1,600-Year-Old Byzantine-Era Samaritan Villa Discovered in Central Israel

Archaeologists in Israel have unveiled one of the most significant Samaritan archaeological discoveries in recent years – a sprawling 1,600-year-old agricultural estate in Kafr Qasim that offers unprecedented insights into the prosperity and resilience of the ancient Samaritan community during the Byzantine period.

The remarkable excavation, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) ahead of new housing construction, has revealed magnificent mosaics, ritual baths, and agricultural installations that showcase the wealth and cultural identity of this often-overlooked religious minority from antiquity.

Magnificent Mosaics Display Wealth and Artistry

The estate’s centerpiece is a stunning mosaic floor featuring intricate geometric patterns, delicate acanthus leaves, and remarkably detailed depictions of fruits and vegetables including grapes, dates, watermelons, artichokes, and asparagus. At the entrance to the main room, excavators discovered a partial Greek inscription reading “Congratulations to,” followed by what appears to be a Samaritan name.

“The size and splendor of the buildings discovered, the quality of their mosaic floors, and the impressive agricultural installations all point to the great wealth and prosperity of the local Samaritan community,” explained excavation directors Alla Nagorsky and Dr. Daniel Leahy Griswold. The mosaics notably follow Samaritan religious traditions by avoiding any depictions of people, animals, or religious symbols, instead relying on elaborate geometric and botanical motifs.

Ritual Purity and Agricultural Innovation

The northern section of the estate revealed sophisticated agricultural infrastructure including an olive press designed for ritual purity production, a large warehouse, and a mikveh (ritual purification bath). The proximity of the press to the ritual bath indicates the community’s commitment to producing olive oil according to strict religious requirements.

Most intriguingly, archaeologists uncovered what they term a “peripheral mikveh” – a unique ritual bath design with steps running along the entire perimeter rather than just one side. Dr. Leahy Griswold noted that while such baths were common during the Second Temple period (586 BC–70 AD), none had previously been documented from the Byzantine era, making this example especially significant.

Surviving Through Turbulent Times

The estate operated for approximately 400 years, from the late Roman through the Byzantine period (fourth–seventh centuries AD), spanning some of the most challenging times in Samaritan history.

During the fifth and sixth centuries, the Samaritan community launched several unsuccessful revolts against Byzantine rule, which were brutally suppressed and resulted in significant population decline.

Archaeological evidence suggests the estate weathered these upheavals through adaptation. Luxurious residential buildings were later repurposed for purely agricultural use, with new walls subdividing rooms and older decorated elements being reused in later construction phases.

Despite these changes, the site maintained its distinctly Samaritan character, evidenced by the discovery of dozens of characteristic Samaritan oil lamps featuring knob handles and geometric designs.

Historical Significance and Ongoing Mysteries

The estate lies near the ancient village of Kafr Ḥatta, historically identified as Capparetaea – the birthplace of Menander, a first-century Samaritan magician and successor to Simon Magus, a figure mentioned in the New Testament. This connection adds another layer of historical significance to an already remarkable archaeological site.

Several mysteries remain unsolved, including the unusual use of Greek rather than the typical Samaritan Aramaic in the mosaic inscription, and the discovery of a rare glass spoon among the artifacts. The archaeologists also found evidence of what may be two distinct ritual pools, though further analysis is needed to determine their specific functions.

Dr. Leahy Griswold emphasized the site’s broader significance:

“We are talking about the largest Samaritan site outside of the Samaritan homeland. This site displays the historical gamut between prosperity and decline of the Samaritan community.”

The IAA plans to carefully preserve the mosaics and ritual baths while allowing continued development of the area, ensuring that both the historical legacy and modern needs of Kafr Qasim are honored.

Archaeologists Uncover Unique 6th Century Mosaic in Abandoned Byzantine Monastery

A recent excavation report from the Israel Antiquities Authority has revealed the discovery of a well-preserved Byzantine-period monastery and farmhouse in Naḥal Peḥar, located within the modern settlement of Giv‘ot Bar, north of Beersheba.

