Israel Antiquities Authority

Israel's antiquities watchdog tracks stolen history from Jerusalem dealers to US museums

Israel’s antiquities watchdog is battling black-market theft, forgery, and a global trade that strips history of its story

Visitors to the Israel Antiquities Authority’s new center in Jerusalem look at items such as jewelery, makeup brushes, and weapons that had been stolen by antiquities thieves.
Multispectral imaging uses different wavelengths of light such as ultraviolet and infrared rays to better decipher faded or damaged writing on ancient manuscripts.

From dust to data: How technology is transforming Israeli archaeology

A Palestinian archaeologist works on a lead sarcophagus discovered in Gaza City in early 2022. A common Israeli claim is that Palestinians have ‘no interest’ in antiquities.

'Heritage as a weapon': How West Bank digs became a tool of dispossession - opinion

As the current war wages, Israelis and Palestinians battle over ancient narratives.

Ancient sites, modern stakes: The fight to own the West Bank's past - from the editor


Solving mystery of Israel's Church of the Holy Sepulchre pillar carvings

While it may at first glance appear to be a bit of Vandal-era vandalism, the apparent graffiti shenanigans was actually a deliberate attempt by the clergy to redeem souls and honor the dead.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City

Israeli archaeologists reveal cache of guns Arabs used against British

The weapons cache, which included the remains of around 100 guns, will be presented at a special conference for police officers and archaeologists.

 Bullets that were among the finds in the Arab militia weapons cache found in Jaffa.

History mystery: Roman-era column base found near Hermon in Israel

The column base is enormous and Israeli archaeologists can already tell that it was something out of the ordinary, but most of the facts remain a mystery.

 A massive Roman-era column base was found near Mount Hermon in northern Israel. What was it used for?

Cache of 44 Byzantine-era solid gold coins uncovered in Israeli nature reserve

The coins are thought to have been buried around the time of the Muslim Conquest of the Levantine Byzantine Empire in 635 AD.

A cache of 44 solid gold coins from the Byzantine-era was discovered in Banias Nature Reserve, October 3, 2022

Hundreds of ancient artifacts seized from home in northern Israel

About 270 ancient artifacts were found in the search, including coins from different periods and figurines of Medusa.

 Ancient artifacts seized from an antiquities dealer in northern Israel, September 2022

Israeli archeologists discover 'once-in-a-lifetime find' of ancient pottery under beach

The burial cave in Israel from the Late Bronze Age, the time of Pharaoh Ramses II – possibly from the story of the Exodus from Egypt - contained dozens of intact objects.

 The vessels from 3,300 years ago discovered at Palmachim Beach.

Prehistoric elephant tusk found in kibbutz in southern Israel

The half-a-million-year-old complete tusk was discovered during a two-week excavation project aptly named "Operation Elephant."

 The elephant tusk found near kibbutz Revadim, Israel's South in August 2022

Biblical Hannah's final resting place possibly found in 1,500-year-old convent

The convent was first discovered by Dr. Uzi Dahari and Dr. Yehiel Zelinger of the Israel Antiquities Authority in the early 2000s, but it was eventually re-buried for its own protection.

 The soldiers and the staff of the Israel Antiquities Authority carrying out the excavation and the conservation.

1,877-year-old bronze Roman coin discovered on Israeli beach

The coin was minted in Alexandria, Egypt, in the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius and contains the image of the Cancer zodiac sign and the moon goddess Luna.

 The 1,850-year-old bronze Roman coin found in Israel's waters is seen being held. It depicts the Cancer zodiac sign and the moon goddess Luna.

Journal receives award for bringing research in Israel to Arabic readers

“We are the bridge that connects between Israel and the Arabic world through archaeology,” Dr. Walid Atrash said.

 Senior IAA archaeologist-researcher Dr. Walid Atrash, editor of the Arabic-language journal "Cornerstone."