Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable gold treasure at the site of a former Christian monastery in the Judean Desert, shedding light on early Christian activity in the region.
The discovery, announced this month by Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), took place at the Hyrcania archaeological site, located approximately ten miles east of Jerusalem in the West Bank.
The treasure includes two gold coins and a delicate gold ring, which miraculously survived 1,400 years despite the site's vulnerability to antiquities looting. The coins, known as solidi, bear the image of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, who ruled from 610 to 641 AD.
Hyrcania was originally founded as a fortress during the late Hellenistic period, between the second and first centuries BC. During the Byzantine era, a Christian monastery was established at the site, linked to Saint Sabbas, one of the founders of Judean Desert monasticism. The monastery operated for hundreds of years, contributing to the region’s rich religious history.
“These discoveries reinforce the understanding that Hyrcania was part of the monastic and religious landscape active in the Judean Desert during the Byzantine period,” COGAT stated.
Archaeologist Binyamin Har-Even described the artifacts as reflecting “an important chapter from the Byzantine period and the early Christian tradition in the region.” He added that the Archaeology Unit at the Civil Administration aims to safeguard, research, and make accessible historical sites from all periods and communities that have lived in the area.
Read more 86 Ancient Greek Artifacts Return Home from Abroad in Voluntary Handover
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.
