Antiquities of Acre:
A 5,000-year-old city wall was uncovered near Acre. The wall was discovered by the trainees of the 'Gal' pre-military training school from Acre and Haifa, in an excavation with the Antiquities Authority.
The foundations of a city wall from about 5,000 years ago (the Early Bronze Age) were uncovered in an excavation by the trainees of the 'Gal' pre-military training school from Acre, Makrit Bialik and Haifa, together with archaeologists from the Antiquities Authority. The excavations took place on the hill 'Tel a-Ras', between Acre and Nahariya.
According to Yoav Lehrer and Dr. Edwin Van Daan Brink, the managers of the excavation on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, "This is the first time we have discovered such ancient buildings here. The wall shows the existence of an ancient city, which saw the need to build fortifications and defend itself. In the excavation, we discovered, together with the preparatory students, a section of the foundations of the stone wall which is about 18 meters long, but the superstructure, which was built of mud bricks, did not survive."
The Gal Preparatory students dug vigorously - even in stormy weather, out of curiosity to uncover the route of the wall. They found flint tools and fragments of jugs and plates, as well as animal bones, which have something to teach about the dietary habits of the inhabitants.
According to Tamir Yahav, a trainee at Haifa Gal Preparatory School:
"The excavation week was challenging and interesting, strengthened the sense of responsibility and work ethic, and exposed us to a new aspect of connection to the land and heritage."
The first excavation season has ended and is expected to resume in the spring, in the hope that the continuation of the wall, and perhaps the entrance gate to the old city, will be revealed.