Antiquities Authority

New research reveals:

Earliest mass weapons production in Southern Levant

Recent research reveals: As far back as 7,200 years ago, there was large-scale systematic production of war weapons in the country.

Following Oct. 7 massacre:

Archaeologists ID remains of at least 10 people believed missing

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists aid IDF in efforts identify remains in homes burnt by Hamas terrorists in October 7 massacre.

Has a 2,300-year-old tomb been discovered in Jerusalem?

A burial cave discovered on a Jerusalem road opens a window into the funerary customs imported into Israel by the Hellenistic occupation.

Muslim witchcraft artifacts found near Eilat

A series of archaeological finds indicate rituals used to banish evil spirits or release curses alongside more traditional Islam.

Sensational find:

4 Roman swords, nearly 2,000 years old, found in Judean Desert

A rare cache of weapons from the Roman period found stashed away in a cave in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.

Ancient Roman aqueduct collapses in Caesarea

Antiquities authorities warn that the rest of the structure could follow soon if restoration is not carried out.

Archeology in Israel:

5500-year-old city gate uncovered

Excavation carried out at Tel Arani in preparation for laying new water pipe reveals ancient 5,500-year-old gate.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall:

Youth leader uncovers 'magical mirror' at archaeological site

Youth leader Aviv Weizman discovers an ancient 'magical mirror' in an archaeological excavation in northern Israel.

Trump returns Israeli antiquities which were kept at Mar-a-Lago

Antiquities Authority and Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm Trump returned artifacts which were shipped from Israel to the US in 2019.

Ancient Egyptian goddess figurine found in National Park

The Antiquities Authority identifies the statuette as the Egyptian goddess Hathor, and estimates it to be thousands of years old.

Antiquity looters caught red-handed digging in ancient well

Antiquity looters caught digging for treasure and destroying historical evidence, following a southern Bedouin myth.

Firstr discovery of written Canaanite sentence at Tel Lachish

Hebrew U. unearths ivory comb from 1700 BCE inscribed with plea to eradicate lice.

An unexpected greeting from an admired Swiss National hero

Graffiti with the name of Knight Adrian von Bubenberg discovered on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

Rare quarter-shekel coin handed over to State of Israel

Extremely rare quarter-shekel coin, minted by Jewish rebels in the Great Revolt 2,000 years ago, is handed over to Israel in US ceremony.

Archaeologists unearth collection of ancient knuckle bones

Rare and exceptionally large assemblage of knuckle bones for gaming and divination discovered in the ancient city of Maresha.

Soldiers re-uncover 1,500-year-old convent in military zone

A 1500-year-old convent with a mosaic floor and inscriptions is uncovered for a second time, in a military zone near Shoham, Israel.

Spectacular rare coin discovered off the Carmel coast

The 1,850-year-old coin shows the sign of Cancer and the figure of the moon goddess and is part of a series of zodiac coins.

Ritual bath used by elite uncovered near Temple Mount

Archaeological excavations near Temple Mount unearth pool built by soldiers from Rome’s 10th Legion, inscribed Byzantine lamp.

Second Temple era burial caves totally neglected

Multiple historical sites in Jerusalem targeted by vandals, used by drug addicts, raided by antiquities thieves.

Hasmonean-era coin, seal discovered in Jerusalem Arab's home

Coin embossed with Temple menorah; seal features ancient Hebrew lettering and image of olive-oil lamp.

In Vilna, remains of Holy Ark and bimah are uncovered

In first since the Holocaust & Soviet destruction, the remains of the Holy Ark and bimah of the Great Synagogue of Vilna are fully exposed.

An ancient Jewish coin will fly into space

Bar Kokhba takes off to the stars: An ancient Jewish coin from the Bar Kokhba revolt against the Romans to fly with Eytan Stibbe into space.

Archaeologists unearth Jerusalem wall from Babylonian invasion

In an incredible find, Israel's Antiquities Authority finds large portions of wall felled by the Babylonians more than 2,500 years ago.

Arab antique robbers flee after getting caught red handed

PA Arabs were caught red-handed by a drone operated by 'Guardians of Eternity' org, fled after foot chase.

