Three members of the Israeli Cave Club stumbled upon a pouch containing a stash of silver coins, bracelets, and rings hidden in a narrow crevice within the cave. These artifacts have been dated back to the time when Alexander the Great was ruling, approximately 2,300 years ago. Archaeologists speculate that these valuables were concealed by refugees during a war that broke out after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, as a means of keeping them safe.
Among the stalactites, explorers also uncovered gemstones, oil lamps, and pottery within the cave. Some of the ancient artifacts found in the cave are believed to be around 6,000 years old. This discovery follows closely after divers found 2,000 gold coins off the coast of Israel. A valuable collection of rare silver coins and jewelry from the time of Alexander the Great has been unearthed by cave explorers in northern Israel. These treasures, dating back 2,300 years, were hidden in a narrow crevice among shards of pottery within the cave filled with stalactites. The discovery was made by three members of the Israeli Caving Club who had navigated through the narrow passages at the entrance of the cave to explore inside.
Members of the Israeli Caving Club made a fascinating discovery in a cave in northern Israel, uncovering a collection of ancient artifacts. Among the treasures found were silver coins dating back to the time of Alexander the Great, along with bracelets, rings, and stone weights, all of which are displayed in the picture above.
During an expedition in the cave, spelunker Hen Zakai noticed a glint on the cave floor, which turned out to be two ancient silver coins. Along with the coins, the cave divers also found a cloth pouch containing a variety of silver and bronze coins, rings, bracelets, and earrings.
Archaeologists who examined the findings believe that the coins were minted at the beginning of the Hellenistic Period, during Alexander the Great’s reign. It is thought that these treasures may have been hidden in the cave by locals who sought refuge there during the unrest following Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BC.
Just a month after divers found a chest filled with gold coins off the coast of Caesarea near Tel Aviv, Israel, another intriguing discovery has been made. A spokesperson for the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed that the valuable items in a cave may have been hidden by local residents who sought refuge during a period of unrest following the death of Alexander. This was a turbulent time in Israel when the Wars of the Diadochi erupted among Alexander’s heirs. It is believed that the cache was buried with the hopes of retrieving it during better times, but oddly, whoever buried the treasure never returned to claim it.
Mr. Zakai, accompanied by his father Reuven and their friend Lior Halony, recently embarked on an exploration of a mysterious cave whose exact location is being kept confidential. After hours of wandering through the narrow passageways of the cave, they stumbled upon a hidden niche where coins sparkled in the light of their head torches.
Upon making this discovery, the group promptly informed the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery at the IAA. Subsequently, officials and archaeologists revisited the cave last weekend and uncovered substantial evidence suggesting that humans had once inhabited these caves.
The coins were discovered in a cave located in northern Israel, accompanied by agate gemstones and an oil lamp as shown in the picture above.
One of the coins unearthed in the cave is believed to have been hidden by refugees during an ancient conflict that occurred after the passing of Alexander the Great. The coin depicts Zeus seated with his arm raised.
Several pottery vessels were also found in the cave, some so old that they had become one with the numerous stalactites adorning the cave. Archaeologists have determined that some of the artifacts found in the cave date back to the Chalcolithic period over 6,000 years ago.
Among the discoveries are bronze items dating back 5,000 years, along with others from the Biblical period 3,000 years ago and the Hellenistic period 2,300 years ago. One side of the coins bears an image of Alexander the Great, while the other side features Zeus seated on his throne, arm raised in a pose ready to unleash his powerful lightning bolts.
The findings also included agate gemstones and an oil lamp.
The Agate stones discovered in the cave, seen here next to a Hellenistic oil lamp, were originally a part of a beaded necklace.
Certain coins that were uncovered depicted Alexander the Great on one side (as seen above) and Zeus seated on his throne on the other side. This discovery assisted archaeologists in determining the age of the treasure.
The unique silver coins, rings, and bracelets that were discovered are said to be the first of their kind dating back to the era of Alexander the Great’s rule over Israel. Archaeologists examining the find believe that there may be more items waiting to be uncovered within the cave and are eager to further explore the area. Amir Ganor, the director of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, praised the three members of the caving club for promptly notifying the authorities about their discovery. In February, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced that divers had found a chest containing 2,000 gold coins that are over 1,000 years old on the seabed of the ancient harbor of Caesarea.
The archaeologists believe that the coins, one of which is displayed above, played a vital role in determining the age of the treasure that was unearthed.
The recent discovery of a treasure trove in a cave in northern Israel has come shortly after divers found 2,000 gold coins in the waters off the coast of Caesarea. The impressive archaeological finds were quickly reported to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) by the responsible citizens who found them. This discovery follows a similar trend in which citizens have been actively reporting significant archaeological findings, contributing to the knowledge and understanding of ancient society and culture in the region. Thanks to the awareness and cooperation of these citizens, researchers at the IAA will be able to further expand their understanding of the history and development of the Land of Israel in ancient times.
One of the discoveries in the cave was a shiny ring with a crystal setting.
