![]() This theory is supported by the fact that the eastern side, facing the rising sun, was built with much greater care. Rogem Hiri was also regarded as an astronomical observatory – a sort of Middle Eastern Stonehenge. The structure was even identified as the tomb of Og, King of the Bashan and last of the giants. ![]() A variety of theories concerning the function of this structure, which has no parallel in the Middle East, had been proposed prior to the current research: a religious center a defensive enclosure a large burial complex a center for astronomical observation and a calendrical device. Rogem Hiri is one of the most intriguing archeological sites in Israel. It was covered by two massive slabs of basalt, each weighing over 5.5 tons, which created a semi-corbelled dome over the burial chamber. in diameter, built of large stone plates arranged on top of each other, but slightly slanting inwards. A built burial chamber, with a narrow corridor leading to it, was discovered there. A geophysical survey using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) revealed the pile of stones to be hollow. The cairn consists of a central mound of stones surrounded by a lower belt, which gives it the appearance of a stepped, truncated cone. ![]() in diameter and preserved to a height of 6 m. Several radial walls connect the circular walls, creating a labyrinth-like structure which has only two entryways, one facing northeast, the other southeast.Īt the center of the circles is a cairn, an irregular heap of stones. The walls are of varying width, of up to 3.5 m., and have been preserved to a height of 2.5 m., obliterated in some parts by stone collapse. The outer, largest circle is about 500 m. It consists of two architectural units: four concentric circles enclosing a central, round cairn. Rogem Hiri is a monumental construction of local basalt fieldstones of various sizes. Between 19, archeological excavations and research were conducted in order to establish facts and determine the time of its construction and its function. Since its discovery in a survey of the Golan in the late 1960s, this mysterious site has aroused the curiosity of archeologists. east of the Sea of Galilee, on a desolate plateau of basalt boulders. The megalithic complex of Rogem Hiri (Rujm al-Hiri in Arabic, meaning stone heap of the wild cat) is located in the central Golan, some 16 km. Archaeology in Israel: Table of Contents| Background & Overview| Recent Discoveries
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