Three individuals from the Israeli Caving Club stumbled upon a pouch brimming with silver treasures. The pouch contained coins, bracelets, and rings carefully concealed in a narrow crevice within the cave. These ancient artifacts date back to the time when Alexander the Great reigned, approximately 2,300 years ago. Archaeologists speculate that these valuables were hidden by refugees seeking to safeguard their possessions during the tumultuous aftermath of Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BC.
Among the stalactites, explorers found gemstones, oil lamps, and pottery. Some of the items discovered in the cave are believed to date back 6,000 years. This exciting discovery comes shortly after divers off the Israeli coast uncovered 2,000 gold coins.
Cave explorers in northern Israel stumbled upon a treasure trove of rare silver coins and jewelry dating back to the reign of Alexander the Great. The treasures, which are 2,300 years old, were hidden in a narrow crevice among pieces of broken pottery within the cave filled with stalactites. These valuable artifacts were discovered by three members of the Israeli Caving Club who managed to navigate through the tight passages at the cave entrance to explore inside.
Silver coins dating back to the era of Alexander the Great were discovered alongside various jewelry pieces and stone weights in a cave in northern Israel by members of the Israeli Caving Club.
During an exploration, one of the spelunkers, Hen Zakai, noticed something shimmering on the floor of the cave. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be two ancient silver coins.
Along with the coins, the cave divers also uncovered a cloth pouch containing a collection of coins, rings, bracelets, and earrings crafted from silver and bronze.
Upon examining the finds, archaeologists concluded that the coins were minted at the beginning of the Hellenistic Period during Alexander the Great’s reign. They suspect that these items may have been hidden in the cave by local residents who sought refuge during the unrest following Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BC.
Just a month after divers found a chest full of gold coins near Caesarea, close to Tel Aviv, Israel, another exciting discovery has been made. A spokesperson for the Israel Antiquities Authority mentioned that the valuable items found in a cave may have been hidden by locals escaping government unrest during the time of Alexander’s death. This turbulent period, known as the Wars of the Diadochi, saw fighting among Alexander’s heirs in Israel. It’s possible that the stash was buried in hopes of a better future, but it seems that whoever hid the treasure never returned to claim it.
Mr. Zakai, along with his father Reuven and friend Lior Halony, embarked on an exploration of a cave that is being kept under wraps two weeks ago. The trio spent hours navigating the narrow passageways inside the cave when they stumbled upon a narrow crevice where coins were shimmering in the light of their head torch. This discovery was promptly reported to the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery at the IAA.
Officials and archaeologists revisited the cave over the weekend and found significant evidence suggesting that humans had once inhabited the caves.
The coins were discovered in a cave in northern Israel, along with agate gemstones and an oil lamp as shown in the picture.
One of the coins unearthed in the cave is believed to have been hidden by refugees during an ancient war that occurred after the passing of Alexander the Great. This particular coin shows Zeus seated with his arm raised.
Many pottery vessels were also found within the cave, some of which had been there for so long that they had become fused with the numerous stalactites present in the cave.
According to archaeologists, some of the artifacts discovered in the cave date back to the Chalcolithic period over 6,000 years ago. Bronze items from 5,000 years ago, as well as items from the Biblical period 3,000 years ago and the Hellenistic period 2,300 years ago, were also found.
The coins display an image of Alexander the Great on one side, while the other side features Zeus seated on his throne with his arm raised as if prepared to unleash his powerful lightning bolts.
Alongside these discoveries were agate gemstones and an oil lamp.
The agate stones discovered in the cave, displayed next to a Hellenistic oil lamp, were once strung together to create a beautiful bead necklace.
Certain coins that were found featured the likeness of Alexander the Great on one side, while the other side depicted Zeus seated on his throne. This discovery proved valuable for archaeologists in determining the age of the treasure.
The unique discovery of silver coins, rings, and bracelets from the time of Alexander the Great’s rule in Israel has excited archaeologists. They believe that there may be more treasures hidden within the cave and are planning to conduct further exploration. Amir Ganor, the director of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, praised the three members of a caving club for reporting their findings to the authorities. In February, the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed that divers had found a chest containing 2,000 gold coins dating back over 1,000 years on the seabed of the ancient harbor of Caesarea.
According to archaeologists, the coins, one of which is depicted above, played a crucial role in determining the age of the treasure found.
Just a month after divers discovered 2,000 gold coins off the coast of Caesarea, another treasure trove has been found in a cave in northern Israel. This new discovery follows the previous findings of gold coins on the sea floor of the ancient harbor in Caesarea, located just north of Tel Aviv and south of Haifa.
The significance of this archaeological discovery was quickly recognized by the finders, who promptly informed the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). This second discovery within a month highlights a positive trend of citizens reporting significant archaeological finds, which is greatly appreciated by researchers at the IAA.
Thanks to the awareness and proactive behavior of these citizens, the existing archaeological knowledge about the development of society and culture in the Land of Israel in ancient times can be further expanded. It is heartening to see the public play a role in contributing to the understanding of our shared history.
An unearthed treasure found in the cave included a shiny ring with a crystal embedded in it.