Israel: International antiquities trafficking network exposed

Israeli Antiquities Authority uncover historic artifacts dating back 2,000 years in 3 Tel Aviv-area warehouses.

Jordanian weapons cache found beneath Kotel Tunnels

The British-made weapons were found in an old water cistern that once served local Arab residents.

Rare find: Coin with image of emperor who abolished Sanhedrin

Students find a 1,600-year-old coin with the likeness of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II, a first of its kind to be discovered in Israel.

Remains from Byzantine period uncovered in southern Israel

Remains of guard post, terraces, from Byzantine period found at Dudaim Park in Israel's Negev region.

Rare millennia-old stone mask unearthed in Judea

Stone Age mask discovered intact in Hevron Hills in Judea.

1,800-year-old mosaic found in Israeli park

Well-preserved Byzantine-era mosaic discovered in national park in Caesarea.

New trail follows footsteps of Sanhedrin

Project to enable crossing Galilee on foot from Tiberias to Beit She'arim, accompanied by app that brings Sanhedrin members to life.

Caught red-handed: 11 grave robbers arrested at northern ruins

Authorities arrest 11 grave robbers in the process of robbing ruins of ancient Jewish town mentioned in the Talmud.

Rare ancient engraving of Menorah found in Judean hills

During the Hanukkah festival, hikers discovered a rare engraving of a menorah in a water cistern in the Judean Hills.

Who was 'Hyrcanus'?

A stone shard discovered near the Hakra, a Hasmonean period fortress, contains an intriguing inscription.

Ancient gold coin discovered in Kafr Kana

A valuable gold coin from the early Islamic period was discovered during excavations in the Galilee town of Kafr Kana.

1500 year old stables discovered at Ovdat National Park

In archaological excavations at Ovdat National Park an ancient animal stable has been uncovered.

3,500-year-old artifacts from Hadera sea revealed

Metalwork, some of which is up to 3,500 years old, has been donated by a family that inherited the items from their father.

Hundreds of illegally-sold artifacts seized in Jerusalem mall

Israel Antiquities Authority raids store selling ancient objects in violation of law. Indictment to be filed against store owner.

Young Israeli boy discovers 3,400-year-old Canaanite figurine

Israel Antiquities Authority presented the 7-year-old with a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship for his remarkable discovery.

Israeli hiker finds ancient Egyptian seal

Hiker on family outing in the Galilee discovers rare Egyptian artifact.

Rabbis demand end to digging at David's Tomb

David's Tomb rabbis ask Netanyahu to intervene and stop diggings. Rabbi Yosef Berger: 'How is there no protest? It's a scandal.'

'Revolutionary' court victory against antiquity thieves

High Court rejects motion by antiquities dealers, who will now be forced to register their whole inventory.

13-Year-Old Unearths Ancient Wine Press in Jerusalem

Antiquities Authority announces the discovery of a 1,400-year-old wine press in Jerusalem - unearthed by a teen.

Arab Antiquities Robbers Caught in the Act

7 residents of Bedouin town Rahat in Negev found while digging up coins from 2,000 years ago and causing irreversible damage.

Second Temple Period Mikveh Unearthed in Valley of Elah

Archaeologists stunned to find inscription by Australian soldiers from World War II alongside 1,900-year-old Jewish ritual bath.

Antiquities Robbers Caught Selling Rare Ancient Burial Chests

Some of the 11 Jewish ossuaries from Second Temple period still held bones, featured Hebrew script listing names of those interred.

Temple Mount Desecration: 'The Public Needs to Know'

Member of committee to preserve Temple Mount antiquities demands that secret report on Waqf be published - for the sake of the public.

New-found Artifact Revives Ancient Tzitzit Dying Methods

Antiquities Authority presents recent discovery at conference, proof of tekhelet dying techniques from over 2,000 years ago.

Ancient Curse Unearthed at City of David

1,700 year old curse found at archaeological dig in Jerusalem was ordered by a woman from a professional magician.

Arab Antiquity Thieves Caught Red-Handed

Antiquities Authority announce arrest of three Arabs from the Hevron area who were involved in the theft of antiquities.

Arabs Caught Red Handed Robbing Ancient Grave

Three suspects were caught inside 1st century cave near Kibbutz Metzer.