An Ancient Jewish Coin from the Bar Kokhba Revolt Against the Romans, Bearing the Name of Its Leader, Shim'on, Will Fly with Eytan Stibbe into Space

Eli Escozido, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented the coin to Stibbe in Jerusalem today * Stibbe visited today the IAA Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory, where he viewed scrolls written in Aramaic over 2000 years ago, which already then discussed celestial bodies * "This is a thrilling meeting between the ancient world and the height of human innovation."

Eytan Stibbe will take the symbolic item with him on his upcoming 'Rakia' (firmament) mission into space: An 1900-year-old Jewish coin. Eli Escozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented the second Israeli in space, Eytan Stibbe, with a coin from the second Jewish revolt against the Romans, also known as the Bar Kokhba Revolt, bearing the name of its leader, or nasi ('prince'), Shim'on Bar Kokhba. The coin from Year Two of the revolt was recently uncovered in the Cave of Horror during the challenging Judean Desert Survey and Excavations Project carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Youth and volunteers. The project covered about half of the Judean Desert caves in search of ancient remains. This state-sponsored project was undertaken in collaboration with the Staff Officer for Archaeology – Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria and funded by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage.

The Ramon Foundation and the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Science and Technology are sending the second Israeli, Eytan Stibbe, into space, on a historic mission. The 'Rakia' mission aims to inspire the younger generation while advancing and expanding the Israel Aerospace Industry. The mission will enable Israeli entrepreneurs and researchers to advance innovative ideas and provide a rare opportunity to test their enterprises in a unique study environment, thereby contributing to international and Israeli research industries. In addition, the mission will make diversified educational activities accessible to benefit all Israeli children. It will be the first time Israeli children and youth will access the International Space Station in Hebrew.

Stibbe visited the Israel Antiquities Authority Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory in Jerusalem, where he was shown 2000-year-old scroll fragments of the Book of Enoch, written in Aramaic. The script tells the story of Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, who ascended to the heavens and was accompanied by angels who showed him the sun, the moon, and the stars.

The Israel Antiquities Authority researchers also showed Stibbe a unique camera that was developed with NASA technology, which was modified for documenting the scrolls and thus improving their preservation. The Dead Sea Scrolls considered the most important find of the twentieth century, include the most ancient copies of the books of the Bible. The camera can photograph each scroll fragment in 12 different wavelengths, some invisible to the human eye. This technology provides precise imaging of each scroll fragment, thus monitoring the scrolls' preservation state down to the pixel level.

At the end of the visit, Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, presented Stibbe with the coin for guardianship while on his trip to space. Both sides of the coin bear Jewish symbols typical of the Second Temple period: a palm tree with the inscription "Shim'on," of which only the letters m'n ("m'on") are discernable, on one side; and a vine leaf with the inscription "Year Two of the liberty of Israel" (sh b lhr is).

"The coins of the Bar Kokhba Revolt were minted by the rebels between 132 and 136 CE", says Dr. Gabriela Bijovsky, a coin specialist at the Israel Antiquities Authority. "It seems that the reason for the revolt was Hadrian's decree announcing Aelia Capitolina, previously Jerusalem, a Roman colony. Interestingly, the rebels used existing Roman coins and re-struck them with their themes and messages. Such an act was an outrageous affront to the Roman rulers. These coins had first and foremost a symbolic meaning, as Jewish propaganda, as they could be uses for commerce only among

The second Israeli in space, Eytan Stibbe, said: "As part of 'Rakia' mission to the International Space Station, I will be taking with me a bag filled with items that have a special meaning to me. It was clear to me that one of these items will be a symbol of Jewish history. I saw the coin, minted with the palm tree and vines leave, that, for me, represent the connection to the land, the love of the country, and the desire of the population of Israel in those years for independence. The palm tree particularly touched me, as it is the symbol of the Agricultural Research Organization at Volcani Center, where my father spent his life researching the country's soil. The 'Rakia' mission, which focuses on innovation, advancement of technology, science, education, art, and culture, provides me with the unique opportunity to take a 1900-year-old coin that represents the history of the Jewish people to space".

Eli Escozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said that "the fact that Eytan chose to take with him to space an ancient item bearing symbolic significance is very exciting and meaningful. This is a historic meeting between the ancient world and the height of human innovation. The Jewish rebels who struck this coin 1800 years ago while fighting for their lives and independence could not have imagined in their wildest dreams that after many centuries this item will make its way to outer space with a Jewish astronaut who lives in an independent Jewish state! The leader of the revolt, or the Prince (nasi) of Israel, Shim'on Bar Koziba, became memorialized as Bar Kokhba ("Son of a Star"), and today this name receives an added symbolic meaning."   

The Book of Enoch, shown to Eytan Stibbe, is an especially intriguing apocryphal text found among the Dead Sea Scrolls stored at and treated by the IAA Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory. This book, one of the Jewish Apocrypha (extra-biblical texts) that interpret and elaborate on the biblical stories, comprises several books written in the third-fourth centuries BCE. They tell in detail the story of Enoch, Noah's great-grandfather, and the "sons of God," who are mentioned only briefly in the Book of Genesis. According to the Book of Enoch, Enoch traveled through the heavens in the company of angels, who showed him the sun, the moon, and the stars, as well as rain, snow, and winds, and explained to him the workings of the cosmic order.

