# Tel Burga

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Historic site in Binyamina, Sharon Plain Israel

Tel Burga תל בורגה (Hebrew) Location of Tel Burga in Israel 32°31′15.0312″N 34°57′50.8242″E / 32.520842000°N 34.964117833°E / 32.520842000; 34.964117833 Location Binyamina, Sharon Plain Israel

**Tel Burga** is an archaeological site in the [Sharon Plain](/source/Sharon_Plain), 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of [Binyamina](/source/Binyamina), [Israel](/source/Israel).[1] The site was excavated in 2004 on behalf of the [Israeli Antiquities Authority](/source/Israel_Antiquities_Authority). [The Israel Electric Company](/source/Israel_Electric_Company) requested and funded the excavation prior to the erection of two new high-voltage pylons in the area.[2]

## Location and topography

Tel Burga is located in the [Sharon Plain](/source/Sharon_plain), 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of the city of Binyamina, and roughly 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) from the [Mediterranean Sea](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) on the Israeli coast.[2] The site is a [tell](/source/Tell_(archaeology)), a natural mound made of layers of debris and human settlements, creating a man-made plateau. The area consists of relatively flat coastal plan besides the man-made mound and is roughly 23 meters above sea level.[3] The tell itself is roughly 10 meters high.[2]

Extensive surveys of the site have revealed a large oval shaped tell of 250 dunams (0.25 km2; 0.097 sq mi), which makes up the size of the ancient human settlement, encircled by an artificial rampart. The rampart showcases a strong fortification once surrounded the site.[4][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*]

## History

Tel Burga was a small fortified site strategically located between larger cities in [Canaan](/source/Canaan) in a position to support growing urban culture during the [Middle Bronze Age](/source/Middle_Bronze_Age).[5][*[full citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include)*] [Archaeological surveys](/source/Archaeological_survey) on site identified the remains of at least two towers and a wall, as well as ceramic remains from various periods, starting with the [Chalcolithic](/source/Chalcolithic); Early, Intermediate and [Middle Bronze](/source/Bronze_Age) and [Iron Ages](/source/Iron_Age). [Roman](/source/Roman_Empire) and [Medieval](/source/Medieval) artifacts were also found.[1]

### Middle Bronze Age

In the Middle Bronze IIA (MB IIA), the site held a major fortified settlement. There is a large burial structure on a part of the tell.[6] To the northwest was [Tel Mevorakh](/source/Tel_Mevorakh) (4 km) and to the north the major coastal site Tel Megadim (20 km).[7] Other sites include [Tel Esur](/source/Tel_Esur) (5 km) southeast and [Tel Zeror](/source/Tel_Zeror) (12 km) south.

Area A: In Area A, three adult burial pits were found with human remains alongside a stone burial structure. A young male was found buried with three [scarabs](/source/Scarab_(artifact)) and pottery, all dating to the [Middle Bronze Age](/source/Middle_Bronze_Age).[2]

Area B: Located near the northern rampart, structures were found which included one with walls and a beat-earthen floor. A different structure with larger walls was also found with a flagstone pavement outside. Findings in Area B were also dated to the [Middle Bronze Age](/source/Middle_Bronze_Age).[2]

In the Middle Bronze IIB (MB IIB), occupation discontinued.[8]

## Archaeology

The site had been surveyed a number of times throughout the 20th century. In May-June 2004,[2] the [Israel Electric Corporation](/source/Israel_Electric_Corporation) (IEC) requested and funded a [salvage excavation](/source/Rescue_archaeology) at the site by the [Israeli Antiquities Authority](/source/Israel_Antiquities_Authority) (IAA) ahead of infrastructure work by IEC. The excavation was led by Amir Golan, which opened two areas of the site (Areas A and B) on the mound's southern perimeter. Findings of the excavation were subsequently published in *[Hadashot Arkheologiyot](/source/Hadashot_Arkheologiyot)* and *[‘Atiqot](/source/'Atiqot)*,[1] both published by the IAA.

## See also

- [Archaeology of Israel](/source/Archaeology_of_Israel)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Golani_2011_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Golani_2011_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Golani_2011_1-2) Golani, Amir (2011). ["A built tomb from Middle Bronze Age IIA and other finds at Tel Burga in the Sharon Plain"](https://www.academia.edu/2636052). *'Atiqot*. **68**. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [23465604](https://www.jstor.org/stable/23465604).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Golani_2005_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Golani_2005_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Golani_2005_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Golani_2005_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Golani_2005_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Golani_2005_2-5) Golani, Amir (2005). ["Tel Burga"](https://hadashot.iaa.org.il/report_detail_eng.aspx?id=135&mag_id=110). *Hadashot Arkheologiyot: Excavations and Surveys in Israel*. **117**. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1565-5334](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1565-5334). Retrieved 21 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Binyamina, Haifa, IL Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data"](https://weatherandclimate.com/israel/haifa/binyamina#google_vignette). *weatherandclimate.com*. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Tel Burga"](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tel-burga). *Jewish Virtual Library*. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SteinerKillebrew_5-0)** Steiner, Margreet L.; Killebrew, Ann E. (eds.). *The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of the Levant: c. 8000-332 BCE*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Golani, A. (2005). Tel Burga. Hadashot Arkheologiyot: Excavations and Surveys in Israel / חדשות ארכיאולוגיות: חפירות וסקרים בישראל, 117. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/26561619](http://www.jstor.org/stable/26561619)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Golani 2011

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Golani, A. (2005). Tel Burga. Hadashot Arkheologiyot: Excavations and Surveys in Israel / חדשות ארכיאולוגיות: חפירות וסקרים בישראל, 117. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/26561619](http://www.jstor.org/stable/26561619)

Authority control databases International VIAF National Israel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tel Burga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Burga) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Burga?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.