Secrets of Huqoq Revealed: New exhibition reveals an ancient Jewish village displaying some of Israel's the most beautiful mosaics

The new artifact and photographic exhibition housed at the Yigal Allon Center, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and overlooking the Horvat Huqoq site in the lovely Amiad Forest, acts as a preliminary visitor center while direct site access is in preparation. The centerpiece: the original Samson floor mosaic, alongside a bronze coin cache’s premier public display.

Yigal Allon Center Museum. Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

“Secrets of Huqoq” – a new exhibition mounted at the Yigal Allon Center Museum in Kibbutz Ginosar, offers the public its first glimpse into one of the most intriguing and spectacular archaeological sites uncovered in Israel in recent years. The exhibition – a joint initiative of the Jewish National Fund (KKL), the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, supported by the U.S. government, and the Israel Antiquities Authority, invites the public to discover the ruins of Huqoq – a flourishing ancient Jewish village reaching its zenith in the Roman-Byzantine period, set in the heart of the Amiad Forest, in an open space near the Huqoq Spring.

Horvat Huqoq, visible from the museum’s windows, is best known for the impressive ancient synagogue uncovered by the Huqoq expedition excavations, led by Professor Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Extraordinary in their beauty and narrative richness, including rare biblical and extra-biblical scenes, the range of the Huqoq mosaics are unequalled by any other synagogue in Israel.

At the center of the new exhibition is the original Samson Mosaic – the only one of the mosaics currently on public display. Showing Samson carrying the gates of the city of Gaza on his shoulders, alongside it are spectacular photographs of the other floor mosaics from the site, courtesy of their excavator, Professor Magness.

According to Professor Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: “The Huqoq mosaics are some of the most exciting and moving finds I have ever been privileged to unearth. I am delighted that the original Samson mosaic, alongside images of the site’s many other mosaics, are being displayed to the public so close to where they were found. For me, they are still part of an ongoing research effort, and therefore this exhibition invites the public to join the journey of discovery as it unfolds.”

Preparing the model of the Huqoq settlement by Igor Solodov. Photo: Einat Ambar-Armon, Israel Antiquities Authority

The exhibition seeks to broaden the perspective beyond the mosaics themselves by presenting Huqoq as an encompassing living environment: a village, a community, a spring, agricultural installations, ritual baths—mikvehs, a hidden underground escape network, and the open landscape around them. Through archaeological finds, photographs, a small-scale model of the settlement, and an experiential space simulating part of its underground world, visitors enter the story of a town whose discoveries are still coming to light.

Alongside the exquisitely detailed mosaic, the exhibition also publicly features, for the very first time, a hoard of bronze coins. Israel Antiquities Authority excavations discovered them within a hidden escape system that is contemporary with the synagogue. This hoard joins other finds revealed within this system, including a ring and a dagger, and sheds light on another aspect of Jewish community life here during times of hardship, and secrecy under the life-and-death threat for being faithful to tradition and identity.

In recent years, Huqoq has also become the focus of broad educational and community programs led by the Israel Antiquities Authority’s northern region education division, in full collaboration with the KKL-JNF. Students, families, soldiers, volunteers, and area residents participated in excavations, sifting, and field activities, all becoming part of the site’s discovery process and thus fostering the renewed connection to its story.

According to Dr. Einat Ambar-Armon, Israel Antiquities Authority Exhibition Curator: “Huqoq is a small site telling a big story: about a living Jewish Galilee community in the Roman-Byzantine period, about an extraordinary artistic creation, and about an entire region whose life revolved around the synagogue. Since preparing the site itself for public visitation is expected to take several more years, our exhibition already serves as a first gateway to the village of Huqoq and to the archaeological and human story it reveals, located near and within sight of the real place.

The exhibition opening is part of the museum broadening its scope: the second floor is now defined as the archaeology floor, entitled ‘When Galilee was the Center.’ Alongside the adjacent ‘Sanhedrin Trail’ exhibition, ‘Secrets of Huqoq’ enables the visitor to see the town’s heritage within the lens of a broader picture – the Galilee as a space of Jewish life, creativity, community and study during the Roman-Byzantine period, as the Mishna and Jerusalem Talmud developed here in this region.”

According to KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky, “The ‘Secrets of Huqoq’ exhibition is an invitation to embark upon a fascinating journey to one of the most impressive archaeological sites ever discovered in Israel. Preserving heritage and making it publicly accessible is an integral part of KKL-JNF's mission to connect people, the land, and its history. Along with preserving the landscape and open spaces, we work to ensure that the cultural and historical treasures of the Land of Israel will continue to tell the story of the Jewish people for generations to come.”

According to Eli Escusido, Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “Huqoq is one of the most important and intriguing sites uncovered in the Galilee in recent years. It opens a rare window into the region's past during the Roman-Byzantine period. The exhibition at the Yigal Allon Center creates an opportunity to bring to the general public the story of a site that is still undergoing research, preservation, and development. This is an expression of the role of the Israel Antiquities Authority: not only to uncover findings, but to make the past accessible and meaningful for the entire public.”
According to Israeli Minister of Heritage Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, “The spectacular Huqoq finds and mosaics are the living voice of a Jewish community that dwelt here in the Galilee some 1,600 years ago, gathered in their synagogue, read, told and taught the stories of the Bible uniquely reinforced by the images around them, and left behind for us a profound testimony to Jewish identity, faith, and roots in the Land of Israel. The ‘Secrets of Huqoq’ exhibition connects the public to this continuum – from this ancient Galilee village to the present-day State of Israel – and expresses our commitment to preserving, researching, and making accessible the heritage of the Jewish people in their land for all to see.”

According to Dr. James Fraser, Dorot Director of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research: “The opening of the Yigal Allon Center exhibition, alongside the start of conservation and documentation work at the Huqoq site itself, and, the development of a new website dedicated to the site's findings, mark an important stage in a multifaceted process to reveal the rich Huqoq story to the public. We are proud to be key partners in this rewarding enterprise, made possible in part thanks to the support of the United States Embassy in Israel and the United States Department of State. This vital assistance expresses international cooperation in the research, preservation, and accessibility of cultural heritage – at a symbolic time when the United States is celebrating 250 years of its own independence.”

According to Dani Zamir, Yigal Allon Center CEO, and Oshrat Siso, Museum Director, “‘Secrets of Huqoq’ connects heritage, a museum experience and the Galilee landscape, and plays a part in a broader process of renewing our museum and deepening its place as a gateway to the Galilee story. The fact that the site itself is visible from the museum windows transforms the visit here into an invitation to see Huqoq not only as a find from the past, but as part of the living story of the Galilee.”

Opening Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

Banner: Samson carrying the gates of Gaza on his shoulders. The original mosaic from Huqoq is on display in the exhibition at the Yigal Allon Center. Photo: Einat Ambar-Armon, Israel Antiquities Authority

A New ERC-Funded International Project Combines Artificial Intelligence and Chemical Analysis Trace the Origins of the Dead Sea Scrolls

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded Professor Mladen Popović of the University of Groningen a €2.5 million Advanced Grant for a five-year international research project that will investigate one of the most fundamental questions in Dead Sea Scrolls scholarship: where were the scrolls produced and copied, and what can their origins reveal about centers of learning, scribal culture, and the transmission of knowledge in ancient Judea?

The project, Tracing Scribes and Scrolls, brings together researchers from the University of Groningen, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and leading laboratories and research institutions across Europe. By combining state-of-the-art chemical analysis, artificial intelligence, paleography, and codicology, the research aims to reconstruct the geographical and cultural contexts in which the scrolls were produced.

Dr. Ilit Cohen-Ofri, the research partner on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Photo: Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

The Dead Sea Scrolls, under the guardianship of the Israel Antiquities Authority in Jerusalem, comprise one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. They include the earliest known manuscripts of many books of the Hebrew Bible, together with a remarkable collection of Jewish literary works dating from the late Second Temple period. Despite decades of research, the precise locations where many of the scrolls were manufactured, prepared, and copied remain unknown.

Were at least some of the scrolls written at Qumran by a Jewish community living in seclusion there? Were others brought from additional centers of scribal activity in Judea, perhaps from Jerusalem, and hidden in the caves in times of danger? Or did the caves also serve as a library, or as a kind of ancient genizah? These questions stand at the heart of the new project.

Professor Popović, one of the world's leading authorities on the Dead Sea Scrolls, will lead a multidisciplinary team of historians, archaeologists, material scientists, chemists, and artificial intelligence specialists over the next five years. ERC Advanced Grants are among Europe's most prestigious research awards, supporting internationally recognized researchers in pursuing ambitious, high-impact scientific research.

Approximately 25,000 scroll fragments are treated and preserved by the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Judean Desert Scrolls Unit in Jerusalem. Photo: Shai Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority.

Working in close collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority, the team will analyze approximately 250 samples from the Authority's Dead Sea Scrolls collection, including parchment, papyrus, and ink. For the first time, papyri from Egypt will be examined alongside papyri from Qumran and other Judean Desert sites, allowing researchers to compare their chemical signatures directly. These analyses are expected to help identify the material “fingerprints” of the scrolls, reveal the provenance of raw materials, identify production practices, and uncover connections between different centers of scribal activity.

The chemical data will be processed using advanced artificial intelligence tools capable of identifying complex patterns that are difficult to detect through conventional analysis. These results will then be integrated with paleographic studies of handwriting, codicological analysis of the physical construction of the scrolls—including sheet preparation, column layout, margins, and stitching techniques—as well as linguistic and literary evidence.

Together, these complementary approaches will enable researchers to develop an unprecedented model for mapping the more than 25,000 Dead Sea Scroll fragments preserved by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The project aims to place individual manuscripts and scribes within their geographical and chronological contexts while identifying centers of writing, learning, literary production, and knowledge transmission in ancient Judea—and potentially beyond.

According to Professor Mladen Popović of the University of Groningen, Principal Investigator of the project: "This is the largest research project to date to use artificial intelligence to investigate the cultural context of the Dead Sea Scrolls. These manuscripts provide an extraordinary window into the intellectual world of ancient Judea. By combining advanced laboratory analysis with the study of ancient handwriting and the remarkable advances in artificial intelligence made in recent years, we are now able to address questions that were previously beyond our reach: who copied these manuscripts, where they were produced, how knowledge circulated, and the role these texts played within the society of their time."

