Timna is a copper mining center in the extreme south of modern Israel. It is located on the west side of the Rift Valley 16 mi [26 km.] north of Eilat.
It was minded by the Egyptians from ca. 1300 to 1150 B.C. and then for about 100 year by the Midianites. The area is also known as “Solomon’s Pillar” but this seems to be a misnomer for the mines were not in operation during the days of Solomon (970¬–930 B.C.).
It was excavated by Beno Rothenberg (1969–1984) and among the numerous finds are the well–preserved foundation walls of a temple.