Megiddo

Megiddo, known in Hebrew as Tel Megiddo, is an extensive archaeological tell in the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel, near the modern kibbutz Megiddo and the city of Afula. It sits in the Northern District and is one of the country’s most important ancient sites, preserving a long sequence of occupation from the Neolithic through the Iron Age.

The site is closely tied to the biblical city of Megiddo and is renowned for its strategic position at a major crossroads in ancient Canaan. The occupation layers include substantial fortifications, a multi-period gate complex, storerooms, and a sophisticated water system. Evidence from the site documents urban planning, warfare, and daily life across several millennia. Among its widely known historical events is the Battle of Megiddo, fought by Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose III around the 15th century BCE.

Archaeological work at Megiddo began in the modern era in the early 20th century and has revealed extensive remains from successive civilizations, offering important insights into Canaanite and Israelite urbanism and regional interaction. The site is established as a national park and is a major destination for research and tourism.

Megiddo is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Biblical Tells," designated in 2005 along with Tel Hazor and Tel Gezer. The inscription recognizes Megiddo’s significance for understanding the development of urban life in the Bronze and Iron Ages in the eastern Mediterranean. The name Har Megiddo, meaning “Mount Megiddo,” has also become associated with Armageddon in Christian eschatology.