A Blast from the Past

Some 300 selected objects from recent excavations in Israel are being displayed for the first time in Jerusalem´s Israel Museum. The world´s most ancient grains dating back 20,000 years, a wine decanter set from the 13th century B.C.E., a letter inscribed on a clay cylinder from the 14th century B.C.E., ancient glass from the Roman period, mosai

Apr 19, 2001, 1:03 PM (GMT+3)

Some 300 selected objects from recent excavations in Israel are being displayed for the first time in Jerusalem's Israel Museum. The world's most ancient grains dating back 20,000 years, a wine decanter set from the 13th century B.C.E., a letter inscribed on a clay cylinder from the 14th century B.C.E., ancient glass from the Roman period, mosaics and bronze vessels of the Fatimid period are just a few items of note at the exhibit. All of the artifacts - which are owned by the Israel Antiquities Authority - have been excavated in Israel since 1990. Details of most of the discoveries have not yet even been published in academic literature. According to museum curators, the display is very extensive, is divided into 19 groups, and is being shown throughout the entire two-floored Weisbord Pavillion. On display are finds from the excavations at Hazor, Caesarea, Khirbet es-Samara, Bethsaida, Peki'in, Ohalo,Beth Shean, Tel Dor, Ekron (Tel Miqne), Maresha, Ashkelon, and elsewhere.