Recent from talks
Sulam
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Sulam
Sulam (Arabic: سولم; Hebrew: סוּלַם) is an Arab village in north-eastern Israel. Known in ancient times as Shunama and Shunem, it is first mentioned in the Amarna Letters in the 14th century BCE. Archaeological excavations in the village attest to habitation extending from the Bronze Age through to modern times. Located near Afula, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bustan al-Marj Regional Council. In 2024 it had a population of 2,933.
Sulam has been identified with the biblical village of Shunem, which is said to be of the tribe of Issachar, the place where the Philistines camped before Saul's last battle, and the native town of Abishag, King David's concubine in 1 Kings 1:3, and of the noble woman whose son was revived by the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 4:8.
The village is situated on and around an archaeological tell (mound) and developed around the spring. The core of the village has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.
Various archaeological digs undertaken in Sulam have brought to light pottery and other remains from the Early and Middle Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and most of the following periods: Hellenistic (feebly represented), Roman, Byzantine, Early Muslim (findings from the 7th–10th centuries), Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman (17th–19th c. findings). A hiatus in settlement between the 13th and 19th centuries was observed in one specific area of the tell north of the spring. Collapsed masonry from the end of the Crusader and beginning of the Mamluk period in the 13th century was documented on the tell.
In December 2006, a trial excavation was undertaken on the southern slope of the tell, near the spring in the centre of the village, exposing four layers dated to the Early Islamic, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. It uncovered potsherds from the Roman (3rd century), Byzantine, and Early Muslim periods, as well as various finds from the Crusader (12th century), Mamluk (13th–15th centuries), and Ottoman (17th–19th centuries) periods.
Another excavation, undertaken on the main street of the village and north of the spring at the end of 2007, uncovered building remains from the Early Islamic period (8th–10th centuries) and the late Ottoman period (19th century), as well as a burnt layer from the end of the Crusader and beginning of the Mamluk periods (12th–13th centuries). It also revealed potsherds from the Iron Age, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Roman periods.
Remains discovered in the village include hiding complexes, tombs, and a church.
A 2004 salvage excavation exposed Early Bronze Age remains including part of a stone building and potsherds, covered by Roman-period strata. Potsherds from the Middle Bronze Age were unearthed at a 2007 trial excavation.
Hub AI
Sulam AI simulator
(@Sulam_simulator)
Sulam
Sulam (Arabic: سولم; Hebrew: סוּלַם) is an Arab village in north-eastern Israel. Known in ancient times as Shunama and Shunem, it is first mentioned in the Amarna Letters in the 14th century BCE. Archaeological excavations in the village attest to habitation extending from the Bronze Age through to modern times. Located near Afula, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bustan al-Marj Regional Council. In 2024 it had a population of 2,933.
Sulam has been identified with the biblical village of Shunem, which is said to be of the tribe of Issachar, the place where the Philistines camped before Saul's last battle, and the native town of Abishag, King David's concubine in 1 Kings 1:3, and of the noble woman whose son was revived by the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 4:8.
The village is situated on and around an archaeological tell (mound) and developed around the spring. The core of the village has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.
Various archaeological digs undertaken in Sulam have brought to light pottery and other remains from the Early and Middle Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and most of the following periods: Hellenistic (feebly represented), Roman, Byzantine, Early Muslim (findings from the 7th–10th centuries), Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman (17th–19th c. findings). A hiatus in settlement between the 13th and 19th centuries was observed in one specific area of the tell north of the spring. Collapsed masonry from the end of the Crusader and beginning of the Mamluk period in the 13th century was documented on the tell.
In December 2006, a trial excavation was undertaken on the southern slope of the tell, near the spring in the centre of the village, exposing four layers dated to the Early Islamic, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. It uncovered potsherds from the Roman (3rd century), Byzantine, and Early Muslim periods, as well as various finds from the Crusader (12th century), Mamluk (13th–15th centuries), and Ottoman (17th–19th centuries) periods.
Another excavation, undertaken on the main street of the village and north of the spring at the end of 2007, uncovered building remains from the Early Islamic period (8th–10th centuries) and the late Ottoman period (19th century), as well as a burnt layer from the end of the Crusader and beginning of the Mamluk periods (12th–13th centuries). It also revealed potsherds from the Iron Age, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Roman periods.
Remains discovered in the village include hiding complexes, tombs, and a church.
A 2004 salvage excavation exposed Early Bronze Age remains including part of a stone building and potsherds, covered by Roman-period strata. Potsherds from the Middle Bronze Age were unearthed at a 2007 trial excavation.
Recent media