Scuba Diver Discovers 900-Year-Old Crusader Sword off Hof HaCarmel

The sword’s discovery suggests that the natural anchorage where it was found was also used by ships in the Crusader period * The diver, Shlomi Katzin, passed the sword on to the Israel Antiquities Authority and received a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship

Atlit resident Shlomi Katzin was scuba diving last Saturday off the Carmel coast when he was amazed to discover ancient artifacts on the sea bed, apparently uncovered by waves and undercurrents that had shifted the sand. He saw old stone anchors made of metal, pottery fragments, and an impressive sword with a one-meter long blade and a hilt measuring 30 cm in length.

Fearing that the find would be stolen or buried beneath subsequent shifting of the sands, Katzin took the sword ashore. Demonstrating outstanding citizenship, he contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority Northern District’s Robbery Prevention Unit inspector and reported the find to the Israel Antiquities Authority. The sword was handed over to the National Treasures Department, and Katzin received a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship.

According to Nir Distelfeld, Inspector for the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit, “The sword, which has been preserved in perfect condition, is a beautiful and rare find and belonged to a Crusader knight. It was found encrusted with marine organisms but is apparently made of iron. It is exciting to encounter such a personal object, taking you 900 years back in time to a different era, with knights, armor, and swords.”

“The Carmel coast contains many natural coves that provided shelter for ancient ships in a storm, and larger coves around which entire settlements and ancient port cities developed, such as Dor and Atlit,” explains Kobi Sharvit, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Marine Archaeology Unit. “These conditions have attracted merchant ships down the ages, leaving behind rich archaeological finds. The recently recovered sword is just one such find.”

Since June, the Israel Antiquities Authority has monitored the site where the anchors and the sword were found when Boaz Langford and Rafael Bahalul first discovered it. The site’s finds are very elusive since they appear and disappear with the movement of the sands. “The discovery of ancient finds by swimmers and leisure divers is a growing phenomenon in recent years, with the increasing popularity of such sports,” says Sharvit. “Underwater surveying is dynamic. Even the smallest storm moves the sand and reveals areas on the sea bed, meanwhile burying others. Therefore, it is vitally important to report any such finds and we always try to document them in situ to retrieve as much archaeological data as possible. The archaeological finds at the site show that it served as a small, temporary natural anchorage for ships seeking shelter. Identification of the various finds shows that the anchorage was used as early as the Late Bronze Age, 4,000 years ago. The recent discovery of the sword suggests that the natural cove was also used in the Crusader period, some 900 years ago.”

Israel Antiquities Authority’s general director, Eli Escusido, praised Shlomi for coming forward with the discovery. “Every ancient artifact that is found helps us piece together the historical puzzle of the Land of Israel. Once the sword has been cleaned and researched in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s laboratories, we will ensure it is displayed to the public.”

An Archaeological Sensation in Yavne: A Massive and Impressive Wine Factory is Exposed, The Largest Complex of Winepresses Known in the World from the Byzantine Period

The archaeologists: "Approximately two million liters of wine are produced here every year" * The huge 1,500-year-old industrial estate has been uncovered in archeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority as part of the development of the city of Yavne, at the initiative of the Israel Land Authority

 Yavne was a world wine powerhouse about 1,500 years ago: a vast and well-designed industrial estate from the Byzantine period, with an impressive wine production complex - the largest known in the world from this period, has been excavated in the city over the past two years. The Israel Antiquities Authority has conducted this considerable excavation as part of the Israel Land Authority's initiative to expand the city. The plant includes five magnificent wine presses, warehouses for aging and marketing the wine, kilns for firing the clay amphorae in which the wine was stored, tens of thousands of fragments, and intact earthen amphorae (jars), well-planned access between the facilities, and more.

Drinking wine was very common in ancient times for children and adults alike. Since the water was not always sterile and or even tasty, wine was also used as a kind of "concentrate" to improve the taste or substitute for drinking water. Each of the exposed winepresses covered an area of ​​about 225 square meters. Around the treading floor, where the grapes were crushed barefoot to extract the liquid, compartments were built to ferment the wine, and next to them were two substantial octagonal-shaped vats for collecting the wine.

Dr. Elie Haddad, Liat Nadav-Ziv, and Dr. Jon Seligman, the excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, noted, "we were surprised to discover a sophisticated factory here, which was used to produce wine in commercial quantities. Furthermore, decorative niches in the shape of a conch, which adorned the winepresses, indicate the great wealth of the factory owners. A calculation of the production capacity of these winepresses shows that approximately two million liters of wine were marketed every year. At the same time, we should remember that the whole process was conducted manually. "

Between the winepresses, four large warehouses were discovered, which formed the winery of the factory. The wine is aged in elongated amphorae, known as 'Gaza jars.' The jars themselves, some of which were discovered complete, together with hundreds of thousands of fragments, were made at the site in large kilns.

"Gaza and Ashkelon Wine" was considered a quality wine brand of the ancient world, whose reputation has spread far and wide, a bit like Jaffa oranges denote their origin and quality today from Israel," the archaeologists explained. Everyone knew that this was a product from the Holy Land product, and everyone wanted more and more of this wine. The wine received its name as it was marketed through the ports of Gaza and Ashkelon. So far, other sites where wine was produced are known from the southern coastal plain, but now, we seem to have found the main production center of this prestigious wine. From here, commercial quantities were transported to the ports, and then throughout the Mediterranean basin".

Interestingly, the excavation in Yavne revealed rare and even older winepresses from the Persian period, about 2300 years ago. "In the Mishna, it is said that after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jewish leadership migrated to Yavne and that the sages of Yavne lived in a vineyard and studied Torah. The excavation shows a continuum of the existence of the wine industry at the site over many centuries of years", say the archaeologists.

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The Yavne excavation is a mega-excavation of the Israel Antiquities Authority with the participation of hundreds of workers, dozens of permanent staff and experts. As an organization that wants to connect the public to its heritage, the IAA has involved youth and residents of Yavne in the excavation. Our archaeologists are doing sacred work by exposing unknown chapters of the country's history while working hard in the heat and cold. I welcome the cooperation with the Israel Land Authority and the Yavne Municipality.”

According to the Israel Land Authority director, Yaakov Quint, "the treasures that are part of the land have been exposed thanks to the Israel Lands Authority's extensive investment in financing the Yavne archeological excavations." 1049). The Israel Lands Authority's plan, together with the Municipality of Yavne, includes 12,500 housing units and 450,000 square meters of commercial and employment space. The program consists of doubling up the railway track and new construction over the train station. As part of the preliminary works for the plan's development, the Israel Land Authority is investing approximately NIS 200 million in the works of the Israel Antiquities Authority, which will enable the archaeological finds to be exposed, investigated, and preserved for future generations."

Mayor of Yavne, Zvi Gov-Ari: "The impressive findings strengthen the recognition of the importance of the city of Yavne and its glorious past throughout history." We have decided that Tel Yavne will be preserved and upgraded to become a focal point for tourism and education in the future. The development plan includes a bridge over the site that will allow the finds to continue to exist. In cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority, this type of activity has not been done in other projects in the country, and this is an opportunity to thank all parties for their cooperation."

Rich People Have It Better: A 2700-Year-Old Private Toilet from the Days of the First Temple

The discovery, unearthed by the Israel Antiquities Authority in archaeological excavations near the Beit Shatz tourist complex at Armon Hanatziv in Jerusalem at the initiative of the City of David, will be presented tomorrow (Wednesday) as part of the conference “Innovations in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its surroundings” to be held in Jerusalem and Zoom.

A rare toilet cubicle from the First Temple Period, which was part of an ancient royal estate that operated at the end of the Kings of Judean period (7th century BCE), was discovered on the Armon Hanatziv promenade in Jerusalem, where the Israel Antiquities Authority and the City of David, about two years ago, uncovered the remains of a magnificent building which overlooked the City of David and the Temple Mount, including the private toilet cubicle.

The bathroom was hewn as a rectangular-shaped cabin with a carved toilet, which stood over a deep-hewn septic tank. The toilet, made of limestone, is designed for comfortable sitting, with a hole in the center. According to Yaakov Billig, Director of the Excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “A private toilet cubicle was very rare in antiquity, and only a few were found to date, most of them in the City of David. Only the rich could afford toilets. A thousand years later, the Mishnah and the Talmud raised various criteria that defined a rich person, and Rabbi Yossi suggested that to be rich is “to have the toilet next to his table.”

