Tel Yarmuth

Transliterated Name	Source	Name
Tel Yarmuth, Tel Yarmouth, Tel Yarmut	Hebrew
Khirbet Yarmuk	Arabic
Jarmuth	Hebrew	יַרְמוּת
Jermokes	Greek	Ιερμοχως
Jermous	Greek	Ιερμους

Introduction

from Chat GPT 5.2, 23 February 2026
from Wikipedia – Tel Yarmuth
from BibleWalks – Tel Yarmuth

Tel Yarmuth is a large archaeological tell in the Shephelah of southern Israel, commonly identified with biblical Yarmuth. The site overlooks key routes linking the coastal plain with the Judean highlands and occupies a naturally defensible hilltop position.

The mound extends over roughly 20 hectares and is best known for its Early Bronze Age urban remains, including massive fortification walls and a large monumental building often interpreted as a palace complex. These features make Tel Yarmuth one of the major fortified centers of the Early Bronze Age in the southern Levant.

Excavations have revealed substantial destruction layers within the Early Bronze Age sequence, alongside later occupation in the Middle Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Hellenistic periods. The stratified architecture, especially collapsed fortifications and large public buildings, makes the site significant for studies of early urbanism, regional political organization, and possible destruction events in the Shephelah.

Identification

from Pierre de Miroschedji in Stern et al. (1993 v.2)

Tel Jarmuth (in Hebrew, Yarmut; in Arabic, Khirbet el-Yarmilk) is situated in the central Shephelah, about 25 km southwest of Jerusalem and 5 km south of Beth Shemesh (map reference 147.124). The site extends over a natural hill overlooking Nahal Yarmut (Wadi Bulus), a seasonal tributary of Nahal Sorek fed by several springs, one of which is located at the foot of the mound.

An identification of Tel Jarmuth with the “Land of Yarmuth” referred to in several el-Amarna letters is doubtful, as the latter was probably located along the Syrian coast north of Byblos. The equation with the biblical Jarmuth, mentioned first as a Canaanite city in the story of Joshua’s conquest (Josh. 10:3–5; 10:23; 12:11) and later as a city in Judah (Josh. 15:35; Neh. 11:29), is generally accepted by scholars and has given its modern Hebrew name to the site. At the present state of research, the identification cannot be confirmed nor dismissed on archaeological grounds. More secure is the identification of the site with a Byzantine village whose name gave rise to the Arabic form of the toponym. Located about 10 Roman miles from Beth Guvrin on the road to Jerusalem, this village is mentioned by Eusebius, who equates it with Jarmuth.

The site attains a maximal length of 640 m and a width of 420 m. It covers about 40 hectares and is comprised of a small acropolis of almost 4 hectares, culminating at 405 m above sea level, and a large lower city, whose lowest point is at 290 m. Both parts of the city are fortified, the line of the fortifications marked by a slope several meters high. The topography of the lower city is characterized by a succession of large terraces distributed around a deep, funnel-shaped depression that could have been used to channel runoff water toward a reservoir.

Exploration

from Pierre de Miroschedji in Stern et al. (1993 v.2)

In their description of the site, early scholars referred only to the acropolis, to which the name Khirbet el-Yarmilk applies strictly. The existence of the lower city remained unsuspected until the 1960 survey by the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums. By revealing the site’s true dimensions, this discovery gave impetus to further research.

The first trial excavations were undertaken in 1970 by A. Ben-Tor on behalf of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Three areas (A, B-north, and B-south), located in the western corner of the lower city, were excavated. Early Bronze Age structures, both public and domestic, were uncovered directly beneath the present surface, together with the remains of a large construction tentatively ascribed to the Byzantine period.

Excavations were resumed in 1980 by P. de Miroschedji on behalf of the Centre de Recherche Français de Jérusalem and the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Eight seasons of excavation had taken place by December 1990. Investigations continued in Ben-Tor’s Areas A and B; six additional areas (C–H) were opened in the lower city; and two small soundings were carried out on the acropolis. Extensive geomagnetic and resistivity surveys were also conducted in the lower city by A. Kermorvant.

