Archaeology

A proposed reconstruction of the Potisterion in the Byzantine Monastery of Sosita. (Ioannis Nacas and Michael Eisenberg)

Rare marble item from Susita may reveal undocumented phase of Byzantine baptism ceremony

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In the Byzantine cathedral located in the Susita National Park, a baptismal hall was uncovered, containing a collection of unique ritual utensils, which, according to researchers, may shed light on how the baptism ceremony was performed.
A butterfly-shaped clay bead from the Late Natufian period at Einan-Malaha (Upper Jordan Valley), painted with red ochre and bearing the fingerprints of the boy, about ten years old, who shaped it 12 years ago. (© Laurent Davin)

15,000 years ago: Children shaped beads and pendants from clay

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Long before the advent of pottery and the transition to agriculture, the inhabitants of the first settlements in the Levant were already working with clay by hand. They shaped, polished, and sometimes even played with clay. Now it turns out that some of this work was done
When archaeology and physics meet, new depths are revealed. Illustration courtesy of Tel Aviv University

Breakthrough: Using Muons from Cosmic Radiation to Identify and Map Underground Spaces at Archaeological Sites

A multidisciplinary team at Tel Aviv University has developed the technology that will enable "X-ray imaging" of the underground for archaeological excavations.
An oil press for producing oil in Tahara - a purification bath was discovered next to it at the site of the Samaritan mansion in Kafr Qasem. Emil Al-Jam, Israel Antiquities Authority

A magnificent Samaritan mansion with mosaics was uncovered in Kafr Qasem

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An excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered the remains of a magnificent agricultural estate with spectacular mosaic floors, a Greek blessing inscription, mikvahs, and a wine press – evidence of the wealth and prosperity of the Samaritan community in the area.
At the bottom of the photo - a square oil candle typical of the period and other burial offerings. Photo by Emil Aljam, Israel Antiquities Authority

One of the world's earliest evidences of the use of wicks for lighting was discovered in Yehud

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Wicks made of recycled linen, some 4,000 years old, have been found in clay candles in an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation near Yehud. The extraordinary find provides a rare glimpse into Bronze Age culture, economy, and burial customs.
The straw that broke the dam: Archaeological samples of microscopic straw that was embedded in mortar during construction and paved the way for an extraordinary dating achievement. Photo: Dr. Johanna Regev / Scientific Archaeology Unit, Weizmann Institute of Science

Carbon-14 dating determines: The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem was built in 800 BCE to deal with a climate crisis

New research by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Weizmann Institute dates the impressive dam wall from the time of the Judean kings Joash or Amaziah, which was built in Jerusalem some 2,800 years ago as a solution to the climate crisis and water shortage.
New findings from a Pleistocene site in southwestern China reveal the oldest known use of carefully crafted wooden tools in East Asia, dating back more than 350,000 years. Credit: Liu et al., 10.1126/science.adr8540.

Extraordinary discovery in China: 300,000-year-old wooden tools change what we thought about early humans

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Dozens of carefully crafted wooden tools for digging and processing plants have been discovered at a Pleistocene site in southwestern China – indicating a technology far more complex than that attributed to early populations in East Asia.
The sarcophagus after its conservation by experts from the Israel Antiquities Authority's Conservation Administration. Photo: Shatil Immanuelov, Israel Antiquities Authority

A spectacular and rare Roman sarcophagus was discovered in Caesarea

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Beit Shean Antiquities. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Architectural blueprints of thousands of ancient dwellings reveal horrifying patterns of inequality throughout human history

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A global database of over 55,000 ancient residential floor plans reveals how inequality developed in pre-industrial societies and when inclusive governance succeeded in curbing it
Jaws of a wild goat from the Nesher Ramla hunting site. Credit: Meir Orbach.

Early humans did not take advantage of the variety of animals in the environment.

