Khirbet el-‘Eika
Khirbet el-‘Eika is located on a prominent mountain overlooking the Arbel Valley in the Eastern Lower Galilee. Excavation are carried out at the site since 2012, as part of the Hellenistic Galilee Project, which is meant to shed light on the material culture, settlement patterns and identity of the local population in this vague period. The excavations revealed this is a well-planed and fortified site with abundant finds that point to close contacts with the Phoenician coast – apparently a rich agricultural estate that controlled the surrounding lands. The site was settled for a short period and ended violently in the mid-2nd century BCE, perhaps as a result of the military campaign of Jonathan the Hasmonean to the Galilee.
left: Assemblage of Vessels from a Storeroom in Area E after Restoration; right: Corner of a Storeroom in Area E During Excavations (Photos: T. Rogovski).
left: An imported mold-made bowl depicting a ceremonial parade; right: Bronze Incense Shovel with a Handle in the Shape of a Duck’s Head (Photos: T. Rogovski).