Maps, Aerial Views, Plans, and Photos

Maps

Normal Size

Location Map from

Location Map

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de Miroschedji (1999)

de Miroschedji (1999)

Magnified

Location Map from

Location Map

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de Miroschedji (1999)

de Miroschedji (1999)

Aerial Views

Normal Size

Annotated Google Satellite

Annotated Google Satellite View of Tel Yarmuth

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Used with permission from BibleWalks.com

View of Tel Yarmuth from BibleWalks.com
Tel Yarmuth in Google Earth

Tel Yarmuth

click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth
Tel Yarmuth on govmap.gov.il

Tel Yarmuth

click on image to explore this site on a new tab in govmap.gov.il

Magnified

Annotated Google Satellite

Annotated Google Satellite View of Tel Yarmuth

click on image to explore in a new tab

Used with permission from BibleWalks.com

View of Tel Yarmuth from BibleWalks.com
Tel Yarmuth in Google Earth

Tel Yarmuth

click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth
Tel Yarmuth on govmap.gov.il

Tel Yarmuth

click on image to explore this site on a new tab in govmap.gov.il

Plans

Site Plans

Normal Size

Topographic plan of Tel Jarmuth

Tel Jarmuth: topographical plan, showing excavation areas and remains of fortifications excavated or traced on the surface

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Stern et al. (2008)

showing excavated areas and remains of fortifications from Stern et al. (2008)
Topographic plan of Tel Jarmuth

Topographic plan of Tel Jarmuth, showing excavated areas and remains of fortifications traced on the surface

click on image to open in a new tab

Stern et al. (1993 v.2)

showing excavated areas and remains of fortifications from Stern et al. (1993 v.2)

Magnified

Topographic plan of Tel Jarmuth

Tel Jarmuth: topographical plan, showing excavation areas and remains of fortifications excavated or traced on the surface

click on image to open in a new tab

Stern et al. (2008)

showing excavated areas and remains of fortifications from Stern et al. (2008)
Topographic plan of Tel Jarmuth

Topographic plan of Tel Jarmuth, showing excavated areas and remains of fortifications traced on the surface

click on image to open in a new tab

Stern et al. (1993 v.2)

showing excavated areas and remains of fortifications from Stern et al. (1993 v.2)

Area Plans

Southwestern corner of lower city including Palace

Normal Size

Plan of palace B1,

Plan of palace B1, areas G (stratum G-2) and J (stratum J-1).

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Stern et al. (2008)

areas G (stratum G-2) and J (stratum J-1) from Stern et al. (2008)
Plan of the southwestern

Plan of the southwestern corner of the lower city.

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Stern et al. (2008)

corner of the lower city from Stern et al. (2008)
Aerial view of palace B1

Aerial view of palace B1, looking northeast (1999).

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Stern et al. (2008)

from Stern et al. (2008)
Aerial view of areas Bd,

Aerial view of areas Bd, Ja, and K, showing the excavated remains of the fortifications (wall A, gate J, and bastion K), looking northeast.

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Stern et al. (2008)

Ja, and K, showing the excavated remains of the fortifications from Stern et al. (2008)

Magnified

Plan of palace B1,

Plan of palace B1, areas G (stratum G-2) and J (stratum J-1).

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Stern et al. (2008)

areas G (stratum G-2) and J (stratum J-1) from Stern et al. (2008)
Plan of the southwestern

Plan of the southwestern corner of the lower city.

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Stern et al. (2008)

corner of the lower city from Stern et al. (2008)
Aerial view of palace B1

Aerial view of palace B1, looking northeast (1999).

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Stern et al. (2008)

from Stern et al. (2008)
Aerial view of areas Bd,

Aerial view of areas Bd, Ja, and K, showing the excavated remains of the fortifications (wall A, gate J, and bastion K), looking northeast.

click on image to open in a new tab

Stern et al. (2008)

Ja, and K, showing the excavated remains of the fortifications from Stern et al. (2008)

Photos

Normal Size

Storeroom of palace

Storeroom of palace B1 with crushed pithoi in situ, looking northwest

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Stern et al. (2008)

B1 with crushed pithoi from Stern et al. (2008)
Smashed Pitho in an

Detail of an EBIIIB house in Area G, Stratum G-II. The smashed pithos (foreground) was found in a room with a large niche containing a ] massebah, suggesting a chapel for a domestic cult

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de Miroschedji (1999)

an EBIIIB house in Area G, Stratum G-II from de Miroschedji (1999)

Magnified

Storeroom of palace

Storeroom of palace B1 with crushed pithoi in situ, looking northwest

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Stern et al. (2008)

B1 with crushed pithoi from Stern et al. (2008)
Smashed Pitho in an

Detail of an EBIIIB house in Area G, Stratum G-II. The smashed pithos (foreground) was found in a room with a large niche containing a ] massebah, suggesting a chapel for a domestic cult

click on image to open in a new tab

de Miroschedji (1999)

an EBIIIB house in Area G, Stratum G-II from de Miroschedji (1999)

Chronological Divisions

The Iron Age in the Southern Levant

Bronze Age of the Levant

Area Ja Destruction - Early Bronze IIIC - 2700-2200 BCE

Discussion

References

Stern et al. (2008)

Dwellings

from Stern et al. (2008:1796)

Dwellings were exposed in areas B, G, J, and K. In area G, stratum G-3 was explored and strata G-4 (Early Bronze Age III) and G-5 (Early Bronze Age II) identified. In area B, stratum B-3 is the continuation of stratum G-3 to the southwest, under palace B2. Cleared in sub-area Bd was part of a house containing pillar bases with deep stone foundations located along the walls and in the corners, an arrangement also attested in contemporary Byblos. In area Ja, dwellings over two strata, J-1 and J-2, were excavated, the latter having suffered a violent destruction, yielding a large quantity of Early Bronze Age IIIC vessels crushed on the floor under the collapsed plastered ceiling.

