The En-Gedi Oasis
The oasis of En-Gedi is located on the western shore of the Dead Sea, within the arid zone modern-day Israel. Nestled between the steep Calcareous cliffs of the Dead Sea rift to the west and the sea shore to the east, the oasis is fed by multiple perennial freshwater springs, making it the most important oasis within the Judean Desert. Its distinctive environmental characteristics, featuring a combination of abundant water and consistently high temperatures, have created a unique ecological niche, supporting dense vegetation and diverse wildlife in an otherwise inhospitable landscape.
Archaeological investigations at En-Gedi revealed evidence of human activity dating back approximately 6,500 years ago. Early activity in the oasis began in the Late Chalcolithic period, during which a prominent cultic complex was erected on a terrace above the main spring. Permanent settlement was established in the Late Iron Age, around the 7th century BCE, at Tel Goren in the southern part of the oasis. During this time, En-Gedi became part of the Kingdom of Judah (biblical עין גדי) and is recognized as one of the key sites on the kingdom’s eastern frontier. Historical sources indicate that En-Gedi functioned as an agro-industrial center, dedicated to the cultivation of unique plants such as date palms and aromatic species. After the Iron Age, En-Gedi continued to thrive En-Gedi continued to thrive throughout the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. In the last 1,300 yeats, En-Gedi saw only intermittent human activity, prior to the establishment of an agricultural Israeli settlement (Kibbutz Ein Gedi) and a national park in the oasis since the 1950s.
The 1960s Excavations at En-Gedi
The first large-scale archaeological excavations at En-Gedi were carried out between 1961 and 1965 by a joint expedition of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Exploration Society. The project was directed by Prof. Benjamin Mazar—then president of the Hebrew University—and architect Immanuel Dunayevsky, both key figures in the formative years of Israeli archaeology. The excavation team was composed primarily of students from the Hebrew University, several of whom later became leading scholars in Levantine archaeology, including David Ussishkin and the late Trude Dothan, Ephraim Stern, and Amnon Ben-Tor.
The main focus of the expedition was Tel Goren, the primary settlement at En-Gedi throughout much of the first millennium BCE. At this site, the team opened four excavation areas (Areas A, B–C, D, and G) and identified five distinct chrono-stratigraphic phases, designated Strata I–V. The earliest phase, Stratum V, was dated to the Late Iron Age, while the overlying strata were attributed to the Persian, Hasmonean, Early Roman, and Byzantine periods, respectively. In addition to Tel Goren, the expedition investigated several key locations within the oasis, including the area near the En-Gedi spring (Area E), the Chalcolithic shrine (Area F), the Roman bathhouse (Area M), and the spur known as "Cenotaph Hill" (Area N).
Images courtesy of the Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
En-Gedi Through Time
The Chalcolithic Period
During the Late Chalcolithic period (ca. 4500–3800 BCE), the oasis of En-Gedi was home to a significant cultic site, located on a terrace above the En-Gedi spring. Excavations have revealed a well-planned ritual complex, that incorporated a gate complex, a sanctuary with an altar and favissae containing offerings of animal bones and ceramics. The site’s unique location, overlooking the Dead Sea and near abundant freshwater sources, suggests that it held regional importance, commonly interpreted as a site of pilgrimage. Recent discoveries by our expedition suggest that the oasis may have housed a permanent community during this time, best attested in the Moringa Cave on the slope below the shrine.
The Iron Age
Following the abandonment of the Chalcolithic settlement, human activity at En-Gedi was not renewed until the late Iron Age. Beginning in the 7th century BCE, evidence emerges of a new phase in the oasis' history, marked by the construction of buildings near the En-Gedi spring and the establishment of a large, permanent site on the mound of Tel Goren (Stratum V). This activity was carried out under the auspices of the Kingdom of Judah, known from biblical sources, which governed the region from Jerusalem. The sudden emergence of activity at En-Gedi during this period is likely connected to the broader economic transformations that took place during the time of Judah’s subjugation to successive empires (Assyrian and Babylonian). These transformations spurred the development of En-Gedi as a regional economic hub, focused on the exploitation of the resources of the Dead Sea Valley. It is likely that already during this period, En-Gedi became a main center for the cultivation of aromatic plants, with which it is recurrently associated in later historical sources.
The Judahite settlement at En-Gedi was destroyed in the early 6th century BCE, in conjunction with the fall of the Kingdom of Judah to the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II.
The Babylonian and Persian Periods
Following the destruction of Judahite En-Gedi, activity at the site resumed relatively quickly. Archaeological evidence uncovered in recent years by our expedition indicates that, despite the severe devastation the site had suffered, people returned to inhabit it already in the 6th century BCE. During this period, the population of En-Gedi likely included local Judahites alongside foreign groups, e.g., Edomites.
With the rise of Cyrus II and the beginning of Persian rule in 539 BCE, En-Gedi—along with the rest of the Levant—came under the dominion of the vast Achaemenid Empire. This era, marked by processes of social reorganization under imperial administration, saw En-Gedi reemerge as the most significant center along the western shore of the Dead Sea. At this time, En-Gedi formed part of the Persian province of Yehud, known from biblical sources, and a large, multi-roomed stone building was constructed at Tel Goren (Stratum IV). This structure was apparently abandoned during the course of the 4th century BCE.
The Hellenistic and Early Roman Periods
During the late Hellenistic and Early Roman periods (late 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE), En-Gedi emerged as a large Jewish settlement, praised in numerous contemporary sources for the cultivation of balsam - the renowned perfume plant of the Roman era.
The Roman-Jewish historian Josephus mentions En-Gedi in the context of the First Jewish Revolt as a site of both refuge and conflict. According to his account, Sicarii rebels attacked the village and killed its inhabitants.
The accumulating archaeological evidence suggests that during this period En-Gedi reached its maximal size. Remains from this period include a large neighborhood ("The Quarry" site) and remains of domestic structures uncovered in multiple locations in the oasis' plain, including Tel Goren, where the remains of a large fort (Stratum III) and a tower (Stratum II) were unearthed.
The late Roman and Byzantine Periods
During the Late Roman and Byzantine periods (3rd–6th centuries CE), En-Gedi flourished as a prosperous Jewish settlement, that continued to cultivate date palms and balsam. One of the most significant discoveries from this period is the remains of a large village with a central synagogue. The synagogue features a mosaic floor with inscriptions in Hebrew and Aramaic, including a detailed curse against those who would reveal the community’s "secret"—possibly referring to the local production of balsam.
During this period, the site of Tel Goren was used mainly for agriculture (Stratum I).
The Islamic Era
During the Islamic era (7th–19th centuries CE), En-Gedi was largely devoid of a permanent settlement, except from the Mamluk period (14th–15th centuries CE). Remains from this period in the oasis include limited remains in the area of the abandoned Byzantine-era village and a watermill built alongside the En-Gedi spring.
En-Gedi Today
Today, En-Gedi is a national park and a nature reserve, known for its lush vegetation, year-round springs, and dramatic desert landscape. The site attracts tourists for its natural beauty, hiking trails, and wildlife, as well as its rich cultural heritage. Excavated remains from various periods are preserved and displayed in different parts of the park.
Nearby, the modern Kibbutz of Ein Gedi, established in 1953, incorporates agriculture and tourism. En-Gedi continues to serve as a place of natural and historical significance, bridging past and present in the Judean Desert.
