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


Girl finds 3,500-year-old Egyptian scarab amulet during family trip in Hod Hasharon

After looking online, the family realized the importance of the object and contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority.

 The scorpionis also the symbol of the Egyptian goddess Serket.

Anatolia's gladiators: Ancient stelae offer new insights into their complex lives

Grave stelae found in the provinces of Anatolia are a main source of information about Roman gladiators.

Artwork showing gladiators riding on elephants and horses in a a Roman amphitheatre. A print by Professor Wagner.

Recent excavations reveal King Sennacherib's military impact on the economy of the Kingdom of Judah

Excavations in Jerusalem revealed that Sennacherib’s 701 BCE military campaign impacted Judah's economy, uncovering administrative changes under King Hezekiah.

 The Judahite stamp impressions are being displayed to the public for the first time at at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel.

Gods and monsters: Ancient Greek wall paintings in Ashkelon to be made accessible to public

The paintings depict Greek mythological characters such as Demeter, Medusa, and nymphs and include floral decorations and images relating to nature. 

Demeter,  Greek mythology goddess, appears on the ceiling of the vaulted structure.

Newly discovered biblical moat in Jerusalem reveals city's ancient fortifications

A 3,500-year-old trench found in Jerusalem's City of David reveals the city's northern fortification, resolving a 150-year-old debate.

 Prof. Yuval Gadot of the Tel Aviv University next to the northern side of the moat which protected Jerusalem, and alongside him carved bedrock channels.

Rediscovering ancient luxury: A 3,800-year-old scarlet textile unveiled in the Judean desert

Scarlet, alongside royal blue (Tekhelet) and purple (Argaman), was revered in the ancient world for its rarity and expense.

 A fragment of the rare 3,800-year-old textile, dyed with the Kermes vermilio.

Phylacteries were not colored black 2,000 years ago, new study reveals

Tefillin are small leather cases containing miniscule parchment scrolls inscribed with biblical verses. They are worn even today by observant Jews as part of their morning prayers.

 Tefillin from about 2,000 years ago in the laboratories of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

When Britain’s King George V ‘met’ the founder of its most famous beer, on walls in Jerusalem

These walls continue to talk to us and reveal Jerusalem’s history."

 Shai Halevy and Michael Chernin of the Israel Antiquities Authority during the research on the coats of arms.

Volunteer discovers ancient decorated bowl at Israeli dig

Meir Elchassid, a volunteer from Rehovot, Israel, stumbled upon the ancient glazed bowl during a communal archaeological dig to uncover historical artifacts.

 The decorated bowl dating back to the Abbasid period in Khirbet Hevra.

Bone gaming die uncovered in the City of David

Dice are the oldest gaming implement known to man. Six-sided die, as the one uncovered in the City of David, dates back to about 2000 BCE

13th century era die unearthed in City of David National Park.