East City Gate

East City Gate

View looking southeast on the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1400 BC) city gate that is located on the east side of Shechem.

On the left side of the image note the two pair of standing stones.  Because of the wear on the interior surfaces of these stones it is believe that a door slid between each pair.  The outer threshold of the city gate is visible between the two pair of stones.

Right of the center of the image another (interior) pair of stones is visible—probably having a similar function.  Thus the area between the two pairs of stones were two interior chambers of the city gate—one on each side of the pathway leading into and out of the city.

The gate, like the associated Cyclopean Wall, dates to the end of the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1650-1550 BC) and continued in use during the Late Bronze Age.

To view a map and a brief discussion of Shechem Click Here.