2,000-Year-Old Bronze Artifacts Tied to Temple Unearthed Near Sea of Galilee By Michael Zeff - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

The incense shovel after having been cleaned in the Israel Antiquities Authority metallurgical laboratories. Photo: Clara Amit (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority/TPS)

2,000-Year-Old Bronze Artifacts Tied to Temple Unearthed Near Sea of Galilee

By Michael Zeff April 6, 2016  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of sweet spices; every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn it.” Exodus 30:7 (The Israel Bible™)

An ancient bronze shovel and jug tied to the religious rituals of the Second Temple were discovered in archaeological excavations at Magdala – an important Jewish town dating back to the period of Roman antiquity, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Tuesday, April 5.

During an ongoing excavation project, a group of volunteers from Chile discovered an ornate bronze incense shovel and a matching bronze jug believed to have stored incense or coals for ritual use.

“The incense shovel that was found is one of ten others that are known in the country from the Second Temple period. From early research it is thought that the incense shovel was only used for ritual purposes, for the embers and incense that were burnt in ritual ceremonies,” Dina Avshalom-Gorni, the Chief archaeologist on behalf of the IAA, told Tazpit Press Service (TPS).

The incense shovel as it was found in the excavation. ( Eyad Bisharat, Israel Antiquities Authority/MFA)

According to Avshalom-Gorni, incense shovels are known worldwide as ritualistic and religious implements in ancient religions, and their use has permeated into Judaism. The book of Exodus states: “You shall make the altar…you shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and firepans; all its utensils you shall make of bronze,” a quote which ties these artifacts to the rituals of the Jewish Temple, at least symbolically.

“We know that these are certainly sacred tools, perhaps pertaining to the local synagogue discovered on this site, a synagogue which was quite grand and rich and important in the region,”  Avshalom-Gorni explained to TPS. “It’s a rare and exciting find.”

The site is located near the town of Migdal along the western shore of Sea of Galilee. Migdal, or Magdala as it was known by its Latin name, was a large Jewish fishing and trade town in the Early Roman period. It is mentioned in Jewish sources, and at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple it served as a main military base for the ancient Jewish historian and general Josephus.

Another famous denizen of the city, according to the Christian tradition, was the penitent prostitute Mary Magdalene—named for her birthplace Migdal.

The jug as it was discovered in the excavation. (Photo: Eyad Bisharat/Israel Antiquities Authority/TPS)

In recent years the IAA has been leading extensive excavations at the site, overseen by the archaeologists Dina Avshalom-Gorni and Arfan Najar, in partnership with the Anahuac University of Mexico’s Dr. Marcela Zapata-Meza and with the help of volunteers from Mexico, Chile, Spain and Italy.

“It is a very impressive site and is open to the general public. The land actually belongs to a private developer from the Catholic Church, who planned to build a hotel for pilgrims on that plot,” Avshalom-Gorni explained.

According to Israeli law, before approving construction on any building project in the country IAA experts must first survey the plot to assure it will not damage an archeological site.

The stone with the menorah symbol which was discovered in the synagogue at Magdala. (Photo: Yael Yulowich, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority/MFA)

“We began exploratory digs in 2009 and little by little it became evident to us and to the Catholic Church that we have discovered a major site which was dated to the exact time of the ministry of Jesus in the Galilee, and the home of Mary Magdalene,” she added.

The landowner then decided to turn the location into an open-air museum alongside the ongoing excavations, which continue to produce thrilling archaeological finds.

Hiker finds 2,000-year-old gold coin in northern Israel - THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

A 2,000-year-old coin featuring a portrait of the emperor 'Deified Augustus.' (Samuel Magal, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

Hiker finds 2,000-year-old gold coin in northern Israel

Only one other example of token honoring Emperor Augustus known to exist; finder turns it over to Antiques Authority

BY STUART WINER March 14, 2016  TIMES OF ISRAEL

READ MORE ON:  IAA Israel Antiquities Authority,  Emperor Trajan,  Emperor Augustus,  archaeology in Israel,  Galilee,  Roman EmpireWRITERS

Stuart WinerStuart Winer is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.

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A hiker recently found a 2,000-year-old Roman gold coin of which there is only known to be one other example, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Monday.

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The coin carries an image of the Emperor Augustus, founder of the Roman Empire, who ruled from 27 BCE until his death in 14 CE, and was minted by Emperor Trajan in 107 CE.

Only the British Museum in London has another coin like it, which, until the recent discovery, was thought to be the only one in the world.

Laurie Rimon, of Kibbutz Kfar Blum, was hiking with friends in the eastern Galilee in the north of country when the group arrived at an archaeological site. Rimon saw something shiny lying on the ground in the grass and, after picking it up, realized she was holding an ancient gold coin. The group contacted the IAA, which quickly sent a representative out to the location.

Laurie Rimon with a 2,000-year-old coin she found whilef hiking. (Samuel Magal, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

Danny Syon, a senior numismatist at the IAA, explained that Trajan ordered coins struck with images of previous Roman emperors to honor their memory.

