At other times there are details in scripture that lead to a search for entire cities, places or items mentioned. Still, there are tell tale signs that indicate that there is something to be found in a certain location. Often there is a more obvious location. Ruins will give a great deal of information as to where there were peoples of the past. A tell is a mound or hill that is man-made.
Ancient peoples rebuilt cities on top of other cities.
One man said it is because the bull dozer had not been invented, and there was no practical way to clear away the buildings. Whatever the reason, building material was reused and simply filled in rather than being carried away. Rebuilt city on top of rebuilt city resulted in a hill of cities. This resulting hill is called a tell. The two basic methods of excavating a tell have been the trench method and the layer method.