During construction for the Shelby White and Leon Levy Lod Mosaic Center, a new and impressive mosaic was uncovered dating to the 4th Century CE.
Another Exquisite Mosaic Discovered in the Roman Villa at Lod
New Volunteer Dig Program Starting in the Fall
Volunteers for Israel is opening a new program in which participants will spend one week volunteering at an army base and one week working with the Israel Antiquities Authority on an archaeological excavation.
2,000 year old Vessels Salvaged from a Cave near the Lebanese Border
Last weekend archaeologists climbed to a small cave where several intact vessels dating to the Hellenistic period were salvaged and lowered over 30 meters to safety.
1,000 year-old Amulet Discovered in the City of David
An Abbasid period clay amulet bearing a blessing in Arabic was discovered in the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David in the Jerusalem Walls National Park during an archaeological excavation sponsored by the City of David Foundation. The excavation was conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University.
Crusader Fortress Promenade and Marketplace opened in Caesarea
On June 10, 2018, a newly open promenade and Crusader marketplace was unveiled in Caesarea. This conservation and reconstruction project is the largest ever undertaken in Israel - with an investment of over 100 Million Shekels contributed by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation and the Caesarea Development Corporation
Rare Roman period Burial Complex discovered in Tiberias
A few days ago a 2000 year old burial cave was revealed in northern Tiberias. According to Yair Amitsur of the IAA the burial cave probably belonged to a wealthy family, as evidenced by “the high quality rock-hewing, the complexity of the cave, the decorations, and the Greek inscriptions.”
Rare Mosaic from the Roman Period Discovered in Caesarea National Park
The mosaic was uncovered during an archaeological excavation that is part of the largest conservation and reconstruction project ever undertaken in Israel - with an investment of over 100 Million Shekels contributed by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation and the Caesarea Development Corporation
Significant Finds Uncovered in Excavations in Ein Hanniya Park in Rephaim Valley
A large and impressive system of pools from the Byzantine period (4th-6th centuries CE), a fragment of a capital typical of royal structures and estates in the First Temple period and a rare silver coin from the 4th century BCE, one of the most ancient ever found in the Jerusalem area, were found in excavations at Ein Hanniya.
An Important and Rare Prehistoric Site about Half a Million Years Old Uncovered in Jaljulia in the Sharon Region
Among the finds uncovered in the excavation, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in a joint operation with Tel Aviv University, are hundreds of flint hand axes used by prehistoric humans.
Unique Stamped Piece of Clay unearthed in the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem
The important find was discovered over the course of the IAA's excavations at the site, together with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. According to the excavator, Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, "the Bible mentions two governors of Jerusalem, and this finding reaffirms that such a position was actually held by someone in the city some 2,700 years ago."
This extraordinary find is a lump of clay, stamped and pre-fired. It measures 13 X 15 mm and is 2-3 mm thick. The upper part of the sealing depicts two figures facing each other, and the lower part holds an inscription in ancient Hebrew script.
The sealing was presented to the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, during his visit to Davidson's Center, near the Western Wall, last week. After the completion of the scientific research, the sealing will be on temporary exhibit in the mayor's office.
Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, excavator of the site located in the northwestern part of the western Wall Plaza, on behalf of the IAA,believes that "the sealing had been attached to an important transport and served as some sort of logo, or as a tiny souvenir, which was sent on behalf of the governor of the city." Dr. Weksler-Bdolah further suggests that "it is likely that one of the buildings in our excavation was the destination of this transport sent by the city governor. The finding of the sealing with this high-rank title, in addition to the large assemblage of actual seals found in the building in the past, supports the assumption that this area, located on the western slopes of the western hill of ancient Jerusalem, some 330 ft. west of the Temple Mount, was inhabited by highly ranked officials during the First Temple period." According to Dr. Weksler-Bdolah "this is the first time that such a sealing is found in an authorized excavation. It supports the biblical rendering of the existence of a governor of the city in Jerusalem 2,700 years ago."
Prof. Tallay Ornan of the Hebrew University, and Prof. Benjamin Sass of Tel Aviv University, studied the sealing and describe it thus: "above a double line are two standing men, facing each other in a mirror-like manner. Their heads are depicted as large dots, lacking any details. The hands facing outward are dropped down, and the hands facing inward are raised Each of the figures is wearing a striped, knee-length garment. In the register beneath the double line is an inscription in ancient Hebrew: לשרער, with no spacing between the words and no definite article. It denotes לשר העיר, i.e., "belonging to the governor of the city." Prof. Ornan and Prof. Sass add, that "the title 'governor of the city' is known from the Bible and from extra-biblical documents, referring to an official appointed by the king. Governors of Jerusalem are mentioned twice in the Bible: in Kings B, Joshua is the governor of the city in the days of Hezekiah, and in Chronicles B, Maaseiahis the governor of the city in the days of Josiah.
Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem, when the find was presented to him said that "it is very overwhelming to receive greetings from First Temple-period Jerusalem. This shows that already 2,700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city. Jerusalem is one of the most ancient capitals of the world, continually populated by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. Today we have the privilege to encounter another one of the long chain of persons and leaders that built and developed the city. We are grateful to be living in a city with such a magnificent past, and are obligated to ensure its strength for generations to come, as we daily do."
According to Dr. Yuval Baruch, archaeologist of the Jerusalem District in the IAA:"the outstanding significance of the finds brought upon the decision to conserve the First Temple-period building exposed in the Western Wall plaza excavations and open it to visitors".
The William Davidson Foundation funded the construction of the Davidson Center and archaeological park, which is currently being completely renovated. The Foundation was founded in 2005 by William Davidson, noted businessman and philanthropist, and is a private family foundation that works to honor its founders' memory by preserving and enhancing the cultural, civic and economic vitality, in Southeast Michigan, Israel and the Jewish Community.
The Davidson center and archaeological park offer a window into Jerusalem on the eve of its destruction by the Romans in 70 C.E. The site contains direct artifacts from the city's destruction as well as a significant archaeological remains from the Byzantine and early Arab periods.
Photos & Video Credits: Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, Clara Amit,
Yoli Schwartz, Yaniv Berman,
Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority