Gezer National Park drive.
mobility
From the end of the paved road, you can walk to the archaeological site in about 15 minutes. In the area itself one moves on foot, the circular route of approx. 2 km length can be mastered in 30 minutes, for the visit one has to allow approx. 1 - 2 hours.
Tourist Attractions
Tel Gezer National Park
- 1 Tel Gezer National Park. Open: free access.Price: free entry.
A circular route is signposted: a footpath first leads to one 2 Lookout point. The view of the settlement Karmei Yosef, the green hilly Schefela, the Judean hills with the fortress of Latrun and towards the coastal plain is impressive.
- here is a replica of the Calendar by Gezer: on the limestone with the early Hebrew inscription there is a listing of the months of the year. This find made by Macallister during the excavations in 1902/07 is in the museum in Istanbul, because the excavation site still belonged to the Ottoman Empire at that time.
On the footpath it goes to the southwestern outskirts. To the right of a footbridge over a ditch are the ruins of a square Canaanite tower and a little further the ruins of the Canaanite city gate.
- Before the footbridge, a staircase leads to the beginning of the 3 Water system. A man-made tunnel with steps leads 40 m down to the water table. The first excavations were carried out here by Macallister around 1902/08, after the tunnel had filled with material when it collapsed, it was initially left with his findings. During the excavations, which began again in 2010, the shaft was cleared of material and it became clear that the sloping tunnel opens into a huge, possibly man-made cistern basin that will be uncovered in the coming years. The entrance was probably wide enough that two donkeys used to transport the water could cross. Based on the progress made up to 2014, it is believed to have discovered one of the largest water supply systems built in ancient times.
- to the right of the footbridge are the rectangular ruins of the Canaanite watchtower, which is massive at 16 x 20 m. The city wall connects the tower with the Canaanite 4 City gate, on the stone foundations probably rose (similar to the Canaanite gate in the ancient Dan) a construction made of mud bricks and mortar. Stone pillars narrowed the access route on both sides.
The footpath leads along the southern end of the settlement hill:
- the 5 Gate of SolomonSolomon's Gate was probably in the 10th century. B.C. built, the attribution of the reign of the biblical King Solomon was long controversial, meanwhile similarly constructed gate systems in Megiddo and Hazor found. In the gates from Israelite times there are also chambers on both sides around the passage (for the guards, according to biblical mention the authorities sat "in the gate" and spoke right here) and a watchtower, adjoining the outer wooden door wings. A sewer under the passage was covered with stone slabs.
The path now leads around the northeast end of the settlement hill, which is also worthwhile here 6 Lookout point the view. On the way back you get to the
- 7 Monolithic temple/ Altitude sanctuary: in the Holy District there were ten differently shaped monoliths (stone pillars) and a stone basin. The complex was probably used for cults, to seal alliances, or for ritual purposes. A similar place of worship is, for example, in the Exodus 24,4-6 described.
Past the remains of a sheik's grave (1600 BC), which was revered by the local Arab population, we return to the starting point and the parking lot.
activities
The focus is on visiting the Tel Gezer excavation site.
shop
No shopping opportunities on site
kitchen
No food options on site
nightlife
The national park is not officially accessible at night.
accommodation
Overnight stays in the national park area are prohibited.
health
Practical advice
If you can also drive your private vehicle on the gravel road to the parking lot at the park entrance and a coarse gravel road across the area could be passed, then it is a visit 
not recommended for people in wheelchairs. The footpaths through the site are narrow, but well-maintained and child-safe; climbing walls is prohibited.
