Biblical Tzuba

Tzuba is mentioned in the book of Samuel-II chapter 23. One of the 36 heroes of King David in this chapter was Yigal son of Nathan from Tzuba. A large number of sites indicate Tzuba was a big town. We find wine presses, water cisterns, mikvehs – ritual baths, burial caves, springs and more.

Wine presses

There are many wine presses located around the kibbutz, remains of a vast wine industry in the ancient times.

Two of them are easy to find:

Near the junction to the Kibbutz there is a new olive tree path. Walk down 100 meters. The wine press is one terrace above the metal gate. This wine press has 4 treading floors,  3 sinking pools and a fermentation pool. Also a row of niches in the wall used for a pressing device. The site has been partly excavated lately and hopefully will reveal more in the near future.

From OSG factory walk to the right towards the orchard road and left past the gate. After 10 meters turn right and down the slope. The wine press has 2 treading floors, 2 sinkung pools and 2 fermentaion pools. Also 4 niches in the wall used for a pressing device.

Ceramic findings indicate the last use of the winepresses at the late Second temple period 1st century BC to 1st century AD.