Ancient magical bowls, carrying spells and incantations in the Hebrew script, uncovered in the home of a Jerusalem resident

Hundreds of ancient finds, including rare bone and ivory artifacts from the biblical period, were seized during an operation by the Antiquities Authority’s robbery prevention unit and the Lev HaBira police against a Jerusalem resident suspected of illegal trade in antiquities

Rare and decorated bone and ivory items from the biblical period and ancient bowls dating back some 1,500 years, bearing spells and incantations in Hebrew, were uncovered in the home of a resident of the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem, suspected of illegal trade in antiquities. Hundreds of antique coins, glassware, and weapons were also discovered during a cooperative search by the Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit and Lev HaBira police.

The incantation bowls, known as the “swearing bowls,” were used as a kind of amulet in ancient times and dated back to the 8th-4th century CE. It was common practice to bury them under the house floor for protection.  Inside the bowls, magical inscriptions were written in the Babylonian-Aramaic language. The inscription in the bowl is meant to fight curses, demons, diseases, and pests.

According to Amir Ganor, head of the Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit, “bowls of this type came from ancient sites in the area of Mesopotamia, now present-day Iraq. According to their personal needs, the text was written by artists for a specific client. Occasionally, as can be seen in one of the bowls, a figure of the “night” demon was painted in the center of the bowl, representing the individual that the bowl was meant to ward off. In 2003, following the war in Iraq, thousands of stolen “incantation bowls” began to enter international trade markets.”

The Israel Antiquities Authority believes that the suspect repaired the bowls and restored them to put them up for sale. Besides the antiquities, various chemicals were seized in his house, which were allegedly intended for the restoration of the pottery, as well as for cleaning ancient metals and coins.

In addition to hundreds of coins, rare items from the biblical period were discovered in the suspect’s house - bone and ivory objects decorated in Phoenician style, with Egyptian motifs, that included scenes from the animal world, alongside geometric ornaments. In one of the objects appear two griffons - winged lions whose face is human, facing each other. The second artifact included a description of a convoy of four-winged lions marching one after the other. Similar ivory objects have been discovered in past excavations in an antiquity site in Samaria, where a large collection of ivory - known as “Samaria Ivories” was discovered – as well as at other antiquity sites such as Tel Megiddo. These are decorative items that were attached to wooden furniture by nails in the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Finding decorated artifacts made of ivory from this period is extremely rare, and the assessment at the Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit is that the artifacts were excavated illegally in one of the biblical mounds in Samaria or in Northern Israel.

“Antiquities belong to all of us. They are our heritage.” Says Eli Escusido, Director-General of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Unauthorized antiquities dealers encourage looters to go out and destroy ancient sites in search of finds for sale on the antiquities market. In the name of greed, they plunder antiquity sites, removing the finds from their historical context, thus obscuring parts of human history”.

Documents were seized in the suspect’s home to shed light on his connections with antiquities robbers and unauthorized dealers. Following the investigation of the suspect, the Antiquities Authority inspectors arrived at an auction house in the central area, where they seized additional ancient artifacts that had been put up for sale by the suspect in violation of the law. Ancient weapons, glassware, and bronze and silver coins were found among the finds.

At the end of the investigation, the case file will be transferred to the Antiquities Authority Legal Bureau to examine the filing of an indictment concerning the attempted trade in antiquities without a permit, failure to report the discovery of an antique, failure to register a collection and possession of property suspected of being stolen - criminal offenses, for which the statutory penalty is up to three years in prison.

1,500-year-old marble pillar discovered at the beach in Ashdod, Israel

Two policemen on routine patrol in Ashdod’s sand dunes last week uncovered an impressive 1,500-year-old marble pillar that was uncovered by recent rains.

Ashdod police officers Itai Dabush and Sagiv Ben Gigi were on their routine patrol at the beach when they ran across something jutting up from the ground north of the Ashdod-Yam Fortress. They called Shlomit Katan, a manager at the municipal hotline, and inspectors from the Israel Antiquities Authority were called in to inspect the object.

The pillar, which was found lying in the sand, measured about 1.6 meters and, amazingly, was found in one whole, unbroken piece. According to the IAA, the pillar is part of the remains of a large Byzantine church that was located in the area some 1,500 years ago. “Finding a complete pillar in this condition is a very rare find, especially on the beach where people are walking by every day,” Ashdod subdistrict archaeologist Avi Levy said. “It is not something you find every day.”

The pillar, which was found lying in the sand, measured about 1.6 meters and, amazingly, was found in one whole, unbroken piece, he said. “This find is very important because it gives us a rare peek through the window of that period, and the wholeness of the pillar is impressive,” he added. The marble from which the pillar was made is not from Israel, and it needs to be analyzed by IAA experts to pinpoint its origin, Levy said.

“The column appears to have been uncovered following recent rains in the area,” IAA Director-General Eli Escusido said. “Any such discovery adds another piece to understanding the cultural puzzle of Israel in ancient times.” He praised the vigilance of the police and the director of the municipal hotline.

“Shema Yisrael” Pendants Discovered in Archaeological Excavations in the Sobibor Extermination Camp in Poland

The pendants were uncovered in areas where victims were forced to undress before being herded into the gas chambers and near one of the mass graves

Over the past decade, archaeological excavations in the Sobibor extermination camp have uncovered three pendants bearing depictions of Moses and the tablets of the Law opposite the Hebrew prayer “Shema Yisrael” (“Hear O Israel”). The excavations were directed by Wojciech Mazurek from Poland, Yoram Haimi from the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Ivar Schute from Holland, assisted by local residents.

The metal pendants are different from one another, inscribed by hand. Over the past year, researchers have identified their origin in Eastern Europe: from Lviv in Ukraine and Poland, and Czechoslovakia.

According to archaeologist Yoram Haimi of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “Little is known about the stories behind the pendants, which are heartbreaking. It has been possible to identify a kind of tradition or fashion among the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe with pendants inscribed with “Shema Yisrael” on one side and a depiction of Moses and the tablets of the Law on the opposite side. But were they distributed in synagogues by local Jewish communities or possibly produced for individual orders? Research of the pendants is ongoing, and we invite the public to provide us with details concerning them.”

One of the three pendants was discovered in the archaeological excavations in the remains of the building where victims were undressed before being led to the gas chambers: over the floor of the building were scattered dozens of women’s hairpins and jewelry and also a pendant. Another pendant, on which Latin numbers were inscribed on the tablets of the Law, was uncovered in the area where victims were undressed in Camp II. A third pendant, on which only the side with the inscribed prayer survived, was discovered next to a mass grave.  

Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “The personal and human aspect of the discovery of these pendants is chilling. They represent a thread running between generations of Jews – a thick thread, thousands of years old, of prayer and faith. This moving discovery reminds us once again of the importance of settlement in our land and our obligation to reveal the past, know it, and learn from it. I congratulate IAA archaeologist Yoram Haimi for his initiative in excavating the extermination camp and making the Holocaust tangible in the face of hatred and Holocaust denial.”   

For the first time, remains have been uncovered in Yavne of a building dating from the time of the Sanhedrin

Israel Antiquities Authority excavations being carried out on a massive scale in Yavne have uncovered the first evidence there of a building from the Sanhedrin—the supreme legislative Jewish assembly that went into exile in Yavne after the fall of Jerusalem, some 2,000 years ago.

The building contained fragments of chalkstone vessels, clear evidence of a Jewish presence. The excavation also discovered an impressive cemetery dating from the Sanhedrin * The current excavation was prompted by development work on the city’s expansion, initiated by the Israel Land Authority in cooperation with Yavne municipality.

Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in Yavne are revealing evidence of the life—and death—of Yavne’s inhabitants at the time of the Sanhedrin, in the late first and second centuries CE; for the first time, the excavation has discovered remains of a building dating from the time of the Sanhedrin that contains chalkstone cups, clear evidence that its occupants were observing Jewish laws of ritual purity. The excavation, prompted by work on the city’s expansion initiated by the Israel Land Authority in cooperation with Yavne municipality, also uncovered a large cemetery dating from the same period. The excavation area is located close to a massive Byzantine wine-production center unearthed in recent excavations. During this week’s festival of Hanukkah, as part of Israel Heritage Week, the public is invited to register for tours of the excavation.

