An ancient blade workshop discovered near biblical Gath rewrites history.

A journey back in time 5,500 years takes us to the heart of an extraordinary discovery : a prehistoric flint blade workshop has been unearthed near Kiryat Gat , in southern Israel . A place that, thousands of years before the Iron and Bronze Ages, was already brimming with ingenuity, technology, and urban spirit.

Ancient blade workshop discovered

In the sun-scorched landscape of southern Israel , an incredible discovery has been made that rewrites history. Inside the archaeological site of Nahal Qomem , also known as Gat-Govrin or Zeita , a team of archaeologists has unearthed a workshop specialized in the production of Stone Age flint blades. Perfectly preserved, this marvel dates back over 5,500 years and is an unprecedented find in this region.

The rudimentary weapons have a long, but above all surprisingly uniform and thin, structure. The true marvel is the advanced technique used to make them. As archaeologists explain, the material was worked by pressure chipping, likely aided by primitive mechanical devices such as levers or articulated arms. This was incredibly cutting-edge production, considering the pre-metallic age.

The most fascinating aspect, however, is that the entire workshop was organized like a modern production center , still appearing extremely contemporary thanks to the division into work areas and storage or distribution areas. The site extends for over half a kilometer and includes hundreds of underground pits, some inhabited, others used for storage or rituals. All this speaks to an already urbanized society, with rules, roles, and specializations.

And as if that weren't enough, the discovery is located just a few kilometers from the ancient biblical city of Gath , the legendary home of Goliath . Ironically, while, centuries later, the Israelites of Saul's time suffered from a lack of iron weapons, lethal stone tools were already being crafted here with a technology that defied the limits of time.

Why the discovery is significant

This extraordinary workshop changes the way we look at the past: we are not faced with a simple prehistoric site , but with an open window onto the birth of urban organization, the specialized economy and technology.

Until now, it was thought that certain forms of organized production and division of labor arose later, with the advent of metals and the emergence of large city-states. However, this discovery tells a different story: as early as 3500 BC, someone was designing, producing, and perhaps trading high-quality tools, in an economic network that extended far beyond the confines of the village.

The presence of finished blades ready for use, along with flint cores (usually very rare to find intact), suggests that this site was not only a production site, but also an export hub. Blades traveled, changed hands, accompanied harvests, hunts, and wars. They were part of a system, an economy that already marked the rhythm of civilization.

But there is also a poetic, almost spiritual aspect : the perfect, razor-sharp blades were the fruit of handed-down skills , guarded secrets, perhaps even rituals. They represent humanity's eternal striving for technical perfection, long before iron, bronze, or steel took their place. The most significant finds (complete blades and precious flint cores) will be exhibited this summer at the National Campus for Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem.