For the first time, remains have been uncovered in Yavne of a building dating from the time of the Sanhedrin

Israel Antiquities Authority excavations being carried out on a massive scale in Yavne have uncovered the first evidence there of a building from the Sanhedrin—the supreme legislative Jewish assembly that went into exile in Yavne after the fall of Jerusalem, some 2,000 years ago.

The building contained fragments of chalkstone vessels, clear evidence of a Jewish presence. The excavation also discovered an impressive cemetery dating from the Sanhedrin * The current excavation was prompted by development work on the city’s expansion, initiated by the Israel Land Authority in cooperation with Yavne municipality.

Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in Yavne are revealing evidence of the life—and death—of Yavne’s inhabitants at the time of the Sanhedrin, in the late first and second centuries CE; for the first time, the excavation has discovered remains of a building dating from the time of the Sanhedrin that contains chalkstone cups, clear evidence that its occupants were observing Jewish laws of ritual purity. The excavation, prompted by work on the city’s expansion initiated by the Israel Land Authority in cooperation with Yavne municipality, also uncovered a large cemetery dating from the same period. The excavation area is located close to a massive Byzantine wine-production center unearthed in recent excavations. During this week’s festival of Hanukkah, as part of Israel Heritage Week, the public is invited to register for tours of the excavation.

“The discovery of finds from the time of the Sanhedrin is fascinating,” said Pablo Betzer and Dr. Daniel Varga, directors of the Yavne excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority. “This is a direct voice from the past, from the period when the Jewish leadership salvaged the remaining fragments from the fall of the Temple, went into exile in Yavne, and set about re-establishing the Jewish people there.”

For the first time in Yavne, the excavations discovered an industrial building dating from the first to third centuries CE. The floor contained several fragments of stoneware known as ‘measuring cups,’ vessels that retain their ritual purity and are identified with the Jewish population in the late Second Temple period and second century CE.

An impressive cemetery was discovered only 70 meters away from the building. “We encountered dozens of carefully arranged tombs spaced out at set distances, which probably indicates the existence of a ‘burial society’—some official body that was responsible for burial,” say Betzer and Dr. Varga. “There are different types of tombs: some are coffins (sarcophagi), which are made mostly of stone with one lead coffin.” The excavation directors add that “based on the cemetery’s location, it was probably established outside the city’s boundaries, by Jewish and Roman law. Were the interred individuals Jews or pagans? It is too early to say since there are no ethnic symbols on the coffins. With all due caution, the historical records and archaeological finds suggest that these are the tombs of the city’s Jewish community. If this hypothesis is correct, then at least some of the tombs, perhaps the most elaborate, may belong to the sages of Yavne, contemporaries of Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, Rabbi Akiva and Rabban Gamliel.”

The excavation uncovered another surprising find: over 150 glass vials placed on top of the tombs. According to Dr. Yael Gorin-Rosen, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s glass department, “The vials were probably used to keep precious liquids such as fragrant oils. About half of them were locally produced, and the other half were imported from Alexandria in Egypt. Vials of this type have been recovered in excavations at both Jewish and pagan burial sites from the first to the early third centuries CE. It is a mystery why the vials were placed outside the tombs in Yavne and not inside them, as was usual.”

In antiquity, Yavne was one of the most important towns in the southern coastal plain. During the Hasmonean period, it held a vital role in the struggle between the Maccabean forces and Seleucid (Greek) rule, and the town is mentioned multiple times in the writings of Josephus.

Toward the end of the Second Temple period, Yavne’s mixed population had most Jewish residents. According to The Literature of the Sages, before the destruction of the Second Temple, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai fled from the besieged city of Jerusalem and persuaded the Roman emperor Vespasian to allow him reconstitute the Sanhedrin in Yavne. It was then that Rabban ben Zakkai uttered the famous statement: “Give me Yavne and its sages.”

In the intervening years between the Great Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt, Yavne became the most important Jewish spiritual center in the country. In Yavne, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, later followed by Rabban Gamliel, led the Sanhedrin and the patriarchate (nesiut), restored the Torah to the Land of Israel, and established laws in keeping with the new reality, without the Temple. It can be said that the foundations of Judaism as we know it today were laid in Yavne.

