A 1700-year-old boundary stone, inscribed with the name "Kfar Nafah" in Greek, discovered

According to archaeologists: It is exciting and amazing that the place's name has been preserved for so many years, even when no signs of settlement continuity were found in the area.

The "Nafah army base" recently made headlines in the famous Israeli TV series on the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Valley of Tears  (Hebrew: Sh'at Ne' ila) on Channel Kan 11; but, an archaeological excavation conducted on the Golan Heights last month revealed for the first time that the name "Nafah" was given to the site as early as 1700 years ago.

During an archaeological excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the boundary stone was discovered when the Mekorot Water Company was about to install a water pipeline at Nafah. This is within the framework of the projects that the company is carrying out for laying water lines in the Golan Heights, with a total length of 20 kilometers. The water pipeline of Nafah-Kedmat Zvi will serve as the main water line in the water supply system to IDF bases in the Golan Heights and the town of Katzrin.

At the site of the excavation, directed by Dina Avshalom-Gorni and Yardenna Alexandre of the Israel Antiquities Authority, with pre-military academy (mechinot) students from Maayan Baruch and Kela Alon, as well as volunteers from the community, a boundary stone inscribed in Greek was unexpectedly uncovered. The stone was uncovered in secondary use to cover a tomb.

The decipherment of the inscription by Israel Antiquities Authority, Dr. Danny Syon, together with Prof. Haim Ben-David from the Kinneret Academic College, aroused great excitement. According to researchers, "The inscription, which mentions the name "Kfar Nafah" (Nafah village), was inscribed on a boundary stone. Under the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (around 300 CE), these stones were placed as the boundaries of villages for the purpose of collecting taxes. This is the first boundary stone in the center of the Golan Heights, on which appears the name of a place that has been preserved to this day; Nafah was the name of the Syrian village that existed here until the Six-Day War in 1967, and now Nafah is the adjacent military base"." Researchers add that "Usually, ancient names are preserved as a result of settlement continuity which preserves ancient names from generation to generation. However, at Nafah, the ancient remains have not revealed such settlement continuity. Since the Byzantine period - about 1500 years ago – and up to modern times, settlements are not known here, apart from briefly during the Mamluk period (13th -15th centuries CE). For this reason, the preservation of the name is intriguing and astonishing. The discovery of the boundary stone inscribed with the name of a settlement has been preserved to this day, is a rare occurrence."

The stone reinforces the possibility that names of ancient settlements were preserved for many generations, even where settlement continuity did not take place."

According to Yardenna Alexandre and Dina Avshalom-Gorni of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The fascinating excavation at Nafah uncovered a public building from the Mamluk period, which served as a road station. This is the first public administrative building from the Mamluk period excavated in the Golan Heights. The road station was built on the main road connecting the Galilee to Damascus and probably served as a stopover and resting place for traders and government officials traveling from Safed, the capital city of Mamluk Galilee, to Damascus. Here they dined and slept, reorganized their equipment for the journey, and cared for the horses. In the building's courtyard, the remains of a furnace and some iron slag were found, indicating that an ironsmith may have worked here, repairing the horseshoes during the stopover.”

An Ancient Two-Shekalim Weight Discovered Adjacent to the Western Wall in Jerusalem

An ancient limestone-made weight, dating to the Iron age – the First Temple period, was discovered in an archaeological excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in conjunction with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation beneath Wilson’s Arch. Adjacent to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The weight, corresponding to the known measurement unit of two shekalim, was retrieved during the sifting of earthen fills by the City of David sifting project. The excavation is nearing its completion, unearthing fascinating discoveries soon to be included in the tour of the Western Wall Tunnels.

Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation: “How exciting, in the month of Tishrei, whose symbol is the scales of justice, to find a souvenir from the First Temple period.  Now, when access to the Western Wall is restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, this finding strengthens the eternal connection between the Jewish nation, Jerusalem, and the Western Wall while offering us all encouragement.”

According to Dr. Barak Monnickendam-Givon and Tehillah Lieberman, directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “The weight is dome-shaped with a flat base. On the top of the weight is an incised Egyptian symbol resembling a Greek gamma (γ), representing the abbreviated unit ‘shekel.’ Two incised lines indicate the double mass: two shekalim. One of the uses of the shekel weight system during the First Temple period was to collect an annual tax of half a shekel dedicated to the sacrifices and upkeep of the Temple. According to previous finds, the known weight of a single shekel is 11.5 grams. Thus a double shekel should way 23 grams – precisely as this weight does. The accuracy of the weight attests to advanced technical skills and the weight given to precise trade and commerce in ancient Jerusalem. Coins were not yet in use during this period. Therefore the accuracy of the weights played a significant role in business.

Year-round and especially during the times of pilgrimage, the area at the foot of the Temple Mount was sure to be busy. Locals and pilgrims would have traded for sacrifices and offerings as well as for food, souvenirs, and other commodities. A weight such as the one discovered would have been used to measure accurate amounts of products at the market.”

During previous archaeological excavations beneath Wilson’s Arch, directed by Dr. Joe Uziel, Tehillah Lieberman, and Dr. Avi Solomon, several stone courses of the Western Wall were exposed, after being covered with earthen fills some 1800 years ago.  The renewed excavation continues the previous discoveries of the preceding dig. “The unique finding from the First Temple Period, discovered in a context dating several centuries later,  to the Roman period, indicates that the area of the Western Wall encapsulates various remains from a wide range of periods reflecting the centrality of the area for many centuries” added Dr. Monnickendam-Givon and Lieberman.

'Operation Mikveh': A 2000-year-old mikveh, a ritual bath, uncovered in salvage archaeological excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority

The Ritual Bath is a Significant Discovery Providing Evidence for the First Time for Jewish Farmsteads in the Galilee in the Second Temple Period

Prior to the construction of a major interchange at the Hamovil junction in Lower Galilee,  an archaeological salvage dig carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed the remains of a Jewish agricultural farmstead from the Second Temple period (2000 years ago), including a magnificent mikveh. The excavations were conducted with the help of workers from the village of Kfar Manda, students of pre-military preparatory programs, and volunteers from the vicinity, including residents of the nearby kibbutz Hannaton.

According to Abd Elghani Ibrahim and Dr. Walid Atrash, Directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The existence of a mikveh, a purification facility, unequivocally indicates that the residents of the ancient farm were Jewish, who led a religious and traditional way of life, and maintained purity as a Torah commandment. Ritual baths have been used in daily life by Jews since the Second Temple period and until today.
According to Ibrahim and Dr. Atrash, "the discovery of the mikveh in the farmstead changes what we knew about the lifestyle of the Jews in the Second Temple period. Until now, we hadn't discovered Jewish farms in the Galilee. It was considered that the Jews in the Roman period didn't live on farms outside the villages or towns. The discovery of the farmstead at some distance from the village of the Shikhin and the largely Jewish town of Sepphoris showed that Jews also settled in farmsteads, that perhaps functioned as the rural hinterland of Sepphoris".

About seventeen hundred years have passed since the farm was destroyed in an earthquake, and about fourteen hundred years since the site was finally abandoned.

Recently, a huge highway interchange is being constructed over the valley. The need to anchor one of the supporting bridge columns necessitated constructing deep foundation trenches in the bedrock. As the archaeologists excavated next to the construction works, the mikveh was uncovered.  Since it was not possible to preserve the mikveh on the site, the idea arose to detach the installation from the rock and to transplant it to a protected site for display, for the benefit of the public.

The Israel Antiquities Authority, together with members of Kibbutz Hannaton, cooperated, and the kibbutz residents launched a crowd-funding campaign for the project, with the aim of placing the ancient mikveh next to the functioning mikveh on the kibbutz. In cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, Netivei Israel, the Jezreel Valley Regional Council, and the residents, the necessary funding was obtained to move the ancient mikveh.

In the past week, preparatory work for the transfer was carried out.  The mikveh, whose weight is approximately 57 tons, was first sawed off on all sides, detached from bedrock, and surrounded by a steel cage in order to protect it and allow it to be hoisted. Today, to the cheers of the residents, it was hoisted in the air and placed in its new place.

Magnificent and rare remains of a royal structure from the time of the Kings of Judah discovered

Has the original 'Commissioner’s Palace’ from the First Temple period been discovered on the Armon Hanatziv Promenade?

