Tag Archive for Judean Desert

| September 14, 2017
One comment

Antiquities thieves vandalize burial site, skeletons at ancient Judean Desert fortress

The desecrated cave, at one of the seven Hasmonean fortresses ordered built by King Herod to protect the eastern border of the Judean Kingdom, came under attack by antiquities robbers since they’re unprotected due to a systematic lack of funding.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD

 

Tomb raiders recently destroyed human skulls and skeletal remains buried in a mysterious cave near the ancient Hasmonean fortress of Horkania in the northern Judean Desert between Jericho and the Dead Sea.

The fortress, believed to have been constructed around 120 BCE by its namesake, John Hyrcanus, was one of seven ordered built by King Herod to protect the eastern border of the Judean Kingdom from the Edomites and other enemies. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , , , ,
| May 26, 2016
No comments

After recovering ancient loot, Israel Antiquities set priority to excavate Judean Desert caves

 

view video“The goal of the national program we’re promoting is to excavate & discover all the scrolls that remain in the caves once and for all, so they can be saved and preserved by the state.” says Israel Antiquities Authority Director Israel Hasson.

By Yori Yalon

 

Israeli authorities are stepping up the fight to save the country’s as yet unrecovered ancient scrolls from the hands of antiquities robbers.

An Israel Antiquities Authority worker excavates in a Judean Desert cave – Photo: Yuli Schwartz/IAA

The Israel Antiquities Authority, the Heritage Project by the Jerusalem Affairs Ministry, and Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev are promoting a national program of archaeological excavations in the caves of the Judean Desert to save the ancient scrolls cached there, the earliest extant manuscripts written in Hebrew. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| December 7, 2014
No comments

Antiquities Thieves Nabbed Red-Handed Pillaging Judean Desert Caves

Arab thieves inflicted significant damage to ancient cave-site in their attempt to purloin precious ancient artifacts dating back to pre-Roman period.

By Hillel Fendel

 

Just a few days after their dramatic arrest amidst the Judean Desert cliffs, would-be thieves of ancient scrolls and precious archaeological artifacts were indicted this morning in a Be’er Sheva court.

Ancient lice comb recovered from thieves - Photo: courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority

Ancient lice comb recovered from thieves – Photo: courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority

Concluding a year-long Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) operation to locate such thieves, with the help of Israel Police, this was the first time in 30 years that robbers had been caught in the area.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,