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “It is exciting to see ancient accounts of the Sanhedrin translated into actual evidence in the field, with vessels, installations, and buildings. Together with the project’s initiators at the Israel Land Authority and Yavne municipality, the Israel Antiquities Authority is examining the possibility of preserving some of these finds and presenting them to the general public. The recent finds join those of the massive wine-production industry from the Byzantine period, already slated for conservation and public viewing. The Israel Antiquities Authority is continuing its excavations, and we are sure that Yavne has not yet had the last say. Wherever archaeologists scrape the surface here, they encounter a find of national importance, with all that that entails.”

According to the Israel Land Authority director, Yaakov Quint, "the treasures that are part of the land have been exposed thanks to the Israel Lands Authority's extensive investment in financing the Yavne archeological excavations." 1049). The Israel Lands Authority’s plan, together with the Municipality of Yavne, includes 12,500 housing units and 450,000 square meters of commercial and employment space. The program consists of doubling up the railway track and new construction over the train station. As part of the preliminary works for the plan’s development, the Israel Land Authority is investing approximately NIS 200 million in the results of the Israel Antiquities Authority, which will enable the archaeological finds to be exposed, investigated, and preserved for future generations”.

Rare Silver 2000-Year-Old Coin Possibly Minted in the Temple as part of the Jewish Revolt Against the Romans

A shekel made of pure silver that was used for trade in Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago, during the Second Temple period, was discovered in the Israel Antiquities Authority's excavations in the City of David in Jerusalem. 

The coin was discovered in the dirt that came from archaeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the "Pilgrimage Road," in the City of David National Park. According to archaeologist Ari Levy, Director of the Excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This street, which connected the Siloam Pool in the south of the City of David to the Temple Mount in the north, was Jerusalem's main street during the Second Temple period, where thousands of pilgrims marched on their way to the Temple. There is no doubt that there would have been extensive trading here. This is evidenced by the many weights and bronze coins we have found here. But to find a rebel coin made of pure silver is definitely very special and exciting."

The rare coin was discovered by an 11-year-old girl who came with her family to the "archaeological experience" operated by the City of David together with the National Parks Authority in the Emek Tzurim Sifting Project in Jerusalem. Scholars believe that the coin unearthed was extracted from the many silver reserves kept in the Second Temple and was probably minted by one of the Temple Priests, who joined forces with the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans, shortly before the destruction of the Second Temple.

The coin weighs about 14 grams. On one side is an inscription of a cup with the caption: "Israeli shekel" and next to the cup are the letters: ש"ב – shorthand for “second year" - the second year of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans (67-68 CE). On the other side of the coin is an inscription identified by scholars as the headquarters of the High Priest, and next to it appears in ancient Hebrew script the words: "Holy Jerusalem."

According to Dr. Robert Kool, Head of the Coin Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This is a rare find, since out of many thousands of coins discovered to date in archeological excavations, only about 30 coins are coins made of silver, from the period of the Great Revolt."

Dr. Kool theorizes that the silver from which the coin was made came from the plentiful silver reserves in the Temple, and that it was minted on the Temple Mount plaza - possibly by one of the priests, who worked in coordination with the rebel leaders and assisted them. Where else could you find silver in such quantity and such high quality in those days? Only in the Temple. "If so, we can say with caution that this coin is, apparently, one of the only items we can hold today that originated on the Temple itself."

"Everyone knows the Arch of Titus in Rome and the descriptions of loot taken from the Temple that appear on it, but not many are familiar with the huge silver reserves that were in the Temple. You can learn from the ancient inscription uncovered by the researcher Géza Alföldy about the huge silver reserves that were in the Temple.”

 Dr. Amit Re'em, Jerusalem District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority added. "This inscription revealed that the famous Colosseum we all know in Rome was built by the Romans from the spoils of the Temple looted from Jerusalem. It reads: ‘Emperor Vespasian (who, along with his son Titus, suppressed the Jewish Revolt and destroyed the Temple) ordered the construction of this new theater amphitheater (the Colosseum) from his share of the spoils.’ One can only imagine the extent of the loot and the amount of money the Romans found in the Temple storehouses," commented Dr. Amit Reem.

