▁. ▁The ▁m ound ▁can ▁be ▁divided ▁into ▁three ▁parts : ▁a ▁lower ▁terra ce ▁in ▁the ▁north , ▁an ▁upper ▁terra ce ▁in ▁the ▁center , ▁and ▁an ▁ac ropol is ▁( upper ▁city ) ▁at ▁the ▁south western ▁end . ▁The ▁top ▁of ▁the ▁m ound ▁s lop es ▁ste ep ly ▁up ward ▁from ▁north ▁to ▁south , ▁a ▁feature ▁which ▁led ▁ancient ▁Y ok ne am ' s ▁build ers ▁to ▁create ▁the ▁terra ces ▁on ▁which ▁its ▁structures ▁were ▁built . ▁ ▁Y ok ne am ▁stands ▁at ▁the ▁j unction ▁of ▁two ▁ancient ▁international ▁trade ▁routes . ▁The ▁most ▁important ▁of ▁these ▁is ▁a ▁branch ▁of ▁the ▁Via ▁Mar is , ▁which ▁stretch ed ▁from ▁Egypt ▁to ▁Dam asc us ▁and ▁further ▁north . ▁This ▁branch ▁begins ▁at ▁the ▁Meg id do ▁j unction , ▁passes ▁through ▁Tel ▁Y ok ne am , ▁and ▁continues ▁towards ▁Ak ko , ▁and ▁Pho en icia . ▁It ▁corresponds ▁to ▁the ▁modern ▁Jen in - Ha ifa ▁road ▁( High way ▁ 6 6 ▁and ▁Highway ▁ 7 0 ). ▁Another , ▁secondary , ▁route ▁passes ▁through ▁a ▁valley ▁called ▁W adi ▁Mil h , ▁and ▁connect s ▁with ▁this ▁branch . ▁ ▁This ▁location , ▁at ▁the ▁cross ro ads ▁of ▁significant ▁trade ▁routes , ▁is ▁the ▁main ▁reason ▁for ▁Y ok ne am ' s ▁continuous ▁settlement ▁over ▁some ▁four ▁mill enn ia . ▁Appro xim ately ▁ ▁north ▁and ▁south ▁respectively ▁are ▁Tel ▁Q ash ish ▁and