Tel Dover
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Tel Dover (Arabic: Khirbet ed-Duweir)[1][2][3] is an archaeological site and Iron I-IIa settlement located southeast of Galilee[4] near the Yarmuk River and modern day Al Adassiyah.[5]
Tel Dover was surveyed on several occasions since the 12th century, but a licensed excavation was conducted only between July and September 1997[6] by the Israel Antiquities Authority, in preparation for the construction of a dam as part of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty. The excavation was directed by E. On.[5]
History
The settlement of Tel Dover spanned from the Neolithic era (10,000 BCE-2,000 BCE) to the Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517).[5]
Neolitihic
Remains from the Neolithic era include a pit with a rounded stone wall, pottery with black and red edges, engraved and stamped decorations, and flint tools.[5]
Byzantine
During the Byzantine Empire (late 4th century to early 7th century CE), Tel Dover fell within the province of Palaestina Prima. Evidence from that time also show a major earthquake that lead to the town's abandonment, which is often correlated to the 363 Galilee earthquake.[7]
In the northern part of the settlement, archaeologists found a collection of broken church furniture imported from Cyprus, suggesting the presence of a Christian community.[5]
Early Islamic period
In the early Muslim conquests (8th-15th century CE), the area of Tel Dover was densely occupied. Tombs from that era were found, as well as architectural buildings.[8]