“On the reverse we have the symbols of the Roman legions next to the name of the ruler Trajan, and on the obverse – instead of an image of the emperor Trajan, as was usually the case, there is the portrait of the emperor ‘Augustus Deified,’ Syon said. “This coin is part of a series of coins minted by Trajan as a tribute to the emperors that preceded him.”

“It was not easy parting with the coin,” Rimon admitted. “After all, it is not every day one discovers such an amazing object, but I hope I will see it displayed in a museum in the near future.”

Nir Distelfeld, an inspector with the IAA Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, praised Rimon for turning over the coin.

“This is an extraordinarily remarkable and surprising discovery. I believe that soon, thanks to Laurie, the public will be able to enjoy this rare find.”

The IAA plans to reward Rimon’s honesty by presenting her with an official certificate in appreciation of her good citizenship.

Distelfeld urged members of the public who find ancient artifacts to contact the IAA immediately and arrange for a representative to meet them in the field so that the site of the find can be excavated.

“That way we can also gather the relevant archaeological and contextual information from the site,” he noted.

Symbols of the Roman legions next to the name of the ruler Trajan on a 2,000 year old gold coin found in northern Israel. (Samuel Magal, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

According to Donald T. Ariel, head curator of the coin department at the IAA, “The coin may reflect the presence of the Roman army in the region some 2,000 years ago – possibly in the context of activity against Bar Kochba supporters in the Galilee – but it is very difficult to determine that on the basis of a single coin.”

Bar Kochba led an ultimately doomed Jewish rebellion against Roman rule in the land of Israel during 132-136 CE.

“Historical sources describing the period note that some Roman soldiers were paid a high salary of three gold coins, the equivalent of 75 silver coins, each payday. Because of their high monetary value soldiers were unable to purchase goods in the market with gold coins, as the merchants could not provide change for them,” Ariel said.

“While the bronze and silver coins of Emperor Trajan are common in the country, his gold coins are extremely rare,” he continued. “So far, only two other gold coins of this emperor have been registered in the State Treasures, one from Givat Shaul near Jerusalem, and the other from the Kiryat Gat region and the details on both of them are different to those that appear on the rare coin that Laurie found.”

Trajan was emperor from 98 CE until his death in 117 CE. During his reign the empire reached its greatest size and he sponsored construction projects whose remains can be seen to this day.

1700-Year-Old Gravestones of Unknown Rabbis Uncovered in Northern Israel - by Michael Bachner BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

(Photo: Courtesy/TPS)

1700-Year-Old Gravestones of Unknown Rabbis Uncovered in Northern Israel

By Michael Bachner January 28, 2016  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.” (Job 38:4)

Three ancient gravestone epitaphs written in Aramaic and in Greek were recently uncovered in the Galilee region in northern Israel. The people commemorated in two of the inscriptions are described as rabbis, but their exact names and identities have yet to be identified by further research.

The two epitaphs end with the Hebrew greeting word “shalom” (meaning ‘hello’ or ‘peace’). The Greek inscription mentions the name “Jose”, which at the time had been a very common name among Jews in Israel and in the diaspora.

The gravestones were buried in the western part of the cemetery of the Jewish community of Zippori in the Lower Galilee region, which was a major Jewish city in ancient times. The information that ultimately led to the discovery originally came from residents of the community.

The excavation was conducted by researchers from the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology in Kinneret College, and from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

“One of the surprises in the newly uncovered inscriptions is that one of the people buried is nicknamed as ‘The Tiberian’,” said Dr. Motti Aviam from the Kinneret College. “This is the second case of a person from Tiberias buried in the Zippori cemetery. Perhaps Jews from all around the Galilee chose to be buried in Zippori due to Judah the Prince’s important activities in the city.”

Judah the Prince, nicknamed simply ‘Rabbi’, was the chief redactor of the Jewish Mishnah (the first major work of Rabbinic literature) and he lived in Zippori during the Roman occupation. Zippori was the first capital of the Galilee region in Hasmonean times, until Tiberias was founded in the first century CE.

The city was a bustling Jewish center as indicated by the many artifacts discovered in the city, including Jewish ritual baths (mikveh) and 17 epitaphs, mostly in Aramaic which had been the spoken language among Jews at the time. Some of them also spoke and wrote in Greek.

“The significance of the gravestones lies in the fact they reflect the daily life of Jews in Zippori and their culture 1,700 years ago,” said Dr. Aviam.

Gravestone with Inscription in Aramaic Commemorating Rabbis, Uncovered in Zippori 27.1.16
Process of cleaning the inscription. (Photo: Miki Peleg, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

“One of the inscriptions features the Hebrew word ‘leolam’ (meaning ‘forever’), for the first time in Zippori,” he added. “The word is known from epitaphs in other locations, and means in this context that their burial place shall remain his forever, without anyone robbing it from them.”

The inscriptions will be researched further, and the researchers believe that more research will likely produce new discoveries. The IAA and the Kinneret College also stated that the gravestones will be on display for the general public.