According to excavator Nir-Shimshon Paran, “The monastery was well-preserved, attesting to the daily life of the monks in the Negev during the Byzantine period. It featured poorly executed mosaic floors, likely laid by the monks themselves.”

“Most of the finds in the monastery were uncovered on the floors, indicating its orderly abandonment in the late Byzantine or early Umayyad period (sixth to seventh centuries CE),” Paran noted. “It is possible that the monastery was abandoned during the transition to the Early Islamic period due to a deterioration in the security situation in the region.”

The monastery complex included a chapel, dining room (refectory), kitchen, service wings, and a winepress. “The main building had thickened walls, giving it the appearance of a fortified structure,” the study reported.

One of the most striking discoveries was a unique mosaic in the chapel: “In the center of the mosaic is a Maltese cross, and below it, within a frame, a three-line Greek inscription mentioning the monastery’s name and the names of four monks who lived there.”

Adjacent rooms contained evidence of daily life. “A cone-shaped depression in the mosaic floor likely served to hold a vessel,” Paran noted. Finds included pottery dated to 460–475 CE and a cooking pot from the end of the fifth to seventh centuries.

Two tombs were found in the stone-paved apse: “At the eastern end of the southern tomb was an engraved cross,” according to Paran. Additional items, such as a collapsed chancel-screen post, bronze hook, chains, and glass lamps, suggest that the area was used for liturgical purposes.

The kitchen was identified by an “ash layer (0.1 m thick), indicating a cooking area,” along with work tables. “Below the table, the lower half of a storage jar was sunk into the floor, likely used as a ṭabun (oven).”

The monastery also featured a wine production facility: “In the service wing’s northeastern section, a winepress treading floor (5.7 × 6.0 m) sloping to the south was discovered.” A plastered settling pit and a probable cistern were also excavated.

Inscriptions found included two epitaphs written in red-brown ink, confirming burial use.

Archaeologists uncovered a farmhouse from the same period just south of the monastery. The structure included a rectangular watchtower with a small window. A coin that was found on the floor dates to the first half of the sixth century CE.

“Both the monastery and farmhouse were one-period sites… it seems that both buildings were abandoned at the end of the Byzantine period (end of the sixth/early seventh century CE),” Paran noted.

The findings were published in ‘Atiqot (Volume 116) by the Israel Antiquities Authority. This discovery sheds light on desert monastic life in the region over 1,400 years ago, providing valuable insights into the daily lives of the monks who inhabited the area during the Byzantine era.

A 4000-year-old Fabric Found in a Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert is the Oldest Dyed with Insect Dye

Researchers discovered an ancient textile dyed with kermes (Kermes vermilio) in Israel’s Cave of Skulls that dates back to the Middle Bronze Age.

This textile, found in the Judean Desert and made of linen and wool dyed red, has been dated by direct radiocarbon to the Middle Bronze Age, specifically between 1954 and 1767 BC.

What makes this find unique is the use of red dye derived from the insect Kermes vermilioa luxurious and rare source of color in ancient times.

In a study of textiles discovered in the Cave of the Skulls in the Judean Desert, researchers conducted dye analyses using High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and identified a unique, red-dyed textile dyed with scaly insects.

This technique allowed for the detection of the dye’s presence and verified that the red dye originated from the scale insect Kermes vermilio, which parasitizes oak trees, particularly Quercus coccifera.

Despite being destructive, this method only needs a small sample, protecting the integrity of the antiquated object.

Textiles are rare items in the archaeological record due to their perishable nature and the rapid decomposition to which they are subject, making their preservation under special conditions, such as those in the caves of the Judean Desert, exceptionally valuable.

Detailed examination of this textile, despite its small size, enables researchers to trace the origin of the red color back to the insect species used, a significant discovery not only for its age but also for what it reveals about ancient civilizations’ knowledge and technology in the handling and application of natural dyes.

Given that using dyes made from scale insects, such as Kermes vermilio, was an expensive and labor-intensive process, it is possible that these textiles served as status and power symbols in prehistoric societies.

In addition to reflecting individual preferences, textile color was used in ancient societies as a nonverbal communication system about a person’s social and economic standing.