Beneath the toilet, a septic tank was discovered, containing a large amount of pottery from the First Temple Period and animal bones. The finds were carefully collected, including the soil fill. Their investigation may teach us about the lifestyles and diets of the First Temple people and ancient diseases.

Impressive architectural items were discovered in the excavation, including stone capitals designed by an artist, bearing a style typical to the days of the First Temple, and small architectural columns that served as railings for windows.

Archaeologists also identified evidence that a garden with ornamental trees, fruit trees, and aquatic plants was planted near the toilet cubicle. All of these allow researchers to recreate

a picture of an extensive and lush mansion, apparently - a magnificent palace from the days of the First Temple that stood on the site.

According to Eli Escusido, Director-General of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “It is fascinating to see how something obvious to us today, such as toilets, was a luxury item during the reign of the kings of Judah. ​​Jerusalem never ceases to amaze. One can only imagine the breathtaking view. I am convinced that the glorious past of the city will continue to be revealed to us in the future and will allow us to experience and learn about our past.”

The discovery will be presented tomorrow (Wednesday) at the conference “Innovations in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Surroundings,” which will last two days and will take place in Jerusalem and on Zoom. Details of the event are on the Facebook page of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The new tourist complex located at Armon Hanatziv is the result of a collaboration between the City of David, the Ministry of Tourism, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs, and the Jewish National Fund.

Second Temple Period Quarry Uncovered in Jerusalem

Jerusalem's ancient quarries were the primary source of building stones for monumental construction projects in the city, such as the Temple Mount.

Jerusalem's well-known high-tech industrial zone is called 'Har Hozvim' ('Quarrymen’s Hill’), but not everyone knows why. This week, before future development by the Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation, Israel Antiquities Authority excavations provided evidence of the name’s true meaning by discovering a vast ancient quarry that dates from the Second Temple period (some two thousand years ago).

The quarry, only part of which has been excavated, covers approximately 600 sq m but is probably at least two or three times as large. The massive building blocks extracted from it measured 1.5 x 2 m. The site provides a clear demonstration of all the phases of quarrying and stone preparation. “The large-scale building projects in ancient Jerusalem, such as the Temple Mount, required a vast amount of building materials and the ability to organize and coordinate the quarrying and transportation of thousands of building blocks to the ancient city,” says Moran Hagbi, the excavation’s director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Building blocks in various stages of working were discovered in the quarry. For example, we uncovered large, square stone blocks about to be detached from the bedrock before loading and transporting them to the ancient city. For us as archaeologists, this quarry presents a golden opportunity; because some of the stones were left in situ in this way, we can copy ancient technologies and experiment with them to recreate the processes by which the building stones were quarried.”

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists and conservationists are now planning to try and recreate the ancient methods used to detach the stone blocks and test the effectiveness of practices described in ancient sources.

To accomplish this, they will be using reproductions of ancient tools found in previous excavations and explicitly prepared for experimental purposes.

Previous excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in northern Jerusalem have uncovered multiple building-stone quarries and tools to detach the stones from the quarry face. The quarries cover a vast swathe of land to the north of the Old City and are a truly unique phenomenon. Because of the region’s topography and the stone's quality, they were the primary building blocks for the monumental projects in Jerusalem in the Second Temple period and at other times in history.

According to Israel Antiquities Authority’s general director, Eli Escusido, “In a symbolic way, Jerusalem’s current development boom presents us with an opportunity to excavate and research the great building projects in Jerusalem in antiquity. Before any development project begins in Jerusalem, our archaeologists are called upon to excavate and examine any ancient finds for the sake of future generations.”

Explore the remains of a recently excavated Byzantine church — virtually

Have you ever wondered how archaeological sites looked before they turned to ruins?

Now you can by visiting the Church of the Glorious Martyr App website. This online application allows you to explore the remains of a recently excavated Byzantine church and experience life-like reconstructions. The Israel Antiquities Authority excavations at the Church of the Glorious Martyr near Ramat Bet Shemesh, began four years ago and unearthed the remains of a large and impressive structure decorated with colorful mosaics. The church complex was constructed in stages during the sixth century C.E. and became an important stop for ancient pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.

