A monumental burial complex from an Amarna-age port at Yavneh-Yam, Israel

Key Points

• The discovery of a monumental burial complex provides clear evidence of a significant polity in the region.
• Hundreds of grave goods found within the burial cave highlight the complexity of burial practices during the Amarna-age.
• Excavations at the site also challenge previous notions of limited Late Bronze Age occupation at Yavneh-Yam.
• The findings may reshape our understanding of trade and cultural exchange in ancient Israel's coastal ports.