Tel Qashish
[2] Adjacent to the mound is Ein Qashish, a spring with evidence of prehistoric human activity dating back to the Middle Palaeolithic period.
[3] Tel Qashish occupies a strategically advantageous position on the north bank of the Kishon River, where the bend of the stream forms a natural boundary on its southern and western flanks.
This pattern may be attributed to several factors, including drainage issues leading to unstable soil conditions, the presence of seasonal swamps, and increased vulnerability to attacks in the valley center.
These nomadic inhabitants, likely drawn to the area during the summer months when the Kishon River was not prone to flooding, primarily subsisted on hunting, as evidenced by the abundance of animal bones.
As with other similar sites, they left behind a significant assemblage of stone tools, and studies suggest that the flint was procured from a western source near Mount Carmel.
A unique discovery at Ein Qashish was a cluster of human bones alongside traces of clay-based paint, hinting at possible ritualistic activity.
[8] Archaeological excavations have revealed flint tools, including microliths and arrowheads, dating to the Neolithic period (12,000–4,500 BCE), resting directly on the bedrock foundation of the mound.
Although the unearthed remains are insufficient to determine the settlement's layout, the presence of randomly placed, single-roomed houses suggests a dense plan, similar to other sites from this period.
The ceramics are predominantly domestic Canaanite ware, with influences from northern, possibly Lebanese, cultures, likely due to the site's location on an international trade route.
Evidence suggests a lack of luxury goods among the villagers, with only a single carnelian bead and a decorated bone unearthed from the entire Early Bronze Age period.
Alternatively, the unstable political climate of the time, marked by competition between cities due to the disruption of economic ties with Egypt during the Early Bronze Age II period, may have influenced their decision.
A substantial amount of pottery was unearthed on these floors, raising the possibility that additional structures or a defensive system from this layer lie outside the excavated area.
Ceramic dating places this layer at the end of the Middle Bronze Age IIA period (2000–1750 BCE), implying that Tel Qashish was either completely or very sparsely settled for nearly five centuries.
[12] North of the mound, a small cave was discovered containing ceramics attributable to the Late Bronze Age II period (1400–1200 BCE).
[6] In February 2004, the Israel Antiquities Authority surveyed the area around Ein Qashish, located approximately 100 meters south of the mound and the Kishon River, in advance of a major road and railway project.
[7] In 2010, another rescue excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority, prompted by the construction of a gas pipeline north of the mound, revealed evidence of ritual activity from the Early Bronze Age.