After concluding excavations at the site, Benyamin Storchan, director of the excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, partnered with Roy Albag, architect and 3D researcher, to reconstruct the site. The reconstructions were created with the most advanced technologies and the best historical research. Notably, artifacts from the church excavations were incorporated into every level of the model. According to Storchan, “We wanted to create the most scientifically accurate model possible, and to do so we rebuilt the site using the artifacts and field data as the building blocks.”    

The complete digital reconstruction of the church is now available to the public via a web-based app (www.martyr.app) in cooperation with Wandering Inc. This immersive, interactive experience guides you through a lifelike 3D model of the church as it looked nearly 1,500 years ago via three tour options: a self-guided tour, an interactive video tour (best viewed with VR goggles), and a trivia-based tour.

Its release coincides with the first publication of the site featured in Biblical Archaeology Review magazine. See the full report in Benyamin Storchan’s article “A Glorious Church for a Mysterious Martyr,” published in the Fall 2021 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

For complimentary access to this issue, please join the Friends of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

For the first time since the Holocaust and Soviet destruction, the remains of the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and the Bimah of the Great Synagogue of Vilna were fully exposed

Just this morning, while sifting the soil in front of the Aron Kodesh, A silver Yad was found. The Yad is a pointer used to read from the Torah scroll

 In Vilnius, Lithuania, an excavation of the Great Synagogue of Vilna has fully exposed the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and the Bimah that was destroyed  60 years ago by the Nazis and the Soviets. This was announced today (Thursday) at noon that the Israeli-Lithuanian excavation expedition,  directed by the archaeologist of the Israel  Antiquities Authority, Dr.  Jon  Seligman,  at the end of this season of a six-year excavation project, aimed at uncovering the remains of the Great Synagogue of Vilna and parts of the Shulhoyf,  the center of the Jewish community and Torah life of Vilna. This excavation began with a ground-penetrating radar test and developed into the excavation and significant discoveries.

“Just this morning, while sifting the soil in front of the Aron Kodesh, we found a silver Yad. The Yad is a pointer used to read from the Torah scroll”, the archaeologists said.

The Great Synagogue of Vilna, built in the 17th century in Renaissance-Baroque style, was the major part of the “Shulhoyf”- a large Jewish center of Torah and community study. This was the heart of the Lithuanian Jewish community, and it included 12 synagogues and prayer halls,  a bathhouse and mikvehs (ritual baths),  the community council building, kosher meat stalls, a famous library named after “Strashun,” the Gaon of Vilna’s seminary, and more. Centuries of existence came to an end with the destruction of the Jewish community of Vilnius during the Holocaust. The monument, which was sacred to the Jews of Lithuania, was looted and burned by the Nazis, and in 1956-7, its remains were destroyed by the Soviet authorities. A modern school was built on the premises.

A few years ago, Dr. Jon Seligman visited Vilnius as part of a roots trip, sparking the idea of revealing and discovering what was left of the compound and the synagogue.

According to Dr. Seligman of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Justinas Rakas, of the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos,  whose excavation included a combined team of  Lithuanians, Israelis and North Americans, “When we arrived to excavate the Aron Kodesh and the Bimah, from which generations of Jews read the Torah scroll for 300 consecutive years, it became clear, unfortunately, that the core of the synagogue had been greatly damaged by Soviet destruction.  Still, two impressive staircases, clearly visible in the many images of the synagogue before its destruction was discovered and is evidence of their existence.    The excavation of Bimah was completed including the entire façade of the Bimah and the complete remains of one of the four huge pillars that supported the roof of the Great Synagogue.”

The Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark), whose remains were unearthed during the excavation season that has now ended, and which appears in all its glory in the many pictures of the synagogue, was renovated after a fire in the 18th century with the contribution of the “Yesod” Yehuda ben Eliezer (b. 1762). The foundation also donated the ornate Bimah, which was a two-story structure with four Corinthian columns and eight Tuscan columns.

The excavation of the Great Synagogue in Lithuania is a joint venture of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos, the Good Will Foundation, the Jewish Community of Lithuania, and Christopher Newport University.

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The recent discovery of magnificent parts of the Great Synagogue shows the potential for further excavation of the site, in anticipation of the exciting possibility of displaying the remains of the future.

