Tell Abu Shusha is the name given to a mysterious hill in the Jezreel Valley by the Ottoman era villagers who lived on its summit. Tantalizing historical and archaeological clues suggest that buried within are the remains of ancient Gaba Hippeon, a city founded by King Herod as a base for his cavalry forces. This garrison guarded the northern borders of Herod’s kingdom from the Phoenicians and secured one of the most important trade routes across the Levant, the Via Maris. In Herod’s day, part of this “Way of the Sea” helped connect the pagan Decapolis cities such as Beth Shean, Gadara, and Hippos to the massive port of Caesarea and from there into the Roman world. Gaba Hippeon was established to secure this lucrative trade network. But there’s more to Abu Shusha than Herod and Roman luxury trade… archaeological surveys indicate that the site may have guarded this pass thousands of years earlier…!

This summer, the Jezreel Valley Regional Project is breaking ground on a site that has never been excavated before. Volunteers of all ages and walks of life are welcome to join us for 1-4 weeks. No experience necessary! University credits are available for participants in the Archaeological Field School or Lecture courses.

Come join us to discover what ancient stories Abu Shusha has to tell!