In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, Israeli researchers have unearthed a 5,500-year-old flint blade workshop near Kiryat Gat, southern Israel—the first of its kind ever found in the region. Announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), the Early Bronze Age site sheds new light on the technological ingenuity and social complexity of ancient Canaanite civilization.
The excavation, carried out at the Naḥal Qomem site—also referred to as Gat-Govrin or Zeita—revealed a full-scale production center where highly skilled craftsmen manufactured long, razor-sharp flint blades. This prehistoric workshop marks a major milestone in understanding the early development of urban society and professional specialization in the Levant.
Sophisticated Technology Before the Age of Metal
Archaeologists uncovered large flint cores, from which uniform blades were skillfully removed using a complex pressure-flaking technique. Evidence suggests the use of a mechanical device, similar to a lever or crane, allowing precise control during blade production—an astonishing feat for the period, when metal tools had yet to dominate.
“These blades were not random creations,” said Dr. Jacob Vardi and Dudu Biton of the IAA. “Their production demanded an extremely high level of skill. Only exceptional individuals could manufacture them. This was a professional, industrial process.”
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