Incredible Israeli Archeological Discoveries
From the Dead Sea Scrolls to a mysterious bronze coin, here are the Most Incredible Israeli Archeological Discoveries
9. The old Bulla Seals
In February of 2018, Ophel excavations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered a 2,700 year-old clay seals, believed to be used by Prophet Isaiah during the time of King Hezekiah of Judah. Prophet Isaiah was his Prophet and advised him on religious and sometimes political matters during the eight century BCE.
However, after the discovery of the oval-shaped bulla was made by the University, Dr. Eilat Mazar, who was part of the team that unearthed it, stated that a conclusion hasn’t be made yet what was written in the bulla because it’s upper end and lower end are both missing and damaged respectively.
8. World’s Oldest Brewery … In A Cave
Researchers from the University of Haifa and Stanford University has discovered the earliest form of evidence of alcohol production in the Rakefet cave in Carmel, dating back to 13,000 years ago.
Three Stone mortars were discovered and analysed by archeologists from a 13,000 year-old Natufian burial cave on Israel. According to archeologists who analysed the mortars, they concluded that they were used for brewing wheat and barley.
7. The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most important findings in Israel history. The excitement was ignited when archeologists discovered the first set of letters in Judean desert, precisely in the Cave of Qumran in the first century BCE.
6. Edomite Textile
A team of archeologists from Tel Aviv University dug up into ancient copper mines of Timna believed to be the location of Solomon’s mines in the south of Jerusalem. Fragments of textile originating from bags, clothing, tents were found on the site. It’s long preservation was due to the same intense dry condition that was responsible for the preservation of the Dead Sea Scrolls. From this findings, it became clear the kind of life in ancient Israel especially the Edomite who were slaves and prisoners in Israel.
5. Ancient Ceramic Shard
An archeological dig into an ancient site of Hirbet Qeiyafa unearthed a pottery shard which measures 6X6 inch. The finding contained five lines of faded characters of Hebrew inscription that according archeologists may bear dates back to the time of King David. The 3000 year old text is believed to be written in a proto-Canaanite language but three characters were believed to be written in Hebrew which translates to, “to do”.
4. Biblical Spies Mosaic
A Mosaic depicting a biblical scene was discovered by archeologists in an ancient synagogue, Huqoq in northern Israel.
The Mosaic depicts a biblical scene in the book of Numbers chapter 13 vs 23 where Moses sent out Spies to oversee the land of Canaan. The Spies were seen carrying a pole with a cluster of grapes to Moses to indicate the abundance of wealth and agriculture in the land of Canaan. An evidence that supports the Mosaic.
The Spies Mosaic wasn’t the only mosaic to be discovered in Israel. Others included the depictions of Samson, the Ark of Noah, and the depictions of Alexander the Great, one of which is under some serious debate.
3. Clay Amulet
Archeologists unearthed a 1000 year-old ancient rare amulet in clay, in a parking lot of Jerusalem City of David containing blessings written in Arabic language.
The tiny rare amulet which has just two lines of Arabic inscribed on it translated to, “Kareem trusts in Allah” and “Lord of the Worlds is Allah”.
In a statement made by Dr. Yuval Gadot and Dr. Yiftah Shalev, excavations directors of the Tel Aviv University and the Israel Antiquities Authority respectfully, the size, Shape and text indicated that the amulet was used for blessing and protection.
2. Hadrian Statue
The bronze head of an Emperor Hadrian was found by a metal detector in Tel Shalem in Galilee. Other parts of the statue was discovered and reconstructed at the Israel Museum.
Hadrian himself is significant to Jewish history. He was the man that impeded the Bar Kochba revolt, an insane revolution that is followed by the death of over a thousand Jewish people up until that point in what was considered the biggest mass slaughter in Jewish history. Hadrian arrested the disaster and went on a killing spree. He destroyed settlements ad killed over a million people while changing the name of Judah to Syria- Palestine.
Bronze Coin
Archaeologists announced the discovery of a bronze coin in archeological project site in Tzurim Valley, National Park.
The coin minted in 69 CE in the fourth year of the great revolt by the Jews has the words in ancient Hebrew, “For the Redemption of Zion” inscribed on it followed by an image of a goblet under the inscriptions.
The coin was in a soil extracted from a drainage canal. This drainage canal is believed to be a hiding spot where the remaining Jewish rebels hid from the Romans during the period of revolt.
Journey to the Copper Age
In this May 12, 2013 Sunday at the Met program, discover how the introduction of metal production over 6,000 years ago created a metallurgy revolution that sparked social change in the southern Levant. Examine elaborate and prestigious metal objects created in this region, including crowns, scepters, and mace heads. Learn more about the first Israeli-Jordanian-American-German international experimental archaeology expedition, led by the speaker, to locate the Copper Age trade route used by the earliest metalworkers in the Holy Land.
Thomas Evan Levy is the Distinguished Professor and Norma Kershaw Chair in the Archaeolgy of Ancient Israel and Neighboring Lands at the University of California, San Diego.
This Sunday at the Met is made possible by the Helen Diller Family.