Persian and Hellenistic Remains At Tel Ya‘oz

The article summarizes the 1981 excavation at Tel Ya^coz, which revealed remains from the Persian and Hellenistic periods. The Persian period settlement extended over an area of at least 1.5 ha and was probably the largest settlement in the lower Nahal Śoreq basin at that time. Remains of Greek-style fresco and stucco architectural elements seem to indicate that a monumental complex existed at the site during the Hellenistic period. In the second part of the article we propose identifying Tel Ya^coz with ancient Gazara, mentioned in Hellenistic sources.