Hershel Shanks

Fallen arches tell the story of ancient Beth-Shean’s demise. The arcades of two stores lie where they collapsed in the powerful earthquake in 749 A.D. that destroyed the city, as it did many others in northern Israel. Beth-Shean never fully recovered. Today, town leaders are hopeful that the archaeological excavations taking place here will help rejuvenate the city by serving as a magnet for tourists.