Ein Gedi is the largest oasis off the western shore of the Dead Sea. Within the oasis there are four springs which together supply 3 million cubic meters of water annually. The location, high temperatures, and abundance of water produce a large variety of plant and animal life, some of which are quite rare.
Inhabited as early as the Chalcolithic period in the fourth millennium bce, En-gedi is mentioned in the biblical description of the pursuit of David by King Saul.
It appears that from the beginning of the 7th century bce En-gedi was almost continuously settled for some 100 years. During the excavations (1961–1965) at Tel Goren, the ancient mound of En-gedi, strata were exposed from the end of the First Temple period (late 7th century bce) until the end of the Second Temple period (1st century ce). During the Roman and Byzantine periods, residential quarters were constructed here. The most important structure discovered from this period is a synagogue from the 4th century ce.
Paperback, 144 pages
12×21.5 cm (4 3/4×8½ in.); full color; maps, illustrations;