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Israel Antiquities Authority Archeology

The ancient sling stones: the earliest evidence of warfare in the region. Photo by Emil Elgem, Antiquities Authority

Research: already 7,200 years ago there was mass and planned production of weapons of war in Israel

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A study by the Antiquities Authority, recently published in the journal Atiqot 111, reveals the earliest evidence of organized fighting and arming in the Land of Israel in particular and the southern Levant in general
The rare sight. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

Has a tomb of an "escort woman" (the Taira) from 2,300 years ago been discovered in Jerusalem?

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A grave in which the remains of a woman were discovered with a rare mirror next to her opens an extraordinary window into customs that were 'imported' to Israel with the Hellenistic occupation * It seems that the person buried was a young woman of Greek origin, who accompanied a senior member of the Hellenistic army or government on his journey through Israel
A woman-like figurine. Photograph of the Antiquities Authority.

Magicians in the mountains of Eilat

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Objects that appear to have been used by folk sorcerers were discovered along the ancient road that led from Egypt to Mecca about 400 years ago
Taking the swords out of the closet where they were hidden. Photo: Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

Researchers went to photograph an inscription in a cave near Ein Gedi and also found there a weapon cache from the time of the Bar Kochba rebellion

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In Selik, four swords and a bayonet head were found that are approximately 1900 years old and were preserved in wooden and leather cases, in excellent condition. that the swords were taken as spoils of war, and hidden in a cave by Jewish rebels
The works in the ancient canal. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

A mystery in Jerusalem: What were the mysterious canal facilities from the days of Kings Jehoash and Amaziah that were uncovered in the City of David National Park used for?

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The canal facilities, the likes of which have not yet been discovered in Israel, were in use about 2,800 years ago - during the time of the First Temple; According to the researchers from the Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University, "it is possible that the canals were used to soak some product. The central location of the canal facilities shows that the product produced in them was associated with a palace or a temple.
Uncovering the ancient aqueduct. Photo: Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

The longest section of the upper aqueduct to Jerusalem was revealed in archaeological excavations at Givat HaMatus

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The length of the Amma section is about 300 meters, and it was uncovered in the excavations of the Antiquities Authority before the expansion of the neighborhood, funded by the "Arim" company for urban development and in the framework of the establishment of schools on the site at the initiative of the Jerusalem Municipality * Among other things, a coin from the second period of the great revolt of the Jews against the Romans was found in the Amma infrastructure - A few years before the destruction of the Second Temple
The gate looking at. Photo by Emil Algam, Antiquities Authority.

In Kiryat Gat, the oldest gate in Israel was discovered

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In an excavation by the Antiquities Authority prior to the construction of a Mekorot company water line in the Kiryat Gat area, an ancient gate was discovered, approximately 5,500 years old * This gate was part of the fortification system of one of the most important mounds for understanding the beginning of urbanization
Hathor figurine found on the beach. Photo by Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority

A woman walking on Palmahim beach found an ancient figurine more than 3,000 years old, identified with the Egyptian goddess Hathor

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She handed it over to the State Treasury and received a certificate of appreciation from the Antiquities Authority for demonstrating good citizenship
Excavations 2023 at Tel Shekmona. Photo by Prof. Golan Shloy.

The Scarlet Factory in Shekmona shows the flourishing of the Kingdom of Israel in the middle of the 8th-9th century BCE

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Tel Shekmona was the largest crimson factory in the area during the Iron Age, under the control of the Kingdom of Israel and the one that apparently supplied the prestigious crimson color to the Temple in the neighboring Kingdom of Judah
Demonstration of using a replica of the whistle. Photo by Lauren Dewin-

For the first time: 12,000-year-old tiny flutes have been discovered that imitate the sounds of predators

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A new study published today (Fri) in the prestigious scientific magazine Nature Scientific Report suggests that tiny flutes made from the wing bones of waterfowl were used to produce sounds imitating the sounds of birds of prey
To the right of the compass. On the left is a pomegranate seed. Photo: Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority

A compass of one of the warriors of the Lord was discovered at the top of the Battle Hill in the Judean Lowlands

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The compass, as well as Bren type machine gun pods, were uncovered in an archaeological study by Dr. Rafi Lewis from Ashkelon Academic College and Haifa University and Il Marco from the Antiquities Authority * According to the researchers, the compass belonged to the platoon commander or one of the two patrols who fought in force * The study may shed light on the battle in which they were killed all warriors
The copper hook is 6000 years old. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

In rescue excavations in Ashkelon, a 6,000-year-old copper fishing hook was discovered, one of the oldest known in the world

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The hook, which appears to have been used for hunting sharks, was discovered in the excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority before the establishment of the Agami neighborhood in Ashkelon * The unique find will be presented for the first time at the 48th Archaeological Congress, in the organization of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Society for the Exploration of Israel and its Antiquities, and the Israel Archaeological Society
Dervish address. Photo: Shai Halevi, Antiquities Authority

Fadiha on Purim around the alleged inscription bearing the name of the Persian king Darius I, the father of Ahasuerus

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The 2500-year-old pottery on which the inscription was engraved in Aramaic script was discovered by travelers by chance in Tel Lakish National Park * It seems that this is a "note" to confirm the delivery or receipt of goods * The rare ostracon was studied by Sa'ar Ganor from the Antiquities Authority and Dr. Hagai Meshgav from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , and their research will be published in the journal "Antiquities"
The hand carved in the wall of the moat. Photo by Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority

A huge 1,000-year-old moat and a mysterious handprint carved into the rock were uncovered in front of the walls of Jerusalem

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The new parts of the defense system on the walls of Old Jerusalem against Crusader attacks were discovered during archaeological excavations by the Antiquities Authority on Sultan Suleiman Street, prior to the laying of infrastructure at the initiative of the Jerusalem Municipality through the Moriah Jerusalem Development Company
Findings in Nahal Omer in the Arava indicating extensive international trade in the seventh and eighth centuries AD. Photo: excavation team

Has the Israeli Silk Road been discovered?

