More New Discoveries in Israel!

Just in time for Hannukah—last month, the ruins of a fortress, burnt wooden beams, and coins were found in Israel's Lachish forest! 

The fortress was from the Hellenistic period, burned and destroyed by the Hasmoneans. It had 7 rooms and a staircase, and was in the line of defense for the Seleucids. The building's destruction shows that the Hasmonean army was victorious here, and this find further proves the Hannakuh story! Amazing!!

You can read more about it here.

Also, last month, an 11-year-old girl who was volunteering at an archeological site in Jerusalem found a coin made of pure silver dating back to almost 2,000 years!

The coin, discovered by Liel Krutokop as she was sifting dirt from an ancient road that connected the Pool of Siloam to the Temple, has an inscription that dates it to around 68-69 AD, right before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. 

Finding a coin is incredible enough, but this isn't just any coin. It's pure silver, and the inscription on it shows that it was likely minted by an actual priest at the Temple, meaning it is likely "one of the only items we can hold today that originated in the Temple itself," said Dr. Robert Kool, head of the Coin Department of the IAA. 

WOW!!!!

For more about this story, click here!

The newest discoveries in Israel

Did you hear about this?

A 3,100-year-old piece of pottery with an inked inscription was found in July. What's so amazing, other than its age, is what it said: Jerubbaal. This was the alternate name of Gideon (Judges 7). WOW!!!

If that isn't enough, these 2,000-year-old coins were also found: 

Found in the West Bank, one coins date back to the Jewish revolt against the Romans in the 1st century. One coin was from 67 AD, and the second, from 70 years later (2nd century). The second coin, along with broken pottery also found, is from the Bar Kochba revolt. The location of the find is also significant, because it means there was a Jewish settlement in an area previously believed to have been destroyed after the Great Revolt years earlier and not re-settled.

That is SO COOL!!!!