Tel Erani

New identification

Historical geographer, M.D. Press, concludes that Tel Erani, by way of a transformation of its name, may have been the 1st-century Idumean town of Sallis (= Shiḥlayim) mentioned by Josephus (The Jewish War 3.2.2. ).^[5] A citadel (acropolis) was once built at the site,^[6] making it a likely place of refuge for a retreating army en route from Ascalon to Jerusalem.

Yeivin dig (1950s)

In the late 1950s, Shmuel Yeivin opened excavations at the site (then known as Tel Gat) to confirm Albright's identification. Although he did find Iron Age material, the pottery was not consistent with a Philistine city. Albright's theory was therefore rejected.^[2][7][8] Instead, Yeivin discovered that the main phase of occupation of the site was earlier, in the Early Bronze Age. He also found what was then the earliest evidence of contact between Egypt and Canaan: a potsherd bearing the serekh of the pharaoh Narmer.^[9][8]

Jagiellonian University excavations

Polish archaeologists from Jagiellonian University in Krakow have been excavating here since 2013. They found that the oldest artefacts on the site may date to the Amratian culture (Naqada I) ca 4,000 BC. So the ancient Egyptian trading post at Tel Erani may be much older that previously thought.^[10]

"Last year’s [2018] research by the Kraków archaeologists proved that the inhabitants of Lower Egypt maintained relations with the southern Levant where Tel Erani lies. “We proved that [the relations] were very lively,” said Professor Ciałowicz, adding that both regions were cooperating with one another closely in 4,000 BC. Copper and olive oil flowed into Egypt and animal and fish meat was transported in the opposite direction."^[10]

An Early Bronze Age I fortification wall was also discovered in 2018, which may date to over 5,300 years old.^[11] This may be the oldest such defense wall in Israel.^[12]