Israel Antiquities Authority

Israel uncovers Second Temple-period mikveh beneath Western Wall

The ritual bath was found sealed beneath a layer of destruction dated to 70 CE, in which researchers found burned ash and numerous artifacts that offer a snapshot of life just before the city fell.

THE RITUAL purification bath (mikveh) from the Second Temple period.
Drone imagery of an archaeological site.

Israeli AI, drone imagery revolutionizing mapping of archaeological sites

AN ANCIENT menorah pendant from the Byzantine period, found in Jerusalem.

Ancient lead menorah pendant sheds light on Jewish presence in Byzantine Jerusalem

Archaeologist Amit Re'em and Eilat Lieber, director of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum stand atop the recently uncovered section of the Hasmonean wall.

Hasmonean era 'first wall' section revealed at Tower of David museum excavation - interview


Authorities believe looted Bar Kochba artifacts were Roman army spoils

Among the findings are typical Roman cult artifacts decorated with figures and pagan symbols, which prove that they were likely the original property of Roman soldiers.

 Bar-Kochba era artifacts seized by police on December 8th.

Dozens of artifacts, some from Bar Kochba era, found by police, 3 arrested

While on duty, a team of detectives from the Lev HaBira police station noticed three people in a car who drew their suspicion, so they searched the vehicle.

Bar Kochba Coins found in the Judean Desert.

Eight antiquity robbers in Israel search for gold, get caught in pit

According to a legend, some Ottoman treasures were buried in some sites in Southern Israel.

Antiquities robbers caught in southern Israel.

2,700-year-old biblical fortress in Jerusalem undergoes restoration

The citadel might have been part of a network of defensive structures to protect the capital at the time of the Kings of Judah.

 Aerial view of the fortress on the French Hill before restoration.

First archaeological evidence for Crusader camp found in Israel

A team of Israeli archaeological researchers identified a Crusader encampment in the area of the Tzipori Springs in Galilee, the first time that a Crusader encampment was found in the field.

Aerial view of the excavations at Ein Tzipori during the 2012 season. Looking east, with Field I to the left and Field II to the right of Road 79.

Ancient gold coins looted from archaeological sites found in Bnei Brak home

Hundreds of artifacts from the Hasmonean, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic period were saved from an illegal antique dealer.

 Looted gold coins

Excavations by night

Initially, archaeology was only a passion, something Navot Rom studied to fulfill his interests, but he didn’t plan it as a career. 

'At the Via Dolorosa'

Cookware, gold coin shed light on life in Ramat Hasharon 1500 years ago

Archaeologists found ancient artifacts in a salvage excavation prior to the construction of a new neighborhood near Tel Aviv.

 Ancient oil lamps found in the excavation

1,000-year-old chicken egg, one of the oldest ever, found in Israel

Since the shell was slightly cracked, most of its contents leaked out, but part of the yoke was still inside, which will allow further analysis in the future.

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Alla Nagorsky with the egg that was retrieved.

Suspects arrested after destroying antiquities in illegal excavation

The suspects were equipped with manual digging tools and a backhoe and were carrying out destructive and illegal excavations on Khirbat al-Jahush land.

Items discovered during the illegal excavation of Khirbat Jahush.