A rare 6,000-year-old elephant ivory vessel was unearthed near Beersheba

A recent excavation near Beersheba in southern Israel uncovered an ivory vessel crafted of elephant tusks dating to the Chalcolithic period (around 4,000 BC). The find is the first Chalcolithic ivory vessel discovered in Israel.

Although the ship was originally disassembled, careful restoration work at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) laboratories has brought it back to its former glory.

The vessel is of a type known to researchers as an amphoriskos, a small jar. This rare find sheds light on ancient trade connections between the Holy Land and Egypt some six millennia ago

The diameter of the ivory container is approximately 8 inches. Its exquisitely designed and skillfully crafted small matching handles are arranged symmetrically around its lower body and neck.

The find is the first Chalcolithic ivory vessel discovered in Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said and was likely either imported from Egypt or carved locally from ivory imported from there.

The rare item was discovered in 2020 at Horvat Raqiq, an archaeological site near Beersheba in southern Israel, during infrastructure work to lay a water pipe, the IAA told The Times of Israel.

More than just artifacts were discovered during the excavation at Horbat Raqiq; it also uncovered an old settlement with underground buildings etched into the Loess ground. Emil Aladjem discovered the edge of a basalt vessel during the last stages of the dig, which prompted additional investigation.

Three imposing vessels were found within the excavation site after an extended search. Among them, nestled within layers of soil, lay the shattered remnants of the ivory vessel, carefully interred in antiquity – a testament to its significance.

“This find deepens our understanding of the Chalcolithic period and of the cultural exchange ties of our region with both neighboring and distant cultures,” the researchers said.

“The vessel is well-made and makes maximum use of the original tusk – which was a most precious material. If it was manufactured here, it reveals the high standard of craftspeople who dwelt here, who knew how to treat ivory, and also knew elephant anatomy.”

IAA researchers, specialists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and ivory conservationist Olga Negnevitsky collaborated to analyze and restore the ivory vessel, which was a difficult and drawn-out process.

The vessel is to be presented to the public on Thursday in Jerusalem at the annual Israel Prehistoric Society conference, along with other recent prehistoric discoveries.

The “Horoscope” Scroll Found In the Judean Desert: A Glimpse Into the Mysterious Sect

One of the most interesting and mysterious scrolls discovered in the Judean Desert is a scroll called the “Horoscope.” This scroll shed light on the ancient practices of astrology and mysticism in a discovery that has intrigued historians and archaeologists alike.

The artifact offers a unique peek into the beliefs of a secretive sect that thrived thousands of years ago.

This ancient text reveals a worldview in which a person’s birth date not only indicates their zodiac sign but also determines their physical characteristics and the balance of light and darkness within their soul.

This unique composition was written in Hebrew in the reverse direction – from left to right- and contains signs in Greek, Aramaic, and ancient Hebrew script, as well as code.

“From the writing style, it seems the text was intended only for those who were supposed to know how to read it,” says Dr. Oren Ableman, a scroll researcher in the Judaean Desert Scrolls Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “The texts were apparently secret, comprehensible only to the leadership of the Scrolls sect.”

The scroll presents an intriguing theory in which a person’s physical attributes are determined by the degree of light or darkness in their soul. Each date on the calendar is associated with a particular amount of light or darkness, and thus, the amount of good or evil, or light or darkness, in the soul of the person born on that date.

The “Horoscope” scroll also hints at a rigorous initiation process for new members of the community, who identified themselves as “children of light.”

“It seems to have been a kind of manual for crafting a ‘horoscope,’ using one’s birth date to determine their personality and physical features. New members had to prove their suitability to join the ranks of the righteous. This, in effect, suggests that a person could believe in the sect’s beliefs and customs but still be rejected because they were not born on the right date, or their head shape did not fit,” says Dr. Ableman.

The discovery of the scroll has reignited interest in the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient Judean Desert sects, serving as a reminder of humanity’s enduring quest for knowledge and the mystical.

Rare 2,800-Year-Old Assyrian Scarab Amulet Found In Lower Galilee

Erez Avrahamov, a 45-year-old inhabitant of Peduel, made an incredible discovery while hiking in the Tabor Stream Nature Reserve located in Lower Galilee. He stumbled upon an ancient seal shaped like a scarab that dates back to the First Temple period.

