Israel Antiquities Authority

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

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

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

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

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

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


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.

IAA discovers rare 6,000-year-old elephant ivory vessel near Beersheba

The discovery provides evidence of ties between this region and Egypt in the Chalcolithic period.

 The rare, recently discovered ivory vessel

Israel Police look for weapons, find trove of unregistered antiquities in North

"It deserves to be in the right hands, presented to the whole public, and not be the private property of one criminal or another," Inspector Nidal Abdelhalim said.

 Antiquities recovered from a weapons search on a suspect in Israel's North, March 28, 2024.

Roman soldiers' 1,600-year-old oil lamp found by high schooler in Israel

The lamp Yonatan found is identical to one discovered in the same place 90 years ago by the late Reform rabbi and archaeologist Dr. Nelson Glueck.

 Yonatan Frankel and the lamp that he found.

Ancient agricultural settlement unearthed in Israel sheds light on human evolution

This agricultural settlement reached its zenith in the Early Bronze Age, roughly 5,000 years ago.

 Benjamin Storchan holding findings from the escavation.

IDF reservist finds ancient Assyrian seal amulet while hiking in Israel

Erez Abrahamov found the amulet, with a dung beetle image, on a hike in the Lower Galilee.

 Erez Abrahamov with his find.

Rare 2,550-year-old silver coin from Persian era uncovered in Jerusalem area

Dr. Robert Kool: “The rare find contributes information concerning the way trade was carried out."

 The rare coin, providing evidence for the development of commerce.

Reservists find perfectly preserved, 1,500-year-old oil lamp

Reservists discover a perfectly-preserved, 1,500-year-old pottery oil candle in IDF staging area.

 "It was covered in mud, I cleaned it and called the Antiquities Authority," soldiers said of their  

Oldest ceramic rooftiles ever found in the Land of Israel

Ceramic tiles brought here at the time of the Greek Seleucid king Antiochus IV – of the Hanukkah story – have been discovered in the City of David.

 Giv‘ati Parking Lot Excavations at the City of David.

Israel's museums enact war protocol to protect most precious treasures

"You really have to choose the finest or the most fragile artifacts," a museum worker said.

 The Hall of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum, on May 2, 2018