A team of researchers surveying the Judean Desert as a part of a mission to thwart the pillaging of ancient treasures by antiquity looters have unearthed a lot of rare coins dating back to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, a large-scale armed rise up against the Roman Empire by the Jews of Judea which began in 132 CE.
The coins were discovered within the Mazuq Ha-he’teqim Nature Reserve by a team of archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority Prevention of Archaeological Theft Unit, conducting the Judean Desert Cave Survey, working in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and the Archaeological Office for the Military Administration of Judea and Samaria.
In addition to a few coins bearing the name ‘Simeon’, the trove included a very significant find — a rare coin inscribed on one side with a bunch of grapes surrounded by the text ‘Year One of the Redemption of Israel’, and bearing the name of ‘Eleazar the Priest’ on the opposite.
The researchers imagine it could seek advice from Rabbi Eleazar Hamod’ai, a pupil of Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakai who played a big religious role on the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Eleazar is referenced in Talmud and lived within the town of Beitar—the placement where the revolt was headquartered.
Teams of archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority Prevention of Archaeological Theft Unit have been surveying the Judean Desert since 2017 in a race to uncover priceless antiquities before looters can pillage them.
Their previous discoveries include scroll fragments of the Twelve Minor Prophets and Roman iron swords—one still in its sheath. The team also uncovered the earliest complete basket ever found.
The public has been invited to participate in the present excavation season, joining the team at their camp within the desert for ten days. As well as attending lectures and other activities, volunteers will get the chance to help researchers on the dig and play their part on this vital work preserving and protecting Biblical history.
“We invite the general public to affix us within the seventh excavation season within the desert, to assist save the Judean Desert archaeological finds, endangered by antiquities theft,” says Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The Judean Desert excavations don’t stop to amaze us, and we hope that on this season we may even have the option to report vital finds.”