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Cotton fabrics and silk fabrics originating in India and China from about 1,300 years ago found in the Arabah testify to ancient trade from the Far East, through the Land of Israel and Europe
A silver coin of Anatolian origin that testifies to continuous trade between the north and south of the Levant about 3,600 years ago. Photo: Antiquities Authority

The use of silver coins as a means of payment began in the southern Levant as early as 3,600 years ago

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This is the first evidence that there was a continuous and long-term trade of metals from the Levant region to Anatolia already in the 17th century BC, about 500 years before the Iron Age when the use of silver coins became common in the region
The front of the burial cave that was revealed in the excavations. Unlike the hewn caves, the courtyard was built of limestone, which indicates its importance and splendor. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

A 2,000-year-old tomb complex, one of the most luxurious seen in Israel, was uncovered in the Saloma Cave in the Lachish Forest

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The courtyard was uncovered as part of the 'Road of the Kings of Judah' project led by the Antiquities Authority, the Jerusalem Ministry and Heritage, and the Kimat Israel Fund * Evidence of the sanctification of the place over hundreds of years was uncovered at the site, indicating the burial of a significant figure who belonged to an affluent family in the Second Temple
The coin cache. Photo: Shai Halevi, Antiquities Authority

For the first time: evidence of the Maccabean rebellion against the Greeks was uncovered in the Judean desert

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In an excavation in a cave in the Nahal Darga Reserve, a rare treasure was discovered - a wooden box containing 15 silver coins from the time of King Antiochus IV *It seems that the person who buried the box in the cave fled to it, hoping to collect his property at the end of the rebellion
The half shekel coin of the third year of the Great Revolt (Photo: Tal Rogovsky)

A rare half shekel silver coin from the days of the Great Revolt was discovered in the Ofel excavations in Jerusalem

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This is the third coin of this type to be discovered in excavations in Jerusalem and one of the few ever discovered in archaeological excavations.
Pechiots and pechiots from the ring base family that were placed on the dead body. Tel Aviv University tests found traces of opium in these vessels. Photo: Assaf Peretz, Antiquities Authority

The earliest evidence known in the world for the use of the hallucinogen opium from the Canaanite period

The remains of the opium were found in pottery excavated at Tel Yehud, in an excavation conducted by Ariola Yakoel on behalf of the Antiquities Authority. The pots that contained the opium date to the 14th century BC, and they were found in the tombs of Canaanites and were apparently used as part of the local cult of the dead
The treasure of gold discovered in Banias. Photo: Dafna Gazit, Antiquities Authority

A cache of 44 gold coins that are about 1,400 years old was discovered in the excavation of the Antiquities Authority in the Nahal Hermon Nature Reserve

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The treasure is evidence of a dramatic moment in the country's history - the conquest of the Byzantine Empire by the Umayyad House. Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Dr. Yoav Lerer: "Whoever buried the coins in a wall must have performed a miracle on his soul in the hope of returning and collecting his property, but he was not successful."
The gold ring as found in the water in one of the two shipwrecks that were uncovered in Caesarea. Photo: Antiquities Authority

Two shipwrecks were uncovered in Caesarea

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A maritime archaeological survey by the Antiquities Authority in Caesarea revealed a treasure of two ancient shipwrecks, including hundreds of silver coins, gold and silver rings, rare decorated gems, an eagle statuette, bells, and parts of a ship. According to the researchers of the Maritime Archeology Unit at the Antiquities Authority: "The findings tell the story of two ships that were wrecked, along with their passengers, at different times, probably while trying to anchor or find shelter from a storm."
An urn that was uncovered in the excavations of the building from the days of the Sanhedrin. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

For the first time: the remains of a building from the days of the Sanhedrin were uncovered in Yavne

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*The discovery was made in the huge excavation of the Antiquities Authority in Yavne, funded by the Israel Lands Authority and in cooperation with the Yavne municipality on the occasion of the expansion of the city. Fragments of stone vessels made of Kirton were discovered in the building, indicating a Jewish presence.
Works in the citadel - aerial view. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

A fortified structure from the Hellenistic period, which the Hasmoneans destroyed and burned, was uncovered in excavations in the Lachish forest

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"The destruction of the building is probably related to the conquest of the area by the Hasmonean Yochanan Hyrcanus, around the year 112 BC," say archaeologists of the Antiquities Authority, who managed the excavation with the funding of a landmarks project at the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, and with the participation of students from the Land of Israel Studies and Archeology program at the Ministry of Education
Nir Distelfeld from the Antiquities Authority with the sword. Photo by Anastasia Shapiro Antiquities Authority

Snorkeled in the Carmel beach area and discovered a knight's sword, about 900 years old

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