Archaeologists: “The column capitals, identified with royal construction of the First Temple period, are the most beautiful and impressive that have been uncovered to date.” The discovery testifies to an “exit from the walls” in First Temple period Jerusalem, which seems to testify to a period of renewed security felt sometime after the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem ended. These remarkable capitals were first unveiled to the public today (Thursday) at an event attended by Minister of Culture, Hili Tropper, and they will be on display in the City of David in the Jerusalem Walls National Park, ahead of the annual Megalim Conference.

Who was privileged to live in the monumental structure possessing a breathtaking view of the City of David and the Temple, which was uncovered in an archeological excavation on the Armon Hanatziv (Commissioner’s Palace, also known as Governor’s House) Promenade? Was it one of the Kings of Judah, or was it perhaps a Jerusalemite family of nobility and wealth during the First Temple period?

A rare, impressive, and very special collection of several dozen adorned architectural stone artifacts, which together were part of a magnificent structure, was discovered in the Antiquities Authority’s excavations in preparation for the establishment of a visitor center on the promenade at the site where the home of artist Shaul Schatz once stood. The excavations were funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Jerusalem Municipality, and the Ir David Foundation (Elad).

The stirring findings were unveiled to the public today (Thursday) at a festive event in the City of David in the Jerusalem Walls National Park, attended by Minister of Culture, Hili Tropper, Archaeologist from the Jerusalem region of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Dr. Yuval Baruch, and Chairman of the Ir David Foundation, David Be’eri. The findings will be on display in an exhibition at the City of David over the next few days, and an account of their significance will be given online at the Megalim Conference, to be held this coming Tuesday on the City of David website.

These stone artifacts are made of soft limestone, with decorative carvings, and among them are capitals of various sizes in the architectural style known as ‘Proto-Aeolian’ - one of the most significant royal building features of the First Temple period, and one of the visual symbols of the period. The importance of this artistic motif as a symbol representing the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel led the Bank of Israel to choose it as the image that adorns the five shekel coin of the State of Israel.

The unveiled collection includes, among other things, three complete medium-sized stone capitals and items from lavish window frames, incorporating balustrades composed of stylish columns on which a series of Proto-Aeolian style capitals of a tiny size were affixed. 

According to Yaakov Billig, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s excavation: “This is a very exciting discovery. This is the first-time discovery of scaled-down models of the giant Proto-Aeolian capitals, of the kind, found thus far in the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, where they were incorporated above the royal palace gates. The level of workmanship on these capitals is the best seen to date, and the degree of preservation of the items is rare.”

It was with great surprise that two of the three-column capitals were found neatly buried, one on top of the other. “At this point, it is still difficult to say who hid the capitals in the way they were discovered, and why he did so, but there is no doubt that this is one of the mysteries at this unique site, to which we will try to offer a solution,” Billig adds. Unlike the capitals, which were discovered preserved in excellent condition, the rest of the building was destroyed, probably in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC or thereabout. The remains of the building were demolished and dismantled for the purpose of making secondary use of valuable items.

In Billig’s estimation, the magnificent structure -built in the period between the days of King Hezekiah and King Josiah- indicates the restoration of Jerusalem after the Assyrian siege of the city in 701 BC, during the reign of King Hezekiah – a siege which the city barely survived.

“This discovery, along with the palace previously uncovered in Ramat Rachel and the administrative center recently uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the slopes of Arnona, attests to a new revival in the city and a somewhat ‘exit from the walls’ of the First Temple period, after the Assyrian siege. We reveal villas, mansions, and government buildings in the area outside the walls of the city. This testifies to the relief felt by the city’s residents and the recovery of Jerusalem’s development after the Assyrian threat was over,” says Billig.

The Minister of Culture and Sport, Hili Tropper, said: “I am happy and excited with the revelation of the remains from the period of the Kings of Judah. The uncovering of the remains of the building reflects the glorious roots of the Jewish people and our rich past here in the capital city of Jerusalem. I see great importance in the work of the Israel Antiquities Authority and in the work of the City of David in their discoveries over the years, which reveal parts of the illustrious Jewish past. This is an opportunity to thank the Ir David Foundation (Elad) that funded this important excavation. The past is the cornerstone of a nation, and the cornerstone of culture and its discovery also affects the present as well as the future. The Ministry of Culture and Sports will continue to support this important enterprise of heritage, history, and culture.”