“The discovery of finds from the time of the Sanhedrin is fascinating,” said Pablo Betzer and Dr. Daniel Varga, directors of the Yavne excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority. “This is a direct voice from the past, from the period when the Jewish leadership salvaged the remaining fragments from the fall of the Temple, went into exile in Yavne, and set about re-establishing the Jewish people there.”

For the first time in Yavne, the excavations discovered an industrial building dating from the first to third centuries CE. The floor contained several fragments of stoneware known as ‘measuring cups,’ vessels that retain their ritual purity and are identified with the Jewish population in the late Second Temple period and second century CE.

An impressive cemetery was discovered only 70 meters away from the building. “We encountered dozens of carefully arranged tombs spaced out at set distances, which probably indicates the existence of a ‘burial society’—some official body that was responsible for burial,” say Betzer and Dr. Varga. “There are different types of tombs: some are coffins (sarcophagi), which are made mostly of stone with one lead coffin.” The excavation directors add that “based on the cemetery’s location, it was probably established outside the city’s boundaries, by Jewish and Roman law. Were the interred individuals Jews or pagans? It is too early to say since there are no ethnic symbols on the coffins. With all due caution, the historical records and archaeological finds suggest that these are the tombs of the city’s Jewish community. If this hypothesis is correct, then at least some of the tombs, perhaps the most elaborate, may belong to the sages of Yavne, contemporaries of Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, Rabbi Akiva and Rabban Gamliel.”

The excavation uncovered another surprising find: over 150 glass vials placed on top of the tombs. According to Dr. Yael Gorin-Rosen, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s glass department, “The vials were probably used to keep precious liquids such as fragrant oils. About half of them were locally produced, and the other half were imported from Alexandria in Egypt. Vials of this type have been recovered in excavations at both Jewish and pagan burial sites from the first to the early third centuries CE. It is a mystery why the vials were placed outside the tombs in Yavne and not inside them, as was usual.”

In antiquity, Yavne was one of the most important towns in the southern coastal plain. During the Hasmonean period, it held a vital role in the struggle between the Maccabean forces and Seleucid (Greek) rule, and the town is mentioned multiple times in the writings of Josephus.

Toward the end of the Second Temple period, Yavne’s mixed population had most Jewish residents. According to The Literature of the Sages, before the destruction of the Second Temple, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai fled from the besieged city of Jerusalem and persuaded the Roman emperor Vespasian to allow him reconstitute the Sanhedrin in Yavne. It was then that Rabban ben Zakkai uttered the famous statement: “Give me Yavne and its sages.”

In the intervening years between the Great Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt, Yavne became the most important Jewish spiritual center in the country. In Yavne, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, later followed by Rabban Gamliel, led the Sanhedrin and the patriarchate (nesiut), restored the Torah to the Land of Israel, and established laws in keeping with the new reality, without the Temple. It can be said that the foundations of Judaism as we know it today were laid in Yavne.

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “It is exciting to see ancient accounts of the Sanhedrin translated into actual evidence in the field, with vessels, installations, and buildings. Together with the project’s initiators at the Israel Land Authority and Yavne municipality, the Israel Antiquities Authority is examining the possibility of preserving some of these finds and presenting them to the general public. The recent finds join those of the massive wine-production industry from the Byzantine period, already slated for conservation and public viewing. The Israel Antiquities Authority is continuing its excavations, and we are sure that Yavne has not yet had the last say. Wherever archaeologists scrape the surface here, they encounter a find of national importance, with all that that entails.”

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 results of the Israel Antiquities Authority, which will enable the archaeological finds to be exposed, investigated, and preserved for future generations”.