As part of the excavation, the archaeological earth was sent for wet sifting in the Emek Tzurim Sifting Project, and the person who was privileged to discover the find was 11-year-old girl Liel Krutokop from Petah Tikva, who came with her parents and sister to do archeological sifting at the City of David. "We poured the bucket with the dirt on the strainer, and as we filtered the stones that were inside, I saw something round." This is how the girl described the exciting moments of exposing the rare find. "At first, I did not know what it was, but it looked different from all the other stones. My father brought it to one of the assistants, and she showed it to an archaeologist. He looked at it and said it was a silver coin that needed to be cleaned. I was very excited." According to the girl, "When I got to Emek Tzurim I thought there must be simple coins in the buckets, but I did not think I would find a coin myself, and certainly not such a rare coin from pure silver. I was lucky to find it, but I also want to say thank you to my sister for choosing the bucket we sifted. If she had not chosen this particular bucket, I probably would not have found the coin."

The coin, which was sent to the laboratories of the Israel Antiquities Authority, underwent a chemical process for cleaning, and recently, upon completion of the process, the significance of the find became clear.

According to Dr. Kool, “A currency is a sign of sovereignty. If you go into rebellion, you use one of the most obvious symbols of independence, and you mint coins. The inscription on the coin clearly expresses the rebels' aspirations. He said," The choice to use ancient Hebrew script, which was no longer in use at the time, is not accidental. The use of this script came to express the longing of the people of the period for the days of David and Solomon and the days of a united Jewish kingdom - days when the people of Israel had full independence in the land."

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "I was happy to see the excitement and curiosity that gripped Liel when finding the rare coin. It has importance for understanding the minting of coins, which I am certain she will share with her friends and family. The Israel Antiquities Authority considers the connection of the younger generation to our heritage, in an experiential and unmediated way, a top priority. Our educational center will come to Liel's class, mint coins, and share the importance of the find with her friends."

Hellenistic fortified structure destroyed and burned by Hasmoneans uncovered in Lachish Forest, in the Judean Shephelah

“The building’s devastation is probably related to the region’s conquest by the Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus in around 112 BCE,” said Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists directing the excavations funded by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage’s Landmarks project and assisted by high-school students majoring in the Ministry of Education’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology program.

 Weapons, burnt wooden beams, dozens of coins, and a Hellenistic fortified structure—tangible evidence of a battle between the Hasmoneans and the Seleucids some 2,100 years ago—are currently being unearthed in Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in the Lachish Forest. The excavations are being conducted as part of the Kings of Judah Road project, in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund, funded by the Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry, assisted by high-school students majoring in the Ministry of Education’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology program, and students from the Asher Ruach Bo pre-military program in Mitzpe Ramon for youths at risk.

According to Saar Ganor, Vladik Lifshits, and Ahinoam Montagu, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The excavation site provides tangible evidence of the Hanukkah stories. It appears that we have discovered a building that was part of a fortified line erected by the Hellenistic army commanders to protect the large Hellenistic city of Maresha from a Hasmonean offensive. However, the finds from the site show that the Seleucid defenses were unsuccessful; the excavated building was badly burnt and devastated by the Hasmoneans.”

The excavation revealed a 15 × 15m (160 x 160 ft) building planned as a well-fortified unit. The external walls, no less than 3m (11 ft) wide, were built of large stones and had a sloping outer glacis to prevent the wall from being scaled. The inside of the structure was divided into seven rooms, preserved to an exceptional height of roughly 2m (11ft). The excavation uncovered a stairwell leading to a second floor which was not preserved. The building is estimated to have been about 5m (54 ft) high.

The site lies on the summit of a high hill commanding a view of the ancient main road, which ran along the Nahal Lachish streambed and connected the coastal plain to the central highland ridge. The building overlooks Maresha, the largest Hellenistic city in the area and the capital of Idumea in the Hellenistic period.

Students majoring in the Ministry of Education’s Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology program from schools in Be’er Sheva, Dimona and Nitzan assisted in the excavation as part of an Israel Antiquities Authority’s program aimed at nurturing awareness of the country’s heritage in the community. The students learn about history through hands-on experience as part of their matriculation studies, thus turning the archaeological excavation into an educational science laboratory. The excavations were also joined by students from the Asher Ruach Bo pre-military program in Mitzpe Ramon for youth at risk, as part of a week in which the youths make a significant contribution to the community.

During the excavation, thousands of large stones that had collapsed from the upper part of the building were removed. A massive destruction layer, about half a meter thick, was discovered beneath the stones. The layer yielded hundreds of finds, including pottery, slingshots, iron weapons, burnt wooden beams and dozens of coins dated to the late second century BCE. “Based on the finds and coins, the building’s destruction can be attributed to the Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus’s conquest of the region of Idumea in around 112 BCE,” say the archaeologists.

