Upper Zohar

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Upper Zohar is a small fortress located on a flat surface of a sloped hill southeast of Arad, in what is now southern Israel. The site's exact role remains a subject of discussion among scholars, with recent research suggesting that it was constructed for economic rather than military reasons as part of the Byzantine line of defense against desert raiders.

The fortress occupies an area of approximately 26 square meters and features prominent towers at every corner, built using flint mined locally. The walls range between 1 and 1.5 meters in width and were constructed with coursed faces both on the inside and outside. Each tower had two levels, with their walls maintained to a height of 3 meters. Access to the top of the walls was made possible by a pair of stairs located on the northern and southern sides.

A notable feature of Upper Zohar is its reservoir, which is immersed in natural rock and measures approximately 17 square meters in size. The tank is circular with a diameter of 3.75 meters and a depth of 5 meters. On the east side of the courtyard, three halls were discovered, one of which appears to have operated as a chapel.

Excavations at Upper Zohar uncovered a significant number of artifacts, including coins from the time of Diocletian (ruling in the late 4th century AD). The majority of these coins date back to the first half of the 5th century. However, it is estimated that over 43,000 shells were recovered during excavations, with a significant proportion belonging to local cooking utensils.

The site's occupation history has been subject to debate among scholars. Some have suggested that Upper Zohar was only occupied in the middle of the 6th century, based on the homogeneity of ceramic finds dating back to this period. However, other researchers argue that the fortress may have been built earlier and abandoned later.

The construction of Upper Zohar is believed to date back to the late 5th or early 6th century AD, although some scholars propose a slightly earlier date based on numismatic evidence. The site's small size suggests that it was not intended to support a sizable garrison, but rather served as part of a larger defensive network.

Recent research has shed new light on Upper Zohar's role in the Byzantine defense system against desert raiders. While some scholars have questioned the military significance of the fortress, others