Archeologists Uncover Byzantine Era Monastery in Israel - Julie Stahl CBN News

Archeologists Uncover Byzantine Era Monastery in Israel

01-25-2016

CBN News

ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel – Israel's growing construction sites have uncovered some ancient treasures in unlikely places.

Before any construction work begins, the Israel Antiquities Authority conducts what it calls a salvage excavation. In Israel's central plains, a building boom dots the skyline with cranes in places like Rosh Ha'ayin.

"We started digging here and we didn't know what we are going find," excavation director Amit Shadman told CBN News. "But after three months we exposed a pretty nice and large monastery."

The discovery of many impressive rural churches and monasteries in the area show that Christianity spread rapidly around the fifth century.

  

The Byzantine church is paved with a colorful mosaic, but Shadman says the most important find is the Greek inscription at the entrance.

"It's exactly the same as it is today," he explained. "People want to know that they gave the money, and you have to understand that it's very expensive to build a complex like this."

The inscription reads, "This place was built under Theodosius, the priest. Peace be with you when you come. Peace be with you when you go. Amen." It's the equivalent of a donors' plaque in a modern building.

Up to 30 monks would have lived at the compound. Shadman believes they were also farmers.

Archeologists uncovered living quarters, stables and an olive oil press, which he says would not have been built without the help of the church.

"The main thing of this monastery is to take care of the rural area," Shadman said.

The IAA team also uncovered an even older structure nearby: a 2,700-year-old farm house.

"This area from the beginning was used for farming and for agriculture," Shadman continued.

Sometimes archaeologists must move the antiquities and they often rebury them. But this ancient monastery and farmstead are slated to become part of a park.

"I can tell you that this site, we're not going to destroy it," Shadman said. "We will plan to keep it and leave it like a green area."

Watch report here: CBN News video - Monastery discovered in Israel

Israel Antiquities Authority Recovers Rare Sarcophagus in Overnight Operation

IAA Recovers Rare Sarcophagus in Overnight Operation

CBNNews.com

Thursday, September 03, 2015

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- The Israel Antiquities Authority discovered an exquisitely decorated 1,800-year-old sarcophagus in an overnight sting operation at a pre-construction excavation site.

Israeli law requires a pre-construction dig before any type of building to preserve any antiquities that may be there.

Ashkelon police officers and detectives accompanied IAA inspectors from the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery in the operation. The team discovered what's been described as one of the rarest sarcophagi ever discovered in Israel.

The 2-ton, 2.5-meter (yard) long hard limestone coffin is sculpted on every side, including a life-size sculpture on the lid.

Unfortunately, contractors damaged the rare find when they used tractors to pull it out of the ground and then attempted to conceal it.

Officers detained five Arab construction workers from Hevron who were sleeping at the construction site.

During questioning at the Ashkelon police station, the workers explained the sarcophagus had been dug up the week before. They showed police photos and videos of its discovery and removal. Authorities also detained the two contractors in charge of construction at the building site.

They face charges of not reporting the discovery to authorities, damaging an antiquities site and the artifacts found there, which is punishable by a five-year prison term.

IAA Inspection Department head Amir Ganor called the incident "an extremely serious case of damage to a rare antiquity of unprecedented artistic, historical and cultural importance."

Ganor said legal proceedings would be taken against those involved in the incident.

"The proper way to operate in an ancient and important historic city such as Ashkelon is with transparency, openness and close cooperation between the property owners and the IAA," Ganor said.

Dr. Gabi Manor, a retired archaeologist and expert on classical periods, said "such sarcophagi were usually placed in or next to a family mausoleum."

"The high level of decoration attested to the family's affluence," he said, "which judging by the depicted motifs was probably not Jewish."

Israel Antiquities Authority Unearths Unusual Steps in the City of David

IAA Unearths Unusual Steps in the City of David

CBNNews.com

Tuesday, September 01, 2015

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- In yet another intriguing discovery, archaeologists excavating on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority uncovered an unusual stepped structure on a road between the Pool of Siloam and the Temple Mount.

The 2,000-year-old structure is close to where the Second Jewish Temple built by King Herod was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

The team uncovered the structure while excavating the ancient road leading to the Pool of Siloam (Shiloah in Hebrew).

Co-directors Nahshon Szanton and Joe Uziel believe they've unearthed a "unique" structure.

"To date such a structure has yet to be found along the stepped street in the numerous excavations that have taken place in Jerusalem and, to the best of our knowledge, outside of it," they said in a statement.

The directors believe the stepped structure may have served as a podium for announcements to people traveling to and from the Temple.

Szanton and Uziel will talk about their discovery at the 16th annual conference hosted by the City of David Studies of ancient Jerusalem on Thursday.

2,300 Year Old Second Temple Era Village Discovered Near Burma Road (Photos) - Breaking Israel News

2,300 Year Old Second Temple Era Village Discovered Near Burma Road (Photos)

Posted by: Lea Speyer February 18, 2014  Breaking Israel News

“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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