Between Gaulanitis and Hippos: The Roman Road in the Southern Golan Heights in Context

The Roman road that transverses the southern Golan is one of the best-preserved ancient roads in the region. The present study provides new evidence regarding its route, its date of construction and abandonment, and its military-administrative and geospatial relationship with the surrounding landscape and settlements. The research combines diverse methodologies, including historical cartographic data, survey, excavation, a mobility model of the region and visibility predictive analysis for watchtower positions. The results suggest that the road was constructed in the second half of the 2nd century CE. A system of watchtowers existed along it, and it apparently did not serve as a vital artery between the nearby villages and the road itself.