Qedesh in Galilee: Revealing 6,000 Years of Local History through a Systematic Archaeological Survey

Tel Qedesh, identified with Qedesh in Galilee known from several biblical sources, is the largest biblical-era mound in the Upper Galilee. Despite its importance, the site has never been excavated on a large scale, and its occupational history, as well as the extent of settlement activities in the periods of occupation, remain mostly unknown. Between 2014 and 2022, a new systematic survey of the mound and its surroundings was conducted within the framework of regional studies of ancient settlement networks and a new excavation project (2016–2023) that focused on Early Bronze Age remains. This survey revealed that the total occupational area of Qedesh extends far beyond the main mound and amounts to ca. 80 ha. In addition, the survey results, coupled with a careful examination of formation processes that constrain pottery distribution, allow for a detailed reconstruction of chronological oscillations in site size, and identification of major epochs of settlement expansion and contraction. These results can be compared with historical and regional data to draw out the settlement history of this important Galilean hub.