Beersheba

Known also as Tel Beer-Shev'a or Tel es-Sabba

Near the outer gate of the city is a well and a tamarisk tree.  Both are later than the time of the patriarchs, but they remind one of the well Abraham dug and the tree he planted (Gen 21).  The tamarisk tree is well suited to life in the Negev with its deep root system and its ability to survive on brackish water.  It secretes salt on its leaves and drips water in the morning.

 

Excavated by Y. Aharoni 1969-1975, broad areas of Stratum II of Tell Sheba were exposed.  

Reconstruction work began in 1990 and has concentrated on rebuilding the city as it was in the latter part of the 8th century, the time of King Hezekiah.

Three tripartite pillared buildings were revealed in the excavations.  The archaeologists believe that these are storehouses in part because of the large quantity of vessels found inside.

Other scholars regard this building design as characteristic of stables and overwhelming evidence suggests this is a more accurate identification.