Digs

Explore Ancient Hannathon

Tell el-Badawiya (“mound of the Bedouins”) is among the largest archaeological sites in northern Israel, dating from the Bronze and Iron Ages. It is strategically located on the ancient route that connects the Hauran and the Akko Plain, known in more recent times as the Darb el-Hawarna. The site is unanimously identified as the location of ancient Hannathon/Ḫinatuna, mentioned in the Amarna Letters (EA 8 and 245), the royal annals of Tiglath-Pileser III (Ann. 18, Line 5), and the Hebrew Bible (Josh 19:14).

The Tell el-Badawiya/Hannathon Archaeological Project (TBH-AP) aims to explore the site’s occupational history and material culture in the Bronze and Iron Ages, focusing, in particular, on the processes of collapse and subsequent regeneration of human activity. The project’s first stage focuses primarily on the archaeology and history of Tell el-Badawiya/Hannathon in the Late Iron Age and the Persian Period.

Details

Geographic Location

Central Galilee, Israel

Dates of the Dig

August 1 – August 27, 2026

Minimum Stay

2 Weeks

Application Due

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Academic Credit/Cost per Credit/Institution

Up to 4 credits are available from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Contact for more details.

Accommodations

Team members will stay at Kibbutz Hannathon, a beautiful settlement in the Beth-Netopha Valley, only a few minutes away from Tell el-Badawiya/Hannathon. All the rooms are fully air-conditioned and have a private bathroom. Free Wi-Fi is available. During regular working days, three meals are provided (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Vegetarian dishes are available. A grocery store and swimming pool are located a short-walking distance from the accommodation. Entrance to the kibbutz’s swimming pool, located a short distance from the accommodation, will be possible in the free-time.

Cost

Directors

Contact

Dr. Assaf Kleiman

[email protected]

To learn how you can get involved, visit their website and check them out on Facebook and Instagram.