Israel

Timna

WHS Score 0.68 Votes 7 Average 0.86
The Timna Valley is located on the edge of the Negev Desert in southern Israel and is an example of an ancient industrial site. In the valley are remains of numerous ancient copper mines and smelting furnaces from different periods, the oldest dating back to the 5th century BCE. These Egyptian mines are the oldest metal mines in the world. The most impressive rock formation in Timna National Park are the so-called Solomon's Pillars, formed by natural erosion.
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Official Information
Full Name
Timna (ID: 1489)
Country
Israel
Status
On tentative list 2000 Site history
History of Timna
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UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
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UNESCO.org
News Article
  • Sept. 24, 2022 phys.org — 3,000 years ago, human activity destroyed vegetation and irreparably damaged the Timna Valley environment
  • Jan. 30, 2021 dailymail.co.uk — 3,000-year-old purple dyed thread discovered in Israel matches descriptions of the shade worn by royalty from the Bible
  • Sept. 23, 2019 ancient-origins.net — Egyptians Provided Technological Leap For Edomite Kingdom
  • July 16, 2017 timesofisrael.com — Excavations of copper mines find earliest Israeli traces of dye used for prestigious garments for skilled workers
  • Oct. 20, 2016 evangelicalfocus.com — Textiles from the time of Solomon found in Israel's Timna Valley
  • Sept. 6, 2014 phys.org — Ancient metal workers were highly regarded craftsmen

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News
phys.org 09/24/2022
3,000 years ago, human activity de…
dailymail.co.uk 01/30/2021
3,000-year-old purple dyed thread …
ancient-origins.net 09/23/2019
Egyptians Provided Technological L…
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Community Reviews

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First published: 30/09/19.

Gablabcebu

Timna

Timna (On tentative list)

Timna by GabLabCebu

I visited Timna Park back in May 2018, a few days after all the flash floods in the Negev. The park is a little detour when driving north from Eilat, so it was naturally the first stop in the morning. In the visitor center, you must pay the entrance fee, and you may also watch the film, but if you have a guide as we did, you shouldn't need it. A vehicle is definitely needed to reach the various points of interest within the park. The road winds through Timna Valley, surrounded by tall volcanic hills and littered with countless interesting rock formations (mushrooms, Solomon's Pillars, and all). At the end of the valley is a small manmade lake beside another visitor center. 

Now this may not all sound like much. Timna is a beautiful desert landscape, formed by the interaction between sandstone and volcanic rock, and erosional forces. We even sighted a herd of Nubian Ibex. It's a wonderful place of nature, but is it unique? No, not even in the region, as wilder and more beautiful landscapes with intact ecosystems can be found in neighboring Jordan and the Sinai Peninsula. In terms of beauty and vastness, Timna doesn't hold a candle to Wadi Rum. This is why my opinion is that the site doesn't have natural OUV. Then why am I still giving it the thumbs up?

A 10 minute detour from the main valley is the Arches, one of many natural highlights in the park, …

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First published: 24/05/08.

Assif

Timna

Timna (On tentative list)

Timna by Walter

Timna is a marvellous geological park beautifully set in the Negev desert. It also shows the remains of an ancient copper mine, of the oldest of its sort in the world. If you happen to sunbathe in Eilat this is certainly a nice day tour. It could also fill a gap of Ancient Egyptian sites, non-European technological properties and desert landscapes.

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