Recognition of the strategic and panoramic nature of the area was also expressed some 2,600 years later when the British Mandatory administration built its central seat of government, known as the “Commissioner's Palace" (Armon Hanatziv) there. A few decades later, one of the most famous promenades in the State of Israel was established on the site, the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, from which the spectacular view of the City of David and the Temple Mount can be seen to this day.

A Hoard of 425 Coins of Pure Gold from 1,100 Years Ago Uncovered

An impressive and rare coin hoard from the Abbasid period, dating around 1,100 years ago, was uncovered by youth volunteering before their army service, in an archeological excavation carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority, during the construction of a neighborhood in the center of the country.

Pre-army service “Shnat Sherut” youth regularly participate during the summer holidays in excavations as part of the Israel’s Antiquities Authority’s policy to bringing them closer to their past. Last Tuesday, two of these youth, of the “Cultural Movement” in Holon,  suddenly noted something shimmering in the ground while working at the excavation.

According to Oz Cohen, one of the youth, “It was amazing. I dug in the ground, and when I excavated the soil, saw what looked like very thin leaves. When I looked again, I saw these were gold coins. It was really exciting to find such a special and ancient treasure.”

According to the directors of the excavation, Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. Elie Haddad of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The hoard, deliberately buried in the ground in a clay jar, contained 425 gold coins, most of which date to the Abbasid period. The person who buried this treasure 1,100 years ago must have expected to retrieve it and even secured the vessel with a nail so that it would not move. We can only guess what prevented him from returning to collect this treasure. Finding gold coins, certainly in such a considerable quantity, is extremely rare. We rarely find them in archeological excavations, given that gold has always been extremely valuable, melted down and reused from generation to generation. The coins made of pure gold that does not oxidize in the air were found in excellent condition as if buried the day before. Their finding may indicate that international trade took place between the area’s residents and remote areas.”

According to Dr. Robert Kool, a coin expert at the Israel Antiquities Authority, “It is extremely rare to find treasures from the Abbasid period in excavations in Israel - especially gold coins. This is one of the earliest known caches from this period (end of the 9th century) found in the country. The coins are made of pure gold - 24 carats. The total weight of the hoard is about 845 grams of pure gold - a significant amount of money in those days. For example, with such a sum, a person could buy a luxurious house in one of the best neighborhoods in Fustat, the enormous wealthy capital of Egypt in those days. From an initial examination of the coins, most of them date to the end of the

9th century CE. During this period, the region was part of the vast Abbasid Caliphate, stretching from Persia in the east to North Africa in the west, and whose center of government was in Baghdad, Iraq. The hoard consists of full gold dinars, but also – what is unusual - contains about 270 small gold cuttings - pieces of gold dinars cut to serve as ‘small change.” The cutting of gold and silver coins was a regular feature of the monetary system in Islamic countries after the 850s, with the sudden disappearance of bronze and copper coins.

One of the cuttings is an exceptionally rare piece, never found in excavations in Israel: a fragment of a gold solidus of the Byzantine emperor Theophilos (829 – 842 CE), minted in empire’s capital of Constantinople. The appearance of this small byzantine coin fragment in an Islamic coin hoard is rare material evidence of the continuous connections (war, trade) between the two rival empires during this period.

According to Dr. Kool, “this rare treasure will undoubtedly be a major contribution to research, as finds from the Abbasid period in Israel are relatively few. Hopefully, the study of the hoard will tell us more about a period of which we still know very little. “

A fortress from the Biblical period of the Judges period found near Kiryat Gat

Researchers: The fortress was built 3,200 years ago as a Canaanite attempt to defend against the rising of the Philistines that arrived at the area * The site was prepared for public visitation in a collaboration between Israel Antiquities Authority and the Jewish National Fund (KKL). The opening ceremony will take place this Tuesday, August 25th.

A Canaanite fortress from the middle of the 12 century B.C – The days of the biblical judges, was found by Israel Antiquities Authority and teenage volunteers in an excavation close to Kibbutz Galon, near Kiryat Gat. The site is now being opened for the public free of charge, in a collaboration between Israel Antiquities Authority and the Jewish National Fund (KKL).

