Thousand-Year Old Discoveries in July 2012

This month, archeologists have uncovered burnt wheat that dates back 3,300 years ”“ found in large jars situated at the excavation sites of the Tel Hatzor National Park in the Upper Galilee. In this article, you will learn more about the ancient discoveries that date back thousands of years ago and are connected to Jerusalem or the Jewish people.

Ancient Burnt Wheat Found

A group of researchers associated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) came across “large pithoi-style bulk storage jugs” that were filled with wheat ”“ 14 in total. The jugs were stored in a room within a palace-like building with monumental significance that dated back to the Canaanite period (from 2,000 to 3,000 BCE).

When researchers fully expose the jars, they will be transferred to laboratories for conservation and restoration. Following this act, the palace will be covered once again until the next time the researchers enter another season of excavation. These kinds of excavations have been going on at Hatzor for a couple of decades now. The significance of the site has led to the hill receiving the status of becoming a World Heritage Site.

During the Middle Canaanite period (around 1,750 BCE) and during the Israelite period (around 900 BCE), Hatzor was a site that flourished. The time period saw the creation of the largest fortified complex in Israel. The trade relations with cities in Babylon and Syria made the city a rather important town. They also possessed a great amount of tin that was sent to the city and played a role in the bronze industry.

The first excavations of the site took place during the 1950s and 1960s with the help of Yigael Yadin, who was an archeologist that shed light on Masada and Megiddo. Tel Hatzor was given World Heritage Site status ”“ in addition to the biblical remains that were found at Megiddo and Beersheba. The city of Hatzor was equipped with one of the biggest and most impressive water systems for its time. Archeologists that pay a visit to the site have revealed many more interesting features of the site.

Excavations of the site came to a stop after Yadin’s research until a revived interest and enthusiasm jumpstarted in 1990. The coming years would see more exploration of the site taking place every summer. Artifacts and information uncovered during this research helps shed light on one of the most important time periods related to the Jewish people.

Golden Bell Found in Jerusalem

A golden bell that dates back 2,000 years has been found in Jerusalem and archeologists believe that it may have once belonged to the robe of a Second Temple priest or other important leader. The golden bell is thought an ornament left behind by the past ”“ discovered in an ancient drainage channel in ruins located next to the Western Wall in July of 2012.

Found under Robinson’s Arch, the bell is small and still has a loop attached that would have been used to connect it to a piece of clothing or worn as jewelry. The arch was once a central road in Jerusalem, which led travelers from the Shiloah Pools in the City of David to the Old City and the Temple Mount.