New visitors center opens at ancient Jewish and Christian site in Judean foothills

A new visitors center was inaugurated this past weekend at Horbat Burgin in Adullam–France Park in the Judean foothills, a site containing archaeological remains that shed light on Jewish life during the Roman era and the region’s later Byzantine Christian history.

The site features underground hiding tunnels believed to have been used by Jewish rebels during the Bar Kokhba Revolt, as well as an ancient Byzantine church with colorful mosaic floors.

The opening follows years of archaeological excavation, conservation and development work aimed at making the site’s history accessible to the public.

According to a press release by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), the park offers trails and access points where visitors can explore “an impressive archaeological complex featuring underground hiding tunnels used by Jewish rebels some 2,000 years ago and an ancient Byzantine church with colorful mosaic floors.”

The inauguration ceremony was held under the auspices of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), the IAA and the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council.

Avishai Cohen, head of the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, said: “Developing Horbat Burgin into a welcoming heritage site is another important step in strengthening rural tourism in our region."

"Mateh Yehuda is the land of the Bible—a region where history, heritage, and landscapes together tell the story of the Jewish people over thousands of years," Cohen said.

“Horbat Burgin is the largest ancient settlement in the area, both in its extent and in the scale of its surviving remains,” said Dr. Amir Ganor, the site’s excavator and Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit.

“For years, the site suffered from intensive antiquities looting. Looters broke into burial caves and underground hiding systems and damaged buildings above ground. It was only through intensive efforts by Israel Antiquities Authority inspectors and KKL-JNF personnel...that further damage was halted. The site was saved, and now, following conservation work, it can be enjoyed by the public," Danor explained.

Eyal Ostrinsky, chairman of KKL-JNF, added that the story of Horbat Burgin "is the story of our land. Our responsibility at KKL-JNF is not only to protect nature and forests, but also to safeguard our historical heritage and make it accessible to the public."

"Our cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority enables us to connect the land’s past with the present and ensure that these sites remain an integral part of the Israeli story,” Ostrinsky said.

Archaeological excavations indicate that Horbat Burgin was inhabited by successive civilizations over thousands of years. During the Roman era, a Jewish village stood in the area, which archaeologists believe was called Caphar Bish, a settlement mentioned in historical accounts by Flavius Josephus.

Researchers believe that extensive caves were carved into the rock during this period to provide hiding places from the Romans. The underground systems were later used as a base of operations during the Bar Kokhba Revolt of 132–136 AD.

Archaeological evidence indicates that the Romans discovered and destroyed the base. A new Jewish village was eventually built on the ruins many years later.