Khirbet Beit Lei (Israel)

Khirbet Beit Lei (also known as Beth Loya) is an archaeological tell in the Judean Lowlands of Israel. The site preserves remains of a settlement that was occupied across multiple periods, including the Hellenistic and early Roman eras, the Byzantine and early Islamic periods, and the Mamluk period. Archaeological finds include extensive subterranean complexes, rock-cut installations, and the remains of a Byzantine church featuring intricate mosaics and inscriptions. Excavations reveal a clear cultural and religious transition at the site: an initial Hellenistic-period pagan Idumaean settlement was violently destroyed, likely during the Hasmonean conquest of Idumaea under John Hyrcanus. This destruction layer is followed by evidence of renewed occupation by a Jewish population, marked by the presence of stone vessels, ritual baths (mikva'ot), and olive-oil installations decorated with menorah motifs. On the site's eastern slope, an Iron Age II burial cave typical of pre-exilic Judah was discovered, containing undisturbed human remains, personal items, and a collection of carved drawings and ancient Hebrew inscriptions. The cave's graffiti include human figures, cultic imagery, and unusual depictions such as sailing vessels. Most significant is a lengthy inscription known as the Khirbet Beit Lei graffiti, which affirms the sovereignty of the God of Israel and includes one of the earliest known Hebrew attestations of the name "Jerusalem". In Mormon archaeology, the site has been associated with the biblical figure of Prophet Lehi, who is described in Latter-day Saint tradition as having migrated to the New World.