Tel Azekah (Azekah Mound)

The beautiful Tel Azekah (Azekah Mound), which is located at the upper reaches of the Valley of Elah, was excavated by archeologists already in the 19th century. The archeologists identified it with the ancient Biblical town of Azeka and revealed the remains of a fortified structure from the first millennia BCE as well as burial caves from various periods. Today, most of the finds are covered by sand, but one can enter a small and moderate system of hiding tunnels from the time of Bar Kokhba. The travelers who climb up to the top of Tel Azekah are accompanied by Biblical verses that are etched on plaques, some of which describe the mythical battle which took place nearby between David and Goliath. At the top awaits the visitors a beautiful plaza from which one can look all around toward the Coastal Plain, the Valley of Elah, the Mountains of Jerusalem and more.