The Hasmoneans, whose rebellion against Hellenistic rule and the Seleucid dynasty followed the anti-Jewish decrees of Antiochus IV, waged many battles against the Seleucid army. John Hyrcanus’s conquests, described in the Books of the Maccabees and the accounts of the historian Josephus, led to the Hasmonean state’s southward expansion.

According to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s general director, Eli Escusido, “The stories of the Maccabees are coming to life before our eyes, and this is the most fascinating part of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s work, when dedicated, hardworking archaeologists breathe life into the historical annals of the people who passed through this land. In a few days, we will be celebrating Hanukkah, whose central theme is the Hasmoneans’ defeat of the Hellenists, leading to the establishment of the first independent sovereign Jewish entity. The Hasmoneans could have had no idea that 2,000 years later, students living in the State of Israel would be following in their footsteps. It is extremely exciting.”

Minister of Construction and Housing, Jerusalem and Heritage, Zeev Elkin: “The impressive discoveries from the excavations in the Lachish region demonstrate the history of our great and wonderful land and the story of Hanukkah. The Landmarks program led by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, for which I am responsible, continues to develop national and historical heritage sites on a daily basis. Over the upcoming Hanukkah holiday, we will be marking Heritage Week throughout the country and I invite the general public to visit, discover and experience our national heritage sites.”

Minister of Culture and Sports, Chili Tropper: “The Israel Antiquities Authority’s fascinating new discovery is a classic example of how traditional, well-known and well-loved stories become part of the historical and archaeological record. The building’s excavation reflects the glorious roots of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel and brings the Hanukkah stories to life. Added impetus was given to the event by the participation of dozens of youths, who were given a rare opportunity to encounter the history of the Jewish people, face to face. The Ministry of Culture and Sports will continue to support this important enterprise, which combines heritage, history and culture.”

After the excavations, the building will undergo conservation and will be opened to the general public in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund’s Southern District, as one of the sites along the Kings of Judah Road, which is currently under development.

With this Ring: A spectacular ancient gold ring with an inlay of semi-precious stone discovered, a winery for wine production - the largest known in the Byzantine world

In a widescale excavation conducted at Yavne by the Israel Antiquities Authority, as part of the Israel Land Authority's initiative to expand the city, a spectacular gold ring was recently uncovered, with an inlay of a purple stone.

An examination of the ring by Dr. Yotam Asher at the analytical laboratory of the Israel Antiquities Authority showed that the stone is mainly made of silica - a material from which many gemstones are composed. This examination ruled out the possibility that the purple inlay is made simply of glass. The ring weighs 5.11 grams.

Dr. Amir Golani, an expert on ancient jewelry at the Israel Antiquities Authority, who examined the find, said that "the person who owned the ring was affluent, and the wearing of the jewel indicated their status and wealth. Both men and women could wear such rings". Golani adds that "a semi-precious stone, called an amethyst, was placed in the ring. Amethysts are mentioned in the Bible as one of the 12 precious stones worn by the Temple's high priest on his ceremonial breastplate.  Many virtues have been attached to this gem, including preventing the side effect of drinking, the hangover".

This characteristic attributed to the stone is fascinating, given the context in which the ring was discovered, at a site where a large winery operated, the largest in the world known from the Byzantine period.

"Did the person who wore the ring want to avoid intoxication due to drinking a lot of wine? We probably will never know," says Dr. Elie Haddad, the director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, together with Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. Jon Seligman, adding "the ring was found just 150 meters from the remains of a long warehouse, which was used to store wine jars (amphorae)". Some of the jars were found upside down on their mouths, and it may have been a warehouse full of empty jars before they were taken to the winepresses, to fill with wine". It is possible that the splendid ring belonged to the owner of the magnificent warehouse, to a foreman, or simply to an unlucky visitor, who dropped and lost their precious ring until we finally discovered it."

Researchers are debating the date of the ring. It was found in a fill dated to the end of the Byzantine period and the Early Islamic period – the 7th century CE. Still, it is possible that the ring was transmitted from generation to generation over the centuries due to its beauty and prestige. Gold rings inlaid with amethyst stone are known in the Roman world, and the ring's find may belong to the elites who lived in the city as early as the 3rd century CE.