Evidence of agricultural and industrial activity from 1,500 years ago discovered in Ramat Ha-Sharon

An Israel Antiquities Authority excavation has yielded evidence of human activity in the Ramat Ha-Sharon region from as early as 1,500 years ago. The excavation was prompted by Ramat Ha-Sharon Municipality’s plans to establish a new residential neighborhood south of a Holiday Park slated to be built on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

Ramat Ha-Sharon’s history is far more ancient than generally assumed. “The excavation unearthed evidence of agricultural-industrial activity at the site during the Byzantine period – about 1,500 years ago. Among other finds, we discovered a large winepress paved with a mosaic as well as plastered installations and the foundations of a large structure that may have been used as a warehouse or even a farmstead,” explains Dr. Yoel Arbel, the excavation’s director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Inside the buildings and installations, we found many fragments of storage jars and cooking pots that were evidently used by laborers working in the fields here. We also recovered stone mortars and millstones that were used to grind wheat and barley and probably also to crush herbs and medicinal plants. Most of the stone implements are made of basalt from the Golan Heights and Galilee.”

One of the rare and unexpected finds retrieved from the excavation is a gold coin minted in 638 or 639 CE by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius. On one side, the emperor is depicted with his two sons and the reverse shows a cross on the hill of Golgotha where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified. An interesting addition to the coin is an inscription scratched in Greek and possibly also in Arabic. This is probably the name of the coin’s owner, who ‘marked’ it as highly valuable property. According to Dr. Robert Kool, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Numismatics Department, “The coin encapsulates fascinating data on the decline of Byzantine rule in the country and contemporary historical events, such as the Persian invasion and the emergence of Islam, and provides information on Christian and pagan symbolism and the local population who lived here.”

Another unusual find is a bronze chain that was used to suspend a chandelier containing glass lamp holders. Chandeliers of this type are usually found in churches.

Installations built at the site after the Muslim conquest in the seventh century CE include a glass-making workshop and a warehouse, where four massive jars were found. The jars, which were sunk into the floor, were evidently used to store grain and other products as a precaution against pests and damp conditions. “In this period, people were not only working at the site but also living there, because we discovered the remains of houses and two large baking ovens,” says Arbel. The pottery from this period includes complete pottery lamps for lighting, and local and imported serving ware, some of it decorated. Based on the assemblage of finds, the site continued to be inhabited until the eleventh century CE.

Avi Gruber, Mayor of Ramat Ha-Sharon says, “I am thrilled by the finds and we have already started working with the directors of the Neve Gan North project on exactly how to integrate the current finds into the future neighborhood. I want all our residents to enjoy learning about life here in antiquity and in the Middle Ages. As we plan heritage-related events for the upcoming centenary, this opens up a whole new perspective on how people once lived in this part of the country.”

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority,  "The material remains of the cultural heritage uncovered in our excavations, preserved for ages, are of the most important national assets. The Israel Antiquities Authority sees great importance in making the findings accessible to the public, in partnership with local and international communities.

Israel Antiquities Authority Tel Aviv District archaeologist Diego Barkan says, “This is the first archaeological excavation ever conducted at the site, and only part of it was previously identified in an archaeological field survey. The Israel Antiquities Authority views this as an excellent opportunity to integrate the ancient remains into plans for the future municipal park.”

Evidence of earthquake that occurred during the Kingdom of Judah mentioned in the Bible.

The famous earthquake, which occurred in Israel about 2800 years ago, appeared in the Bible and was previously exposed to several sites throughout Israel. Still, researchers believe that for the first time, they were able to identify remnants of destruction, indicating that the earthquake also hit Jerusalem - the capital of Judah. These archaeological finds will be shown to the public at the "City of David Research" conference - the annual archaeological conference of the Megalim Institute, which will be held at the beginning of next month.

Archaeological excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the City of David National Park revealed a layer of destruction, including a row of shattered vessels, including bowls, lamps, cooking utensils, storage, and storage jars, which were smashed as the building's walls collapsed.  According to the researchers, since no signs of fire were found, this was not a deliberate event, and the reason for the collapse of the building is the earthquake that occurred in Israel during the eighth century BCE, during the period of the Kingdom of Judah.

According to Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "When we excavated the structure and uncovered an 8th century BCE layer of destruction, we were very surprised, because we know that Jerusalem continued to exist in succession until the Babylonian destruction, which occurred about 200 years later. We asked ourselves what could have caused that dramatic layer of destruction we uncovered. Examining the excavation findings, we tried to check if there is a reference to it in the biblical text. Interestingly, the earthquake that appears in the Bible in the books of Amos and Zechariah occurred at the time when the building we excavated in the City of David collapsed. The combination of the finds in the field together with the biblical description led us to the conclusion that the earthquake that struck the Land of Israel during the reign of Uzziah king of Judah also hit the capital of the kingdom - Jerusalem. "

According to the researchers: "The earthquake that occurred in the middle of the 8th century BCE was probably one of the strongest and most damaging earthquakes in ancient times, and evidence of its occurrence has been discovered in the past in excavations conducted at a variety of sites throughout Israel, such as Hazor, Gezer, Tel Agol, and Tell es-Safi/Gath. 

Now, the latest excavations we conducted in the City of David indicate that the earthquake probably hit Jerusalem as well.

The missing section of the city wall of Jerusalem that the Babylonians encountered on the eve of its destruction on Tisha B’Av 586 BCE discovered

Archaeological excavations in the City of David National Park have uncovered the remains of the city wall, built during the Iron Age - the days of the First Temple in the Kingdom of Judah, to protect Jerusalem from the east. The excavations are conducted at the City of David National Park on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the City of David Foundation, as part of the development of the National Park.

According to the directors of the excavation, Dr. Filip Vukosavović of the Ancient Jerusalem Research Center and Dr. Joe Uziel and Ortal Chalaf on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “The city wall protected Jerusalem from a number of attacks during the reign of the kings of Judah, until the arrival of the Babylonians who managed to break through and conquer the city. The remains of the ruins can be seen in the archaeological excavations. However, not everything was destroyed, and parts of the walls, which stood and protected the city for decades and more, remain standing to this day. “

The new section that was exposed connects two sections that were previously excavated on the eastern slope. In the 1960s, British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon uncovered a section of the wall in the northern part of the slope and dated it to the days of the Kingdom of Judah. About a decade later, archaeologist Yigal Shiloh uncovered a long section of the wall in excavations in the southern part of the slope. Over the years, claims have been made that these remnant stone structures should not be seen as wall remains despite the impressive nature of the remains. However, with the uncovering of this new section that connects with these past discoveries, it seems that the debate has been settled and that this was unequivocally the eastern wall of ancient Jerusalem.

Reconstruction of the sections that were dismantled during previous excavations in the early 20th century makes it possible to trace almost another 30 meters of the surviving wall to a height of 2.5 meters and a width of up to 5 meters. In the book of 2 Kings, 25:10, there is a description of the conquest of the city by the Babylonians: “The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.” However, it looks like the Babylonians did not destroy the eastern wall, possibly due to the sharp steepness of the eastern slope of the City of David, which slopes towards the Kidron Valley at over a 30-degree angle. The findings of the destruction can be seen in the building that stood next to the wall and exposed during the previous excavations: inside the building, rows of storage jars were discovered, which were smashed when the building burned and collapsed. The jars bear “rosette” stamped handles, in the shape of a rose, associated with the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. Near the wall, a Babylonian stamp seal made of stone was unveiled, depicting a figure standing in front of symbols of the two Babylonian gods Marduk and Nabu. Not far from there, a bulla  (a stamp seal impression made in clay) was found bearing a Judaean personal name, “Tsafan.”

The findings of the excavation will be presented this coming October at the Israel Antiquities Authority’s conference “New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region.”

Who are you, Jerubbaal?

A rare 3,100-year-old inscription has been found that dates from the time of the biblical Judges and relates to the Book of Judges.

For the first time, an inscription from the time of the biblical Judges and relating to the Book of Judges has been recovered from excavations at Khirbat er-Ra‘i, near Qiryat Gat. The rare inscription bears the name ‘Jerubbaal’ in alphabetic script and dates from around 1,100 BCE. It was written in ink on a pottery vessel and found inside a storage pit dug into the ground and lined with stones.

The inscription was written in ink on a jug – a small personal pottery vessel that holds approximately one liter, and may well have contained a precious liquid such as oil, perfume, or medicine. Apparently, much like today, the vessel’s owner wrote his name on it to assert his ownership. According to the archaeologists, “The name of the Judge Gideon ben Yoash was Jerubbaal, but we cannot tell whether he owned the vessel on which the inscription is written in ink.”

The site, located at the Shahariya forest of the KKL-JNF, has been excavated every summer since 2015, and the current excavation season is its seventh. The excavations are being conducted on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, under the direction of Prof. Yossef Garfinkel, Sa‘ar Ganor, Dr. Kyle Keimer, and Dr. Gil Davies. The program is funded by Joseph B. Silver and the Nathan and Lily Silver Foundation, the Roth Families Sydney, Aron Levy, and the Roger and Susan Hertog Center for Archaeology at the Hebrew University’s Institute of Archaeology. 

The inscription has been deciphered by epigraphic expert Christopher Rolston of George Washington University, Washington DC. It clearly shows the letters yod (broken at the top), resh, bet, ayin, lamed, and remnants of other letters indicate that the original inscription was longer.

Prof. Garfinkel and Ganor explain, “The name Jerubbaal is familiar from biblical tradition in the Book of Judges as an alternative name for the judge Gideon ben Yoash. Gideon is first mentioned as combatting idolatry by breaking the altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole. In biblical tradition, he is then remembered as triumphing over the Midianites, who used to cross over the Jordan to plunder agricultural crops. According to the Bible, Gideon organized a small army of 300 soldiers and attacked the Midianites by night near Ma‘ayan Harod. In view of the geographical distance between the Shephelah and the Jezreel Valley, this inscription may refer to another Jerubbaal and not the Gideon of biblical tradition, although the possibility cannot be ruled out that the jug belonged to the judge Gideon. In any event, the name Jerubbaal was evidently in common usage at the time of the Biblical Judges.”

Inscriptions from the period of the Judges are extremely rare and almost unparalleled in Israeli archaeology. Only a handful of inscriptions found in the past bear a number of unrelated letters. This is the first time that the name Jerubbaal has ever been found outside the Bible in an archaeological context – in a stratum dated to around 1,100 BCE, the period of the Judges.

“As we know, there is considerable debate as to whether biblical tradition reflects reality and whether it is faithful to historical memories from the days of the Judges and the days of David,” say the archaeologists. “The name Jerubbaal only appears in the Bible in the period of the Judges, yet now it has also been discovered in an archaeological context, in a stratum dating from this period. In a similar manner, the name Ishbaal, which is only mentioned in the Bible during the monarchy of King David, has been found in strata dated to that period at the site of Khirbat Qeiyafa. The fact that identical names are mentioned in the Bible and also found in inscriptions recovered from archaeological excavations shows that memories were preserved and passed down through the generations.”

