Tag Archive for archaeology

For centuries archaeologists proved Jews are indigenous to Israel

Since the early 19th century, archeologists have been drawn to Jerusalem to determine the validity of the Bible and their excavations discovered definitive connections of Jews to the Land of Israel as far back as 3000 years ago.

By David Billet

 

Sometimes the dirt that lies beneath our feet can contain the answers to the questions that we have always been seeking. Since the early 19th century, archeologists have been drawn to Jerusalem to determine the validity of the Bible and the historical connection of the Jewish People to this disputed land. While once seemingly impossible, ancient artifacts have been uncovered that definitively proves the Jewish connection to the land of Israel and enables us to witness the Biblical stories from the past before our eyes today. Continue Reading »

New prehistoric human between Homosapien-Neanderthal found in Israel

Hebrew U of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University researchers found skull, jaw and teeth remains of a new type of ‘Homo’ who lived in Israel some 130,000 years ago.

By ROSSELLA TERCATIN

 

A new type of early human previously not known to scientists has been discovered in Israel, Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University researchers announced Thursday as their extraordinary findings appeared in the prestigious academic journal Science.

Researchers believe the new “Homo” species intermarried with Homo sapiens and was an ancestor of the Neanderthals.

The Nesher Ramla research team (Left to Right)- Prof. Israel Hershkovitz, Dr. Marion Prevost, Dr.

Continue Reading »

Archaeologists in Israel announce location of biblical city of Ziklag

The Philistine town of Ziklag may have been found near the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Gat, where a team of Israeli & Australian archaeologists think they have located the biblical city where young David hid from King Saul prior to traveling to Hebron, where he was anointed King of Israel.

By JNS, Israel Hayom Staff

 

The Israeli Antiquities Authority, Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Macquarie University of Sydney, Australia, have announced the discovery of what they believe is the biblical city of Ziklag, the Philistine city in which according to the Bible the young David took refuge from King Saul. Continue Reading »

Philistine Cemetery in Ashkelon Shines Light on Israel’s Arch-Enemy

New DNA tests on 3,000 year old skeletons of the Israelites’ arch nemesis, the Philistines, conclusively verify their origins as coastal Europeans, and not Semitic.

By David Lazarus

 

New DNA testing has shown that the Philistines, that arch-enemy and nemesis of Israel, came to the Land from Europe more than 3,000 years ago.

The giant Goliath was a Philistine. So was Delilah, who entrapped legendary warrior Samson. They proved to be among Israel’s most dangerous adversaries, yet for all their appearances in the biblical texts, the origins of this “seafaring” people, and why they came to this land, remained a mystery, until now. Continue Reading »

Rare, 2000+ year-old gold earring unearthed in the City of David, Jerusalem

The dazzling golden earring, definitely worn by someone from ancient Jerusalem‘s upper class, dates back to the 2nd or 3rd century BCE, during the Hellenistic period.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

A Hellenistic-era golden earring, featuring ornamentation of a horned animal, was discovered in the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David National Park encircling walls of Jerusalem’s Old City.

The discovery was made during archaeological digs carried out by the Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University.

The spectacular gold earring, shaped like a horned animal, dates back to the second or third century BCE, during the Hellenistic period. Continue Reading »

Like ISIS, Palestinians continue to destroy ancient artifacts that isn’t Islamic

Just mere meters outside of Israeli-controlled territory, King Herod’s grand Third Palace is being systematically destroyed by the Palestinians, who are stripping its stone and building homes around it, and the Israeli government can do nothing to stop it.

By Nadav Shragai

 

Here is a lesson that teaches us how the Palestinians today treat remnants of the past. Following the revolt led by Mattityahu and his sons (the Macabbees) against the Greeks in 167 BCE, Jews had sovereignty in the Land of Israel for some 200 years, until the Herodian era. Forty years after Mattiyahu the Hasmonean and his sons first relit the Temple menorah and found that its oil miraculously lasted eight days, their descendants built grand winter palaces at the mouth of the Parat stream, at the entrance to Jericho. Continue Reading »

Descendants of Bronze Age Canaanites from the Levant are not ‘Palestinian’

 

Contrary to arbitrary declarations from Palestinian leaders who claim Canaanite ancestry, a proper DNA report solves the mystery of the Canaanites, revealing the biblical people’s fate.

By Ben Guarino

 

In the Bronze Age, between 4,000 and 3,000 years ago, a diverse group of people called the Canaanites lived in the Middle East. Despite their culture and influence — one of the only golden calf idols discovered was found in the Canaan seaport of Ashqelon — they left behind little information about themselves. Other civilizations made records of them, such as the Greeks, Egyptians and the authors of the Hebrew Bible. Continue Reading »

Israel Antiquities Authority discover Crusader-era escape tunnel near Sea of Galilee

 

Israel Antiquities Authority workers uncover a hidden tunnel in Tiberias through which it is believed served as an escape route during the July 1187 siege, by Muslim ruler Salah a-Din.
• The Mayor of Tiberias to feature the newly discovered tunnel in the town’s development plan.

By Yori Yalon

 

Tunneling through time: An archaeological excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority has unearthed an 800-year-old tunnel that researchers think served as an escape route from a Crusader fortress in Tiberias to the Sea of Galilee.

