2,300 Year Old Second Temple Era Village Discovered Near Burma Road (Photos)
“Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls…” (Jeremiah 6:16)
Aerial photograph of the uncovered ancient city. (Photo: Skyview/Israel Antiquities Authority)
The Israel Antiquities Authority and Israel Natural Gas Lines have announced the discovery of a 2,300 year old village located near the “Burma Road”. The village has remained intact for almost two centuries. Archeologists believe the village is from the Second Temple Period.
The remains of the rural settlement were uncovered between August 2013 and January 2014 when an archeological salvage excavation began before the start of work on a natural gas pipeline. As part of a national project by Israel Natural Gas Lines (INGL), construction began on a 35 km pipeline that would run from the coastal plain to the outskirts of Jerusalem. Upon discovery of the ancient village, the pipeline has been rerouted to bypass and preserve the archeological discovery.
The location of the village is 280 meters above sea level, quietly sitting on top of a spur. Archeologists say the name of the village is unknown. The land around the village is filled with lush greenery. According to the IAA, this land was used “to cultivate orchards and vineyards, which were the economic mainstay of the region’s early settlers.” This same land is used today for similar purposes.
Excavations uncovered 750 square meters of area, revealing a small rural settlement. Several stone houses surrounded by narrow alleys are believed to have housed single nuclear families. The layout of the homes was made up of several rooms surrounding an open courtyard.
Excavation director Irina Zilberbod explained, “The rooms generally served as residential and storage rooms, while domestic tasks were carried out in the courtyards.”
Aerial photograph of the uncovered ancient city. (Photo: Skyview/Israel Antiquities Authority)
Numerous finds were uncovered from a host of occupation periods. Basalt and limestone grinding and milling tools, pottery cooking pots, jars for storing wine and oil, pottery oil lamps, and over sixty coins were found. Several of the coins were from the ruling era of the Seleucid King Antiochus III and the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus.
Archaeologists believe that the village reached the peak of its development in the Hellenistic period during the third century BCE. During this time, Judea was rule by the Seleucid monarchy following Alexander the Great. The village was abandoned at the end of the Hasmonean dynasty.
Coin from the reign of King Antiochus III. (Photo: Clara Amit / Israel Antiquities Authority)
Jerusalem Regional Archeologist Dr. Yuval Baruch explains, “The phenomenon of villages and farms being abandoned at the end of the Hasmonean dynasty or the beginning of Herod the Great’s succeeding rule is one that we are familiar with from many rural sites in Judea, and it may be related to Herod’s massive building projects in Jerusalem, particularly the construction of the Temple Mount, and the mass migration of villagers to the capital to work on these projects.”
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