 The Jerubbaal inscription also contributes to our understanding of the spread of alphabetic script in the transition from the Canaanite period to the Israelite period. The alphabet was developed by the Canaanites under Egyptian influence in around 1,800 BCE, during the Middle Bronze Age. In the Late Bronze Age (1,550–1,150 BCE), only a few such inscriptions are known of in Israel, most from Tel Lachish near present-day Moshav Lachish. The Canaanite city of Lachish was probably the center where the tradition of writing the alphabet was maintained and preserved. Canaanite Lachish was destroyed in around 1,150 BCE and remained abandoned for about two centuries. Until now, there was considerable uncertainty as to where the tradition of alphabetic script was preserved after the fall of Lachish.

The newly-discovered inscription shows that the script was preserved at Khirbat er-Ra‘i — roughly 4 km from Lachish and the largest site in the area at the time of the Judges — during the transition from the Canaanite to the Israelite and Judahite cultures. Additional inscriptions, from the time of the monarchy (tenth century BCE onwards), have been found in the Shephelah, including two from Khirbat Qeiyafa and others from Tel es-Safi (Tel Tzafit) and Tel Bet Shemesh.

Route reveals one of the most magnificent public buildings discovered from Second Temple-period Jerusalem

For the first time, the Israel Antiquities Authority and Western Wall Heritage Foundation are opening to the public impressive new sections of one of the most magnificent public buildings uncovered from the Second Temple period. The discovery – the fruit of archaeological excavations recently conducted in the Western Wall Tunnels – will be part of the new route opened to visitors ahead of Rosh Chodesh Elul and Slichot (Penitential prayers).

To the west of Wilson’s Arch and the Temple Mount, part of the structure was discovered and documented by Charles Warren in the nineteenth century, followed by various archaeologists in the twentieth century. Now that its excavation is complete, we know that it contained two identical magnificent chambers with an elaborate fountain between them. The walls of the halls and the fountain were decorated with sculpted cornice-bearing pilasters (flat supporting pillars) topped with Corinthian capitals. The decorative style of the building is typical of opulent Second Temple-period architecture.

Mordechai Soli Eliav, Chairman of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, says, “It is exciting to reveal such a magnificent structure from the Second Temple period while we mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and pray for its restoration. These chambers are part of a new walk through the Western Wall Tunnels, where visitors will view fascinating finds and walk for the first time along the entire route among Second Temple-period remains that illustrate the complexity of Jewish life in Jerusalem between the Hasmonean and the Roman periods.”

According to Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolach, Excavation director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “This is, without doubt, one of the most magnificent public buildings from the Second Temple period that has ever been uncovered outside the Temple Mount walls in Jerusalem. It was built around 20–30 CE. The building, which stood along a street leading up to the Temple Mount, was used for public functions – it may even have been the city council building where important dignitaries were received before entering the Temple compound and the Temple Mount. Visitors to the site can now envisage the opulence of the place: the two side chambers served as ornate reception rooms, and between them was a magnificent fountain with water gushing out from lead pipes incorporated amid the Corinthian capitals protruding from the wall. The excavation also uncovered the original massive stone slabs with which the ancient building was paved. The archaeologists believe that the guest rooms, which were also used for dining, contained wooden reclining sofas that have not been preserved.

Reclining dining rooms were common in the Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman worlds from the fifth century BCE to the third-fourth centuries CE. They are known in the archaeological record from private homes, palaces, temples, synagogue complexes, and civilian compounds. Dining or feasting while reclining is mentioned as early as the Book of Amos – in the first half of the eighth century BCE – when the prophet rebukes the people of the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
In the late Second Temple period, before the Temple’s destruction, extensive changes made throughout the area included alterations to the building, which was divided into three separate chambers. In one of the chambers, a stepped pool was installed that was used as a ritual bath.”

Shachar Puni, architect for the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Conservation Department, explains, “The new route provides a better understanding of the complex and important site known as the Western Wall Tunnels while emphasizing the extent of this magnificent building. It creates a new visitors’ route that passes through the building and leads to the spacious compound at the foot of Wilson’s Arch (one of the bridges leading to the Temple Mount), which was also excavated by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the Israel Antiquities Authority. By making the route accessible and opening it to the public, visitors are introduced to one of the most fascinating and impressive sites in the Old City of Jerusalem.”

Research identifies meeting point between modern humans and Neanderthals

Chronological research at the Boker Tachtit site in Ein Avdat National Park, in Israel’s Negev desert, provides the first proof of the two cultures’ coexistence in the Negev, and pinpoints the time when modern humans left Africa – 50,000 years ago.

Where and when did modern humans and Neanderthal man meet? Groundbreaking research based on re-excavation of the important prehistoric site of Boker Tachtit in Ein Avdat National Park has identified a clearly defined area where the two populations existed at the same time, determining that the species met in the Negev, 50,000 years ago. The research, published on Wednesday in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS, is led by Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto of the Weizmann Institute of Science and Dr. Omry Barzilai of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Genetic studies have shown that modern humans and Neanderthals met in the distant past in the geographical region of Eurasia (which includes Israel) and even exchanged genes. However, the exact time and place of these encounters have remained unknown, until now.

New research based on renewed excavations at the important prehistoric site of Boker Tachtit in Ein Avdat National Park identified the earliest evidence of modern human activity in the Negev in the same time frame Neanderthal man inhabited the region. The study provides the first concrete proof for the coexistence of the two cultures in the Middle East.