Prof. Mladen Popović of the University of Groningen. Photographer: Marco Bijdevaate

The project builds on Professor Popović's previous ERC-funded project, The Hands That Wrote the Bible, which pioneered the use of artificial intelligence to identify individual scribes responsible for copying the Dead Sea Scrolls. Tracing Scribes and Scrolls expands this work by moving beyond the identification of scribal hands to investigate where scribes worked, the materials they used, and the broader cultural and intellectual networks in which the manuscripts were created and circulated.

Dr. Ilit Cohen-Ofri of the Israel Antiquities Authority and one of the collaborators on the project, said: "The research will create an unprecedented database on the chemical composition of samples from the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Israel Antiquities Authority is entrusted with the preservation, documentation, and study of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and we continue to invest significant effort in advancing their scientific investigation. In recent years we have come to recognize the wealth of information that can be recovered from the materials themselves—parchment, papyrus, and ink—revealing hidden insights preserved within thousands of manuscript fragments that have survived for more than two millennia. Participating in an international project of this scale enables the Israel Antiquities Authority to contribute its expertise in material analysis of artifacts to some of the most important questions in Dead Sea Scrolls research, benefiting both the scholarly community and the broader public."

The project brings together team members and laboratories at the Israel Antiquities Authority in Jerusalem (Dr. Ilit Cohen-Ofri), the University of Pisa (Ilaria Degano), the University of Naples Federico II (Leila Birolo), and the University of Southern Denmark in Odense (Kaare Rasmussen and Frank Kjeldsen). At the University of Groningen, Dr. Maruf Dhali plays a central role in developing and implementing the artificial intelligence methods that will integrate the project's chemical data and identify patterns of provenance and scribal affiliation. The project also includes collaborations with the Egyptian Museums in Berlin and Turin, as well as KU Leuven, as part of a comparative study of papyri from Egypt and the Judean Desert.

Banner: The Qumran caves in the Judean Desert, among the main sites where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The new international research project seeks to trace the origins of the ancient manuscripts. Photo: Shai Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority.

Ancient intact and magnificent marble statues, 1,700 years old, were discovered adjacent to Binyamina

A spectacular archaeological discovery in Binyamina: Two marble statues (protomes, human head and upper torso), approximately 1,700 years old, depicting historical figures from the Greco-Roman world, were found buried in a wine collection pit of a Roman-Byzantine winepress. A Greek inscription bearing the name “Lycurgus“ was preserved on one of the statues. The protomes were uncovered in an archaeological excavation directed by the Israel Antiquities Authority as part of the “Connecting Israel” project led by the Ministry of Transportation and Israel Railways to double the coastal rail lines (National Infrastructure Plan 65), adding high-speed 250 km/h trains that will reduce Haifa –Tel Aviv travel time to only half an hour, and thus creating the “High-Speed Coastal Railway”.

The Israel Antiquities Authority excavation at the entrance to Binyamina. Photo: Shatil Emmanuilov, Israel Antiquities Authority

The spectacular statues will be unveiled for the first time at the “Center VII -The Domestic House” annual archaeological conference scheduled for Thursday, June 18 at Tel Aviv’s MUZA – Eretz Israel Museum, in collaboration with the Central Region of the Israel Antiquities Authority, The Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, the Institute of Archaeology of the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University, and MUZA. The statues will be on public display at the museum throughout the summer months.

“The statues date back to the Roman period, and interestingly, they were not discovered in situ where they once stood! Mysteriously, they were found neatly laid, face down, inside a wine-collection pit of a Roman-Byzantine period winepress; meaning they were buried when it went out of use. At present, it is not known why the statues were hidden here – perhaps to preserve them,“ say Eliran Oren and Avishag Reiss, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“A once-in-a-lifetime discovery”

Cleaning a statue after its discovery. Photo: Eliran Oren, Israel Antiquities Authority

"While digging the winepress, something was sticking out of the ground, and the workers called me,” says Michael Sorotskin, archaeologist for the Israel Antiquities Authority. “There was a feeling that we were about to discover something that really shouldn't be there. Suddenly we saw that this was not the usual pottery – it was marble! Then, slowly, slowly, the two statues were revealed. I'm still struggling to find the right words. It is simply wondrous.”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery,” add the excavation directors, Oren and Reiss. “It was very unexpected, but somehow, the really big discoveries always turn up on the excavation’s very last day.”

One of the statues during initial conservation treatment in the Israel Antiquities Authority laboratories. Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

According to Dr. Peter Gendelman, a Caesarea region expert from the Israel Antiquities Authority, “These statues now join a series of historical figure portraits previously discovered in Caesarea. The last time such a figure was discovered here was in the 1990s. One protome bears a Greek inscription preserving the name of Lycurgus. Two significant people with this name are known from Greek history – Lycurgus of Sparta, its founder; and Lycurgus of Athens, a famed 4th century BCE statesman and orator. Possibly this statue may prove to be of one of these two historical figures, but our research is just beginning.”

