Israel Antiquities Authority

IAA files indictment against two Fureidis residents caught carrying illegally excavated artifacts

Distelfeld and the other officials found a total of 13 ancient bronze coins, three ancient bronze items, two ancient lead items, and another 14 unidentified metal objects in the suspects' possession.

Cave from Lower Paleolithic era found south of Haifa, June 11, 2026.
Man cleaning the Byzantine-era mosaic in Nahariya, taken in 2022; file photo.

Nahariya's Byzantine church hit by Hezbollah rocket reopens to public after four months

A rare Judean Pillar Figurine mold dating to the First Temple period found in the Tower of David, July 27, 2026.

First Temple-era figurine mold unearthed in Jerusalem's 'most significant excavation' in decades

The ancient Cypriot silver coin dating to the mid-5th century BCE found on Ashdod's shore, July 26, 2026.

Ancient Cypriot silver coin found on Ashdod's shore offers new insight into 2,500-year-old trade


Days before Tisha B'Av: Charred wooden beams from First Temple’s destruction unearthed in Jerusalem

The First Temple, built by the biblical King Solomon, was destroyed in 586 BCE at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar II, the second king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. 

The burnt wooden beams discovered in the City of David, July 20, 2026.

Secrets of Huqoq: New Galilee exhibit premieres mosaics, coins found at ancient Jewish settlement

The ruins of the ancient settlement of Huqoq, which reached its peak during the Roman-Byzantine period, sits in the heart of the Amiad Forest in an open space near a spring of the same name.

Samson carrying the gates of Gaza on his shoulders, the original mosaic from Huqoq is on display in the exhibition at the Yigal Allon Center, July 9, 2026.

New AI-powered research project aims to uncover the origins of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Research methods will include state-of-the-art chemical, artificial intelligence, paleographical, and codicological analysis of approximately 250 samples of the scrolls from the IAA's collection.

A fragment of a 2,000-year-old Psalms Scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls collection; illustrative.

WATCH: Two Roman-era statues unearthed during infrastructure dig for Israel Railways near Haifa

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery,” added Oren and Reiss. “It was very unexpected, but somehow, the really big discoveries always turn up on the excavation’s very last day.”

Roman statues uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation, June 15, 2026.

WATCH: A Paleolithic time capsule: Rare prehistoric cave discovered near highway outside of Haifa

The cave dates back to 400,000 and 250,000 years ago, to the time of the Acheulo-Yabrudian culture – a collection of archaeological cultures in the Levant from the end of the Lower Paleolithic era.

Cave from Lower Paleolithic era found south of Haifa, June 11, 2026.

West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill raises international law concerns, legal adviser warns Knesset

The comments came as lawmakers prepared to advance the legislation on West Bank and Gaza antiquities toward final votes in the committee.

View of the ancient archeological site of Sebastia, near the West Bank city of Nablus, May 12, 2025.

Ancient tunnel with unknown age, purpose found near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel ahead of Jerusalem Day

After descending a set of ancient stairs from the surface, archaeologists found themselves standing at the hewn opening of the tunnel, found to be filled with hundreds of years of ancient sewage.

The mysterious, ancient tunnel found near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel on the outskirts of Jerusalem, May 14, 2026.

Heritage Minister taps INEXTG CEO Esther Shreiber for next IAA director, first woman in role

Her appointment will soon be submitted for approval by the IAA’s council and the government. 

INEXTG CEO Esti Shrieber, tapped to be the next director of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

US returns two rare, ancient coins to Israel following joint antiquities theft investigation

One of the coins, depicting the Temple's seven-branched menorah, was minted in Hasmonean-ruled Jerusalem, while the other, the second of its kind ever found, was minted in ancient Ashkelon.

Hasmonean-era coin depicted the seven-branched menorah (L) and silver tetradrachm minted in Ashkelon during the Persian period (R) which were returned to Israel from the United States earlier this week, May 13, 2026.

Knesset advances in first reading bill to form Israeli antiquities authority in West Bank

Should the bill pass, it would shift responsibility currently belonging to the Defense Ministry to the Heritage Ministry.

An Israeli flag is raised on the peak of Mount Sartaba in the Jordan Valley, February 23, 2026.