Rare Silver 2000-Year-Old Coin Possibly Minted in the Temple as part of the Jewish Revolt Against the Romans

A shekel made of pure silver that was used for trade in Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago, during the Second Temple period, was discovered in the Israel Antiquities Authority's excavations in the City of David in Jerusalem. 

The coin was discovered in the dirt that came from archaeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the "Pilgrimage Road," in the City of David National Park. According to archaeologist Ari Levy, Director of the Excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This street, which connected the Siloam Pool in the south of the City of David to the Temple Mount in the north, was Jerusalem's main street during the Second Temple period, where thousands of pilgrims marched on their way to the Temple. There is no doubt that there would have been extensive trading here. This is evidenced by the many weights and bronze coins we have found here. But to find a rebel coin made of pure silver is definitely very special and exciting."

The rare coin was discovered by an 11-year-old girl who came with her family to the "archaeological experience" operated by the City of David together with the National Parks Authority in the Emek Tzurim Sifting Project in Jerusalem. Scholars believe that the coin unearthed was extracted from the many silver reserves kept in the Second Temple and was probably minted by one of the Temple Priests, who joined forces with the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans, shortly before the destruction of the Second Temple.

The coin weighs about 14 grams. On one side is an inscription of a cup with the caption: "Israeli shekel" and next to the cup are the letters: ש"ב – shorthand for “second year" - the second year of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans (67-68 CE). On the other side of the coin is an inscription identified by scholars as the headquarters of the High Priest, and next to it appears in ancient Hebrew script the words: "Holy Jerusalem."

According to Dr. Robert Kool, Head of the Coin Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This is a rare find, since out of many thousands of coins discovered to date in archeological excavations, only about 30 coins are coins made of silver, from the period of the Great Revolt."

Dr. Kool theorizes that the silver from which the coin was made came from the plentiful silver reserves in the Temple, and that it was minted on the Temple Mount plaza - possibly by one of the priests, who worked in coordination with the rebel leaders and assisted them. Where else could you find silver in such quantity and such high quality in those days? Only in the Temple. "If so, we can say with caution that this coin is, apparently, one of the only items we can hold today that originated on the Temple itself."

"Everyone knows the Arch of Titus in Rome and the descriptions of loot taken from the Temple that appear on it, but not many are familiar with the huge silver reserves that were in the Temple. You can learn from the ancient inscription uncovered by the researcher Géza Alföldy about the huge silver reserves that were in the Temple.”

 Dr. Amit Re'em, Jerusalem District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority added. "This inscription revealed that the famous Colosseum we all know in Rome was built by the Romans from the spoils of the Temple looted from Jerusalem. It reads: ‘Emperor Vespasian (who, along with his son Titus, suppressed the Jewish Revolt and destroyed the Temple) ordered the construction of this new theater amphitheater (the Colosseum) from his share of the spoils.’ One can only imagine the extent of the loot and the amount of money the Romans found in the Temple storehouses," commented Dr. Amit Reem.

As part of the excavation, the archaeological earth was sent for wet sifting in the Emek Tzurim Sifting Project, and the person who was privileged to discover the find was 11-year-old girl Liel Krutokop from Petah Tikva, who came with her parents and sister to do archeological sifting at the City of David. "We poured the bucket with the dirt on the strainer, and as we filtered the stones that were inside, I saw something round." This is how the girl described the exciting moments of exposing the rare find. "At first, I did not know what it was, but it looked different from all the other stones. My father brought it to one of the assistants, and she showed it to an archaeologist. He looked at it and said it was a silver coin that needed to be cleaned. I was very excited." According to the girl, "When I got to Emek Tzurim I thought there must be simple coins in the buckets, but I did not think I would find a coin myself, and certainly not such a rare coin from pure silver. I was lucky to find it, but I also want to say thank you to my sister for choosing the bucket we sifted. If she had not chosen this particular bucket, I probably would not have found the coin."

The coin, which was sent to the laboratories of the Israel Antiquities Authority, underwent a chemical process for cleaning, and recently, upon completion of the process, the significance of the find became clear.

