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Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a 2,300-Year-Old Ring That May Have Been a Child's Treasure
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Archaeological work in the Jerusalem Walls National Park within the City of David uncovered a gold ring set with a red gemstone. Experts believe the ring belonged to a child 2,300 years ago, and may have been buried as part of a ritual. It's the second such ring discovered in the area in less than a year. At some point about 2,300 years ago, when a child living in Jerusalem underwent the symbolic move from childhood to adulthood, they parted with a gold ring set with a red garnet. That ring was just found in the City of David within the Jerusalem Walls National Park, and was actually the second such ring discovered there in less than a year. Both rings have been dated to the Early Hellenistic period (and specifically, the Second Temple period), according to a statement from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Rivka Lengler—a City of David excavator present when the more recently discovered ring was unearthed—said that a worker was sifting dirt through a sieve when the ring was found. At first, they thought it was a modern ring that had been dropped by an excavator, but after a closer look, Lengler was able to tell that the ring had been waiting to be found for a long time. 'When I examined the ring,' Lengler said, 'I immediately assessed it was something ancient. We called over the archaeologists, everyone gathered around us and marveled at the special find. It was very exciting.' Officials on the excavation project, which was conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University working in collaboration, said that the two gold rings were both discovered in the foundation of a large building that was located in a layer of earth dating to the late third or early second century B.C. In the same layer, archaeologists found multiple bronze earrings and a gold earring adorned with a horned animal image and a decorated gold bead. 'That the two small rings and the rest of the jewelry were all discovered under the building's floors raises the possibility that they were buried there on purpose,' said Marion Zindel from the Israel Antiquities Authority. 'One of the possibilities now being examined is that the jewelry found in the building's foundations was in the context of executing a well-known Hellenistic period custom in which betrothed women would bury jewelry and other childhood objects in the house foundations as a symbolic of transition from childhood to adulthood.' With gold being so valuable, accidentally losing multiple gold pieces in the same general area isn't likely to have been the reason for the presence of these rings. But what exactly the reason was is still up for debate, as not much is known about Hellenistic period culture in Jerusalem (which may have been at odds with Jewish customs). 'These rings, along with other pieces of jewelry and the architecture we've uncovered,' Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University told The Times of Israel, 'are beginning to advance our understanding of the city at that time.' 'This is the first time that we have found in Jerusalem such a large assemblage of gold jewelry from that period,' said Efrat Bocher, an excavation manager. 'This displayed wealth is very rare in any archaeological layer, and it attests to the wealth of Jerusalem and the high standard of living of the city's residents during this period.' Jewelry that combines gold with brightly colored precious stones—such as the red garnet in the newly discovered ring—is heavily associated with this region during this period of history, when fashion was quite influenced by countries to the east like India and Persia. Experts on the project said that Alexander the Great's conquests influenced fashion and trade channels within these regions. The potential future discovery of Greek-inspired rituals—as well as architecture and customs not associated with Jewish traditions—may shed more light on the period. 'In order to understand more about Jerusalem's identify in the Hellenistic period,' Gadot said, 'we are going to need more discoveries and research. It will take time.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
2,300-year-old gold ring found in Israel was likely buried by a betrothed girl
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a 2,300-year-old gold ring set with a red gemstone — likely a garnet — that a youngster may have ritually buried as they left behind childhood and transitioned into adulthood. The small ring dates to the Hellenistic, or Greek, period, and was found in the City of David in the Jerusalem Walls National Park. This is the second gold ring from the early Hellenistic period that archaeologists have found there in less than a year. "This jewelry discovered now was likely buried then in the context of a well-known practice of that period, which symbolized the transition from childhood to adulthood," researchers with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Tel Aviv University said in a statement. Archaeologists found the ring during a routine dig. "We sifted the dirt through a sieve, right near the excavation area, and suddenly Ben, who works with me, pulls a gold ring out of the dirt," Rivka Lengler, a City of David excavator, said in the statement. "At first, he was sure it must be a modern item dropped by one of our excavators, but when I examined the ring, I immediately assessed it as something ancient." Related: Ancient 'hangover prevention' ring found in Israel The archaeological layer in which the ring was found dates to the late third or early second century B.C., also known as the Second Temple period, which lasted while the Second Temple stood in Jerusalem from about 516 B.C. to A.D. 70, when the Romans destroyed it. This layer has yielded other valuable artifacts, including bronze earrings, a gold earring with a depiction of a horned animal, and a decorated gold bead. The newfound ring was unearthed in the foundations of a large building, suggesting that whoever lived there was wealthy, the researchers said in the statement. And the fact that t several precious artifacts have been found in the area suggests that whoever buried them may have been following a custom. "That the two small rings and the rest of the jewelry were all discovered under the building's floors raises the possibility that they were buried there on purpose," Marion Zindel, an archaeologist with the IAA who analyzed the ring, said in the statement. The ring may have been buried as part of a coming-of-age ritual, which was a "well-known Hellenistic period custom," she said. "Betrothed women would bury jewelry and other childhood objects in the house foundations as a symbol of the transition from childhood to adulthood," Zindel explained. RELATED STORIES —3-year-old picks up 'beautiful stone,' discovers 3,800-year-old scarab amulet in Israel —2,000-year-old seal depicting Greek god Apollo found in Jerusalem —2 ancient stone coffins for husband and wife unearthed at Israeli wildlife park The ring's gemstone also fits into trends from that time. "Jewelry that combines gold with brightly colored precious stones, such as the garnet stone, were well-known from this period, in which fashion was influenced by Eastern countries such as India and Persia," the researchers said in the statement. "These fashionable influences were enabled thanks to Alexander the Great's conquests, and the consequent trade channels opening with these regions." This is far from the only Hellenistic finding in Israel linked to Alexander the Great. In 2023, archaeologists announced they had found the roadside burial of a Greek courtesan who had been buried with an ornate bronze mirror. Researchers believe this woman was accompanying the Macedonian king's armies when she died 2,300 years ago.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
