Jawne 5.6

Yavne, historically also known as Jabneh or Jamnia, is a city in the Central District of Israel. As of March 2016 the city numbered 45,059 persons. Its population is characterized by a high rate of young people, about 36% of the population are in the 0-21 age group, and approximately 64% of the total population is young up to age 39.HistoryYavne was one of the major ancient cities in the southern coastal plain, situated 20km south of Jaffa, 15km north of Ashdod, and 7km east of the Mediterranean.Excavations were carried out on the ancient tell (mound created by accumulation of archaeological remains) known as Tel Yavne (Hebrew) or Yebna (Arabic), which developed on a natural kurkar hill. The tell was inhabited, possibly continuously, from either the Bronze or Iron Age until the British Mandate period. During some periods, especially the Byzantine period, the settlement expanded to cover part of the plain and hills surrounding the tell. Yavneh is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and it is documented in written sources and through archaeological excavations on the main tell and the adjacent "Temple Hill" throughout the ages.Bronze and Iron AgeTel YavneSalvage excavations carried out in 2001 by the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered several burials at the northern foot of the original tell. Most of the burials are dated to the later Iron Age. One burial points to a late Bronze Age occupation.