According to Dr. Kool, “A currency is a sign of sovereignty. If you go into rebellion, you use one of the most obvious symbols of independence, and you mint coins. The inscription on the coin clearly expresses the rebels' aspirations. He said," The choice to use ancient Hebrew script, which was no longer in use at the time, is not accidental. The use of this script came to express the longing of the people of the period for the days of David and Solomon and the days of a united Jewish kingdom - days when the people of Israel had full independence in the land."

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "I was happy to see the excitement and curiosity that gripped Liel when finding the rare coin. It has importance for understanding the minting of coins, which I am certain she will share with her friends and family. The Israel Antiquities Authority considers the connection of the younger generation to our heritage, in an experiential and unmediated way, a top priority. Our educational center will come to Liel's class, mint coins, and share the importance of the find with her friends."

Hellenistic fortified structure destroyed and burned by Hasmoneans uncovered in Lachish Forest, in the Judean Shephelah

“The building’s devastation is probably related to the region’s conquest by the Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus in around 112 BCE,” said Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists directing the excavations funded by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage’s Landmarks project and assisted by high-school students majoring in the Ministry of Education’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology program.

 Weapons, burnt wooden beams, dozens of coins, and a Hellenistic fortified structure—tangible evidence of a battle between the Hasmoneans and the Seleucids some 2,100 years ago—are currently being unearthed in Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in the Lachish Forest. The excavations are being conducted as part of the Kings of Judah Road project, in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund, funded by the Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry, assisted by high-school students majoring in the Ministry of Education’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology program, and students from the Asher Ruach Bo pre-military program in Mitzpe Ramon for youths at risk.

According to Saar Ganor, Vladik Lifshits, and Ahinoam Montagu, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The excavation site provides tangible evidence of the Hanukkah stories. It appears that we have discovered a building that was part of a fortified line erected by the Hellenistic army commanders to protect the large Hellenistic city of Maresha from a Hasmonean offensive. However, the finds from the site show that the Seleucid defenses were unsuccessful; the excavated building was badly burnt and devastated by the Hasmoneans.”

The excavation revealed a 15 × 15m (160 x 160 ft) building planned as a well-fortified unit. The external walls, no less than 3m (11 ft) wide, were built of large stones and had a sloping outer glacis to prevent the wall from being scaled. The inside of the structure was divided into seven rooms, preserved to an exceptional height of roughly 2m (11ft). The excavation uncovered a stairwell leading to a second floor which was not preserved. The building is estimated to have been about 5m (54 ft) high.

The site lies on the summit of a high hill commanding a view of the ancient main road, which ran along the Nahal Lachish streambed and connected the coastal plain to the central highland ridge. The building overlooks Maresha, the largest Hellenistic city in the area and the capital of Idumea in the Hellenistic period.

Students majoring in the Ministry of Education’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology program from schools in Be’er Sheva, Dimona and Nitzan assisted in the excavation as part of an Israel Antiquities Authority’s program aimed at nurturing awareness of the country’s heritage in the community. The students learn about history through hands-on experience as part of their matriculation studies, thus turning the archaeological excavation into an educational science laboratory. The excavations were also joined by students from the Asher Ruach Bo pre-military program in Mitzpe Ramon for youth at risk, as part of a week in which the youths make a significant contribution to the community.

During the excavation, thousands of large stones that had collapsed from the upper part of the building were removed. A massive destruction layer, about half a meter thick, was discovered beneath the stones. The layer yielded hundreds of finds, including pottery, slingshots, iron weapons, burnt wooden beams and dozens of coins dated to the late second century BCE. “Based on the finds and coins, the building’s destruction can be attributed to the Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus’s conquest of the region of Idumea in around 112 BCE,” say the archaeologists.

The Hasmoneans, whose rebellion against Hellenistic rule and the Seleucid dynasty followed the anti-Jewish decrees of Antiochus IV, waged many battles against the Seleucid army. John Hyrcanus’s conquests, described in the Books of the Maccabees and the accounts of the historian Josephus, led to the Hasmonean state’s southward expansion.