The research, published on Wednesday in the prestigious scientific journal PNAS and led by Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto of the Weizmann Institute of Science and Dr. Omry Barzilai of the Israel Antiquities Authority, ascertains that modern man (Homo sapiens) migrated from Africa to Israel 50,000 years ago.

“Boker Tachtit is the first known site reached by a modern man outside Africa, which is why the site and its precise dating are so important,” says Dr. Omry Barzilai, excavation director at the Boker Tachtit site on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “The dating of the site to 50,000 years ago proves that modern man lived in the Negev at the same time as Neanderthal man, who we know inhabited the region in the same period. There is no doubt that, as they dwelt in and moved around the Negev, the two species were aware of each other’s existence. Our research on the Boker Tachtit site places an important, well-defined reference point on the timeline of human evolution.”

the excavation was funded by the Max Planck-Weizmann Center for the Integrative Archaeology and Anthropology. As part of the study, dozens of carbon samples from the renewed excavation were analyzed using radiocarbon dating in Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto’s laboratory at the Weizmann Institute of Science. According to Dr. Barzilai, “For the first time in prehistoric research, the results of the dating prove the hypothesis that there was definitely a spatial overlap between the late Mousterian culture, identified with Neanderthal man, and the Emiran culture, which is associated with the emergence of modern man in the Middle East.”

In the period known as the Middle Palaeolithic, 250,000–50,000 years before present, two humanoid species lived in the Old World simultaneously: Neanderthal man and modern man (Homo sapiens). Neanderthal man lived in Europe and Central Asia, whereas modern man lived in Africa. In particular, the Middle East and the region of Israel were at the limits of the distribution of these two species. They, therefore, also contain remnants of the two populations at different times.

DNA studies show that about 60,000 years ago, groups of modern humans began a widespread migration process from Africa to Asia and Europe and from there to the rest of the world, which ultimately led to the disappearance of Neanderthals and their assimilation into the modern human population. Therefore, the research hypothesis is that there was short-term interaction between the ancient peoples and cultures along the migration routes, including genetic exchange. The present study is the first to confirm this hypothesis, proving that at least one of these intercultural encounters occurred in Negev some 50,000 years ago.

“What was the nature of the encounter we have identified between the two human species? Did Neanderthals throughout the country become naturally extinct, merging with modern man, or did they disappear in violent ways? These questions will continue to concern us as researchers in the coming years,” concludes Dr. Barzilai.

A Cracking Find: Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in Yavne have recovered an intact chicken egg dating from roughly 1,000 years ago

Only a few ancient chicken eggs have ever been found intact, making this a rare global find * The egg was preserved nestled in the soft contents of a cesspit * The excavation at Yavne is part of a new neighborhood development project initiated by the Israel Land Authority

While excavating an ancient cesspit dating from the Islamic period (about 1,000 years ago), Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists in Yavne were astonished to find an unbroken chicken's egg. The large-scale archaeological excavations, directed by Dr. Elie Haddad, Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. Jon Seligman, have discovered an extensive and diverse industrial area dating from the Byzantine period. The excavations are part of the Israel Land Authority's urban expansion project in the city.

"Eggshell fragments are known from earlier periods, for example, in the City of David and at Caesarea and Apollonia, but hardly any whole chicken eggs have been preserved due to the eggs' fragile shells. Even at the global level, this is an extremely rare find," says Dr. Lee Perry Gal of the Israel Antiquities Authority and a leading expert on poultry in the ancient world. "In archaeological digs, we occasionally find ancient ostrich eggs, whose thicker shells preserve them intact."

"Even today, eggs rarely survive for long in supermarket cartons. It's amazing to think this is a 1,000year-old find!" says Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Alla Nagorsky, excavation director at the site where the egg was found. "The egg's unique preservation is evidently due to the conditions in which it lay for centuries, nestled in a cesspit containing soft human waste that preserved it."

Poultry farming was introduced into Israel 2,300 years ago, during the Hellenistic and Early Roman periods. In the Islamic period, from the seventh century CE onwards, there is a marked decrease in the percentage of pig bones at sites in the region, reflecting the prohibition on eating pork. "Families needed a ready protein substitute that does not require cooling and preservation, and they found it in eggs and chicken meat," explains Dr. Perry Gal. "Unfortunately, the egg had a small crack in the bottom, so most of the contents had leaked out of it. Only some of the yolk remained, which was preserved for future DNA analysis."

Despite the extreme caution with which the egg was removed, under the experienced supervision of a conservationist, the shell of the egg – preserved whole by the unusual anaerobic conditions – was cracked. In the Israel Antiquities Authority's organics laboratory, conservationist Ilan Naor restored the egg to the state in which it was found.

How did the egg end up in the cesspit? We will never know. Interestingly, other exciting finds were retrieved from the same pit as the egg, including three typical Islamic-period bone dolls used as playthings some 1,000 years ago.

A renewal project in Tel Ashkelon National Park will reveal the spectacular archaeological remains of a magnificent 2,000-year-old Basilica

Tel Ashkelon National Park has recently undergone extensive development work, initiated and funded by the Nature and Parks Authority, Ashkelon Municipality, and the Leon Levy Foundation, during which the Israel Antiquities Authority recently revealed a magnificent 2,000-year-old basilica that is the largest of its kind in Israel. This area of ancient Ashkelon has been excavated for a century by three major excavation teams: a team from the Palestine Exploration Fund, let by John Garstang (1920-1924), the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, led by Lawrence E. Stager and Daniel Master (2008-2013), and a team from the Israel Antiquities Authority, let by Rachel Bar-Natan, Saar Ganor, and Frederic Kobrin (2017-2020). Now, for the first time, the exciting finds will be open to visitors to Tel Ashkelon National Park. The remains show the development of the city during the Roman period and will be opened on completion of the development, conservation, and restoration work, which includes erecting sculptures and marble columns found in excavations at the site.

