Timna

Timna refers to a geographic and historical site in southern Israel, most commonly associated with Timna Valley and Timna Park. The valley lies in the Arava region near Eilat and is known for its desert scenery as well as one of the world’s oldest copper mining areas. Timna Park preserves and interprets thousands of years of metallurgy, geology, and human activity in a accessible, visitor-friendly setting.

The site contains extensive remains of ancient copper production, with mining and smelting activity dating back to the fourth millennium BCE and continuing into later Bronze and Iron Age periods. Visitors can see slag heaps, open-air mining pits, and reconstructed furnaces, alongside geological formations such as sandstone columns and natural arches. The landscape includes notable features like King Solomon’s Pillars, a set of dramatic natural columns that resemble architectural ruins. The park operates as a national park and archaeological site, offering a visitor center, trails, and educational exhibits about early metallurgy, trade networks, and regional history.

In biblical literature, Timna (often spelled Timnah) is used as a place name in several passages in the Hebrew Bible. The exact identification of the biblical Timnas is uncertain, and modern correspondences to the Timna Valley are matters of interpretation. The name Timna is also used in contemporary Hebrew as a feminine given name.

Timna remains a popular destination for hiking, archaeology, and science education, illustrating the long continuity of copper production in the Arava region from prehistoric times through later historical eras.