Dr. Gendelman adds, “During the Roman period, statues of this type were displayed both in public buildings and in the homes of the elite, who sought to connect themselves to the cultural and spiritual world of antiquity. Not far from the discovery site, remains of a bathhouse were previously uncovered, and it is possible that the statues decorated a luxurious villa of a Caesarea resident.”

After their initial public display, the statues will undergo a process of cleaning, conservation, and further research, during which scholars will attempt to identify with certainty whom they depict, and the exact ancient context in which they were originally placed.

According to Gil Omer, Director General of MUZA – Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv: “It is not every day that 1,700-year-old marble statues are uncovered in such an impressive state of preservation. We are proud to be the place where the public will be able to encounter this extraordinary discovery for the first time, and to continue seeing it after the conference as well. Presenting the statues in MUZA’s Ceramics Pavilion is a rare opportunity to introduce visitors to an exceptional archaeological find shortly after its discovery, and to connect them with a fascinating story.”

Yelena Elgart-Sharon, Curator of the Ceramics Pavilion at MUZA: “The statues recently uncovered in the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation near Binyamina offer the public a rare opportunity to take part in the process of revealing the past almost in real time. We are proud to host and display this unique find at MUZA shortly after its discovery. The display, together with the ‘In Centro’ conference that will take place at the museum on June 18 in partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority, reflects the ongoing collaboration between the two institutions and their shared commitment to making archaeology accessible to the public.”

Israeli Minister of Heritage Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu shares: “This revelation is the kind of discovery that demonstrates to the public the power of archaeology – one moment we are working on a modern infrastructure project, and the next moment a window opens into the lives and cultural world of those who lived right here many hundreds of years ago. The role of the State of Israel is to preserve these findings of all cultures, research them, and make them accessible to the public – so that everyone can encounter and form their own close-up impressions of our country’s rich and broad past.”

The magnificent sculptures’ initial public presentation at the seventh annual “In the Center” archaeological conference, in the context of this year’s theme, the domestic house. The conference will take place on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at MUZA, the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. The conference is the product of cooperation between Israel Antiquities Authority Central Region, the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, and the Institute of Archaeology of the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University, and MUZA in Tel Aviv. Conference attendance is free of charge.

Banner:  Archaeologists Eliran Oren and Michael Sorotskin with the statues discovered in Binyamina. Photo: Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

Rare Prehistoric Cave Dating Back Some 300,000 Years Uncovered Near Fureidis, South of Haif

A prehistoric cave dating back between 400,000 and 250,000 years is currently being uncovered on the outskirts of the town of Fureidis, south of Haifa, near the Zikhron Ya’akov interchange. The excavation of the cave—a time capsule that remained sealed for hundreds of thousands of years since the time of the Acheulo-Yabrudian culture - is funded by Ayalon Highways Company and directed by Dr. Kobi Vardi and Amit Gabbay of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in cooperation with Prof. Ron Shimelmitz of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology and the School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures at the University of Haifa.

“We have been fortunate to excavate a unique site of global importance that has been protected from the ravages of time thanks to the exceptional conditions that existed here,” says Prof. Ron Shimelmitz of the University of Haifa. “This time capsule belongs to a unique period at the end of the Lower Paleolithic era, just before Neanderthals and modern humans became dominant and spread across many regions. Only a handful of sites from this important phase have been uncovered in Israel and the wider Levant, and most of them are inaccessible for research.”

Prehistoric handaxe discovered in the ancient cave. Photo credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

“The gradual changes that emerged during this period in human physiology, technology, and society foreshadowed the traits and complex behavioral patterns that developed later and characterize both Neanderthals and modern humans,” explains Prof. Shimelmitz. He adds: “To a degree, they can be seen as the seeds that led to the development of our complex culture. One of the central processes taking place during this period is the transition to living in larger groups and spending longer periods at the same sites. Caves from this period have yielded evidence of intensive use of fire and prolonged human activity, suggesting complex and rich camp life. These are findings that many researchers associate with the development of social cooperation and the transmission of knowledge, as part of the processes of human evolution.”

According to Dr. Kobi Vardi, head of the Prehistory Branch at the Israel Antiquities Authority, “It is very rare to find a site in such a state of preservation. Every prehistorian who visits the site is absolutely thrilled. The site, which is no less important than the well-known Nahal Me’arot site—and dates to the same period—will allow us to study in high resolution how humans lived at that time. The culture we are investigating here was characterized by a variety of advanced methods for producing flint tools, including small sharp handaxes, scrapers, and blades. The excavation is also uncovering animal bones, including fallow deer, gazelle, and ancient horses, alongside evidence of the presence of water, which may have made the site attractive for ancient hunter-gatherer groups.”

From right to left: researchers Prof. Ron Shimelmitz of the University of Haifa, Dr. Kobi Vardi and Amit Gabay of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Photo credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

In light of the site’s importance, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the University of Haifa are advancing a large-scale research program that seeks to reconstruct how humans lived, adapted to their environment, and developed new lifestyles and technologies over the course of human evolution.