An Ancient Jewish Coin from the Bar Kokhba Revolt Against the Romans, Bearing the Name of Its Leader, Shim'on, Will Fly with Eytan Stibbe into Space

Eli Escozido, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented the coin to Stibbe in Jerusalem today * Stibbe visited today the IAA Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory, where he viewed scrolls written in Aramaic over 2000 years ago, which already then discussed celestial bodies * "This is a thrilling meeting between the ancient world and the height of human innovation."

Eytan Stibbe will take the symbolic item with him on his upcoming 'Rakia' (firmament) mission into space: An 1900-year-old Jewish coin. Eli Escozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented the second Israeli in space, Eytan Stibbe, with a coin from the second Jewish revolt against the Romans, also known as the Bar Kokhba Revolt, bearing the name of its leader, or nasi ('prince'), Shim'on Bar Kokhba. The coin from Year Two of the revolt was recently uncovered in the Cave of Horror during the challenging Judean Desert Survey and Excavations Project carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Youth and volunteers. The project covered about half of the Judean Desert caves in search of ancient remains. This state-sponsored project was undertaken in collaboration with the Staff Officer for Archaeology – Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria and funded by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage.

The Ramon Foundation and the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Science and Technology are sending the second Israeli, Eytan Stibbe, into space, on a historic mission. The 'Rakia' mission aims to inspire the younger generation while advancing and expanding the Israel Aerospace Industry. The mission will enable Israeli entrepreneurs and researchers to advance innovative ideas and provide a rare opportunity to test their enterprises in a unique study environment, thereby contributing to international and Israeli research industries. In addition, the mission will make diversified educational activities accessible to benefit all Israeli children. It will be the first time Israeli children and youth will access the International Space Station in Hebrew.

Stibbe visited the Israel Antiquities Authority Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory in Jerusalem, where he was shown 2000-year-old scroll fragments of the Book of Enoch, written in Aramaic. The script tells the story of Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, who ascended to the heavens and was accompanied by angels who showed him the sun, the moon, and the stars.

The Israel Antiquities Authority researchers also showed Stibbe a unique camera that was developed with NASA technology, which was modified for documenting the scrolls and thus improving their preservation. The Dead Sea Scrolls considered the most important find of the twentieth century, include the most ancient copies of the books of the Bible. The camera can photograph each scroll fragment in 12 different wavelengths, some invisible to the human eye. This technology provides precise imaging of each scroll fragment, thus monitoring the scrolls' preservation state down to the pixel level.

At the end of the visit, Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented Stibbe with the coin for guardianship while on his trip to space. Both sides of the coin bear Jewish symbols typical of the Second Temple period: a palm tree with the inscription "Shim'on," of which only the letters m'n ("m'on") are discernable, on one side; and a vine leaf with the inscription "Year Two of the liberty of Israel" (sh b lhr is).

"The coins of the Bar Kokhba Revolt were minted by the rebels between 132 and 136 CE", says Dr. Gabriela Bijovsky, a coin specialist at the Israel Antiquities Authority. "It seems that the reason for the revolt was Hadrian's decree announcing Aelia Capitolina, previously Jerusalem, a Roman colony. Interestingly, the rebels used existing Roman coins and re-struck them with their themes and messages. Such an act was an outrageous affront to the Roman rulers. These coins had first and foremost a symbolic meaning, as Jewish propaganda, as they could be uses for commerce only among

The second Israeli in space, Eytan Stibbe, said: "As part of 'Rakia' mission to the International Space Station, I will be taking with me a bag filled with items that have a special meaning to me. It was clear to me that one of these items will be a symbol of Jewish history. I saw the coin, minted with the palm tree and vines leave, that, for me, represent the connection to the land, the love of the country, and the desire of the population of Israel in those years for independence. The palm tree particularly touched me, as it is the symbol of the Agricultural Research Organization at Volcani Center, where my father spent his life researching the country's soil. The 'Rakia' mission, which focuses on innovation, advancement of technology, science, education, art, and culture, provides me with the unique opportunity to take a 1900-year-old coin that represents the history of the Jewish people to space".

Eli Escozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said that "the fact that Eytan chose to take with him to space an ancient item bearing symbolic significance is very exciting and meaningful. This is a historic meeting between the ancient world and the height of human innovation. The Jewish rebels who struck this coin 1800 years ago while fighting for their lives and independence could not have imagined in their wildest dreams that after many centuries this item will make its way to outer space with a Jewish astronaut who lives in an independent Jewish state! The leader of the revolt, or the Prince (nasi) of Israel, Shim'on Bar Koziba, became memorialized as Bar Kokhba ("Son of a Star"), and today this name receives an added symbolic meaning."   

