Archaeological site
Bir Abu Matar
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Bir Abu Matar is a significant archaeological site dating back to the Chalcolithic period (c. 4500–3500 BCE), located on the outskirts of Beersheba. Excavations have uncovered a well-preserved settlement with subterranean dwellings, storage pits, and workshops. The site is particularly renowned for its early copper smelting furnaces, indicating that this was one of the earliest centers of metallurgy in the ancient Near East. Visitors can walk among the excavated structures and see the remains of the furnaces, gaining insight into the technological innovations of prehistoric communities. Informational signs explain the findings and the daily life of the inhabitants.
Don't miss
- Explore the reconstructed subterranean houses carved into the loess soil.
- See the ancient copper smelting furnaces, among the oldest known.
- View pottery shards and stone tools displayed at the site.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Bir Abu Matar
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
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