The Nature and Parks Authority and the Ashkelon Municipality are also developing and constructing a new network of accessible paths designed to showcase and provide better access to the park’s unique nature, heritage and landscape, thereby enhancing the visitor experience.

During the Roman period, the public life of the city revolved around the city center, which housed the government of the city, first in a basilica but then in a heavily decorated forum and theatre.

According to Dr. Rachel Bar-Natan, Saar Ganor, and Fredrico Kobrin, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, at the beginning of the Roman period, a basilica (Roman public building) was the centerpiece of a new city plan.  “The huge building is covered with a roof and divided into three parts – a central hall and two side halls.  “The basilica was founded by Herod the Great, and one historical source suggests that his family came from the city of Ashkelon,” add Ganor, Dr. Bar-Natan, and Kobrin of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Herodian coins discovered in the bedding of the structure’s ancient floors show that it was built at the time of one of the greatest builders ever to have lived in the country. The writings of the historian Josephus mention Herod’s construction in the city of Ashkelon and list fountains, a bathhouse, and colonnaded halls. Today, based on the new archaeological evidence, we can understand the origins of the historical record.”

During the Roman Severan Dynasty, in the second and third centuries CE, the area was completely renovated. Much of the original basilica was removed, but some of its massive foundations were re-used in order to support beautiful imported marble columns. The marble was imported from Asia Minor in merchant ships that reached the shores of Ashkelon, which was a famous, bustling trade city. Roughly 200 marble items weighing hundreds of tons in all have been found, testifying to the building’s great splendor. Among the items, dozens of column capitals with plant motifs were discovered, some bearing an eagle – the symbol of the Roman Empire. Pillars and heart-shaped capitals stood in the corners of the building. Excavations by the British in the 1920s unearthed huge statues, including a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, supported by the god Atlas holding a sphere, and a statue of Isis – an Egyptian deity depicted as Tyche, the city’s goddess of fortune. Also, during the Severan period, the city council met in a small theatre at the southern end of the forum. This theatre (Roman “odeon” or “bouleterion”) was first discovered in the 1920s by British archaeologist John Garstang but then entirely excavated by the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon over the last two decades. 

According to the excavators from the Israel Antiquities Authority, the columned forum and decorated theatre were devastated by the earthquake that struck the country in 363 CE. The effects of the seismic waves are visible, providing tangible evidence of the events of that year in Ashkelon. After this event,  the buildings were abandoned, and the beautiful marbles began to be reused for other purposes throughout the city. There is evidence that marble items were cut up for use as paving stones, and some of the beautiful architectural features were taken for building construction.

The conservation department of the Israel Antiquities Authority is conducting complex preservation and restoration work on the Severan forum and theatre and the impressive Roman basilica, led by the Nature and Parks Authority and generously funded by the Leon Levy Foundation. The work involves reinstalling the spectacular marble sculptures of ancient Ashkelon near where they were originally uncovered. In the first stage, the Severan theatre will be conserved and restored. Thanks to the Leon Levy Foundation’s support, the Severan theatre will incorporate modern seating, a stage, and a series of explanatory signs. At the same time, impressive marble items are being installed in a pilot program at the site. In this complex operation, one of the pillars, weighing dozens of tons, was hoisted onto the foundations of the basilica. The floor of the excavated forum will be restored and filled in, and additional columns will be placed around the perimeter based on findings from the initial program. The public will then be able to access a magnificent public center for Roman Ashkelon. In the meantime, visitors will be able to sit on the seating in the theatre – to be completed in the coming months – and observe the work on the nearby basilica.

Meanwhile, the new system of accessible paths being developed by the Nature and Parks Authority and Ashkelon Municipality in the national park aims to make the park’s unique nature, heritage and landscape more readily available, thereby enhancing the visitor experience. The route, about 2 km long, will go through the national park’s main sites, including the world’s oldest arched Canaanite gate, the famous wells of the ancient city, the Roman center, and the Crusader walls. This chronological trail tracing Ashkelon’s history through the ages will be clearly lined with content signage. A second trail will lead to the ancient wall and Ashkelon’s dunes, providing a glimpse of the rich flora and fauna to the south of the national park. Between the two trails, in the center of the park, a new visitor center will illustrate the vibrant life of the port city and its importance throughout the various periods.

According to Shaul Goldstein, CEO of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, “The Tel Ashkelon National Park combines a fascinating antiquities site with unique natural resources characteristic of the dunes in the coastal plain. It was the first national park to be declared in Israel in the 1960s, and since then, it has constantly been evolving and renewing for the benefit of visitors from all over the country. The unveiling of the basilica and odeon together with the development, preservation, and restoration work, which includes the installation of pillars and ancient marble sculptures found in excavations at the site, as well as the addition of new and accessible trails around points of major interest will undoubtedly enhance visits to the park and further emphasize its heritage and uniqueness. We are grateful to our partners for providing tremendous support and guidance in the national park’s development, including the generous assistance of Mrs. Shelby White and the Leon Levy Foundation under the close supervision of archaeologist Prof. Daniel Master.”

Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam says, “The Ashkelon National Park is one of the most important ancient sites, both in Israel and in the world, and time and time again, it emerges as one of the most visited sites in the country. The city takes great pride in it, investing resources and funding in cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority, encouraging visitors by subsidizing entry for Ashkelon’s residents and promoting educational and community initiatives. We have recently also finished upgrading the entrance road to the park, which has been transformed to give the park the dignity it deserves. I am convinced that the restoration and conservation work in the park, the new archaeological discoveries, and the development work – including new accessible paths – will contribute significantly to the park’s natural beauty and strengthen its status as the most beautiful and well-kept national park in Israel.”

Shelby White, Trustee of the Leon Levy Foundation, noted “When Leon and I visited Ashkelon in 1985, we did not imagine that our ties with that ancient seaport would last for over three decades. I am glad that the odeon, one of the many archaeological discoveries made by the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, will now be restored, and the famous Roman sculptures of Ashkelon will be returned to their original location. Thanks to this, visitors to the Ashkelon National Park from Israel and around the world will be able to imagine this great city in all its ancient glory.”

Tel Ashkelon National Park has recently undergone extensive development work, initiated and funded by the Nature and Parks Authority, Ashkelon Municipality, and the Leon Levy Foundation, during which the Israel Antiquities Authority recently revealed a magnificent 2,000-year-old basilica that is the largest of its kind in Israel. This area of ancient Ashkelon has been excavated for a century by three major excavation teams: a team from the Palestine Exploration Fund, let by John Garstang (1920-1924), the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, led by Lawrence E. Stager and Daniel Master (2008-2013), and a team from the Israel Antiquities Authority, let by Rachel Bar-Natan, Saar Ganor, and Frederic Kobrin (2017-2020). Now, for the first time, the exciting finds will be open to visitors to Tel Ashkelon National Park. The remains show the development of the city during the Roman period and will be opened on completion of the development, conservation, and restoration work, which includes erecting sculptures and marble columns found in excavations at the site.

The Nature and Parks Authority and the Ashkelon Municipality are also developing and constructing a new network of accessible paths designed to showcase and provide better access to the park’s unique nature, heritage and landscape, thereby enhancing the visitor experience.

During the Roman period, the public life of the city revolved around the city center, which housed the government of the city, first in a basilica but then in a heavily decorated forum and theatre.

According to Dr. Rachel Bar-Natan, Saar Ganor, and Fredrico Kobrin, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, at the beginning of the Roman period, a basilica (Roman public building) was the centerpiece of a new city plan.  “The huge building is covered with a roof and divided into three parts – a central hall and two side halls.  “The basilica was founded by Herod the Great, and one historical source suggests that his family came from the city of Ashkelon,” add Ganor, Dr. Bar-Natan, and Kobrin of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Herodian coins discovered in the bedding of the structure’s ancient floors show that it was built at the time of one of the greatest builders ever to have lived in the country. The writings of the historian Josephus mention Herod’s construction in the city of Ashkelon and list fountains, a bathhouse, and colonnaded halls. Today, based on the new archaeological evidence, we can understand the origins of the historical record.”

During the Roman Severan Dynasty, in the second and third centuries CE, the area was completely renovated. Much of the original basilica was removed, but some of its massive foundations were re-used in order to support beautiful imported marble columns. The marble was imported from Asia Minor in merchant ships that reached the shores of Ashkelon, which was a famous, bustling trade city. Roughly 200 marble items weighing hundreds of tons in all have been found, testifying to the building’s great splendor. Among the items, dozens of column capitals with plant motifs were discovered, some bearing an eagle – the symbol of the Roman Empire. Pillars and heart-shaped capitals stood in the corners of the building. Excavations by the British in the 1920s unearthed huge statues, including a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory, supported by the god Atlas holding a sphere, and a statue of Isis – an Egyptian deity depicted as Tyche, the city’s goddess of fortune. Also, during the Severan period, the city council met in a small theatre at the southern end of the forum. This theatre (Roman “odeon” or “bouleterion”) was first discovered in the 1920s by British archaeologist John Garstang but then entirely excavated by the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon over the last two decades. 

According to the excavators from the Israel Antiquities Authority, the columned forum and decorated theatre were devastated by the earthquake that struck the country in 363 CE. The effects of the seismic waves are visible, providing tangible evidence of the events of that year in Ashkelon. After this event,  the buildings were abandoned, and the beautiful marbles began to be reused for other purposes throughout the city. There is evidence that marble items were cut up for use as paving stones, and some of the beautiful architectural features were taken for building construction.

The conservation department of the Israel Antiquities Authority is conducting complex preservation and restoration work on the Severan forum and theatre and the impressive Roman basilica, led by the Nature and Parks Authority and generously funded by the Leon Levy Foundation. The work involves reinstalling the spectacular marble sculptures of ancient Ashkelon near where they were originally uncovered. In the first stage, the Severan theatre will be conserved and restored. Thanks to the Leon Levy Foundation’s support, the Severan theatre will incorporate modern seating, a stage, and a series of explanatory signs. At the same time, impressive marble items are being installed in a pilot program at the site. In this complex operation, one of the pillars, weighing dozens of tons, was hoisted onto the foundations of the basilica. The floor of the excavated forum will be restored and filled in, and additional columns will be placed around the perimeter based on findings from the initial program. The public will then be able to access a magnificent public center for Roman Ashkelon. In the meantime, visitors will be able to sit on the seating in the theatre – to be completed in the coming months – and observe the work on the nearby basilica.