The Book of Enoch, shown to Eytan Stibbe, is an especially intriguing apocryphal text found among the Dead Sea Scrolls stored at and treated by the IAA Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory. This book, one of the Jewish Apocrypha (extra-biblical texts) that interpret and elaborate on the biblical stories, comprises several books written in the third-fourth centuries BCE. They tell in detail the story of Enoch, Noah's great-grandfather, and the "sons of God," who are mentioned only briefly in the Book of Genesis. According to the Book of Enoch, Enoch traveled through the heavens in the company of angels, who showed him the sun, the moon, and the stars, as well as rain, snow, and winds, and explained to him the workings of the cosmic order.

Evidence of agricultural and industrial activity from 1,500 years ago discovered in Ramat Ha-Sharon

An Israel Antiquities Authority excavation has yielded evidence of human activity in the Ramat Ha-Sharon region from as early as 1,500 years ago. The excavation was prompted by Ramat Ha-Sharon Municipality’s plans to establish a new residential neighborhood south of a Holiday Park slated to be built on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

Ramat Ha-Sharon’s history is far more ancient than generally assumed. “The excavation unearthed evidence of agricultural-industrial activity at the site during the Byzantine period – about 1,500 years ago. Among other finds, we discovered a large winepress paved with a mosaic as well as plastered installations and the foundations of a large structure that may have been used as a warehouse or even a farmstead,” explains Dr. Yoel Arbel, the excavation’s director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Inside the buildings and installations, we found many fragments of storage jars and cooking pots that were evidently used by laborers working in the fields here. We also recovered stone mortars and millstones that were used to grind wheat and barley and probably also to crush herbs and medicinal plants. Most of the stone implements are made of basalt from the Golan Heights and Galilee.”

One of the rare and unexpected finds retrieved from the excavation is a gold coin minted in 638 or 639 CE by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius. On one side, the emperor is depicted with his two sons and the reverse shows a cross on the hill of Golgotha where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified. An interesting addition to the coin is an inscription scratched in Greek and possibly also in Arabic. This is probably the name of the coin’s owner, who ‘marked’ it as highly valuable property. According to Dr. Robert Kool, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Numismatics Department, “The coin encapsulates fascinating data on the decline of Byzantine rule in the country and contemporary historical events, such as the Persian invasion and the emergence of Islam, and provides information on Christian and pagan symbolism and the local population who lived here.”

Another unusual find is a bronze chain that was used to suspend a chandelier containing glass lamp holders. Chandeliers of this type are usually found in churches.

Installations built at the site after the Muslim conquest in the seventh century CE include a glass-making workshop and a warehouse, where four massive jars were found. The jars, which were sunk into the floor, were evidently used to store grain and other products as a precaution against pests and damp conditions. “In this period, people were not only working at the site but also living there, because we discovered the remains of houses and two large baking ovens,” says Arbel. The pottery from this period includes complete pottery lamps for lighting, and local and imported serving ware, some of it decorated. Based on the assemblage of finds, the site continued to be inhabited until the eleventh century CE.

Avi Gruber, Mayor of Ramat Ha-Sharon says, “I am thrilled by the finds and we have already started working with the directors of the Neve Gan North project on exactly how to integrate the current finds into the future neighborhood. I want all our residents to enjoy learning about life here in antiquity and in the Middle Ages. As we plan heritage-related events for the upcoming centenary, this opens up a whole new perspective on how people once lived in this part of the country.”

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority,  "The material remains of the cultural heritage uncovered in our excavations, preserved for ages, are of the most important national assets. The Israel Antiquities Authority sees great importance in making the findings accessible to the public, in partnership with local and international communities.

Israel Antiquities Authority Tel Aviv District archaeologist Diego Barkan says, “This is the first archaeological excavation ever conducted at the site, and only part of it was previously identified in an archaeological field survey. The Israel Antiquities Authority views this as an excellent opportunity to integrate the ancient remains into plans for the future municipal park.”

Evidence of earthquake that occurred during the Kingdom of Judah mentioned in the Bible.