According to archaeologists Saar Ganor and Itamar Weissbein of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The fortress we found provides a glimpse into the geopolitical reality described in the book of Judges, in which the Canaanites, Israelites, and Philistines are fighting each other. In this period, the land of Canaan was ruled by the Egyptians, and its inhabitants were under their custody. Then, during the 12 century B.C., two new players entered the game: the Israelites and the Philistines. This led to a series of violent territorial disputes. The Israelites settled in non-fortified settlements at the Benjamin and Judean Mountains. Meanwhile, The Philistines accumulated power in the Southern Coastal Plain and established big cities such as Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Gat. In an attempt to conquer more areas, The Philistines confronted the Egyptians and the Canaanites on the borderline, which probably passed at the Guvrin river, between the Philistine kingdom of Gat and the Canaanite kingdom of Lachish. It seems that Galon fortress was built as a Canaanite/Egyptian attempt to cope with the new Geopolitical situation. However, in the middle of the 12 century B.C., the Egyptians left the land of Canaan and returned to Egypt. Their departure led to the destruction of the now unprotected Canaanite cities – a destruction that was probably led by the Philistines.

According to Ganor and Weissbein, "the stories of the judges in the bible demonstrate clearly the complicated Geopolitical reality and the struggle for the control of territories during the establishment of new political powers in the land of Israel. The fortress structure, called Egyptian "governor houses," is known from other sites excavated in Israel. The fortress was built in a strategic location, from which it is possible to watch the main road that went along the Guvrin river – a road connecting the coastal plain to the Judea plains.

The size of the fortress is 18X 18 m' and watchtowers were built in the four corners. A massive threshold, carved from one rock weighing around 3 tons, was preserved at the entrance of the building. Inside the fortress was a courtyard paved with stone slabs and columns in the middle. Rooms were constructed from both sides of the courtyard. Hundreds of Pottery vessels, some still whole, were found in the rooms of the fortress, including special vessels such as Bowl and Cup that were probably used for religious ritual. A large number of bowls were also found in the rooms, some of which were made in a style copying Egyptian bowls.

The remains of the fortress were uncovered with the help of students from the Israel studies department at the Multidisciplinary school in Be'er Sheva, Students from Nachshon pre-military preparatory program, and other volunteers. This was done as part of the Israel Antiquities Authority policy to bring the general public, and especially the young generation, closer to Archaeology.

According to Talila Lifshitz, director of the community and forest department in the southern region of the Jewish National Fund, "Galon fortress provides a fascinating glimpse into the story of a relatively unknown period in the history of the country, and it provides a touristic and experiential attraction for visitors. The fortress is located in Guvrin forest and was prepared for public visitation in a collaboration between Israel Antiquities Authority and the southern region of the Jewish National Fund (KKL). A picnic area and some explanatory signs were set up to enhance the archaeological experience in nature and in the KKL forests. The official opening of the site for the public will take place this Tuesday, August 25th.

Israel’s Most Ancient “Soapery” Discovered in an Archaeological Excavation Site in Rahat

A 1300-year-old olive oil soap making workshop, farmhouses, and gameboards were discovered in an excavation site by the Israel Antiquities Authority and youth participants in the southern city of Rahat

Israel’s most ancient soap making workshop has been exposed in recent weeks at an excavation site run by the Israel Antiquities Authority and young participants, inside a wealthy home of the Islamic period (approximately 1200 years ago), in the Bedouin city of Rahat.

Over the last six months, hundreds of youth and adults have been employed at the extensive archaeological excavation managed by the Israel Antiquities Authority, including participants from among the local Bedouin residents, university students, and students in pre-military preparatory programs. The excavation was supervised by Dr. Elena Kogen-Zehavi, with the help of Dr. Yael Abadi-Rice and Avinoam Lehavi. The purpose was to re-establish the connection between the community and the local history. The excavations were carried out in light of new neighborhood developments in Rahat, initiated by the Authority for Development and Settlement of the Bedouin in the Negev.