“We very much appreciate the enthusiasm shown by Ayalon Highways Company in enabling us to undertake the excavation. The hope is that after the research is completed, this site will be open and accessible to all: to the residents of Fureidis, students at the nearby school, and anyone interested in the prehistory of the region,” the researchers conclude.

Banner: Excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the University of Haifa in the ancient cave. Photo credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

A 6,000-year-old copper fishing hook— one of the oldest copper fishhooks in the world was discovered in Ashkelon

The fishhook, possibly for hunting sharks, was discovered in the Israel Antiquity Authority excavations carried out prior to the construction of the Agamim neighborhood in Ashkelon * The special find will be exhibited at the 48th Archaeological Congress, organized by the Israel Antiquity Authority, the Israel Exploration Society, and the Israeli Archaeological Association.

A 6,000-year-old copper fishhook— one of the oldest known in the world—possibly for fishing sharks or very large fish, was discovered in the Israel Antiquity Authority excavations carried out prior to the construction of the new Agamim neighborhood in Ashkelon in 2018. The find, presented here for the first time, will be exhibited in April at the 48th Archaeological Congress, organized by the Israel Antiquity Authority, the Israel Exploration Society, and the Israeli Archaeological Association.

According to Dr. Yael Abadi-Reiss, co-director of the excavation and Dr. Daniel Varga, both from the Israel Antiquities Authority, “This unique find is 6.5 cm long and 4 cm wide, its large dimensions making it suitable for hunting 2–3 m long sharks or large tuna fish. More ancient fishhooks found previously were made of bone and were much smaller than this one. The use of copper began in the Chalcolithic period. It is fascinating to discover that this technological innovation was applied in antiquity to produce fishhooks for fishermen along the Mediterranean coast.”

In the Chalcolithic period, there were large villages around Ashkelon, whose economy was based on branches of agriculture still common today, such as the pasturing of sheep, goat, and cattle, the cultivation of wheat, barley, and legumes and the tending of fruit orchards. “We learn about the dietary habits of the people who lived here 6,000 years ago from the remains of animal bones found in ancient rubbish pits, from burnt wheat grains found in ovens, and from the hunting, cooking, and food-processing tools retrieved, including flint sickles, and a variety of pottery vessels that served for the storage, cooking and the conservation of food by fermentation and salting. The rare fishhook tells the story of the village fishermen who sailed out to sea in their boats and cast the newly invented copper fishhook into the water, hoping to add coastal sharks to the menu,” says Dr. Abadi-Reiss.

The research on the copper fishhook is being undertaken by Dr. Yotam Asscher of the Israel Antiquity Authority and Magda Batiashvilli, and we await new discoveries on this fascinating artifact. Advanced technologies are available for today’s scholars, opening a world of new questions that could not previously be answered.

The special find will be exhibited for the first time at the 48th Archaeological Congress of the Israel Antiquity Authority, the Israel Exploration Society and the Israeli Archaeological Association, which will be held on April 3rd, 2023.

Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquity Authority, said, “We are very excited that the Israel Antiquity Authority will host the Congress participants in the new home of Israel archaeology- the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Givat Ram, Jerusalem. A modern visitors’ center will be set up for the general public, enabling a glimpse “behind the scenes” of the extensive archaeological activity in Israel and a view of some of the wonderful treasures that come to light from underground.”

An ancient mosaic floor adorned with colorful floral designs has been re-uncovered after 40 years along the Israel National Trail

The mosaic floor of an ancient church was first discovered in the 1980s but was since been covered over and not accessible. Now the Israel Antiquities Authority, together with the Shoham Local Council and with the help of volunteers, have prepared the site for visitors along the Israel National Trail. Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Yair Amitzur: "It's quite feasible that the mosaic artisan sat here and was inspired by the anemones flowering all around him."

The fine colorful mosaic adorned with the flower designs that are being uncovered is located in the Shoham Industrial Zone. The Israel Antiquities Authority, together with the Shoham Local Council and with the help of volunteers, is restoring part of the archaeological site of Horvat El-Bira, which was covered over for the last 40 years, and creating a site for visitors along the Israel National Trail.

A Roman-period rural villa was located at the site, and agricultural processing installations and several buildings that served the ancient residents are extant today. In the Byzantine period, a church was built, located alongside the ancient road that connected the coastal area with the Judean Shephelah lowlands, now crossed by the modern Highway No. 6. Along the ancient road, there were ancient "refreshing stations"  every few kilometers: Tel Tinshemet, Horvat El-Bira, and Horvat Hani, this last site also recently conserved by the Israel Antiquities Authority. These sites offered the ancient travelers a place to rest, pray, and recover their energy.

"When we first came to the site, the mosaic was covered with earth and weeds. Over the last month, we have been uncovering and cleaning up the site with the local

community," says Yair Amitzur, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority Central Region Education Department. "We are working here amongst a carpet of flowering anemones. One can imagine that the surroundings inspired the artist of the flower-adorned mosaic."

"The site was first excavated in the 1980s by Professors Zeev Safrai and Shimon Dar," says Anan Azab, Israel Antiquities Authority Director of the Central District. "It seems that the site was settled from the Iron Age or earlier, possibly as early as the Chalcolithic period, and down to the Islamic period."

