For generations, the Canaanites have occupied a curious space between archaeology and biblical tradition. Mentioned repeatedly in the Hebrew Bible as the inhabitants of the land before the rise of ancient Israel, they have often been viewed through the lens of scripture rather than material evidence. Now, a remarkable discovery in southern Israel is offering a rare glimpse into their world. Archaeologists have uncovered a 5,500-year-old flint blade production centre near Kiryat Gat, dating to the Early Bronze Age. Far from being a modest workshop, the site appears to have functioned as a highly organised manufacturing hub, producing precision-crafted tools on a scale rarely seen from this period. The find not only sheds light on the technological abilities of ancient communities but also reveals a society already displaying signs of economic specialisation, skilled labour and regional trade.
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