UNESCO NAMES NAHAL ME'AROT CAVES TO LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN ISRAEL
UNESCO named the Nahal Me'arot caves in northern Israel as a new World Heritage Site this month, the seventh tourism site in Israel to be to added to the prestigious list. Located on the western slope of northern Israel's Carmel Mountain range, the series of four caves--Tabun, Jamal, el-Wad and Skhul--was defined by UNESCO as a "key site" that illustrates a fascinating link in human evolution. The 22-acre Nahal Me'arot caves contain artifacts spanning more than 500,000 years of history, including early stone architecture and ancient burial sites, and provides evidence of the existence of Neanderthals and "early
anatomically modern humans" in the region.
WWI-ERA BUNKER DISCOVERED NEAR THE DEAD SEA
A WWI-era bunker was recently discovered near the Dead Sea in Israel. The ancient German bunker included ancient walkie-talkies and artillery preserved in near perfect condition thanks to the high salt content in the water. The bunker is believed to have belonged to a regiment from the Imperial German army which was stationed in the northern Dead Sea region during World War I.
MASSIVE ROMAN-PERIOD SYNOGOGUE UNEARTHED IN THE GALILEE
A massive synagogue from the Roman period was recently exposed during excavations at Huqoq in the Galilee region in northern Israel. Discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the synagogue boasts a unique mosaic made of tiny colored stone cubes including a depiction of the biblical story of Samson placing torches between the tails of foxes.
TROVE OF 100 GOLD COINS DISCOVERED AT APOLLONIA NATIONAL PARK NEAR TEL AVIV
A trove of 100 Crusader-era golden coins was discovered last month in Israel's Apollonia National park near Tel Aviv. The coins bear the names of local sultans and religious blessings and is part of one of the largest collection of gold coins discovered in a Medieval site in Israel. The coins are believed to be from the Fatimid Empire between the 10th and 11th centuries.
2,300-YEAR-OLD PORT DISCOVERED IN ACRE
Archeologists in Israel have recently discovered a 2,300-year-old port dating back to the Hellenistic period in the northern seaside city of Acre. The port is believed to have been the most important of its kind in Israel during its days of operation. The port boasts Phoenician-style architecture and includes massive mooring rocks, as well as pottery from the Aegean islands.
REMNANTS OF 3,400-YEAR-OLD WHEAT DISCOVERED IN TEL HAZOR
14 clay jugs containing seeds of 3,400-year-old burnt wheat were discovered in a large storage room in Tel Hazor in Israel's Upper Galilee region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tel Hazor has revealed various archeological gems in the past few years, including a monumental structure believed to have been the royal castle of Hazor from the Canaanite period.
SMALL STONE SEAL EXCAVATED IN TEL BEIT SHEMESH NEAR JERUSALEM
A .6-inch stone seal was discovered this week during excavations at Tel Beit Shemeseh near Jerusalem. The seal depicts a large animal annex to a human figure and is part of an excavation which dates back to the 11th century BCE.
Geoffrey Weill Associates Informational material is disseminated on behalf of
the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Additional information available at the
Department of Justice.