The famous earthquake, which occurred in Israel about 2800 years ago, appeared in the Bible and was previously exposed to several sites throughout Israel. Still, researchers believe that for the first time, they were able to identify remnants of destruction, indicating that the earthquake also hit Jerusalem - the capital of Judah. These archaeological finds will be shown to the public at the "City of David Research" conference - the annual archaeological conference of the Megalim Institute, which will be held at the beginning of next month.

Archaeological excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the City of David National Park revealed a layer of destruction, including a row of shattered vessels, including bowls, lamps, cooking utensils, storage, and storage jars, which were smashed as the building's walls collapsed.  According to the researchers, since no signs of fire were found, this was not a deliberate event, and the reason for the collapse of the building is the earthquake that occurred in Israel during the eighth century BCE, during the period of the Kingdom of Judah.

According to Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "When we excavated the structure and uncovered an 8th century BCE layer of destruction, we were very surprised, because we know that Jerusalem continued to exist in succession until the Babylonian destruction, which occurred about 200 years later. We asked ourselves what could have caused that dramatic layer of destruction we uncovered. Examining the excavation findings, we tried to check if there is a reference to it in the biblical text. Interestingly, the earthquake that appears in the Bible in the books of Amos and Zechariah occurred at the time when the building we excavated in the City of David collapsed. The combination of the finds in the field together with the biblical description led us to the conclusion that the earthquake that struck the Land of Israel during the reign of Uzziah king of Judah also hit the capital of the kingdom - Jerusalem. "

According to the researchers: "The earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 8th century BCE was probably one of the strongest and most damaging earthquakes in ancient times, and evidence of its occurrence has been discovered in the past in excavations conducted at a variety of sites throughout Israel, such as Hazor, Gezer, Tel Agol, and Tell es-Safi/Gath. 

Now, the latest excavations we conducted in the City of David indicate that the earthquake probably hit Jerusalem as well.

The missing section of the city wall of Jerusalem that the Babylonians encountered on the eve of its destruction on Tisha B’Av 586 BCE discovered

Archaeological excavations in the City of David National Park have uncovered the remains of the city wall, built during the Iron Age - the days of the First Temple in the Kingdom of Judah, to protect Jerusalem from the east. The excavations are conducted at the City of David National Park on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the City of David Foundation, as part of the development of the National Park.

According to the directors of the excavation, Dr. Filip Vukosavović of the Ancient Jerusalem Research Center and Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “The city wall protected Jerusalem from a number of attacks during the reign of the kings of Judah, until the arrival of the Babylonians who managed to break through and conquer the city. The remains of the ruins can be seen in the archaeological excavations. However, not everything was destroyed, and parts of the walls, which stood and protected the city for decades and more, remain standing to this day. “

The new section that was exposed connects two sections that were previously excavated on the eastern slope. In the 1960s, British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon uncovered a section of the wall in the northern part of the slope and dated it to the days of the Kingdom of Judah. About a decade later, archaeologist Yigal Shiloh uncovered a long section of the wall in excavations in the southern part of the slope. Over the years, claims have been made that these remnant stone structures should not be seen as wall remains despite the impressive nature of the remains. However, with the uncovering of this new section that connects with these past discoveries, it seems that the debate has been settled and that this was unequivocally the eastern wall of ancient Jerusalem.

Reconstruction of the sections that were dismantled during previous excavations in the early 20th century makes it possible to trace almost another 30 meters of the surviving wall to a height of 2.5 meters and a width of up to 5 meters. In the book of 2 Kings, 25:10, there is a description of the conquest of the city by the Babylonians: “The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.” However, it looks like the Babylonians did not destroy the eastern wall, possibly due to the sharp steepness of the eastern slope of the City of David, which slopes towards the Kidron Valley at over a 30-degree angle. The findings of the destruction can be seen in the building that stood next to the wall and exposed during the previous excavations: inside the building, rows of storage jars were discovered, which were smashed when the building burned and collapsed. The jars bear “rosette” stamped handles, in the shape of a rose, associated with the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. Near the wall, a Babylonian stamp seal made of stone was unveiled, depicting a figure standing in front of symbols of the two Babylonian gods Marduk and Nabu. Not far from there, a bulla  (a stamp seal impression made in clay) was found bearing a Judaean personal name, “Tsafan.”

The findings of the excavation will be presented this coming October at the Israel Antiquities Authority’s conference “New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region.”