The production of olive oil soap is mentioned in writings since the 10th century CE, and it has been a significant industry in the region from the Middle Ages and until the early 20th century. During the soap-making process, olive oil was used as the base material, mixed with ashes produced by burning salsola soda (saltwort) plants, which contain potash and water. The mixture was cooked for about seven days, after which the liquid material was transferred to a shallow pool, where the soap hardened for about ten days until it could be cut into bars. These were piled for additional drying, and the final product was ready after an additional period of two months. The site at Rahat displays facilities associated with this industry. The Antiquities Authority’s researchers obtained samples from the finds, with the purpose of identifying the materials used in the production process.

According to Dr. Elena Kogen Zehavi, the IAA excavation director, “This is the first time that a soap workshop as ancient as this has been discovered, allowing us to recreate the traditional production process of the soap industry. For this reason, it is unique. We are familiar with important soap-making centers from a much later period – the Ottoman period. These were discovered in Jerusalem, Nablus, Jaffa, and Gaza.”

According to Svetlana Tallis, IAA Northern Negev District archaeologist, “One of the underground spaces of the wealthy building contained another exciting finding, shedding light on the daily life of the inhabitants – a round limestone gameboard used for a strategy game called the “Windmill.” This game is known to have existed as early as the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE (the Roman period), and it is still being played to this very day.” Nearby, a second gameboard known as “Hounds and Jackals,” or “Fifty-eight Holes,” was also found. This game was first played in Egypt, and it spread to other parts of the Mediterranean basin and to Mesopotamia around 2000 BCE. In Israel, it has been discovered in ancient Megiddo and Tel Beth Shan. It was played by two players throwing dice or sticks that determined the number of places to move with each throw. The goal of the game seems to have been a specific point on the board.

According to the mayor of Rahat, Fahiz Abu Saheeben, “The excavation has revealed the Islamic roots of Rahat. We are proud of the excavation and happy that it took place in cooperation with the local community. We enjoy good relations with the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Authority for Development and Settlement of the Bedouin in the Negev, and we hope to construct a visitors’ center that tourists and the local community will be able to enjoy.”

Evidence of the path of modern humans leaving Africa 100,000 years ago, was discovered in Dimona

Local youths working with the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered the Stone Age site during the summer * This is the first place in Israel where in situ evidence has been found of the particular stone knapping technology used by humans who left Africa * The discovery was revealed in an archeological excavation facilitating the construction of a solar energy field and was underwritten by the Israel Electric Company

Recent excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority together with local youths from  Dimona, in preparation for the construction of a solar energy field and funded by the Electric Company, discovered a  Middle Paleolithic flint knapping site that existed between 250,000 - 50,000 years ago. Those who helped uncover the unique prehistoric site were youths from the city, who worked in the excavation as a summer job during the economically challenging period of the COVID-19.

The newly discovered site near Dimona is small. Prehistoric humans seemingly arrived here to access the abundant natural flint, from which they made their tools.
The site here is unique because of the flint knapping technology, known as ‘Nubian Levallois,’ which originated in Africa. Researchers trace the path of this technology to understand the migration routes of modern humans from Africa to the rest of the world, about 100,000 years ago.

According to the excavation directors, the prehistory researchers Talia Abulafia and Maya Oron from the Israel Antiquities Authority, “This is the first evidence of a ‘Nubian’ flint industry in an archeological excavation in Israel. The knapped flint artifacts remained right in the first place where the humans sat and created the tools. This manufacturing is identified with modern human populations who lived in East Africa 150-100 thousand years ago and migrated from there around the world. In the last decade, quite a few Nubian sites have been discovered in the Arabian Peninsula. This has led many scholars to claim that modern humans left Africa through the Arabian Peninsula. The Dimona site appears to present the northernmost example of Nubian flint output found in situ, thus marking the migration route: from Africa to Saudi Arabia, and from there, perhaps, to the Negev.

The excavation took place while dealing with the challenges presented by COVID-19, which affect the health and economy of Israeli citizens in general, and the residents of Dimona in particular. According to Svetlana Talis, Northern Negev District Archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority, “Dimona is one of the most severely affected towns in the second wave of the Corona outbreak and was even on the verge of lockdown. After wondering what to do about summer holidays, local youths from Dimona came to the excavation to work and help their families, and to uncover a site of particular importance. All of this is part of a project promoted and directed by the Israel Antiquities Authority in recent years, which seeks to bring our youth closer to their cultural heritage.”

