A focal point at Khirbat en-Nahas is the large, roughly 73 meters by 73 meters, Iron Age fortress. In 2002 and 2006, the gatehouse leading into this fortified compound was excavated as Area A. The 2002 season focused on the two northern chambers of the gate along with several probes beside the outside walls. In 2006, the gatehouse’s southeastern chamber and passageway were excavated. Excavations revealed the gatehouse’s four-chamber construction plan, similar to other Iron Age sites in the Levant, and three occupation phases. The gatehouse initially served as a defended entryway to the fortress associated with the more general military function of protecting the site. Following its decommissioning as a military structure, the building was most likely used for domestic purposes by the local inhabitants. In its last phase, the structure was repurposed as a metallurgical workshop. In addition, radiocarbon dates in Area A indicate the gatehouse’s initial construction in the early to mid-10th century BCE. One chamber remains unexcavated for future archaeological analysis.
