Intact Jars Retrieved from a Cave in the Galilee
In a complex operation that involved the ICRC, the Cave Enthusiasts Club, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the IDF. Two large intact wine jars (amphorae), a bowl, a cooking pot, two juglets, and fragments of several other jars were retrieved from a cave in the Galilee. The cave was discovered as part of a survey led by Dr. Yinon Shivtiel of the ICRC in the area. The cave was discovered several months ago and was even mapped by Yuval Sobolev and Reuven Zakai of the ICRC team, but the retrieval of the jars was carried out only after an excavation permit was obtained for the cave. The excavation was led by Dr. Danny Syon of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The teams that came to collect the finds set up a complex rope route that led to the cave entrance. Only after the cave was documented in a detailed report and a series of photographs. The work of retrieving the finds began. The finds were placed in sacks and lowered from a height of 30 meters to the ground team, which gathered them in a safe corner. After the cave had been emptied of all the finds they were carefully carried on backpacks to a vehicle waiting outside.
Dr. Danny Syon of the Israel Antiquities Authority said: "On a preliminary examination, it appears that the finds date to the Hellenistic period - between the 3rd century and the 1st century BCE. Because these are cooking vessels - pots, plates and more - it seems that those who brought the vessels to the cave intended to live in it for a long time. We assume that those who hid here fled from a violent event that passed over the area."
Dr. Syon added: "We will study the vessels in order to date them, and thus we may be able to link the vessels to historical events known to us. It is intriguing how the vessels were brought into the cave, to which access is complicated and extremely difficult. It is possible that access there was once easier, and disappeared over the years."
Dr. Yinon Shivtiel of Zefat Academic College added: "Rescuing the ancient finds from the cave was the most complex operation I have taken part in so far, as part of the refuge-cave survey that I have been conducting in the Galilee for 20 years. The cooperation between Zefat Academic College, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the ICRC team once again proved itself in the best possible way."