The restoration and cleaning up of the site is being carried out by the Shoham community and by Israel Antiquities Authority volunteers from around the country in the context of 'Good Deeds Day.' The Israel Antiquities Authority and the Shoham Local Council have also erected a new seating area for the pleasure of the hikers and the residents.

In the framework of the project, the Israel Antiquities Authority team has connected the site with the adjacent new offices of the Israel Antiquities Authority Central Region in Shoham by becoming 'Israel Trail Angels.' Amitzur adds, "Thanks to the project, Israel Trail hikers will be able to stop here, replenish their water supplies, drink a cup of coffee, and "en route" (literally), receive an explanation on the site."

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "It is very moving to meet good people who voluntarily enlist to enhance the local heritage and to create a good seating area along the Israel trail. This type of activity reflects the Israel experience at its best. I hope every hiker along the Israel National Trail will appreciate the humane values of our heritage and will perhaps be motivated to participate in one of the Israel Antiquities Authority initiatives and activities close to their home. The archaeological heritage can be found throughout the country; one only has to raise one's eyes or perhaps look down on the ground to see it!"

The Shoham Local Council Mayor, Eitan Patigro: "Shoham values its local nature and history, which plays a central role in the residents' leisure time. The new site is located in the heart of the Shoham High-Park Logistic Center, and I do not doubt that it will be a center of attraction for the residents and visitors. The proximity to the Israel National Trail and the Food-Tracks that will be set up in the adjacent parking area provides an opportunity for a short and interesting walk while learning about the history of settlement in the Land of Israel and specifically in our region. I am grateful to the Israel Antiquities Authority for the initiative to uncover this fascinating site, and I thank the local pupils who participated in the project."

Davidson Center in Jerusalem Archaeological Park Re-Opens to Public with Brand-New Modernized Visitor Experience

The newly renovated Davidson Center re-opens with updated exhibits featuring first-ever publicly displayed archaeological finds, innovative technology, and interactive galleries

The Davidson Center in Jerusalem Archaeological Park will reopen to the public on March 13 after being closed for three years for renovations. Located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the Temple Mount, visitors to the newly renovated Davidson Center will explore the theme of the Temple City of Jerusalem through a unique combination of ancient archaeological finds, innovative technology, artistic depictions, and interactive galleries. The Davidson Center renovation project, which included a building expansion and full content refresh, was led by the Israel Antiquities Authority with funding provided by the William Davidson Foundation.

The Davidson Center will feature several ancient artifacts, dating back to the First Temple Period 2,700 years ago, with some of the oldest known inscriptions bearing Jerusalem’s ancient Hebrew name, “yršlm”. Visitors will experience an entire gallery dedicated to the story of the origin of the Temple Menorah. Among the artifacts on display is an extremely rare coin minted by the last Hasmonean king, Antigonus II Mattathias, depicts the Temple Menorah and is the oldest known artistic representation created 107 years before the Second Temple’s destruction.

“This is the oldest known artistic depiction of the menorah, created 107 years before the destruction of the Second Temple,” says Dr. Yuval Baruch, head of archaeology department at the Israel Antiquities Authority, who was one of the excavators of the site and led the archaeological curation of the Davidson Center. The other archaeological find on public display for the first time since it was excavated in the 1950’s is a fragment of plasterwork from a Second Temple era burial cave, known as Jason’s Tomb, bearing five carvings of menorahs.

The Southern Wall, adjacent to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park and the Davidson Center, is also strongly featured. In Temple times, this wall contained the main entry point for pilgrims ascending the Temple courtyards (via the Hulda Gates) to fulfill the commandment of bringing offerings on festivals and other occasions.

“We are excited to announce the reopening of the Davidson Center, which will offer visitors a unique experience exploring Jerusalem’s rich and varied history through its archaeological treasures,” said Darin McKeever, president and CEO of the William Davidson Foundation. “We believe that the museum will be an important cultural destination for both foreign and Israeli visitors, and we look forward to sharing the stories and discoveries from Jerusalem’s past with this large and diverse audience. The William Davidson Foundation is proud to continue building on its late founder’s transformational investments in Jerusalem Archaeological Park.”

The Jerusalem Archaeological Park is one of the most important archaeological sites in Israel. Due to its archaeological, historical, and cultural importance, hundreds of thousands of people visit the park each year. The Society for the Development of the Jewish Quarter leads the visitor experiences in the Old City, including the area of the Southern Wall, Davidson Center, and Jerusalem Archaeological Park.

Herzl Ben Ari, CEO of the Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter added, “Today, after years of work, we are proud to reopen the Davidson Center in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park. Thanks to all the partners in this endeavor, the Center tells the moving story of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and remembrance of the Temple, using first-rate and innovative techniques and technologies. It is a testament to the vision of Mr. Davidson, and an exciting new chapter for a site where Jews have come to and longed for, for generations.”

