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Archaeology

Excavation site in the City of David showing signs of the earthquake that occurred in 750 BC (photo: Yohana Regev)

Advanced scientific methods made possible extensive and accurate dating of Jerusalem during the Kingdom of Judah

The researchers, from the Weizmann Institute, Tel Aviv University, the Antiquities Authority, Bar Ilan and other institutions from around the world, overcame the phenomenon of "ancient cities" that are not arranged in layers 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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Students in the fourth year of 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 ancient 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 Hirdam, which is the oldest in Israel (about 1.6 million years ago) and one of the oldest in the world outside the African continent, was inaugurated. * There was a meeting between animals from Africa and Europe
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 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
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 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 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 and the kingdom of Sheba which was in the territory of today's Yemen
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 post-Holocaust interfaith schisms, gender and politics in colonial Nigeria, and white women's involvement in slave ownership in the American South
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
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
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 Tel Aviv University's Tel Aviv 360 podcast series
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 prize will be awarded to him at a ceremony to be held during the month of June, in the capacity of the Prime Minister of Israel.
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 as living gods are described
The late Prof. Roni Enelblom. Photo: The Hebrew University

How will the next drought shape our future?

Prof. Roni Allenblum Zel dedicated his life to the study of climatic effects on cultures and historical events. A new study, now published posthumously, suggests that their influence is greater than we thought
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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