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A study by the University of Haifa reveals that early humans focused on a limited number of species and did not exploit all the animals in their environment. The findings provide a glimpse into hunting strategies and the interactions between humans and predators.
Papyrus, credit: Shai Halevi, courtesy of the Leon Levy Online Library of the Judean Desert Scrolls, Israel Antiquities Authority

Ancient papyrus reveals fascinating corruption story from the Roman period in the Land of Israel

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New research reveals a Greek document from the second century AD that documents a sophisticated tax fraud that took place in the years before the Bar Kokhba Revolt. The papyrus provides a rare glimpse into the Roman legal system and political processes that preceded the revolt.
One of three clay tablets found at the Kurd Qaburstan site in northeastern Iraq. The tablet was discovered in a debris-filled corridor in the Lower City Palace. Initial interpretations point to dramatic events and perhaps even an ancient war. Credit: Courtesy of Tiffany Early-Spadoni.

Lost civilization uncovered in northeastern Iraq, likely the lost city of Kabra

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Dr. Shoki Kuriski, hosts podcast conversations about music and science and everything in between. Photo: Tel Aviv University spokesperson.

Podcast: Conversations about music, science and everything in between: music and the science of archeology (chapter 1)

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Tel Aviv University's Tel Aviv 360 podcast with the participation of astronomer Dr. Noah Barosh and Uzi Shalu from the Philharmonic Orchestra on the roots of music in the era of ancient man
The ancient candle that was discovered in the excavations on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and on it is decorated with a candlestick, a menorah and a candlestick. Photo: Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

A rare 1,700-year-old oil candle, with the symbols of the temple on it - a menorah, a torch and a candlestick, was revealed in Jerusalem

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The researchers: "Just as today, many of us hold objects of Jewish significance, so did the owner of the candle, some two hundred years after the destruction of the temple"
"Ghost Wheel" Rojam El Hiri, in the Golan Heights. Photo courtesy of Tel Aviv University

A new discovery changes what we thought about the ghost wheel in the Golan Heights

As a result of geodynamic shifts in the area of ​​Rojam al-Khiri - the ground in the area rotated, so it is unlikely that the ancient site was used as an observatory
Excavations will be avoided. Photo: Tel Aviv University

Contrary to popular belief - the copper industry in ancient times did not create pollution on a large scale

According to a research team, the environmental pollution from the mining activity was spotty and minimal, and did not pose a danger to the residents of the area then or now
A rock in the shape of a turtle shell with geometric engravings. Credit Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority

Was religion born when humans lived in caves?

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In the Menot Cave in the Western Galilee, the first evidence in the Levant (and the first in the world) of public worship in caves and the development of religious ceremonies was discovered * The researchers: the ritual complex in the Menot Cave symbolizes the transition from random worship to the beginning of
Tut Ankh Amon's tract where it was found in 1925. Griffith Institute/Howard Carter Archive

Researchers: Tut Ankh Amon's iconic death mask was originally intended for a woman

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University of York researchers uncover a hidden clue in the mask's pierced ears, suggesting the iconic piece was originally designed for a woman to rule, perhaps Nefertiti
A collection of tools from the first settlement at the Sui Habez site in Tajikistan. Photo: The Hebrew University.

New archaeological research reveals rare evidence of early human settlement in Central Asia

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An example of a cylinder stamp (left) and its design impressed on clay (right) Credit: Franck Raux © 2001 GrandPalaisRmn (Musée du Louvre) CREATIVE COMMON

The origin of writing in Mesopotamia is related to designs engraved on ancient scroll seals

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A group of researchers from the University of Bologna identified a series of connections between the designs engraved on these seals, which date back about 6,000 years (4000 BC), and some of the signs in the proto-cuneiform writing that appeared in the city of Uroch, located today
Description: Drone image of cluster 27 in northeastern Mongolia. A red circle marks the location of the excavated burial. The additional map shows the location of cluster 27 in red and two additional compound sites along the long wall (clusters 23 and 24) in black. Credit: Dan Golan.

An elite tomb from the pre-Mongolian period was discovered in Mongolia

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This discovery provides vital insights into the local communities, their networks and organization during the 12th century AD - a period characterized by post-imperial instability and intense political competition
The drainage canal from the days of the Second Temple. Photo by Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

Jerusalem - from prosperity to destruction.

