Rare Discovery of 3,500-Year-Old Objects

Archaeologists have discovered a rare treasure of intact ancient vessels in a natural hollow in bedrock in the Lower Galilee, southeast of Haifa. The bedrock was exposed in Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) excavations prior to the installation of a northern gas pipeline by the Israel Natural Gas Lines Company.

The area has revealed several archaeological finds, but the latest discovery was surprising because the 3,500-year-old cultic vessels were found intact. The vessels were used in pagan rituals before the People of Israel reached the Holy Land from Egypt.

Among the finds that were recovered were a cultic vessel that was used for burning incense, a sculpted face of a woman that was part of a cultic cup used in dedicating a libation to a god, and goblets and bowls with high bases and tableware that was intended for eating and drinking.

Other vessels that were found had been brought from Mycenae in Greece, including a storage vessel for precious oils – evidence of the ancient trade relations that existed with Greece.

Archaeologists Uzi Ad and Dr. Edwin van den Brink, the excavation directors said that the discovery is extremely rare. In most excavations fragments of pottery vessels are found, whereas the latest find allowed the unbroken vessels to be removed from the rock-hollow intact.

Full Story at IsraelNationalNews.com