Archaeology

Rare discovery:

1,500 years-old African-style figurines found in Negev graves

Rare burial artifacts at Tel Malḥata reveal Christian-African cultural ties and ancient traditions of identity and memory.

3-year-old finds 3,800-year-old Canaanite seal on family trip

While walking with her family on a trip to Tel Azeka, near Beit Shemesh, 3.5-year-old Ziv Nitzan picked up a stone that turned out to be an ancient seal amulet from the Middle Bronze Age.

In Yatir Forest excavations:

Ancient, unique clay jug featuring camel decorations unearthed

Ancient clay jug featuring red camel decorations and estimated to be around 1,200 years old discovered in excavations in the Yatir Forest. 'Depiction of camels on the vessel highlights the importance of the animal.'

Surprising discoveries revealed in new Judean Desert excavation

A mysterious pyramid-shaped structure dating from when the Ptolemies and Seleucids ruled Israel, papyrus documents, 2,200-year-old weapons, and fabrics are among the things unearthed in the dig north of Nahal Zohar.

Egypt:

For 1st time in over a century, new tomb of ancient pharaoh found

Egyptian antiquities authority say they found the tomb of King Thutmose II, an ancestor of Tutankhamun, in the first such find since 1922.

Hoard of coins of Hasmonean king discovered in Jordan Valley

The coins, which belonged to King Alexander Jannaeus, a fascinating find that coincides with the festival of lights, were discovered by researchers of University of Haifa

Written using Phoenician alphabet:

Stone fragment mentioning House of David comes to NY museum

Tel Dan Stele, oldest archaeological evidence of King David, comes to NY’s Jewish Museum.

Pre-historic ritual complex discovered in cave in northern Israel

According to researchers, the ritual complex in the Manot Cave symbolizes the transition from unstructured worship to the dawn of institutionalized public rituals.

Jerusalem:

Earliest known Chinese inscription in Israel found on Mt. Zion

'We will forever keep the eternal spring': Earliest known Chinese inscription in Israel, from about 500 years ago, discovered on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

Ancient city discovered in excavations near Beit Shemesh

Newly-discovered 5,000-year-old site - one of the earliest ever found in Israel - played a central role in the Judean Lowlands Early Bronze Age settlement network.

After 2,000 years:

New finds from the drainage channel in Jerusalem

New finds from the 2000-year-old drainage channel in Jerusalem tells the city’s story in the days of the Second Temple from its prosperity until its decay and destruction.

Judean Desert:

3,800-year-old red textile dyed with Biblical scarlet discovered

Cloth fragment, earliest evidence of textile dyed with kermes, identified with the "scarlet worm" in the source texts, is discovered in Judean Desert Caves.

On Mount Carmel:

Israeli teen finds ancient ring engraved with 'goddess of war'

Yair Whiteson, 13, discovers 1800-year-old ring engraved with the 'goddess of war' while hiking on Mount Carmel.

Groundbreaking discovery:

The earliest ship ever found in the deep seas

A 3,300-year-old ship’s cargo with hundreds of intact amphorae discovered 90 km from shore at a depth of 1.8 km on the Mediterranean Sea floor.

Ships at sea in the northern Negev?

Church walls revealed by Israel Antiquities Authority excavations portray 1500-year-old contemporary ships.

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.

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.

'Desecrating martys' graves'

Archaeological work at Jewish cemetery in Uman causes outrage

Breslov leaders, local Jewish community say archaeologists desecrating graves of 30,000 Jews killed in 1768 massacre.

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.

Fine rural estate, 1,200 years old, uncovered in southern Israel

'A wealthy landowner, overseeing farmsteads in the northern Negev, may have resided on the estate,' excavation directors say.

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.

New archaeological findings at Ancient Shiloh

Archaeologists believe jars found in Ancient Shiloh excavation were buried beneath the floor to keep contents at a fixed, cool temperature.

Israeli study:

Olive trees first domesticated 7,000 years ago

'This is the earliest evidence for cultivation of a fruit tree,' researchers from Tel Aviv University & the Hebrew University say.

Exclusive Perfume of Cleopatra and the Temple found in Jerusalem

The first-ever depiction of the Balm of Gilead, the exclusive perfume of Cleopatra and the Temple, may have been found in Jerusalem.

You can’t restore destroyed archeological sites

When will the PA's outrageous and purposeful destruction of Jewish history finally be brought to an end? Op-ed.

Palestinian Arab propagandists re-write history—literally

History can be so inconvenient for people with agendas, so they just rewrite it. But in Israel, archaeology trumps the lies. Op-ed.

Prehistoric migration route from Africa passed through Dimona

Evidence of the path of modern humans leaving Africa 100,000 years ago discovered in Dimona.

1,300-year-old church uncovered in northern Israel

Newly-uncovered church hints at importance of Byzantine Christian village, archaeologists say.

Plague and climate change may have destroyed Negev economy

Grape pips reveal collapse of ancient economy in the grip of plague and climate change.

Israeli archaeologist says Great Wall of China not built for war

Great Wall of China wasn't built for military defense, Israeli researcher says, instead it likely served to control population movements.

Civil Administration returns artifacts stolen by Arabs

Civil Administration returns ancient archeological artifacts stolen by robbers in the Bethlehem area.

Study: Ancient Israelites used cannabis in Temple worship

Burned cannabis remains found on alter of First-Temple era Jewish shrine in Tel Arad, suggesting widespread cultic use of the drug.

Roman church unearthed in northern Israel

Byzantine church matches location of Bethsaida, archaeologist says.

DNA evidence shows Philistines originated in Europe

Analysis of ancient bones from Ashkelon shows biblical enemies of the Israelites came from Europe.

PA: Israel trying to falsify history

PA foreign affairs bureau claims Israel is trying to take advantage of archaeological excavations to falsify history.

Israeli archaeologists say they found the ring of Pontius Pilate

Archaeologists say ring belonged to Roman prefect who ruled Judea province 2,000 years ago.

Israeli historical artifacts to be shown in China for first time

Exhibition on ancient civilizations of China and Mesopotamia, including artifacts from Bible Lands museum, to be shown in China.

Ancient inscription from Second Temple period discovered

Rare inscription noting Jerusalem found in archaeological digs near Binyanei Ha'uma in the capital.

Remains of 400-year-old Lithuanian synagogue found

Archaeologists find remains of Great Synagogue of Vilnius. built in 17th century and destroyed during Nazi, Soviet periods.

Rare Byzantine mosaic found in Jerusalem's Old City

1,500 year old find includes name of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, Christian Orthodox priest.

Archaeologists may have found lost city of Julias

Roman-era town was home to several major Christian figures, written about by Josephus.

Attempt to smuggle ancient coins from Gaza foiled

Coins from period of Alexander the Great seized during attempt to smuggle them into Israel from Gaza.

Stolen Second Temple period antiquities recovered in Samaria

Arab resident of Samarian village of Hawara arrested after stolen coins, jewelry, figurines and other ancient artifacts found in his home.

Negev fort from time of David and Solomon unearthed

Examination and dating of animal remains show that Timna Valley fort dates to reign of Kings David and Solomon.

Watch: Has evidence of the Kingdom of David been discovered?

The curator of the Bible Lands Museum takes us on a journey through time to discover a mysterious city from the days of King David.

Jerusalem municipality teams up with far-left organization

Tour guides from the extreme left organization 'Emek Shaveh' to be paid by the Jerusalem municipality to give visitors free tours.

Watch: 17th Annual Archaeological conference

Leading archaeologists speak about recent findings, with special focus on attempts by various entities to erase Jewish history.

German bank funds 'Arabs only' water purification plant

KfW Bank funding waste treatment plant, on condition it only serve Arab population. Experts warn facility could harm archaeological sites.

Eighteenth-century Ottoman settlement unearthed in Beitar Illit

The archeological unit of the Civil Administration unearthed an old Ottoman settlement during development work in the modern town of Beitar.

'We experience the destruction of the Temple year-round'

Archaeologist Dr. Gabi Barkai speaks of battles against the Waqf and Palestinian temple-denial: 'They want to have their cake and eat it.'

1,600 year-old kiln hewn from bedrock discovered in Galilee

The Israel Antiquities Authority has discovered a pottery workshop hewn entirely from bedrock- the only one of its kind known in Israel.

Ancient bones cast new light on Goliath's people

Excavation at ancient cemetery in southern Israel unearths fascinating insights into the biblical Philistines.

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.

A 2,140-year-old find

Rare Jewish treasure from Hasmonean period unearthed

Estate that fought Romans reveals ancient heroism, silver coin collection, bronze coins proclaiming: 'Freedom of Zion.'

Israel wards off looters of antiquity high above the Dead Sea

Complex operation to excavate the 'Cave of Skulls' in Judean Desert involves one of the world's most unique anti-theft efforts.

Beautiful ancient scarab seal discovered near Haifa

Beautifully-preserved seal from 17-18th Centuries BCE was owned by a senior Egyptian official of equivalent rank to Joseph in the Bible.

Girl finds ancient Pharaoh's amulet at Temple Mount dig

Rare, ancient mulet, bearing name of Egyptian King Thutmose III, discovered in earth illegally dug up by Waqf from Temple Mount.

Amazing discovery shows ancient Israel was global glass producer

Oldest-ever glass kilns found in Israel unearthed near Mount Carmel, shed light on how 'Judean Glass' spread across Roman Empire.

Archaeology Council warns 'Reform Kotel' will destroy history

Israeli Archaeology Council writes to Netanyahu, Regev and Antiquities Authority, demanding plan for new prayer space be stopped.