Jerusalem Archaeological Park was established in 1995 through the support of Detroit businessman and philanthropist, William “Bill” Davidson (1922-2009), who had an appreciation for archaeology and believed deeply in preserving the history of the Jewish people. Building on his transformational contribution to the park, Mr. Davidson established the Davidson Center, which first opened in 2001, and quickly became one of Jerusalem’s most innovative and technologically advanced tourist attractions.

Rare Gold Bead more than 1,600 Years old Discovered in Jerusalem's City of David

A rare gold bead from the end of the Roman era was uncovered within the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation of the Pilgrimage Road in the City of David, part of the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The gold bead, which a volunteer discovered, is handmade in a delicate and complicated process.

A unique bead made from pure gold and dated to at least 1,600 years ago was uncovered at the sifting project at the Archaeological Experience in the Emek Tzurim National Park. The bead was found in dirt removed from a magnificent Roman structure discovered in the Pilgrimage Road Excavation. It was created using a unique technique that required delicate craft to affix tens of tiny balls together in the shape of a ring to make one small bead.

Hallel Feidman, age 18, from Bnei Ayish, is the volunteer who found the gold bead. She is a National Service volunteer who is working on the sifting project. "I poured the pail onto the sieve and began to wash the material that was brought from the excavations in the City of David, " Feidman says as she describes the moment she made the discovery. "And then I saw something shiny in the corner of the sieve, different, that I don't usually see. I immediately approached the archaeologist, and he confirmed that I had found a gold bead. Everyone here was very excited. "

According to Dr. Amir Golani, an ancient jewelry expert at the Israel Antiquities Authority: "Throughout all my years in archaeology, I have found gold perhaps once or twice, so to

find gold jewelry is very, very special." He points out that the bead, which survived unscathed, is probably only a tiny part of a necklace or bracelet that included additional beads. "Whoever could afford a piece like this made from gold was an affluent person with means." 

According to Shlomo Greenberg and Ari Levy, Excavation Directors on behalf of the Israel Antiques Authority, "The bead originated in a magnificent structure which is at least 25 meters long. The structure was built on Pilgrimage Road in the City of David in a style that characterizes upscale buildings. The wealth of the building's occupants is evidenced by additional finds that were discovered in it, like imported clay vessels and a decorated mosaic floor."

The researchers point out that it is possible that the bead was created in a period that precedes the period of the structure in which it was found. However, it is reasonable to assume that the people that lived in the structure used the bead, which may have accidentally been lost when the necklace broke.

The find holds distinctive importance due to the lack of gold items in archaeological excavations and because beads of this style are not common due to the unique and complex technique used to create them. The method most probably originates from Mesopotamia, which was known from approximately 4500 years ago.

"The most interesting aspect of the bead is its unique and complex production method," explains Dr. Golani. "A good understanding of the materials and their properties are required, as well as control over the heat. On the one hand, solder the tiny balls together to create a tiny ring while also preventing overheating, which may lead all the gold to melt." He says, "Only a professional craftsman could produce such a bead, which is another reason this find holds great value."

The unique technique, which came from outside of Israel, coupled with the use of gold in creating this bead, speaks to the wealth of its owner. It is possible that the bead was created in a different area and made its way to the City of David due to the extensive trade relations between Jerusalem and other regions at that time. Another theory is that the bead was gifted to a Jerusalem resident, or, possibly due to its unique nature, it was passed within the family from one generation to another as an inheritance.

Similar beads have been discovered in burial caves from 2500 years ago (end of the First Temple period) in Ketef Hinnom near the City of David during excavations carried out by Professor Gabriel Barkay. Still, even those beads were made from silver. To this day, only a few dozen gold beads have been found in Israel.

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "Although it is a small find, it is precisely the personal, day-to-day items that manage to touch and connect us, more than anything else, directly to a certain person. Even with today's advanced technology, creating something like this would be very complex. A close examination of this object fills one with a deep sense of admiration for the technical skill and ability of those who came before us many centuries ago. " the Emek Tzurim National Park operates all year long and, over the years has uncovered numerous finds from different periods in Jerusalem's history, including rare jewelry and coins, and pottery fragments.

Mysterious hand imprint uncovered next to the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem

The new elements of the Jerusalem Old City fortification system were discovered in the Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in Sultan Suleiman street in the course of infrastructure works carried out by the Moriah - The Jerusalem Development Corporation

Elements of ancient Jerusalem’s fortifications and a mysterious hand imprint carved in the rock were uncovered at the Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in Jerusalem. The archaeological excavations were carried out along the main Sultan Suleiman Street that runs adjacent to the city walls before infrastructure works by Moriah - The Jerusalem Development Corporation. During the excavations, part of a deep defensive moat that surrounded the city walls, probably dating from the tenth century CE and possibly earlier, was exposed. An unexplained carved hand imprint was discovered at one spot carved in the moat wall. 

Zubair Adawi, Israel Antiquities Authority excavation director, uncovered the moat underneath the street. According to Adawi, “People are unaware that this busy street is built directly over a huge moat, an enormous rock-hewn channel, at least 10 m wide, and between 2–7 m deep. The moat surrounding the entire Old City dates back about 1,000 years to the 10th century CE or earlier. Its function was to prevent the enemy besieging Jerusalem from approaching the walls and breaking into the city. Moats, usually filled with water, are well-known from fortifications and castles in Europe, but here the moat was dry, its width and depth presenting an obstacle slowing down the attacking army.”

