Khirbet Sharta

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Coordinates: 32.808500° N 35.129000° E Khirbet Sharta is an ancient site in northern Israel situated in northeast Kiryat Atta upon two hills spaced about 300 meters apart.

Khirbet Sharta in February, 2007

In 1965 Asher Ovadiah performed an archeological survey (on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority) of the western hill (site #47 in Map 24 of the Archaeological Survey of Israel) along with a salvage excavation prior to the modern city's construction of residential development. He discovered burial caves with remains from the Bronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Arabic eras.

LMLK seal type M2D; the kind found at Sharta.

The eastern hill (site #54) is still unexcavated, with visible remains of a 150-meter stone wall built with a double row of large stones, plus rock cuttings including two winepresses.

Khirbet Sharta became the first site in this region scientifically excavated that produced a jar handle with a LMLK seal impression, previously thought to have been limited to southern Israel. Similar specimens have been recovered from three other northern sites, the most important being Nahal Tut. According to Mr. Ovadiah, the find was "astonishing/astounding".