Inhabited from the Chalcolithic period, Megiddo has approximately 26 levels of occupation. American excavators from the Oriental Institute worked from 1925 with the ambitious goal of excavating every level in its entirety. They made it through the first three levels before concentrating the work on certain areas.

From the earliest times (Early Bronze) to the earliest historical records of the area (Thutmose III) to the future (Revelation 16), Megiddo assumes a prominent role. This is largely owing to its strategic location astride the Megiddo Pass (Wadi Ara) and inside the busy Jezreel Valley. The modern road follows the ancient one; the tel is just off the bottom right corner.

Strongly fortified throughout the ages, Megiddo boasted a stone Syrian-type gate in the days of Canaanite inhabitation.

This gate is later than the bent-axis gate (straightened to accommodate chariots) and earlier than the famous “Solomonic” gate, part of the construction of King Solomon described in 1 Kings 9:15.

Part of a large religious complex from the third millennium BC, this sacrificial altar is striking in its size (33 ft, 10 m diameter) and location (behind the temple).

A staircase led up to the altar, a small temenos fence surrounded it, and large concentrations of animal bones and ashes were found in the vicinity.

Needing secure access to its water supply, Megiddo utilized different watersystems over its history.

In the 9th century BC, Ahab constructed a massive system with a 100-foot (30-m) deep shaft and a 230-foot (70-m) long tunnel. This continued in use until the end of the Iron Age.

This Iron Age tunnel connected the bottom of Ahab’s shaft to the spring. Before its construction, Megiddo residents had to leave the city walls in order to get water from the spring.

This tunnel was hewn from both ends at the same time (like Hezekiah’s Tunnel) and its builders were only one foot (0.3 m) off when meeting in the middle.