The metalwork artifacts now donated
The metalwork artifacts now donatedPhoto: Amir Gorzalani/Antiquities Authority

Metalwork, some of which is up to 3,500 years old, has been donated to the Israeli Antiquities Authority by a family that inherited the items from their father after he passed away.

Members of the Matsliah family of Givatayim called the Antiquities Authority and invited them to come and check numerous metal items that they had inherited from their father, Marcel Matsliah, upon his passing.

The family members explained that their father, a former employee of the Hadera Power Plant since its founding, had drawn out numerous items from the nearby sea during his time as an employee in the area, and that the items were ancient.

Upon inspecting the items, Antiquities Authority representatives were surprised to find metal tools, most of them decorated, that had, in all probability, fallen from a metal merchant ship during the ancient Islamic Period.

According to Ayala Lester, Treasurer of the Antiquities Authority, "the findings include a fastening pin and the head of a knife from the Bronze Age over 3,500 years ago. The rest of the items, including two grinders and pieces of candlesticks, could be dated to the eleventh century. As far a we can tell, the items were made in Syria, and were brought to Israel. These items testify to metalwork commerce during this period."