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Israel Antiquities Authority

Masada. Photo: Omer Zaevi, excavation expedition from Masada

Contrary to myth: the Roman siege of Masada did not last several years but only a few weeks

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The researchers: "According to the common myth, the Romans harassed the rebels in Masada for three years. An innovative survey using advanced technologies revealed that the siege by the Roman army was a focused and relatively quick operation."
Dr. Elena Kogan-Zahavi from the Antiquities Authority, who uncovered one of the graves about 30 years ago, in the graves after their preservation

Spectacularly beautiful wall paintings from the Roman period that were discovered in Ashkelon are being revealed for the first time and will be accessible to the public

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The paintings, which decorate ancient tombs of wealthy people, were discovered decades ago but few got to see them. Now, they are preserved by the conservation experts of the Antiquities Authority near the marina, funded by the municipality of Ashkelon.
A stone vessel identified with the Jewish population in Beit Shani, which was recently discovered in the excavation of a nearby quarry. Will be on display this summer at the National Archeology Museum of an island in Jerusalem

A huge quarry - one of the largest known in Jerusalem from the end of the Second Temple period, was discovered on Mount Hotzavim in Jerusalem

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A ring with an engraving of the goddess Athena that was discovered in Carmel Photo by Emil Algam Israel Antiquities Authority

An approximately 1,800-year-old ring, with the goddess of war engraved on it, was discovered by a boy in Carmel

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The boy Yair Whitson from Haifa discovered during a trip a bronze ring with the goddess Athena engraved on it * The impressive ring was handed over to the State Treasures * Yair and his family came on a tour of the new National Archaeological Museum of
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
A ship model discovered in the excavation of Rahat. Photo: Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities Authority

Ships in the heart of the desert: the remains of an ancient church, on the walls of which ships were carved about 1500 years ago, were discovered in the excavations of the Antiquities Authority in the north of the Negev

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The excavations were conducted as part of the expansion of a neighborhood in the city of Rahat, at the initiative of the Authority for the Development and Regulation of Bedouin Settlements in the Negev.
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 cave of concealment during the Bar Kochva rebellion that was discovered in Hukok near the Sea of ​​Galilee. Photo: Emil Eljam, Israel Antiquities Authority.

An impressive underground hiding system from the days of the Bar Kochba revolt has been uncovered near the Sea of ​​Galilee

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A ring discovered in a cave in Khokuk that was used by Bar Kochba soldiers to hide from the Romans. Photo: Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority
The box as shown in the archeology section of the Israel Museum. Photo: Zohar Shemesh, Israel Museum, Jerusalem

An enigmatic and rare stone box from the Second Temple period, which was discovered in the excavations of the Antiquities Authority in the City of David, is on display to the public for the first time at the Israel Museum

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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
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 where 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 an army officer or
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 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 location
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 arm 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,
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
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 commander of the department
Photographs: Engineered gray soil in sand above fresh ground water. Photo. Dr. Itamar Taksel, Antiquities Authority, a lime kiln on top of an embankment. The products of the kiln were apparently used to improve the sand and turn it into fertile soil. Photo. Prof. Yoel Raskin. Photographs of the researchers: Prof. Yoel Raskin - Bar-Ilan University Spokesperson, Dr. Itamar Taksel (on the beach), photographed by Prof. Yoel Raskin.

Near Caesarea, evidence of the beginning of agriculture in the sands was discovered

The system from the tenth century AD, in the Islamic period is the first significant development of agriculture in the sand in human history
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 uncovered in the excavations of the Antiquities Authority before the establishment of the Agamim neighborhood in Ashkelon * The unique find will be presented for the first time at the 48th Archaeological Congress, in the organization of the Antiquities Authority, the Society for Land Exploration
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 the Tel Lakish National Park * It seems that this is a "note" to confirm the delivery or receipt of goods * The rare ostracon was studied
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
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