Area Ja Destruction - Early Bronze IIIC - 2700-2200 BCE

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapsed Ceiling Crushed Pottery	Area Ja Tel Jarmuth: topographical plan, showing excavation areas and remains of fortifications excavated or traced on the surface click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008) Plan of palace B1, areas G (stratum G-2) and J (stratum J-1). click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008) Aerial view of palace B1, looking northeast (1999). click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008) Aerial view of areas Bd, Ja, and K, showing the excavated remains of the fortifications (wall A, gate J, and bastion K), looking northeast. click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008)		"In area Ja, dwellings over two strata, J-1 and J-2, were excavated, the latter having suffered a violent destruction, yielding a large quantity of Early Bronze Age IIIC vessels crushed on the floor under the collapsed plastered ceiling" - Stern et al. (2008:1796)

Area Ja Destruction - Early Bronze IIIC - 2700-2200 BCE

Earthquake Archeological Effects chart

Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapsed Ceiling (due to displaced walls) Crushed Pottery	Area Ja Tel Jarmuth: topographical plan, showing excavation areas and remains of fortifications excavated or traced on the surface click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008) Plan of palace B1, areas G (stratum G-2) and J (stratum J-1). click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008) Aerial view of palace B1, looking northeast (1999). click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008) Aerial view of areas Bd, Ja, and K, showing the excavated remains of the fortifications (wall A, gate J, and bastion K), looking northeast. click on image to open in a new tab Stern et al. (2008)		"In area Ja, dwellings over two strata, J-1 and J-2, were excavated, the latter having suffered a violent destruction, yielding a large quantity of Early Bronze Age IIIC vessels crushed on the floor under the collapsed plastered ceiling" - Stern et al. (2008:1796)	VII+ VII+

This archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VII (7) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

References

Articles and Books

de Miroschedji, P. (1999) Yarmuth: The dawn of city-states in Southern Canaan , Near Eastern Archaeology, Vol. 62, No. 1, (Mar., 1999), 2-19 - at academia.edu

Excavation Reports

Ben-Tor, A. (1975) *Qedem 1*: Two Burial Caves of the Proto-Urban Period at Azor 1971; The First Season of Excavations at Tell-Yarmuth 1970 , Qedem 1, Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem - at JSTOR

de Miroschedji, P. (1988) *Yarmouth 1: Rapport sur les trois premières campagnes de fouilles à Tel Yarmouth (Israel) , 1980–1982*, Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations, Mémoire 76, Paris

Websites

Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), Guided Tour at Tel Yarmuth on YouTube (in Hebrew)

Tel Yarmut at BibleWalks.com

Bibliography from Stern et al. (1993 v.2)

Identification

Guerin, Judee 2, Paris 1869, 371 ff.

P. Thomsen, Loca Sancta, Halle 1907 (rev. ed. Hildesheim 1966), 71-72

W. F. Albright, JPO S 8 (1928), 243

id., BA SO R77 (1940), 31

87 (1942), 32-38

R. Tonneau, RB 38 (1929), 426

J. Garstang, Joshua—Judges, London 1931,171-172, 386

F. M. Abel, GP 2, 356

H. N. Richardson, BASOR 192 (1968), 12-16

M. Avi-Yonah, Qedem 5 (1976), 68

E. Nodet, Yarmouth I (ed. P. de Miroschedji), 97-104.

Excavations

Main Publications

A. Ben-Tor, Qedem 1 (1975), 55-87

P. de Miroschedji, Yarmouth 1: Rapport sur les trois premieres campagnes de fouilies a Tel Yarmouth (Israel), (1980-1982) (Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations, Memoire 76), Paris 1988.

