Al-Carmel Tower, Yatta
Al-Carmel is located 5 km southeast of Yatta. It has an estimated population of approximately 5,000 people. It is situated on the road network linking Hebron to southern Palestine, and is one of the most critical sites in Palestine. It includes two water springs that feed the water tank (the pool), which is still used today.
In the Byzantine period, a church was erected on the site, while in the Islamic period, Al-Carmel became a resting point for pilgrims heading to Mecca. In the Middle Ages, the Crusaders built a castle or tower with an area of 19 x 13 meters, and its walls were between 2 and 3 meters thick. The castle was built on the ruins of the Byzantine church, where parts of its mosaic floor decorated with plant and geometric shapes were revealed during the excavations carried out by the Institution of Archeology / Al-Quds University in 2015/2016. The external walls of the castle were arched, and the walls of the upper floor collapsed. Only one part of an arched window remains, and a water tank (pool) was built at the bottom of the hill, measuring 32 x 25 meters to meet the needs of residents and pilgrims.
The area also has three churches dating back to the Byzantine period. One of them is located next to the castle. It consists of a central nave and two side aisles. Many canals are still visible, including graves carved into the rocks, olive presses, and grape presses.In 1967 and 1973, archaeologist William Deaver excavated three tombs dating back to the fourth Bronze Age, which reflected the nature of social life, and religious rituals practiced by the population at the time.