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The small, everyday finds that are discovered in our excavations tell us human stories and connect us directly to the past. It is exciting to imagine that the man or woman to whom the ring belonged, walking right here, in a different reality to what we know in today's city of Yavne".

Scuba Diver Discovers 900-Year-Old Crusader Sword off Hof HaCarmel

The sword’s discovery suggests that the natural anchorage where it was found was also used by ships in the Crusader period * The diver, Shlomi Katzin, passed the sword on to the Israel Antiquities Authority and received a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship

Atlit resident Shlomi Katzin was scuba diving last Saturday off the Carmel coast when he was amazed to discover ancient artifacts on the sea bed, apparently uncovered by waves and undercurrents that had shifted the sand. He saw old stone anchors made of metal, pottery fragments, and an impressive sword with a one-meter long blade and a hilt measuring 30 cm in length.

Fearing that the find would be stolen or buried beneath subsequent shifting of the sands, Katzin took the sword ashore. Demonstrating outstanding citizenship, he contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority Northern District’s Robbery Prevention Unit inspector and reported the find to the Israel Antiquities Authority. The sword was handed over to the National Treasures Department, and Katzin received a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship.

According to Nir Distelfeld, Inspector for the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit, “The sword, which has been preserved in perfect condition, is a beautiful and rare find and belonged to a Crusader knight. It was found encrusted with marine organisms but is apparently made of iron. It is exciting to encounter such a personal object, taking you 900 years back in time to a different era, with knights, armor, and swords.”

“The Carmel coast contains many natural coves that provided shelter for ancient ships in a storm, and larger coves around which entire settlements and ancient port cities developed, such as Dor and Atlit,” explains Kobi Sharvit, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Marine Archaeology Unit. “These conditions have attracted merchant ships down the ages, leaving behind rich archaeological finds. The recently recovered sword is just one such find.”

Since June, the Israel Antiquities Authority has monitored the site where the anchors and the sword were found when Boaz Langford and Rafael Bahalul first discovered it. The site’s finds are very elusive since they appear and disappear with the movement of the sands. “The discovery of ancient finds by swimmers and leisure divers is a growing phenomenon in recent years, with the increasing popularity of such sports,” says Sharvit. “Underwater surveying is dynamic. Even the smallest storm moves the sand and reveals areas on the sea bed, meanwhile burying others. Therefore, it is vitally important to report any such finds and we always try to document them in situ to retrieve as much archaeological data as possible. The archaeological finds at the site show that it served as a small, temporary natural anchorage for ships seeking shelter. Identification of the various finds shows that the anchorage was used as early as the Late Bronze Age, 4,000 years ago. The recent discovery of the sword suggests that the natural cove was also used in the Crusader period, some 900 years ago.”

Israel Antiquities Authority’s general director, Eli Escusido, praised Shlomi for coming forward with the discovery. “Every ancient artifact that is found helps us piece together the historical puzzle of the Land of Israel. Once the sword has been cleaned and researched in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s laboratories, we will ensure it is displayed to the public.”

An Archaeological Sensation in Yavne: A Massive and Impressive Wine Factory is Exposed, The Largest Complex of Winepresses Known in the World from the Byzantine Period

The archaeologists: "Approximately two million liters of wine are produced here every year" * The huge 1,500-year-old industrial estate has been uncovered in archeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority as part of the development of the city of Yavne, at the initiative of the Israel Land Authority

 Yavne was a world wine powerhouse about 1,500 years ago: a vast and well-designed industrial estate from the Byzantine period, with an impressive wine production complex - the largest known in the world from this period, has been excavated in the city over the past two years. The Israel Antiquities Authority has conducted this considerable excavation as part of the Israel Land Authority's initiative to expand the city. The plant includes five magnificent wine presses, warehouses for aging and marketing the wine, kilns for firing the clay amphorae in which the wine was stored, tens of thousands of fragments, and intact earthen amphorae (jars), well-planned access between the facilities, and more.

Drinking wine was very common in ancient times for children and adults alike. Since the water was not always sterile and or even tasty, wine was also used as a kind of "concentrate" to improve the taste or substitute for drinking water. Each of the exposed winepresses covered an area of ​​about 225 square meters. Around the treading floor, where the grapes were crushed barefoot to extract the liquid, compartments were built to ferment the wine, and next to them were two substantial octagonal-shaped vats for collecting the wine.