Other Studies

A. Ben-Tor, IEJ 21 (1971), 173-174

P. de Miroschedji, Paleorient 6 (1980), 281-286

id., IEJ31 (1981), 121-124

32 (1982), 159-161, 190-194

(with A. Kermovant), 34 (1984),194-196

35 (1985), 71-73

38 (1988), 84-88, 194-199

41 (1991), 200-205,286-293

id., RB 88 (1981), 568-571

92 (1985), 394-404

95 (1988), 217-226

id., Archeologia 165 (1982), 9-10

252 (1989), 52-66

id., Centre de Recherche Francais de Jerusalem, Lettre d'Information 1 (1982), 21

2 (1982), 20-24

6 (1984), 25-27

id., ESI 1 (1982),112-113

3 (1984), 108-111

7-8 (1988-1989), 184-187

id., llth Archaeological Conference in Israel: Abstracts, Jerusalem 1985, 35

id., CRAIBL 1988, 186-211

id., Yarmouth 1 (Reviews), Paleorient 15/2 (1989), 153-154. — Qadmoniot 87-88 (1989), 118 (Hebrew). — Syria 67 (1990), 523-524. Bibliotheca Orientalis 48 (1991), 651-653

id., El 21 (1990), 48*-61*, id., MdB 70 (1991), 55-59.

Bibliography from Stern et al. (2008)

de Miroschedji, P. (1991) Excavations and Surveys in Israel 10: 33–36

de Miroschedji, P. (1993) Excavations and Surveys in Israel 12: 85–87

de Miroschedji, P. (1994) Excavations and Surveys in Israel 14: 105–108

de Miroschedji, P. (1996) Excavations and Surveys in Israel 15: 85–88

de Miroschedji, P. (1999) Excavations and Surveys in Israel 109: 82*–84*

de Miroschedji, P. (2000) Excavations and Surveys in Israel 20: 111*–113*

de Miroschedji, P. (1992) Anchor Bible Dictionary 3, New York, 644–646

de Miroschedji, P. (1991) Israel Exploration Journal 41: 200–205, 286–293

de Miroschedji, P. (1992) Israel Exploration Journal 42: 265–272

de Miroschedji, P. (1994) Israel Exploration Journal 44: 145–151

de Miroschedji, P. (1997) Israel Exploration Journal 47: 127–136

de Miroschedji, P. (1998) Israel Exploration Journal 48: 136–144

de Miroschedji, P. (2002) Israel Exploration Journal 52: 87–95

de Miroschedji, P. (2004) Israel Exploration Journal 54: 247–255

de Miroschedji, P. (1992) MdB 75: 22–23

de Miroschedji, P. (1997) MdB 102: 63

de Miroschedji, P. (1993) 19th Archaeological Conference in Israel: Abstracts of the Lectures, Jerusalem, 11–12

de Miroschedji, P. (1993) CRAIBL 1993: 823–847

de Miroschedji, P. (2000) CRAIBL 2000: 679–710

de Miroschedji, P. (1993) Studies in the Archaeology and History of Ancient Israel, Haifa, 27*, 29*–39*

de Miroschedji, P. (1994) American Journal of Archaeology 98: 485–486

de Miroschedji, P. (1998) American Journal of Archaeology 102: 765–768

de Miroschedji, P. (1995) Les Dossiers de l’Archéologie 203: 80–98

de Miroschedji, P. (1996) Orient Express 1996: 87–89

de Miroschedji, P. (1997) Orient Express 1997: 87–90

de Miroschedji, P. (2000) Orient Express 2000: 4–8

de Miroschedji, P. (2004) Orient Express 2004: 65–68

de Miroschedji, P. (1997) OEANE 5, New York, 369–372

de Miroschedji, P. (1999) Near Eastern Archaeology 62: 2–19

de Miroschedji, P. (2000) Ceramics and Change, Sheffield, 315–345

de Miroschedji, P. (2000) ICAANE 1, Roma, 1079–1092

de Miroschedji, P. (2001) Communautés villageoises du Proche-Orient à l’Atlantique, Paris, 267–280

de Miroschedji, P. (2001) Studies in the Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands, Chicago, 465–491

de Miroschedji, P. (2002) Beer-Sheva 15: 301–318

de Miroschedji, P. (2003) Eretz-Israel 27: 153*–170*

Carmi, I. and Segal, D. (1992) Radiocarbon 34: 115–132

Jacobs, P. J. (1992) BASOR 288: 85 (Review)

Nigro, L. (1995) Ricerche sull’Architettura palaziale della Palestina nelle età del bronzo e del ferro, Roma

Dagan, Y. (2000) The Settlement in the Judean Shephelah in the 2nd and 1st Millennium B.C.: A Test-Case of Settlement Processes in a Geographic Region (Ph.D. diss.), Tel Aviv University (English abstract)

Jasmin, M. (2000) ICAANE 1, Roma, 685–697

Nur el-Din, H. (2000) ICAANE 1, Roma, 1225–1233

Schaub, R. T. (2000) The Archaeology of Jordan and Beyond, Winona Lake, IN, 444–464

Sowada, K. N. (2000) ICAANE 1, Roma, 1527–1540

Bunimovitz, S. and Greenberg, R. (2004) BASOR 334: 19–31

Wikipedia pages

Tel Yarmuth

from Wikipedia

Jarmuth

from Wikipedia