Kibbutz Tirat Zvi and Archaeology

Aerial photo of Tirat-Zvi (C) Yair Rachimi

Tirat Zvi is a religious kibbutz (communal farm) nestled in the Beit She’an Valley of northern Israel. Founded in 1937 as a “Tower and Stockade” settlement, it was named after Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, an early advocate for Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel. Before Tirat Zvi’s founding, all kibbutzim were secular, with some even actively opposing religious practices. The visionaries behind Tirat Zvi embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor to harmonize the communal lifestyle with family values and a Jewish religious community code. This innovative approach paved the way for others, and today, inspired by Tirat Zvi’s model, there are 16 religious communal farms across Israel.

Situated in what remains a relatively remote area, Tirat Zvi faced security threats from its inception. The community endured attacks by Arab forces in 1938 and again in1948, during the Israeli-Arab war. Interestingly, Tirat Zvi also holds a place in Israel’s meteorological history. On June 21, 1942, its weather station recorded a temperature of 54°C (129.2°F), the highest ever documented in Israel! Today Tirat Zvi is a prosperous kibbutz, particularly renowned for its meat processing factory, TIV.

Archaeological Discoveries Near Tirat Zvi

The Beth-Shean valley, where Tirat Zvi is located, is renowned for its archaeological wealth. The valley is home to major biblical sites such as Tel Rehov, Beit Shean, and more. Over the years, numerous significant finds have been unearthed in the vicinity of the Kibbutz, predominantly from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

The “6th Mile from Skythopolis” Milestones

A tourist taking a photo of the display of the milestones in Kibbutz Tirat-Zvi. (C) Danny Herman

In the early years of Kibbutz Tirat Zvi, its members made a remarkable archaeological discovery in their fields. They uncovered several milestones dating back to the Roman period, two of which bore inscriptions. These milestones provide valuable insight into the development and maintenance of Roman roads in the region during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. The first milestone, dated to 161 CE, indicates the initial installation of the road connecting Beth-Shean (known in Roman times as Scythopolis) to Jericho. Fifty years later, in 213 CE, a second milestone was erected, marking improvements made to this same road. Both of these stone markers were positioned at the sixth mile from Scythopolis, offering a precise geographical reference point and attesting to the meticulous organization of the Roman road network.

Today, visitors to Kibbutz Tirat Zvi can view these ancient markers displayed near the communal dining room. Below is a transcript and translation of each milestone.

Hadrian’s Bronze Sculpture

Hadrian’s Bronze Sculpture on display at the Israel Museum. (C) Danny Herman

The fields surrounding Kibbutz Tirat Zvi have yielded not only Roman milestones but also an extraordinary find of global significance. In 1975, an unexpected discovery brought international attention to this quiet corner of the Beit She’an Valley. Mr. Morton Leventhal, an American tourist visiting his sister at the kibbutz, decided to survey the nearby fields with a metal detector. His exploration led him to Tel Shalem, a small mound located just 3 kilometers south of Tirat Zvi. There, Leventhal made a remarkable discovery: a larger-than-life bronze cast head of Emperor Hadrian, who ruled the Roman Empire from 117 to 138 CE. The significance of this find prompted the Israel Antiquities Department to conduct formal excavations at the site. These efforts yielded further treasures, including 50 fragments of Hadrian’s cuirass (chest plate) and another bronze sculpture depicting a boy’s head. After careful restoration, the bronze head of Hadrian now holds a place of prominence at the Israel Museum. What makes this artifact particularly exceptional is its rarity. It is one of only three surviving bronze sculptures of Emperor Hadrian known to exist in the world. The other two are housed at the British Museum and the Louvre in Paris.

The Roman Triumphal Inscription

The area surrounding Kibbutz Tirat Zvi continues to yield archaeological treasures. In 1977 archaeologists made another significant find at Tel Helbuni, approximately one kilometer west of the kibbutz. The excavations at Tel Helbuni revealed three Byzantine-era tombs, but it was their coverings that captured the archaeologists’ attention. The coverings were reused fragments of a large-scale Latin inscription. Upon closer examination, experts concluded that these inscribed slabs were originally part of a Roman triumphal arch dating back to the time of Emperor Hadrian.

