Rujm el-Hiri

Welcome to the desolate yet mesmerising expanse of the Golan Heights, a rugged volcanic plateau that holds one of the most profound archaeological mysteries of the Levant. I am delighted to be your guide as we explore Rujm…

Our journey begins on the dusty, sun-baked approach trailing from the Daliyot Junction. As we walk this rugged path, which takes roughly an hour to traverse, you can intimately feel the harsh extremes of this environment. …

We now stand before the grand outer perimeter wall of Rujm el-Hiri. Reach out and touch the rough, weathered surface of these colossal basalt boulders. …

We have now moved to a very specific and mathematically crucial point along the concentric rings: the Northeast Gate. Stand exactly here, facing inward toward the central mound, and you are standing on a precision-engineered…

Leaving the solstice gate, we now step into the liminal spaces of the monument—the interstitial corridors formed between the massive concentric walls. As we walk through these narrow, curving pathways, the outside world visually…

We have now breached the innermost ring and stepped into the central courtyard, the open expanse directly surrounding the great central tumulus. This space serves as the grand amphitheatre of Rujm el-Hiri, the likely gathering…

Rising aggressively from the centre of the courtyard is the focal point of the entire complex: the great central cairn, or tumulus. Take a moment to tilt your head back and survey this massive, irregular heap of basalt. …

We now face the narrow, daunting corridor that leads into the belly of the tumulus. Accessing the inner burial chamber requires visitors to physically crouch and crawl through a tight passageway, an act of physical submission…

As we emerge from the chilling depths of the burial chamber and step back out into the bright, scouring winds of the Golan Heights, take a deep breath of the untamed air. We have journeyed through the labyrinth of Rujm el-Hiri,…