Historical Discovery: 3000-year-old ancient jewelry found near Megiddo, Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel (Sat, May 26) – Archaeologists have discovered a very rare trove of ancient jewelry near the ancient city of Megiddo in Northern Israel. The historical discovery will offer a rare glimpse into ancient Canaanite high society, said Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University, who co-directed the dig.

Historical Discovery: 3000-year-old ancient jewelry found near Megiddo, Israel

According to details; the 3000-year-old jewelry - including a ring, beads and earrings hidden in ceramic pot – was found during the excavations in 2010, but the pot containing the jewelry was left in a laboratory for molecular analysis of the things inside it.

The pot was cleaned up recently to find the real discovery inside it, the antique jewelry dating to around 1100 B.C., which is believed to be owned by a Canaanite family most probably from the ruling elite.

Tel Aviv University called the discovery "among the most valuable ever found from the Biblical period," adding that one piece in particular, a gold earring decorated with molded ibexes, or wild goats, is "without parallel."

Finkelstein said the jewelry likely belonged to a Canaanite family.

"We can guess that it was a rich family, probably belonging to the ruling elite," he said.

Aren Maeir, an archaeologist at Bar Ilan University, said that because the raw materials used come are not from the area, the find "tells us about international relations ... and about technical traditions used at the time."

Megiddo was an important trade center in ancient times. According to the New Testament, Megiddo will be the site of the final apocalyptic battle between good and evil.

Report Tags: Ancient Jewelry, Megiddo, 3000-year-old Jewelry, Israel Finkelstein, Tel Aviv University, Israel, 1100B.C. Jewelry, Canaanite family, Historical discovery