Near Kiryat Gat, a city in the Southern District of Israel, archaeologists excavated a small hoard of gold and silver coins and jewelry. On top of that, they think they know the story behind it as well.
During their excavation, the archaeologists were working in an ancient building dating back to the Roman and Byzantine period. It was there that they discovered the treasure hidden in a pit located in the building’s courtyard. The treasure was mostly gold and silver coins (140 coins total), which acted as the main clue to the origins of the treasure.
First-off, the coins were clearly from the Roman Empire – depicting various Roman emperors. By matching the emperors on the coins with their known times of rule, archaeologists could narrow down the time the treasure was likely buried – around 130 AD or so. During those years, there was a significant historical event going on in the area: the Bar Kokhba Revolt.
The Bar Kokhba Revolt was one of the last major Jewish/Roman wars – the fallout and aftermath of which was a major factor in differentiating the Jewish and Christian faiths. Fearing the march of war, the hoard was likely hidden by a wealthy woman (a man of the time would have hidden only coins, not coins and jewelry) who never reclaimed it. Now, those treasures provide a valuable insight into ancient history.