The impressive walls and gates of the Old City visible today were built in the sixteenth century by the Turkish Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I, the Magnificent. “The earlier fortification walls that surrounded the ancient city of Jerusalem were much stronger,” says Dr. Amit Re’em, Jerusalem regional Director at the Israel Antiquities Authority. “In the eras of knights’ battles, swords, arrows, and charging cavalry, the fortifications of Jerusalem were formidable and complex, comprising walls and elements to hold off large armies storming the city.”

Re’em says, “Armies trying to capture the city in the Middle Ages had to cross the deep moat, and behind it, two additional thick fortification walls, while the defenders of the city on the walls rained down on them fire and sulfur. As if this wasn’t enough, there were secret tunnels in the fortifications, some of them uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists in previous excavations, whereby the city defenders could emerge into the moat and attack the enemy by surprise, and then disappear back into the city.”

“The historians who accompanied the First Crusade describe the arrival of the Crusaders at the walls of Jerusalem in June 1099. Exhausted by the journey, they stood opposite the huge moat, and only after five weeks succeeded in crossing it with deploying tactics and at the cost of much blood, under heavy fire from the Muslim and Jewish defenders.”

A mysterious hand imprint was carved in the moat wall during the excavation. To date, archaeologists have not deciphered the meaning of this carving. “Does it symbolize something? Does it point to a specific nearby element? Or is it just a local prank? Time may tell,” say the researchers.

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “Many dreamed about and fought for Jerusalem, and the city fortifications are a silent testimony. The archaeological finds enable us to visualize the dramatic events and the upheavals that the city underwent. One can imagine the tumult and almost smell the battle smoke. We are daily unraveling the intensive military history of the city, and we will make great efforts to exhibit the finds to the general public.” 

8 more than 4,000-year-old ostrich eggs uncovered in the Negev dunes

The large eggs were discovered next to an ancient fire pit in an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation, initiated by the JNF and the Ramat Negev Regional Council, undertaken before the development of an agricultural area for Moshav Be’er Milka

Lauren Davis, the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation director, said, “This is a significant find that—with the help of modern scientific methods—can teach us a lot about the nomadic people of the desert in ancient times.”

Eight more than 4,000-year-old ostrich eggs were uncovered near an ancient fire pit in the Nitzana dunes in the Negev. This rare find, preliminarily dated between 4,000 and 7,500 years ago, was discovered in an Israel Antiquities Authority archaeological excavation in the agricultural fields of Be’er Milka. The Israel Antiquities Authority carried out the excavation, initiated by the Jewish National Fund and the Ramat Negev Regional Council plans to prepare new agricultural land for Be’er Milka.

“We found a campsite, which extends over 200 square meters. The desert nomads used that since prehistoric times”, says Lauren Davis, the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation director. “At the site, we found burnt stones, flint, and stone tools as well as pottery sherds, but the exceptional find is this collection of ostrich eggs. Although the nomads did not build permanent structures at this site, the finds allow us to feel their presence in the desert. These campsites were quickly covered by the dunes and re-exposed to the sand movement for hundreds of years. This fact explains the exceptional preservation of the eggs, allowing us a glimpse into the lives of the nomads who roamed the desert in ancient times.”

Ostriches were common in the area from the early prehistoric periods until they became extinct in the wild in the 19th century. Their eggs have been found in archaeological sites for several periods, reflecting the importance of ostrich eggs as a raw material.

“We find ostrich eggs in archaeological sites in funerary contexts and as luxury items and water canteens. Naturally, they were used as a source of food: one ostrich egg has the nutritional value of about 25 normal chicken eggs,” says Dr. Amir Gorzalczany from the Israel Antiquities Authority, who has researched the subject. “There is sometimes even evidence of decorating and incising on ostrich eggs, showing their use as decorative items. It is interesting that while ostrich eggs are not uncommon in excavations, the bones of the large bird are not found. This may indicate that people avoided tackling the ostrich in the ancient world and were content with collecting their eggs.”

“The proximity of the group of eggs to the fire pit indicates that this is not a natural chance find but the intentional collecting of the eggs,” says Davis. “One of the eggs was found directly in the fire pit, strengthening the understanding that they were used as the food here. The ostrich eggs were crushed but well-preserved, although they were uncovered in the surface layer.”

Davis adds that post-excavation scientific examination will add information regarding the exact age of the site. “After the excavation, we will reconstruct the eggs, just like a puzzle. The whole egg may tell us the species and what they were used for. Every eggshell is worth its weight in gold. I am looking forward to the research in the labs. The best is yet ahead.”

Eli Escuzido, Director-General of the Israel Antiquities Authority, says: “The collection of ostrich eggs from Be’er Milka is a rare and fascinating find. It seems that the eggs survived as the dunes covered them over for so long and due to the relatively dry climate of the area. The finds will go directly from the excavation to the new analytical laboratory in the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel, where they will undergo further observation and research.”