According to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s general director, Eli Escusido, “The stories of the Maccabees are coming to life before our eyes, and this is the most fascinating part of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s work, when dedicated, hardworking archaeologists breathe life into the historical annals of the people who passed through this land. In a few days, we will be celebrating Hanukkah, whose central theme is the Hasmoneans’ defeat of the Hellenists, leading to the establishment of the first independent sovereign Jewish entity. The Hasmoneans could have had no idea that 2,000 years later, students living in the State of Israel would be following in their footsteps. It is extremely exciting.”

Minister of Construction and Housing, Jerusalem and Heritage, Zeev Elkin: “The impressive discoveries from the excavations in the Lachish region demonstrate the history of our great and wonderful land and the story of Hanukkah. The Landmarks program led by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, for which I am responsible, continues to develop national and historical heritage sites on a daily basis. Over the upcoming Hanukkah holiday, we will be marking Heritage Week throughout the country and I invite the general public to visit, discover and experience our national heritage sites.”

Minister of Culture and Sports, Chili Tropper: “The Israel Antiquities Authority’s fascinating new discovery is a classic example of how traditional, well-known and well-loved stories become part of the historical and archaeological record. The building’s excavation reflects the glorious roots of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel and brings the Hanukkah stories to life. Added impetus was given to the event by the participation of dozens of youths, who were given a rare opportunity to encounter the history of the Jewish people, face to face. The Ministry of Culture and Sports will continue to support this important enterprise, which combines heritage, history and culture.”

After the excavations, the building will undergo conservation and will be opened to the general public in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund’s Southern District, as one of the sites along the Kings of Judah Road, which is currently under development.

With this Ring: A spectacular ancient gold ring with an inlay of semi-precious stone discovered, a winery for wine production - the largest known in the Byzantine world

In a widescale excavation conducted at Yavne by the Israel Antiquities Authority, as part of the Israel Land Authority's initiative to expand the city, a spectacular gold ring was recently uncovered, with an inlay of a purple stone.

An examination of the ring by Dr. Yotam Asher at the analytical laboratory of the Israel Antiquities Authority showed that the stone is mainly made of silica - a material from which many gemstones are composed. This examination ruled out the possibility that the purple inlay is made simply of glass. The ring weighs 5.11 grams.

Dr. Amir Golani, an expert on ancient jewelry at the Israel Antiquities Authority, who examined the find, said that "the person who owned the ring was affluent, and the wearing of the jewel indicated their status and wealth. Both men and women could wear such rings". Golani adds that "a semi-precious stone, called an amethyst, was placed in the ring. Amethysts are mentioned in the Bible as one of the 12 precious stones worn by the Temple's high priest on his ceremonial breastplate.  Many virtues have been attached to this gem, including preventing the side effect of drinking, the hangover".

This characteristic attributed to the stone is fascinating, given the context in which the ring was discovered, at a site where a large winery operated, the largest in the world known from the Byzantine period.

"Did the person who wore the ring want to avoid intoxication due to drinking a lot of wine? We probably will never know," says Dr. Elie Haddad, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, together with Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. Jon Seligman, adding "the ring was found just 150 meters from the remains of a long warehouse, which was used to store wine jars (amphorae)". Some of the jars were found upside down on their mouths, and it may have been a warehouse full of empty jars before they were taken to the winepresses, to fill with wine". It is possible that the splendid ring belonged to the owner of the magnificent warehouse, to a foreman, or simply to an unlucky visitor, who dropped and lost their precious ring until we finally discovered it."

Researchers are debating the date of the ring. It was found in a fill dated to the end of the Byzantine period and the Early Islamic period – the 7th century CE. Still, it is possible that the ring was transmitted from generation to generation over the centuries due to its beauty and prestige. Gold rings inlaid with amethyst stone are known in the Roman world, and the ring's find may belong to the elites who lived in the city as early as the 3rd century CE.

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The small, everyday finds that are discovered in our excavations tell us human stories and connect us directly to the past. It is exciting to imagine that the man or woman to whom the ring belonged, walking right here, in a different reality to what we know in today's city of Yavne".