Tzur Natan
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| Coordinates:32°14′25″N35°0′42″E / 32.24028°N 35.01167°E /32.24028; 35.01167 | |
| Country | Israel |
| District | Central |
| Council | Drom HaSharon |
| Affiliation | Mishkei Herut Beitar |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Founded by | Nahal |
| Population (2023)[1] | 277 |
Tzur Natan (Hebrew:צוּר נָתָן,lit. 'Rock of Nathan') is amoshav shitufi in centralIsrael. Located in western Samaria on a hilltop 170 m above sea level, on a ridge in the foothills of theSamarian Hills and to the south ofTayibe,[2][3] it falls under the jurisdiction ofDrom HaSharon Regional Council. In 2023 it had a population of 277.[1]
The moshav was founded in 1966 as aNahal settlement byHashomer Hatzair members, and was named afterNathan Simons. It was civilianised a year later by former members of theBeitar youth group.
In 2017 a minority of Tzur Natan families agreed to sell their land to a natural gas and diesel power station to be constructed by Edeltech only meters from the Arab Israeli city ofTira.
Excavations at Tzur Natan between 1989 and 1994 revealed a largeByzantine-period complex identified as aSamaritan synagogue. The building, oriented towardMount Gerizim, included a main hall with anapse,narthex,atrium, and benches along the side walls, as well as severalmiqva'ot.[4] Finds such as amenorah engraving on abasalt stone andoil lamps decorated with menorahs, together with literary evidence for a Samaritan presence in the area in the 5th century CE, led the excavators to attribute the synagogue to the Samaritans.[4]
A dedicatory mosaic by the entrance mentions the village ofAntesion, thought to be the ancient name of the site. A coin ofJustin II (565–578 CE) found in the fill dates the synagogue to the late 6th century.[4] The building appears to have been converted into a church before its final abandonment in the 8th century. To the west, excavators uncovered more than twenty rooms with oil presses, flour mills, and a wine press, which they interpreted as an agricultural and industrial complex belonging to the Samaritan community.[4]
In 2019 a5th-century mosaic with Greek inscription found at an ancient wine press. The inscription reads, "Only God help the beautiful property of Master Adios, amen." Adios was a wealthy Samaritan landowner.[5]
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