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New findings from the ancient drainage canal that operated in Jerusalem 2000 years ago tell the story of the city in the days of the Second Temple - from prosperity to destruction
The engravings in Gobkali Tepa are considered to be the oldest calendar in the world. Credit: Dr. Martin Sweatman

A 12,000-year-old lunar-solar calendar - the oldest in the world, was discovered on a column at an archaeological site in Turkey

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Research at the 12,000-year-old site of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey suggests that the engravings on ancient pillars probably represent the world's oldest solar calendar, possibly created to commemorate a comet strike
A study of medieval warrior monks at the castle of Zorita de los Canes has revealed their lavish diet and violent death, including the unexpected discovery of a female warrior among them, expanding our understanding of gender roles in historical military orders. A skull found at the archaeological site of Zorita de los Canes. Credit: Crema Risk, URV

Were women also knights? Archaeologists have made an unexpected discovery in the burials of warrior monks from the Middle Ages

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Of the 25 skeletons studied, 23 showed signs consistent with a violent death. By studying the proportions of the bones, she realized that among the warriors was a woman.
Archaeologist Shahar Crispin holds the hoard of coins after finding it. Photo by Yuli Schwartz

In Lod, evidence of the last revolt of the Jews of the Land of Israel under the Roman rule, about 1650 years ago, was uncovered

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In the excavation of the site, conducted by the Antiquities Authority with funding from the municipality of Lod, the remains of an ancient Jewish public building that was destroyed were discovered. A cache of 94 coins was hidden on the floor of the building, but no one returned to its collection until it was discovered now
2,000-year-old tefillin in the Antiquities Authority laboratories. Photo: Emil Eljam, Antiquities Authority

A new study states: 2,000 years ago, Tefillin were not dyed black

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Researchers from Ariel University, the Antiquities Authority, the University of Exeter in England, and the Weizmann Institute conducted a series of scientific tests on ancient tefillin houses from the Judean Desert, and discovered that - contrary to the accepted law, according to which the houses must be painted
The water course of the ancient Akramat branch is bordered by a large number of pyramids from the Old Kingdom period to the Second Intermediate Period, which extends between the Third Dynasty and the Thirteenth Dynasty. Credit: Eman Ghoneim

Archaeology: The Egyptian pyramids were built along the forgotten branch of the Nile - Akramat

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These findings can explain why the pyramids are concentrated in what is now a narrow and hostile strip of desert
Excavation site in the City of David showing signs of the earthquake that occurred in 750 BC (photo: Yohana Regev)

Carbon Jerusalem: extensive and accurate dating of the city during the Kingdom of Judah

Weizmann Institute of Science scientists overcame a cosmic phenomenon that makes it difficult for archaeologists around the world and presented for the first time an absolute dating of Jerusalem in the Iron Age
Using artificial intelligence to decipher ancient texts. The image was prepared by DALEE and is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered a scientific image

Artificial intelligence will restore ancient Jewish texts

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Fourth-year students in the Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev decided to produce an up-to-date answer to the ancient writings and under the guidance of Prof. Mark Lest, developed an artificial intelligence system that completes the missing sections in the texts
The site of Ovadia near the Sea of ​​Galilee, a million and a half years ago. The image was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image

Once there was a paradise here with giraffes, tigers, hippos and elephants

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The world-important prehistoric site, the Ovadia National Park in Emek Yardam, which is the oldest in Israel (about 1.6 million years ago) and one of the oldest in the world outside of Africa, was inaugurated. * There was a meeting between
A herd of elephants illustration: depositphotos.com

The mystery of the prehistoric quarrying sites has been solved: the connection between man, the elephant and the source of water

Why did the ancient man return again and again, over hundreds of thousands of years, to the same quarry sites? It turns out that the secret lies in the migration routes of the elephants
the scarab Photo by Anastasia Shapiro, Israel Antiquities Authority

A hiker discovered an ancient and rare Assyrian seal amulet in the Nahal Tabor Nature Reserve in the Lower Galilee

