Tel Dan Israelite Gate

Massive Iron Age city gate complex at ancient Dan.

Date

9th–8th century BCE

Culture

Israelite

Material

Basalt & limestone

Dimensions

~30m long

Found at

Tel Dan, Israel

Held by

In situ (Tel Dan Nature Reserve)

Discovered by

Avraham Biran (1966)

sitegateisraelitejeroboam

Description

A remarkably preserved four-chambered stone gate from Iron Age II, along with a raised platform and altar. The gate area shows evidence of the cultic activities that Jeroboam I established at Dan.

Biblical significance

The site directly illustrates 1 Kings 12:28-30, where Jeroboam sets up a golden calf at Dan as an alternative worship center for the Northern Kingdom.

From the same era

Related artifacts

Divided Kingdom · 9th century BCE

Tel Dan Stele

Aramaic victory stele containing the earliest extra-biblical reference to the House of David.

Divided Kingdom · c. 827 BCE

Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III

Assyrian monument depicting Jehu, king of Israel, bowing before the Assyrian king.

Divided Kingdom · c. 840 BCE

Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone)

Basalt monument on which Mesha, king of Moab, recounts his revolt against Israel.