Meanwhile, the new system of accessible paths being developed by the Nature and Parks Authority and Ashkelon Municipality in the national park aims to make the park’s unique nature, heritage and landscape more readily available, thereby enhancing the visitor experience. The route, about 2 km long, will go through the national park’s main sites, including the world’s oldest arched Canaanite gate, the famous wells of the ancient city, the Roman center, and the Crusader walls. This chronological trail tracing Ashkelon’s history through the ages will be clearly lined with content signage. A second trail will lead to the ancient wall and Ashkelon’s dunes, providing a glimpse of the rich flora and fauna to the south of the national park. Between the two trails, in the center of the park, a new visitor center will illustrate the vibrant life of the port city and its importance throughout the various periods.

According to Shaul Goldstein, CEO of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, “The Tel Ashkelon National Park combines a fascinating antiquities site with unique natural resources characteristic of the dunes in the coastal plain. It was the first national park to be declared in Israel in the 1960s, and since then, it has constantly been evolving and renewing for the benefit of visitors from all over the country. The unveiling of the basilica and odeon together with the development, preservation, and restoration work, which includes the installation of pillars and ancient marble sculptures found in excavations at the site, as well as the addition of new and accessible trails around points of major interest will undoubtedly enhance visits to the park and further emphasize its heritage and uniqueness. We are grateful to our partners for providing tremendous support and guidance in the national park’s development, including the generous assistance of Mrs. Shelby White and the Leon Levy Foundation under the close supervision of archaeologist Prof. Daniel Master.”

Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam says, “The Ashkelon National Park is one of the most important ancient sites, both in Israel and in the world, and time and time again, it emerges as one of the most visited sites in the country. The city takes great pride in it, investing resources and funding in cooperation with the Nature and Parks Authority, encouraging visitors by subsidizing entry for Ashkelon’s residents, and promoting educational and community initiatives. We have recently also finished upgrading the entrance road to the park, which has been transformed to give the park the dignity it deserves. I am convinced that the restoration and conservation work in the park, the new archaeological discoveries, and the development work – including new accessible paths – will contribute significantly to the park’s natural beauty and strengthen its status as the most beautiful and well-kept national park in Israel.”

Shelby White, Trustee of the Leon Levy Foundation, noted “When Leon and I visited Ashkelon in 1985, we did not imagine that our ties with that ancient seaport would last for over three decades. I am glad that the odeon, one of the many archaeological discoveries made by the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, will now be restored, and the famous Roman sculptures of Ashkelon will be returned to their original location. Thanks to this, visitors to the Ashkelon National Park from Israel and around the world will be able to imagine this great city in all its ancient glory.”

Against the Evil Eye

Forty years after its find, an ancient amulet bearing the Divine Name and intended to ward off demons has been handed over to the Israel Antiquities Authority. The fascinating amulet, dated to the Byzantine period (some 1500 years ago), was found at Arbel, where there was once an ancient Jewish settlement.

The amulet bears four Greek letters: I A W Θ, representing the Jewish Divine Name (Yahweh, IHYH). “The fact that the amulet was found on the site of a Jewish settlement that contained a synagogue in the fifth-sixth centuries CE suggests that Jews also carried amulets at the time,” says the find’s researcher archaeologist Dr. Eitan Klein of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

A necklace pendant used as a protective amulet and dating from the Byzantine period (equivalent to Talmudic times in the Galilee) has been handed over to the Israel Antiquities Authority. The amulet – which bears Greek inscriptions and engravings and was found near Arbel’s ancient synagogue some forty years ago by the late Tova Haviv, one of the first members of the moshav – has now been given to the National Treasures Center by a family member. The bronze pendant attests to its owner’s beliefs and fear of the evil eye and harmful demons. 

The amulet is a necklace pendant made of bronze. The obverse bears the figure of a rider on a galloping horse. The rider’s head is encircled with a halo, and he thrusts a spear down toward a female figure lying on her back. Engraved in a semicircle above the rider is a Greek inscription that reads: ‘The One God who Conquers Evil.’

Beneath the horse’s legs are four Greek letters: I A W Θ, which stand for the Jewish Divine Name (Yahweh, IHYH).

An eye depicted on the reverse is pierced by arrows and by a forked object. The eye is threatened from below by two lions, a snake, a scorpion, and a bird. On the upper part of the same side is the abbreviated Greek inscription: ‘One God.’

According to the amulet’s researcher Dr. Eitan Klein, Deputy Director of the Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit, “the amulet is part of a group of fifth–sixth-century CE amulets from the Levant that were probably produced in the Galilee and Lebanon. This group of amulets is sometimes called ‘Solomon’s Seal,’ and the rider is depicted overcoming the evil spirit – in this case, a female identified with the mythological figure Gello/Gyllou, who threatens women and children and is associated with the evil eye. The eye on the reverse is identifiable as the evil eye, being attacked and vanquished by various means. Therefore, the amulet was probably used to guard against the evil eye, possibly to protect women and children.” 

During the Byzantine period, Arbel was a Jewish settlement, and it is often mentioned in historical sources from the Talmudic period. It had a linen-production industry, and many sages visited and taught there. “Although scholars generally identify the wearers of such amulets as Christians or Gnostics, the fact that the amulet was found within a Jewish settlement containing a synagogue in the fifth-sixth centuries CE may indicate that even Jews of the period wore amulets of this type for protection against the evil eye and demons,” says Klein. “I wish to thank the amulet’s donor for demonstrating good citizenship, and I appeal to anyone who has previously found ancient artifacts to hand them over to the National Treasures Center, since objects of this kind tell the story of Israel’s history and heritage and they belong to all Israel’s citizens, both legally and in terms of their cultural value.”