Dr. Elie Haddad, Liat Nadav-Ziv, and Dr. Jon Seligman, the excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, noted, "we were surprised to discover a sophisticated factory here, which was used to produce wine in commercial quantities. Furthermore, decorative niches in the shape of a conch, which adorned the winepresses, indicate the great wealth of the factory owners. A calculation of the production capacity of these winepresses shows that approximately two million liters of wine were marketed every year. At the same time, we should remember that the whole process was conducted manually. "

Between the winepresses, four large warehouses were discovered, which formed the winery of the factory. The wine is aged in elongated amphorae, known as 'Gaza jars.' The jars themselves, some of which were discovered complete, together with hundreds of thousands of fragments, were made at the site in large kilns.

"Gaza and Ashkelon Wine" was considered a quality wine brand of the ancient world, whose reputation has spread far and wide, a bit like Jaffa oranges denote their origin and quality today from Israel," the archaeologists explained. Everyone knew that this was a product from the Holy Land product, and everyone wanted more and more of this wine. The wine received its name as it was marketed through the ports of Gaza and Ashkelon. So far, other sites where wine was produced are known from the southern coastal plain, but now, we seem to have found the main production center of this prestigious wine. From here, commercial quantities were transported to the ports, and then throughout the Mediterranean basin".

Interestingly, the excavation in Yavne revealed rare and even older winepresses from the Persian period, about 2300 years ago. "In the Mishna, it is said that after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jewish leadership migrated to Yavne and that the sages of Yavne lived in a vineyard and studied Torah. The excavation shows a continuum of the existence of the wine industry at the site over many centuries of years", say the archaeologists.

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The Yavne excavation is a mega-excavation of the Israel Antiquities Authority with the participation of hundreds of workers, dozens of permanent staff and experts. As an organization that wants to connect the public to its heritage, the IAA has involved youth and residents of Yavne in the excavation. Our archaeologists are doing sacred work by exposing unknown chapters of the country's history while working hard in the heat and cold. I welcome the cooperation with the Israel Land Authority and the Yavne Municipality.”

According to the Israel Land Authority director, Yaakov Quint, "the treasures that are part of the land have been exposed thanks to the Israel Lands Authority's extensive investment in financing the Yavne archeological excavations." 1049). The Israel Lands Authority's plan, together with the Municipality of Yavne, includes 12,500 housing units and 450,000 square meters of commercial and employment space. The program consists of doubling up the railway track and new construction over the train station. As part of the preliminary works for the plan's development, the Israel Land Authority is investing approximately NIS 200 million in the works of the Israel Antiquities Authority, which will enable the archaeological finds to be exposed, investigated, and preserved for future generations."

Mayor of Yavne, Zvi Gov-Ari: "The impressive findings strengthen the recognition of the importance of the city of Yavne and its glorious past throughout history." We have decided that Tel Yavne will be preserved and upgraded to become a focal point for tourism and education in the future. The development plan includes a bridge over the site that will allow the finds to continue to exist. In cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority, this type of activity has not been done in other projects in the country, and this is an opportunity to thank all parties for their cooperation."

Rich People Have It Better: A 2700-Year-Old Private Toilet from the Days of the First Temple

The discovery, unearthed by the Israel Antiquities Authority in archaeological excavations near the Beit Shatz tourist complex at Armon Hanatziv in Jerusalem at the initiative of the City of David, will be presented tomorrow (Wednesday) as part of the conference “Innovations in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its surroundings” to be held in Jerusalem and Zoom.

A rare toilet cubicle from the First Temple Period, which was part of an ancient royal estate that operated at the end of the Kings of Judean period (7th century BCE), was discovered on the Armon Hanatziv promenade in Jerusalem, where the Israel Antiquities Authority and the City of David, about two years ago, uncovered the remains of a magnificent building which overlooked the City of David and the Temple Mount, including the private toilet cubicle.

The bathroom was hewn as a rectangular-shaped cabin with a carved toilet, which stood over a deep-hewn septic tank. The toilet, made of limestone, is designed for comfortable sitting, with a hole in the center. According to Yaakov Billig, Director of the Excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “A private toilet cubicle was very rare in antiquity, and only a few were found to date, most of them in the City of David. Only the rich could afford toilets. A thousand years later, the Mishnah and the Talmud raised various criteria that defined a rich person, and Rabbi Yossi suggested that to be rich is “to have the toilet next to his table.”