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The amulet may testify to the presence of an Assyrian (or perhaps Babylonian) official in the place almost 2,800 years ago * The rare find was transferred to the state treasures and the traveler received a certificate of appreciation from the Antiquities Authority
A rare coin from the Judean Mountains. Photo by Emil Eldjem, Antiquities Authority

A rare and important silver coin, about 2,500 years old, was discovered in the Judean Mountains

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The coin, which is one of the earliest evidences in Israel of the transition to the use of coins, was discovered in an excavation by the Antiquities Authority funded by Israel Routes.
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
Antiquities Authority excavations at the Byzantine church in Geth Shemanim. Photo: Shai Halevi, Antiquities Authority

Researches the roads to Jerusalem

Annette Landes Nagar is an archaeologist-digger and Bar Ilan President Fellow, whose research has yielded important discoveries in the Jerusalem area
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 hills
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
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
The Mount Ebal inscription was deciphered by Prof. Gershon Galil from the University of Haifa. Photo: Jaroslav Valach

The decoding procedure of the proposed reading of the Hebrew inscription from 3200 years ago was revealed for the first time

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The inscription was written on a small, folded lead tablet, and it was found last year during soil screening works for the excavation of the late Prof. Adam Zartal from the University of Haifa on Mount Ibal
To the right of the compass. On the left is a pomegranate seed. Photo: Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority

A compass belonging to one of the soldiers of the Jewish People was discovered at the top of the battle hill in the Judean plains

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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 commander of the department
The jar from the kingdom of Sheba. Credit: Dr. Daniel Weinstaub

A Shebaite inscription on a pottery jar in Jerusalem from the First Temple period has been deciphered

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A Shebaite inscription was deciphered on a clay urn that contained incense and was discovered less than 300 meters from the site of the temple as part of the Ofel excavations in Jerusalem. The inscription on the urn indicates a connection between King Solomon's Israel
Karma Ben Yohanan, Hebrew University. Photo: Abigail Piperno-Barr

The Dan David Prize, the largest history prize in the world, announced the winners for 2023

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This year's winners' projects include a virtual reality tour of the medieval city of Angkor Wat, a digital archive of disappearing architecture in Kenya, studies of interfaith divisions after the Holocaust, gender and politics in colonial Nigeria, and engagement
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 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
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 back to the 14th century BC, and they were found in the graves of Canaanites and were used as
Prof. Erez Ben Yosef. Photo: Tel Aviv University

Podcast: Crimson fabric that reveals the fashion during the time of Kings David and Solomon

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Prof. Erez Ben Yosef from the Department of Archeology at Tel Aviv University in a fascinating description of the elite's fashion in the tenth century BC, during the reigns of David and Solomon * from the Tel Aviv 360 podcast series of
Prof. Oded Lifshitz. Photo: Tel Aviv University spokesperson

Prof. Oded Lifshitz is a recipient of the A.M.T. for archeology for 2022

Prof. Oded Lifshitz, head of the Nadler Institute of Archeology in the Lester and Sally Antin Faculty of Humanities, was announced as the recipient of the A.M.T. (art, science, culture) for 2022. The award will be presented to him in a ceremony held during
Find from Mesad Nakrot: Edible oyster from the Red Sea (a), jaw of a deer (b), edible oyster from the Mediterranean Sea (c), string woven from date leaves (d). Photographer: Roy Shapir

Fish from the Red Sea, oysters from the Nile and bowls from Petra were part of the ancient perfume route trade

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"The findings reflect the beginnings of globalization processes in the ancient world and the special importance of the Middle East and the desert space in particular, at the crossroads of East and West," say the researchers
Jeremy Bezanger, unsplash

Researchers have uncovered intimate rituals of the royal couple Nefertiti and Akhenaten

A new study led by the Hebrew University reveals, for the first time in history, Egyptian wall reliefs depicting intimate scenes of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti and Pharaoh Akhenaten, in which rituals performed by the royal couple before their sacred marriage are described
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