© TEL SHIMRON EXCAVATIONS AND AMIR MORAN/PHOTO BY TAL GLUCK

GEM OF THE JEZREEL. The largest archaeological mound in the Jezreel Valley, Tel Shimron was occupied from the Late Neolithic period (c. 5500 B.C.E.) through modern times. Its strategic location at the edge of the Jezreel Valley, ancient Israel’s major thoroughfare, meant that Shimron was always close to action. Excavations will help identify when Shimron historically played a significant economic and military role.