Beneath the toilet, a septic tank was discovered, containing a large amount of pottery from the First Temple Period and animal bones. The finds were carefully collected, including the soil fill. Their investigation may teach us about the lifestyles and diets of the First Temple people and ancient diseases.

Impressive architectural items were discovered in the excavation, including stone capitals designed by an artist, bearing a style typical to the days of the First Temple, and small architectural columns that served as railings for windows.

Archaeologists also identified evidence that a garden with ornamental trees, fruit trees, and aquatic plants was planted near the toilet cubicle. All of these allow researchers to recreate

a picture of an extensive and lush mansion, apparently - a magnificent palace from the days of the First Temple that stood on the site.

According to Eli Escusido, Director-General of the Israel Antiquities Authority: “It is fascinating to see how something obvious to us today, such as toilets, was a luxury item during the reign of the kings of Judah. ​​Jerusalem never ceases to amaze. One can only imagine the breathtaking view. I am convinced that the glorious past of the city will continue to be revealed to us in the future and will allow us to experience and learn about our past.”

The discovery will be presented tomorrow (Wednesday) at the conference “Innovations in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Surroundings,” which will last two days and will take place in Jerusalem and on Zoom. Details of the event are on the Facebook page of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The new tourist complex located at Armon Hanatziv is the result of a collaboration between the City of David, the Ministry of Tourism, the Jerusalem Municipality, the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs, and the Jewish National Fund.

Second Temple Period Quarry Uncovered in Jerusalem

Jerusalem's ancient quarries were the primary source of building stones for monumental construction projects in the city, such as the Temple Mount.

Jerusalem's well-known high-tech industrial zone is called 'Har Hozvim' ('Quarrymen’s Hill’), but not everyone knows why. This week, before future development by the Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation, Israel Antiquities Authority excavations provided evidence of the name’s true meaning by discovering a vast ancient quarry that dates from the Second Temple period (some two thousand years ago).

The quarry, only part of which has been excavated, covers approximately 600 sq m but is probably at least two or three times as large. The massive building blocks extracted from it measured 1.5 x 2 m. The site provides a clear demonstration of all the phases of quarrying and stone preparation. “The large-scale building projects in ancient Jerusalem, such as the Temple Mount, required a vast amount of building materials and the ability to organize and coordinate the quarrying and transportation of thousands of building blocks to the ancient city,” says Moran Hagbi, the excavation’s director on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Building blocks in various stages of working were discovered in the quarry. For example, we uncovered large, square stone blocks about to be detached from the bedrock before loading and transporting them to the ancient city. For us as archaeologists, this quarry presents a golden opportunity; because some of the stones were left in situ in this way, we can copy ancient technologies and experiment with them to recreate the processes by which the building stones were quarried.”

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists and conservationists are now planning to try and recreate the ancient methods used to detach the stone blocks and test the effectiveness of practices described in ancient sources.

To accomplish this, they will be using reproductions of ancient tools found in previous excavations and explicitly prepared for experimental purposes.

Previous excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in northern Jerusalem have uncovered multiple building-stone quarries and tools to detach the stones from the quarry face. The quarries cover a vast swathe of land to the north of the Old City and are a truly unique phenomenon. Because of the region’s topography and the stone's quality, they were the primary building blocks for the monumental projects in Jerusalem in the Second Temple period and at other times in history.

According to Israel Antiquities Authority’s general director, Eli Escusido, “In a symbolic way, Jerusalem’s current development boom presents us with an opportunity to excavate and research the great building projects in Jerusalem in antiquity. Before any development project begins in Jerusalem, our archaeologists are called upon to excavate and examine any ancient finds for the sake of future generations.”

Explore the remains of a recently excavated Byzantine church — virtually

Have you ever wondered how archaeological sites looked before they turned to ruins?

Now you can by visiting the Church of the Glorious Martyr App website. This online application allows you to explore the remains of a recently excavated Byzantine church and experience life-like reconstructions. The Israel Antiquities Authority excavations at the Church of the Glorious Martyr near Ramat Bet Shemesh, began four years ago and unearthed the remains of a large and impressive structure decorated with colorful mosaics. The church complex was constructed in stages during the sixth century C.E. and became an important stop for ancient pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.