A 1,300-year old church, apparently part of a monastery, was uncovered in the village of Kfar Kama, near Mount Tabor

The church was discovered in Kfar Kama, in archaeological excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the Kinneret Academic College and local volunteers * The discovery in the Galilee excited the Head of the Greek Catholic Church in Israel, who personally came to visit the site * The excavation was conducted before the construction of a playground, at the initiative of the Kfar Kama Local Council and the Jewish National Fund.

A 1,300year-old church, with ornate mosaic floors, was recently revealed in an excavation in the Circassian village of Kfar Kama, near Kfar Tabor, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the Kinneret Academic College, and with assistance from local volunteers. The Catholic Archbishop Dr. Youssef Matta, Head of the Greek Catholic Church in Israel, personally visited the site and was inspired by the ancient remains.

The excavation directed led by archaeologist Nurit Feig on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, and in collaboration with Prof. Moti Aviam of the Kinneret Academic College, took place before the building of a playground,  initiated by the Kfar Kama Local Council and the Jewish National Fund.

According to Feig, “The church, measuring 12 × 36 m, includes a large courtyard, a narthex foyer, and a central hall. Particular to this church is the existence of three apses (prayer niches), while most churches were characterized by a single apse. The nave and the aisles were paved with mosaics, which partially survived. Their colorful decoration stands out, incorporating geometric patterns, and blue, black, and red floral designs. An unusual discovery was the small reliquary, a stone box used to preserve sacred relics.

An additional series of rooms was partially uncovered adjacent to the church. According to a ground-penetrating radar inspection operated by Dr. Shani Libbi, there are other rooms at the site yet to be excavated. According to the researchers, “it is quite possible that this large complex was a monastery.”

In the early 1960s, a smaller church with two chapels was excavated inside the village of Kfar Kama and was dated by the finds to the first half of the sixth century CE. According to Prof. Moti Aviam, “this was probably the village church, while the church now discovered was probably part of a contemporary monastery on the outskirts of the village.”

The discovery hints at the apparent importance of the Christian village settled in the Byzantine period close to Mount Tabor, a site of primary religious significance for Christianity, identified as the site of the Transfiguration. In 1876, when the Circassian Shapsug tribe first settled in Kfar Kama, they used the stones of the ancient village to build their houses.

The discovery of the church in Kfar Kama will contribute to the extensive research project on the Christian settlement in the Galilee that is being carried out by Prof. Moti Aviam and Dr. Jacob Ashkenazi of the Kinneret Institute of Galilean Archaeology in the Kinneret Academic College.

A significant administrative storage center from the days of Kings Hezekiah and Menashe uncovered in Jerusalem near the US Embassy

Over 120 seal impressions stamped on jars found in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem provide a sneak-peek into tax collection in the period of the Judean monarchs.

The excavations in Arnona, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, were funded by the Israel Land Authority and administrated by the Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation and revealed one of the largest and most important collections of seal impressions uncovered in Israel. The impressions were stamped with the letters "LMLK" (to the King) written in ancient Hebrew script and the name of an ancient city in the Kingdom of Judah. Other seals are associated with private individuals who bear the name of a senior official of the Kingdom of Judah or a wealthy individual.

What challenge was the Kingdom of Judah preparing for 2,700 years ago in today's Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem, and can it be related to a dramatic historical event? A significant administrative storage center from the days of Kings Hezekiah and Menashe (8th century to the middle of the 7th century BCE) has recently been exposed to archeological excavations in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem. The excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority US Embassy is funded by the Israel Land Authority and administrated by the Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation for the development of a new neighborhood.

Excavation at the site revealed an unusually large structure built of concentric ashlars walls. Of particular interest, 120 jar handles were found bearing seal impressions containing ancient Hebrew script! Many of the handles bare the inscription "LMLK" - (belonging) to the King- with the name of an ancient city. In contrast, others feature the names of senior officials or wealthy individuals from the First Temple Period. This is one of the largest and most important collections of seal impressions ever uncovered in archaeological excavations in Israel.