This ancient artifact is as unique as it is stunning. Avrahamov initially mistook it for a bead or an orange stone lying on the ground. However, upon closer inspection, he realized it was intricately engraved, resembling a scarab or beetle.

Recognizing its potential significance, Avrahamov promptly contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority to report this extraordinary discovery.

Nir Distelfeld, an Inspector from the Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, swiftly realized Avrahamov had stumbled upon something extraordinary. He instructed him to carefully examine the other side of the scarab – the flat side – to see if it bore any engravings.

The scarab, an ancient sacred symbol, has a rich history that dates back to the late Paleolithic era when beetle-shaped ornaments were common. By the time of Egypt’s Old Kingdom in the 3rd millennium B.C., scarabs had evolved into aesthetically pleasing objects with deep shamanic symbolism. They played a significant role in early animal worship.

The Egyptian name derives from the verb “to become” or “to be created”, as the Egyptians saw the scarab as a symbol of the creator god. This is corroborated by archaeological findings from King Den’s reign during Dynasty I.

Just as Christians revere the cross today, Egyptian pharaohs profoundly respect dung beetles – likely viewing them as sacred symbols.

”The scarab, made of a semi-precious stone called carnelian, depicts either a mythical griffin creature or a galloping winged horse. Similar scarabs have been dated to the 8th century BCE.” Distelfeld adds that, “the beautiful scarab was found at the foot of Tel Rekhesh, one of the most important tells in Galilee.

The site has been identified as ‘Anaharat’, a town within the territory of the tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:19),” Professor Emeritus Othmar Keel of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland explained.

Scarabs were crafted from various stones, including semi-precious ones like amethyst and carnelian. However, most were made from steatite – a soft talc stone with a grayish-white hue, typically coated with a blue-green glaze. This glaze could only withstand dry climates like Egypt’s.

Hence, scarabs discovered in Israel seldom show remnants of it. This particular scarab’s deep orange color is uncommon and visually captivating in this scenario.

According to Dr. Itzik Paz, an Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist who excavated at Tel Rekhesh, the discovery of this significant artifact from Tel Rekhesh, dating back to the Iron Age (7th–6th centuries BCE), is truly noteworthy.

During this period, a large fortress was present on the tell, seemingly under Assyrian rule – the same empire that led to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

The scarab found at the base of the tell could potentially indicate an Assyrian (or maybe even Babylonian) administrative presence at that location.

The griffin design on the seal is a recognized theme in ancient Near Eastern art and frequently appears on Iron Age seals. If we can accurately date this seal, it might provide a direct connection to Assyrian influence in the Tel Rekhesh fortress – an incredibly significant find!

Israel discovers a 10,500-year-old basket from the Stone Age

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the finding of a well-preserved basket with a capacity of about 100 liters dating back to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, approximately 10,500 years ago.

“It is an amazing artifact, 10,500 years old, huge, intact, the only basket from that time found intact in Israel, and maybe in this size, the only one in the whole world,” Chaim Cohen, IAA archaeologist, told Xinhua.

As far as we know, this is “the oldest basket in the world” that has been found completely intact, and therefore its importance is immense, said Cohen.

IAA researchers believe that they can learn a lot about people who lived on earth about 10,500 years ago, just from that one item looking almost brand new.

“The time this basket was made is long before ceramics was invented, and ceramics is the last language of archeologists,” noted Cohen.

Examining the basket will help researchers better understand those ancient people, how they made tools, and from which materials they made them, said Cohen.

IAA professionals even believed that one of the people who made this basket was right-handed, and the other one was left-handed. Moreover, they used a unique technique.

The basket, with two lids at the top, was found in Muraba’at Caves in the Judean Desert above the Dead Sea. It was buried inside a cave under almost three feet of soil. It was exceptionally well preserved due to the high temperatures and extreme aridity of the region.

“People who made the basket buried it underground, leaving the top on the floor level of that period, and we assume that it was buried there to preserve things, maybe food or grains, to the next season,” said Cohen.

