"Upper Zohar"

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Upper Zohar (Hebrew : His exact role remains a subject of discussion, believed to be part of the Byzantine line of defense against desert raiders, recent research suggests that it was constructed for economic and not military reasons.

Description
The fortress of Upper Zohar is located on a flat surface of a sloped back on the north side of the hill, known as "Ross Zohar", southeast of Arad From ancient sources, his ancient name is unknown. It refers to maps of the British mandate for Palestine from the 1930s. It was excavated between 1985 and 1986 by the English archaeological school in Jerusalem led by Richard P. Harper. The final excavation report was published in 1997.

The Upper Zohar area occupies about 26 square meters with prominent towers at every corner. It was built with flint mined nearby, although limestone was used for doors and certain outer corners of the towers. The walls range between 1 and 1.5 meters wide. Each tower had two levels inside it, their walls were maintained to the height of 3 metres. Access to the top of the walls made by a pair of stairs on their northern and southern sides. In the middle of the yard, which is about 17 square meters there is a reservoir immersed in the natural rock. The tank was circular, 3.75 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep. On the east side of the courtyard were three halls where one seems to have operated as a chapel. The gate of the fort is about 2 meters wide in the middle of the western wall.

Only a small quantity of recognizable coins were recovered in the site from the time of Diocletian, pierced that appears to be wearing as a charm, the currency elements proposed by the area belong from the first half of the fifth century. The largest number of coins dating from the 6th century, especially at the beginning of the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, the coins date back to 550 at the latest. Over 43,000 shells were dug up in Upper Zohar, 55% of which were local cooking utensils and another 42% other useful ceramics, although 3% were fine materials, including Africa, Phocaea and Cyprus. The dated pottery dates from the 6th to the 7th century. Since the late 5th century a spearhead edge and other military objects were found. Also found bones of fish and mammals probably those eaten by the Upper Zohar garrison.

Role
Upper Zohar lies along an ancient road leading from Arabia to the Palestinian hinterland and Mediterranean ports. Starting at Hertzliya in the Dead Sea, where another similar fort is located, the route passes through another fort in Haturim before approaching Upper Zohar. Here the road joins one