The treasure was buried during the invasion of the Sassanid Empire to the Byzantine Palestine, when uncertainty made the inhabitants hide their relics.
Archaeologists that digs the ancient hippos, near the Galilee Sea, discovered a rare treasure of gold coins and jewelry With almost 1,400 years, dated the Byzantine period. The Treasury, found on the slopes of the Golhan hills, is considered one of the most significant discoveries of its kind in the region.
The collection consists of 97 pure gold coinsbesides dozens of jewelry, including embarrassed earrings with pearls, semi -compliance and glass. According to Michael Eisenberg, archaeologist at Haifa University and excavation codire, the discovery is “among the five largest gold treasures of this period” and is the first of the genre discovered in hippos.
The discovery was made in July by Edie Lipsman, a metal detector that assisted the team. While examining close to two old walls, his device issued a strong beep and soon coins began to appear after another. “I couldn’t believe“He recalled.
Coins cover several reigns, from the Byzantine Emperor Justino I (518–527) to the early years of Emperor Heracli (610–613). Some have traces of fabric, suggesting that they were wrapped in fabric. The collection includes solids, semisses (half solid) and trembling (one third of a solid). It is thought that a Track especially rare He was coined in Cyprus in 610 by Heraclio, the old man, and his son, who were revolting against the emperor focused. The young Heraclio later founded the Heraclia dynasty, which ruled until 711.
“This is a rare discovery that adds an important layer to our understanding of political and economic history From the period, ”said Danny Syon, an excavation, quoted by.
The reason the treasure was buried remains uncertain, but the historical context offers clues. In 614, the Sassanid Empire invaded the Byzantine Palestine, taking many inhabitants of Christian cities, as hippos, hide your riches. Jerusalem fell during this campaign, although Byzantines had regained her about 15 years later, before losing her to Muslim forces in 636. Hippona herself declined and was abandoned after a devastating earthquake in 749.
Eisenberg noted that the first half of the seventh century was marked by turbulence, with achievements and invasions to lead people to bury emergency currencies reserves. “People were terrified and made many reserves relatively,” he explained.
Researchers plan to study coins and jewelry in detail to better understand their regional meaning. Although no exposure date has been announced, Eisenberg suggested that museums are likely to show interest soon.