According to Neria Sapir and Nathan Ben-Ari, directors of the excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This is one of the most significant discoveries from the period of the Kings in Jerusalem made in recent years. At the site we excavated, there are signs that governmental activity managed and distributed food supplies not only for a shortage but administered agricultural surplus amassing commodities and wealth. Evidence shows that at this site, taxes were collected in an orderly manner for agricultural products such as wine and olive oil. The site once dominated large agricultural plots and orchards of olive trees and grapevines, which included agricultural, industrial facilities such as wine presses for winemaking. The site is dated to a period documented in the Bible by upheavals such as that of the Assyrian conquest campaign - under the command of King Sennacherib in the days of King Hezekiah. It may be that the government economic provisions indicated by the stamp seals are related to these events; however, the excavation revealed that the site continued to be active after the Assyrian conquest. Moreover, the array of stamped seals indicated that the system of taxation remained uninterrupted during this period. It is interesting to note that some of the storage jar handles are inscribed with the names of senior officials and wealthy individuals from the Kingdom of Judah - Naham Abdi, Naham Hatzlihu, Meshalem Elnatan, Zafan Abmetz, Shaneah Azaria, Shalem Acha, and Shivna Shachar. These names appear on storage jar handles at various sites across the Kingdom of Judah and attest to the elite position of those whose names are impressed on the jars. It is estimated that these are senior officials who were in charge of specific economic areas, or perhaps wealthy individuals at that time - those who owned large agricultural lands, propelled the economy of their district and owned private seals."

The excavators also posit that a large number of seal impressions at the site indicate that during the latter part of the Kingdom of Judah, the governmental activity took place in the area south of the City of David. It is also possible that this governmental activity was related to the nearby site of Ramat Rachel, which may be identified with the palace of the Kings of Judah and/or as an administrative center.

The majority of the seal impressions uncovered contain the ancient Hebrew letters "LMLK." These impressions are characterized by a sun disk flanked with two wings. Above the sun disc appears the word 'to the King' and below one of four cities in the kingdom of Judah: Hebron, Ziph, Socho, or Mmst. According to Sapir and Ben-Ari, while the identification of Hebron, Ziph, and Socho can be identified with known ancient cities in Judea in the Hebron Hills area, however, the identification of Mmst is still controversial."

During the ancient period, for reasons not understood, the large building at the site was covered over with a massive pile of flint stones forming an artificial hill measuring 20 meters high and extending over seven dunams (!). Even today, this huge pile of stones stands out from the surrounding hills and is visible from a great distance. According to the researchers, "These artificial stone hills have been identified at several sites in Jerusalem and are a phenomenon to the end of the First Temple period and have aroused the curiosity and fascination of Jerusalem researchers since the beginning of archeological research in the area. Nevertheless, the reason for the huge effort made in stacking them over many acres remains an unresolved archaeological mystery."

Another finding that sheds light on the character of the period is a collection of figurines – clay statuettes. According to archaeologists Sapir and Ben-Ari, "Some of the figurines are designed in the form of women, horse riders or as animals. These figurines are usually interpreted as objects used in pagan worship and idolatry - a phenomenon which, according to the Bible, was prevalent in the Kingdom of Judah." The researchers added that "It seems that shortly after the site was abandoned, with the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah in 586 BCE and the Babylonian exile, the site was resettled and administrative activity resumed. During this time, governmental activity at the site was connected to the Judean province upon the Return to Zion in 538 BCE under the auspices of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, which then ruled over the entire ancient Near East and Central Asia."

According to Dr. Yuval Baruch, the Jerusalem District Archaeologist of the IAA, "The archeological discoveries at Arnona identify the site as a key site - the most important in the history of the final days of the Kingdom of Judah and of the return to Zion decades after the destruction of the kingdom. This site joins a number of other key sites uncovered in the area of Jerusalem, which were connected to the centralized administrative system of the Kingdom of Judah from its peak until its destruction. The Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel Lands Authority recognize the importance of the site and its uniqueness and are working together to preserve and integrate these sites into the new neighborhood plan. This is part of the IAA's trend of sustainable development which views archeological excavations as a resource that must be preserved and presented to the public as part of local heritage, and not just as an academic field of study."