The basket was presented on Tuesday to the local and international press at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Besides, ten other unearthed ancient finds were also presented.

Among them were fragments of a 2,000-year-old biblical scroll that were found also in caves in the Judean Desert.

Dr. Oren Ableman, a curator researcher in the Dead Sea scrolls unit of IAA, told Xinhua that “this is the first time in over 60 years that we have discovered copies or fragments of a biblical book in a controlled excavation.”

“And this enables us to have a better picture of the past and understanding of how the text of the Bible as we know today has developed over time,” added Ableman.

Additional exhibits included a 6,000-year-old skeleton of a mummified female child, arrows, spearheads, woven fabrics, rare Jewish coins from about 2,000 years ago, and some other notable relics.

All these artifacts were unearthed by Israeli archeologists during the past three and a half years in a mission in hundreds of caves at high hills.

Archaeologists discover 800-year-old ‘treasure tunnels’ built-in Israel by the Knights Templar Christian warriors

The secrets of the Knights Templar have been unearthed by archaeologists in Israel.

A set of ‘lost’ tunnels leading to a treasure tower were discovered, which the legendary warrior monks would have used to transport their gold around 800 years ago.

Remnants of the soldiers’ extravagant headquarters were also uncovered in the ancient city of Acre, on the coast of Israel.

Years of excavations have unearthed historical relics left by the Knights Templar order, which was disbanded by Pope Clement V in 1312 following conflicts between France’s King Philip IV and the crusading monks.

As part of a new documentary series by National Geographic called Lost Cities, archaeologist and show host Albert Lin and his team utilize light detection and ranging technology known as LiDAR.

This innovative tool allows researchers to detect hidden artifacts underneath the Earth’s surface through aerial scanning to produce accurate 3D maps.

According to IFL Science, Lin’s team scanned an area in the port of Acre, where the Knights Templar’s fortress headquarters stood some 800 years ago. The LiDAR survey found a sprawling network of tunnels, and what appears to be a guardhouse, buried underneath today’s modern city of Acre.

Researchers believe these tunnels may have connected the Knights Templar’s fortress with the city’s port, allowing the Templars to carry treasure safely to their treasure tower.

“These warrior monks are the stuff of legend, and so is their gold,” Lin said in the documentary. “During the Crusades, the Knights Templar battle for God, gold, and glory. Somewhere in the modern city of Acre lies their command center, and possibly their treasure.”

The city of Acre was once controlled by the Knights Templar for about 100 years after they lost their headquarters in Jerusalem to the Muslim ruler Saladin in 1187. Following the recent discovery, researchers suspect that the Templars’ gold could still be buried somewhere in these underground tunnels.

The Knights Templar monks were trained as skilled fighters with the objective of protecting and advancing Christianity through the means of warfare. The order also successfully raised a tremendous amount of funds to fuel the Crusades.

Uncovering the lost treasure belonging to a religious order of soldier monks from the time of the Third Crusade is an appealing prospect, no doubt.

But researchers have not found any evidence to confirm the existence of gold belonging to the Knights Templar in the city of Acre. Thus, plans to excavate the newly discovered tunnels have yet to be made.

Following the fall of Jerusalem into the hands of Saladin, the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt, Pope Gregory VIII called upon Europe’s three Christian monarchs — the rulers of France, Germany, and England — to conduct another crusade to take back the Holy Land.

The first major battle of the campaign was at Acre, located on Jerusalem’s coast. Although the Third Crusade was unsuccessful, it did result in a treaty deal granting safe passage for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

LiDAR technology has been proven to significantly improve methods of scouting hidden artifacts without the need for archaeologists to conduct excavations.

A separate team of researchers in Cambodia recently uncovered a lost city of the Khmer Empire using LiDAR technology.

The ancient site was located deep in the mountainous Cambodian jungles where landmines still covered the fields, making it impossible for archaeologists to have conducted examinations of the site physically.

With LiDAR-driven discoveries popping up around the world, we’re sure to uncover more hidden treasures buried underneath the Earth’s surface—even though those treasures might not all be made of gold.