Archaeological hill.
Tel Sufar - Sufan
It is an artificial archeological hill of about ten dunams. Many natural and strategic factors have helped establish this hill since ancient times. These circumstances are similar to those surrounding the founding of Tel Balata (the city of Shechem), while Shechem was overlooking the old trade route that passed from the Nablus Valley to the east.
The small city founded in Tel Sufar performed the same function at the western entrance to the valley, but it needed to be more attractive than the city of Shechem, and was related directly to the city. It likely served as a defensive site for the city and the valley.
This city was established at Ein Al-Subyan, a few meters away from the tip of the hill from the northeastern side. Currently, Jaffa Street separates the spring from the hill. The waters of Wadi Al-Tuffah and the lands of the valley provided a suitable environment for agriculture.
Archaeological excavations provided preliminary information about the stratigraphic sequence of the hill, showing that the hill was semi-circular, and surrounded by a defensive wall.
It should be noted that the inhibition continued on the site during the Bronze Ages until the Byzantine period when the excavations of An-Najah National University revealed residential and agricultural facilities on the top of the hill. Previous excavations revealed architectural remains and mosaic floors at the outer edges of the site, confirming that it witnessed significant development and expansion during the Byzantine period. This is due to the presence of agricultural lands in the valley, and the abundance of many water springs, such as Ein Al-Jisr, Ein Beit Al-Maa, and others.