Four swords from Roman times, believed to have been hidden by rebels, have been found in a cave in the Judean Desert. They date back 1,900 years. Any archaeologist’s dream come true.
A group of Israeli archaeologists have discovered a hidden treasure in the heart of the Judean desert. In a hidden cave in the En Gedi nature reserve, a cache of four Roman swords and a hafted weapon dating back to approximately 1,900 years ago was found.
These exceptionally well-preserved weapons offer a fascinating window into the past and reveal intriguing details about the history of the region in that period. Researchers at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) describe the discovery as extraordinary.
“Finding a single sword is rare, four? It’s a dream! We can believe it,” the researchers commented during a press conference in Jerusalem.
Eli Escozido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was present to present these rare weapons to the public and media. The discovery site is a small cave located in an area of isolated cliffs that are difficult to access north of En Gedi.within the Judean Desert Nature Reserve.
The same cave had previously revealed a fragmentary Hebrew inscription on a stalactite, characteristic of the First Temple period, adding even more mystery and meaning to the site.
Israel Antiquities Authority
Dr. Asaf Gayer, from the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archeology at Ariel University, and his team visited the cave with the aim of photographing the Paleo-Hebrew inscription on the stalactite using multispectral photography.
It was during this visit that they made the exciting discovery of the swords and hafted weapon in a deep, narrow crevice. The researchers jumped for joy after seeing what they had found.
Dr. Eitan Klein, one of the directors of the Judean Desert Study Project, suggests that these weapons were taken as loot from Roman soldiers or from the battlefield and deliberately hidden by Jewish rebels for reuse.
“Obviously, the rebels did not want to be caught by the Roman authorities carrying these weapons,” he said.
The entire cave will be explored
This find has led to a complete archaeological excavation in the cave, revealing artefacts dating from different periods, including the Chalcolithic and the Roman period. Additionally, a bronze coin from Bar-Kokhba was found, which may indicate the time when these weapons were hidden.
The research team is excited about the possibility of discover more details about the owner of the swords, their origin and the historical event that led to the concealment of these weapons. This exciting archaeological discovery sheds light on Judea’s rich history and promises to reveal even more secrets from the past.