Jewish archeology

Israeli archaeologists launch project to trace origins of ancient pottery

The project, launched by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), aims to trace the origin of thousands of ceramic vessels even when the kilns where they were fired have long vanished.

Israelis families display pieces of pottery found while volunteering at an excavation at Tel Maresha at the Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park on Aug. 6, 2023.
An archeologist from the Israeli Antiquity Authority at the site of a 2nd Temple Subterranean System Discovered at the Western Wall tunnels underneath Jerusalem's Old City

Map reveals dozens of ancient quarries hidden beneath modern Jerusalem

Israel thwarts Palestinian attempt to pave over biblical city of Gibeon.

Israel thwarts Palestinian attempt to pave over biblical city of Gibeon

 ‘THEY ARE are organic. They can be burned.’ Ivory artifacts, like the figurines pictured here, were among the highest priority artifacts to be removed from the museum to safety.

How Israel safeguards archaeological treasures amid Iranian attacks


Evidence of Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem unearthed in City of David

"These findings depict the affluence and character of the Judean Kingdom and are mesmerizing proof of the city’s demise at the hands of the Babylonians."

AN AERIAL view of the Old City of Jerusalem.

1,600-year-old stone wine press found in Ramat Negev

In the early Byzantine period, Negev wines were perceived as boutique wines and highly esteemed. Now, a glimpse into their making is possible.

1600 year old wine press

Temple Mount sifting project at a crossroads

The roots of the project track back to 2009, when the Wakf began unlawfully excavating the Solomon’s Stables area to construct the underground Marwani Mosque.

Archeologist Dr. Gabriel Barkay (center) inspects Second Temple-era ‘opus sectile’ floor tiles from the Temple Mount, in the presence of Moshe Ya’alon (right)

Advanced imaging reveals rare Hebrew inscription from First Temple period

TAU researchers discover antiquity on back of pottery shard long on display at Israel Museum.

THE DISCOVERY from Tel Arad that was uncovered by researchers from Tel Aviv University

Relics from World War I battlefield unearthed in central Israel

"These finds constitute evidence of one of the major battles that was fought in Palestine between the British forces and the Turkish forces," says IAA.

Bullets, cartridges and shell fragments found at the site.

Modi’in family helps stop antiquities theft while on hike

One of the family members secretly recorded a suspicious man's activities on his smartphone and sent the video to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit.

Seized metal detector and pickax used in suspected antiquities theft

Hikers find Second Temple period engravings of menorah in Judean Shephelah cistern

"It’s rare to find a wall engraving of a menorah, which substantiates the scientific research regarding the Jewish nature of the settlement during the Second Temple period," says archeologist.

Hiker Mickey Barkal poses at the site

Rare coin from King Antiochus’s rule discovered in Jerusalem

Antiochus sparked the Maccabean revolt that led to the victory of the Maccabees and reclaiming of the Temple.

An image of the coin

Maritime archeologists uncover the name of ancient Judean procurator

Archeologists uncovered his name – Gargilius Antiques – engraved on a massive rectangular stone, during a maritime excavation at the Tel Dor archeological site south of Haifa.

Ancient script engraved on a massive rectangular stone, from the Bar-Kochba period ‏

Rare 3,800-year-old pottery vessel with human sculpture discovered in Yehud

In addition to the unique pottery vessel, other vessels and metal items were found, including several daggers, arrowheads, an axe head, sheep bones, and what are likely the bones of a donkey.

The jug when it was exposed in a field in Yehud, near Tel Aviv