This discovery has sparked considerable debate among scholars regarding the arch’s purpose and timing. One theory suggests that the arch was erected to commemorate Hadrian’s visit to the area in 130 CE, as he journeyed from Gerasa to Scythopolis. An alternative hypothesis places the arch’s construction later, in 136 CE, following the suppression of the Second Jewish Revolt, also known as the Bar-Kokhba rebellion. Proponents of this theory argue that the arch may have marked a crucial victory in this region, despite the absence of historical documentation for such an event. They further speculate that the bronze sculpture of Hadrian, discovered earlier at Tel Shalem, might have originally adorned the top of this arch. In this proposed arrangement, the bronze boy’s head found nearby could have been positioned at the base, symbolizing the conquered Jewish population. This interpretation draws parallels with a similar sculptural composition found in Crete, now on display in Istanbul, Turkey.

The restored triumphal inscription is now on display also at the Israel Museum. The letters in its first line are larger than those in the façade of the Pantheon in Rome.

The Early Bronze Age Site

In 1996, archaeologists conducted excavations on the western slopes of Tel Shalem, located about 3 kilometers south of Kibbutz Tirat Zvi. These efforts uncovered the remains of a 12 acres Canaanite walled town dating to the Early Bronze Age, specifically to the 33rd century BCE. This discovery provides a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal period of human development, marking the transition from prehistoric to historic times in the region. The Early Bronze Age 1 represents a crucial juncture in the evolution of human society. It was during this era that bronze tools were first introduced, revolutionizing agriculture, craftsmanship, and warfare. More significantly, this period witnessed the emergence of the first urban centers in the region, marking the beginnings of complex societal structures that would eventually give rise to the great civilizations of the ancient Near East.

The Roman Military Camp

The first hint of a Roman military installation at Tel Shalem came in the 1960s. Archaeologists documented an inscription mentioning a detachment (vexillatio) of the 6th legion. In 1978 the outline of the Roman military camp was documented nearby. However, the site’s secrets remained largely unexplored for nearly four decades. It wasn’t until 2017 that the camp was finally excavated, yielding remarkable discoveries. The most striking find from these excavations was the unearthing of the foundations of a temple, known in Latin as an aedes, situated within the camp’s headquarters (principia). The temple was adorned with ornate mosaic floors, combining three Latin Inscripions. These inscriptions have provided invaluable information about the camp’s occupants, indicating that a VII Phrygian equestrian cohort was stationed at the camp. The Aedes was renovated twice during the reign of Emperor Caracalla (198-217 CE), and was abandoned a few decades later.

The discovery of this military camp adds another fascinating chapter to the story of Tel Shalem. From its origins as a Canaanite settlement in the Early Bronze Age (circa 3300 BCE), through the grand displays of Hadrian’s triumphal arch, and now to this substantial military installation. Tel Shalem proves to have been a site of enduring importance.

Tel Menorah

The Replica of Tel Menorah Installation. (C) Danny Herman

500 meters west of the Kibbutz it a small tell above a spring, whose Arabic name was Tell Abu Faraj. In 1956 the Kibbutz members uncovered a mosaic floor in its western edge. Israel’s antiguities department that dug at the site uncovered a house with 4 room from the Iron age, re used in the Byzantine period when a synagogue was installed in it. The mosaic floor contained an image of a Menorah and a Shofar. Similar images were found in the ancient synagogue of Beth-Alpha and Hamei Tveryah, both in the Jordan valley as well.

Following the discovery, the sites’ name was changed to “Tell Menorah, and in 2019 a replica of the mosaic floor was installed at the site. The original mosaic is on display at the entrance to Tirat-Zvi’s synagogue.

“Aenon Near Salim”

A view towards the Gilboa from Tel Shalem. In the back is Avraham spring, one of the several springs around the tel. (C) Danny Herman

While most Christians are familiar with Jesus’ baptism site near Jericho, John 3:23 indicates John the baptist was also active at “Aenon near Salim”. Since the 4^th century CE pilgrims pointed to the springs south of Beth-Shean and around Tel Shalem as the possible site where John the Baptist operated. Some even mentioned a monastery in that area, and indeed the area south of Tel Shalem is called in Arabic “Ad Deir” – the monastery. Hope is that one day excavations will be conducted in that site, uncovering the remains of the ancient monastery.