The tunnel – Photo curtesy: Israel Antiquities Authority

The tunnel, which appears to have been constructed by Crusaders some 800 years ago, runs underground for 7 meters (23 feet) and is exposed at one end near the promenade in the Old City of Tiberias. Continue Reading »

Police discover trove of illegally held artifacts among weapons during raid on Palestinian home

 

Items dating from Hasmonean, Bar Kokhba, Second Temple, Assyrian, Roman and other periods are seized, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Suspect, accused of illegal commerce, says he bought the artifacts for his own private collection.

By Efrat Forsher & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Hundreds of archaeological artifacts, including items believed to be from the Bar Kokhba, Hasmonean, Second Temple, Assyrian, Roman and other periods, were confiscated early Tuesday in a joint raid by the police and Israel Defense Forces on a home belonging to a Palestinian man in the village of Huwara near Nablus.

Security forces found hundreds of rings, vases, statuettes, ceramic weights, rare jewelry, basalt stones for grinding wheat, lead tools, and water and oil jugs, along with a handgun and makeshift rifle – Photo: Israel Police

The overnight raid, carried out by the Samaria and Shai District police departments and the IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories unit, came on the heels of intelligence information about an unusual, and illegal, inventory the man was keeping in the home. Continue Reading »

WATCH: Israeli archaeologists find hundreds of liquor bottles from WWI

 

The hoard of century old liquor bottles that were found near a building which was converted into barracks for British soldiers during WWI, is demonstrative of the amount of alcohol the soldiers consumed during their service.

By Emily Rose

 

Israeli archaeologists discovered hundreds of liquor bottles that belonged to British soldiers during WWI in an excavation near the central city of Ramla, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Wednesday.

The assemblage of bottles that was revealed in the excavation – Photo: Clara Amit, courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority

The 100 year-old bottles were found near a building, which was used for agricultural purposes during the Ottoman period and converted into barracks by British soldiers during the war. Continue Reading »

9 Byzantine-era bronze coins discovered in roadwork west of Jerusalem

 

The rare trove of nine bronze coins dating back to the 7th century C.E. was found during excavation held to allow the expansion of a major highway.
• The coins display embossed Byzantine-era emperors and Christian crosses, that were all minted in locations that are now present-day Turkey.

By Yori Yalon

 

A cache of nine bronze coins dating back to the end of the Byzantine period, or the seventh century C.E., was recently uncovered during an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation.

The excavation, which began last June as part of roadwork to expand a section of Highway 1 running west of Jerusalem, uncovered what was a large two-story building and a wine press — part of a larger complex apparently used by Christian pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Ancient Roman theater discovered overlooking the Sea of Galilee, in northern Israel

 

The gate, which is nearly excavated, likely bore the bronze mask of Pan that was found in one of the gate towers, leading archeologists to believe the theater hosted rituals honoring one of the gods of the Greco-Roman pantheon.

By Daniel K. Eisenbud

 

An ancient Roman theater discovered during an excavation by the University of Haifa at Hippos, an archeological site overlooking the Sea of Galilee, may support the hypothesis that the facility was used for religious ceremonies, instead of entertainment.

Aerial view of Hippos / Sussita - Photo: AVRAM GRAICER/Wikimedia Commons

Aerial view of Hippos / Sussita – Photo: AVRAM GRAICER/Wikimedia Commons

Hippos, which is situated on a prominent hill some two kilometers east of the Galilee, within Sussita National Park, is operated by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Continue Reading »

2,000 yr-old coin from Greek King Antiochus IV rule discovered in Jerusalem

 

Ancient coin depicting Antiochus, who sparked the Maccabean revolt that led to the victory of the Maccabees & reclamation of the Jewish Temple, was found in the courtyard of Jerusalem’s Tower of David.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD

 

Nearly 30 years after the completion of excavations in the courtyard of Jerusalem’s Tower of David, outside the Old City’s walls, archeologists thought no stone was left unturned.

Tower of David and courtyard in Jerusalem - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Tower of David and courtyard in Jerusalem – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

However, during routine conservation work in the museum’s archeological garden, Orna Cohen, veteran archeologist and chief conservation officer at the Tower of David, spotted a metallic item among stones near a wall. Continue Reading »

Unique 3,800 yr-old jug designed with human sculpture unearthed near Tel Aviv

 

The students that participate in the excavation of the unique pottery vessel are part of a new training curriculum, which seeks to connect them with the past, and help secure archaeologists of the future.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD

 

A rare and unusual 3,800-year-old jug from the Middle Bronze Age, featuring a human sculpture, was recently unearthed during an excavation in the city of Yehud, near Tel Aviv, with the assistance of area students, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Wednesday.

According to Gilad Itach, excavation director on behalf of the IAA, the discovery was made on the final day of a mandatory dig prior to the construction of several residential buildings in the area. Continue Reading »

Ancient gold, silver artifacts discovered at Israeli archeological site

 

Eight months after a 2000yr-old gold coin, minted in Rome, was accidentally found in northern Israel, now a new trove of ancient gold & silver artifacts were discovered at the Tel Gezer archeological site.

By ARIEL WHITMAN

 

A treasure trove of gold and silver objects dating back about 3,600 years from the Canaanite period has been found in the Tel Gezer excavation center.

The Israel Antiquities Authority and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority announced Monday that it believes the objects found were part of a ceremonial offering that was laid in the center of the structure being excavated. Continue Reading »