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Archaeology in Review

Shema Yisrael Pendants Discovered in Sobibor Extermination Camp

Over the past decade, archaeological excavations in the Sobibor extermination camp have uncovered three pendants bearing depictions of Moses and the tablets of the Law opposite the Hebrew prayer Shema Yisrael (“Hear O Israel”). The metal pendants are different from one another, and they were inscribed by hand. Over the past year, researchers have identified

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World’s Largest Known Winepress from Byzantine Period Uncovered

Yavne was a world wine powerhouse about 1,500 years ago. A huge and well-designed industrial estate from the Byzantine period with a very impressive wine production complex—the largest known in the world from this period—has been excavated in the city over the past two years. The site includes five magnificent wine presses, warehouses for aging

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Second Temple-period Jerusalem Building Discovered

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the Israel Antiquities Authority [IAA] are opening to the public impressive new sections of one of the most magnificent public buildings uncovered from the Second Temple period. The discovery—the fruit of archaeological excavations in the Western Wall Tunnels—will be part of the new route opened to visitors. Part of

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Other Half of Ancient Lamp Found in Budapest Unearthed in Jerusalem

The Roman-era oil lamp recently unearthed in Jerusalem may be the missing half of a similar artifact found in Budapest nine years ago, the City of David Foundation announced. Mere hours after publication of the discovery of the “lucky” lamp shaped like a grotesque half face, Hungarian archaeologist Gabor Lassanyi contacted Ari Levy, director of

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Israeli Researchers Discover New Bee Species

There is no overestimating the importance of pollinators in our world today. While crop pollination relies mainly on managed colonies of the domesticated honey bee (Apis mellifera), wild, unmanaged pollinators were found to be highly effective, often critical contributors to pollination services in natural and agricultural systems. Among these wild pollinators, native bees are the most

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Trove of Ancient Coins Discovered

A rare coin hoard from the Abbasid period, dating around 1,100 years ago, was uncovered by a group of youths volunteering before their army service in an archaeological excavation carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). According to the directors of the excavation, Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. Elie Haddad of the IAA: “The hoard,

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Ancient Two-Shekalim Weight Discovered Adjacent to the Western Wall

An ancient limestone-made weight, dating to the Iron Age—the First Temple period—was discovered in an archaeological excavation conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in conjunction with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The excavation site is beneath Wilson’s Arch, adjacent to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The weight, corresponding to the

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Colorful Mosaics Revealed at Hippos

A well-preserved mosaic laden with decorations, including dedication inscriptions and descriptions of baskets with loaves and fish, was exposed in an excavation at the “Burnt Church” in Hippos overlooking the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). Hippos was the central city in the region around the eastern Sea of Galilee and the southern Golan during Roman and

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A Road Well Traveled: The Pilgrimage Road to the Temple Mount

“That is where the tribes go up—the tribes of the LORD—to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.” (Psalm 122:4 NIV) It was described as the beating heart of Jerusalem—a place of bustling commerce, braying donkeys, chattering children playing hide-and-seek among the robe-clad legs of pilgrims; a politician bellowing

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Jewish Settlement from the Second Temple Period Uncovered in Beersheva

For the first time, the remains of a Jewish settlement of the Second Temple period have been discovered in Beersheva, revealing evidence of Jewish day-to-day life there. The site, dated from the first century AD until the Bar Kokhba Revolt in AD 135, appears to contain underground hidden passageways used by the Jewish rebels. According

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