2,300-year-old gold ring discovered under Jerusalem building
A 2,300-year-old ring has been discovered in Jerusalem's ancient City of David, in the second such find at the same site within the last year, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Wednesday. The small size of the ring, gold and set with a red gemstone, indicates that it belonged to a youngster living in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period more than two millennia ago, the state-run archaeological body said. The member of the excavation team who found the ring initially thought it was a modern piece of jewelry that had been dropped by someone working on the dig. Both rings were unearthed in the foundations of a large building that pointed to the wealth of its occupants. 3 2,300-year-old gold rings, are displayed after being unearthed at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, May 21, 2025. REUTERS 'When I held this ring in my hand, I felt part of my history,' said Rivka Lengler, a City of David excavator present when the ring was uncovered. 'I felt that I could actually touch and connect with the people who lived here in Jerusalem thousands of years ago.' The ring was the latest in a string of jewelry pieces from the early Hellenistic period discovered at the site just outside the walls of the Old City. The researchers believe that the jewelry was likely buried at the time, as part of a well-known practice symbolizing the transition from childhood to adulthood. 3 Doctor Marion Sindel from the Israel Antiquities Authority holds 2,300-year-old gold rings, after being unearthed at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem, May 21, 2025. REUTERS 3 The member of the excavation team who found the ring initially thought it was a modern piece of jewelry that had been dropped by someone working on the dig. City of David 'This is the first time that we have found in Jerusalem such a large assemblage of gold jewelry from that period,' said Efrat Bocher, one of the excavation managers. 'This displayed wealth is very rare in any archaeological layer, and it attests to the wealth of Jerusalem and the high standard of living of the city's residents during this period.' According to the researchers, jewelry that combined gold with brightly colored precious stones was common to this period, when fashion was influenced by Eastern countries such as India and Persia, and trade in the region that resulted from the conquests of Alexander the Great. 'The discovery of the golden rings from the time of the Second Temple in the City of David is tangible evidence of the wealth, beauty and importance of Jerusalem, even thousands of years ago,' said IAI director Eli Escusido.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Gold treasure with link to Ark of the Covenant stuns scientists: ‘Everyone marveled at the special find'
In a shocking archaeological discovery, an ancient gold ring has been unearthed at the City of David — the ancient heart of Jerusalem. The small gold ring, adorned with a red gemstone, is believed to date back roughly 2,300 years. The finding was made at the Givati Parking Lot during excavations led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University, funded by the Elad Association, within the Jerusalem Walls National Park. Advertisement 3 A small, gold ring, adorned with a red gemstone, was recently unearthed at the Givati Parking Lot during excavations. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority It was found steps away from the Temple of Jerusalem, the last place the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments, is believed to have been located. A researcher, who was sifting soil in the area, pulled the gold ring — the second found in the area in less than a year — out of the dirt. Advertisement 'At first, he was sure it must be a modern item dropped by one of our excavators, but when I examined the ring, I immediately assessed it as something ancient. We called over the archaeologists, everyone gathered around us and marveled at the special find; It was very exciting,' Rivka Lengler, a member of the excavation team, recounted in a statement. The jewelry likely belonged to a young girl from the Second Temple period, which includes the Early Hellenistic period. 3 The piece is the second found in the area in less than a year. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority The expert quickly noticed the similarities between the newest find and the ring that was collected just a few months before. Advertisement The rings were uncovered in the foundation layer of a grand structure, which also yielded an array of other jewelry, including bronze earrings, a gold earring with an animal motif, and a decorated gold bead. 'This is the first time that we have found in Jerusalem such a large assemblage of gold jewelry from that period,' said excavation manager Efrat Bocher. 3 The discovery was made within the Jerusalem Walls National Park. Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority 'This displayed wealth is very rare in any archaeological layer, and it attests to the wealth of Jerusalem and the high standard of living of the city's residents during this period.' Advertisement Archaeologists believe the jewelry was part of a tradition marking the transition from childhood to adulthood, where young women who were engaged to be married buried childhood items — like jewelry — to signify a life change. Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, added, 'The discovery of these rings is a testament to Jerusalem's historical wealth and significance. This is 'Jerusalem of Gold' in its truest, most tangible form — an enduring legacy uncovered beneath our very feet.' Researchers hope the dig helps to better understand the connection between the neighborhood and the temple, 'but at this stage, we have no clear way of understanding the nature of that relationship,' Prof. Yuval Gadot from Tel Aviv University, the excavation director, told the Times of Israel. 'In order to understand more about Jerusalem's identity in the Hellenistic period, we are going to need more discoveries and research.' Earlier this year, a religious shrine sealed up by the ancestors of Jesus — and preserved for nearly 3,000 years — was discovered at the City of David.