After concluding excavations at the site, Benyamin Storchan, director of the excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, partnered with Roy Albag, architect and 3D researcher, to reconstruct the site. The reconstructions were created with the most advanced technologies and the best historical research. Notably, artifacts from the church excavations were incorporated into every level of the model. According to Storchan, “We wanted to create the most scientifically accurate model possible, and to do so we rebuilt the site using the artifacts and field data as the building blocks.”    

The complete digital reconstruction of the church is now available to the public via a web-based app (www.martyr.app) in cooperation with Wandering Inc. This immersive, interactive experience guides you through a lifelike 3D model of the church as it looked nearly 1,500 years ago via three tour options: a self-guided tour, an interactive video tour (best viewed with VR goggles), and a trivia-based tour.

Its release coincides with the first publication of the site featured in Biblical Archaeology Review magazine. See the full report in Benyamin Storchan’s article “A Glorious Church for a Mysterious Martyr,” published in the Fall 2021 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.

For complimentary access to this issue, please join the Friends of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

For the first time since the Holocaust and Soviet destruction, the remains of the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and the Bimah of the Great Synagogue of Vilna were fully exposed

Just this morning, while sifting the soil in front of the Aron Kodesh, A silver Yad was found. The Yad is a pointer used to read from the Torah scroll

 In Vilnius, Lithuania, an excavation of the Great Synagogue of Vilna has fully exposed the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and the Bimah that was destroyed  60 years ago by the Nazis and the Soviets. This was announced today (Thursday) at noon that the Israeli-Lithuanian excavation expedition,  directed by the archaeologist of the Israel  Antiquities Authority, Dr.  Jon  Seligman,  at the end of this season of a six-year excavation project, aimed at uncovering the remains of the Great Synagogue of Vilna and parts of the Shulhoyf,  the center of the Jewish community and Torah life of Vilna. This excavation began with a ground-penetrating radar test and developed into the excavation and significant discoveries.

“Just this morning, while sifting the soil in front of the Aron Kodesh, we found a silver Yad. The Yad is a pointer used to read from the Torah scroll”, the archaeologists said.

The Great Synagogue of Vilna, built in the 17th century in Renaissance-Baroque style, was the major part of the “Shulhoyf”- a large Jewish center of Torah and community study. This was the heart of the Lithuanian Jewish community, and it included 12 synagogues and prayer halls,  a bathhouse and mikvehs (ritual baths),  the community council building, kosher meat stalls, a famous library named after “Strashun,” the Gaon of Vilna’s seminary, and more. Centuries of existence came to an end with the destruction of the Jewish community of Vilnius during the Holocaust. The monument, which was sacred to the Jews of Lithuania, was looted and burned by the Nazis, and in 1956-7, its remains were destroyed by the Soviet authorities. A modern school was built on the premises.

A few years ago, Dr. Jon Seligman visited Vilnius as part of a roots trip, sparking the idea of revealing and discovering what was left of the compound and the synagogue.

According to Dr. Seligman of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Justinas Rakas, of the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos,  whose excavation included a combined team of  Lithuanians, Israelis and North Americans, “When we arrived to excavate the Aron Kodesh and the Bimah, from which generations of Jews read the Torah scroll for 300 consecutive years, it became clear, unfortunately, that the core of the synagogue had been greatly damaged by Soviet destruction.  Still, two impressive staircases, clearly visible in the many images of the synagogue before its destruction was discovered and is evidence of their existence.    The excavation of Bimah was completed including the entire façade of the Bimah and the complete remains of one of the four huge pillars that supported the roof of the Great Synagogue.”

The Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark), whose remains were unearthed during the excavation season that has now ended, and which appears in all its glory in the many pictures of the synagogue, was renovated after a fire in the 18th century with the contribution of the “Yesod” Yehuda ben Eliezer (b. 1762). The foundation also donated the ornate Bimah, which was a two-story structure with four Corinthian columns and eight Tuscan columns.

The excavation of the Great Synagogue in Lithuania is a joint venture of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Kultūros paveldo Išsaugojimo pajėgos, the Good Will Foundation, the Jewish Community of Lithuania, and Christopher Newport University.

According to Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The recent discovery of magnificent parts of the Great Synagogue shows the potential for further excavation of the site, in anticipation of the exciting possibility of displaying the remains of the future.