The pool consists of an underground chamber entered by way of steps. The mikveh received the rainwater from three collecting basins (otzar) that were hewn on the roof of the bath, and the pure water was conveyed onside the chamber through channels. The pool, located in a picturesque valley with ancient agriculture, was uncovered a short distance from houses in the neighbourhood. It conforms to all the Jewish laws and the walls were treated with a special kind of plaster, Storchan stated.

The ritual baths usually consist of a closed cavity that was supplied with rainwater conveyed from a small rock-cut pool located nearby. The complex that was exposed at this site is a more sophisticated and intricate system, apparently associated with a settlement that was situated there in the Second Temple period. Due to the rainfall regime and arid conditions of the region, the inhabitants sought special techniques that would make it possible to store every drop of water. The Israel Antiquities Authority and the Moriah Company involved in the area’s development are “working to make this ancient treasure a site for the benefit of the residents and visitors,” according to the IAA.

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The well was connected to an ancient farming settlement whereby the inhabitants used it for their subsistence and living. The upper part of the well was built of stones and its lower part was hewn in the bedrock. Numerous artefacts were recovered from inside the well indicating the identity of the people who quarried it, were the first farmers of the Jezreel Valley. The artefacts discovered included,deeply denticulated sickle blades knapped from flint which were used for harvesting, as well as arrow heads and stone implements. Excavation of the well shaft yielded animal bones, organic finds and charcoal, which will enable future studies about domestication of plants and animals and also allow researchers to determine the exact age of the well.

Yotam Tepper, IAA excavation director stated,”What is clear is that after these unknown individuals fell into the well it was no longer used for the simple reason that the well water was contaminated and was no longer potable.” The excavation was directed by the Israel Antiquities Authority prior to enlarging the Yogev Junction by the National Roads Authority. It will be conserved and displayed to the public.

The two oldest wells in the world were previously exposed in Cyprus, according to Dr. Omri Barzilai, head of the IAA Prehistory Branch.

The pharaohs of this dynasty ruled for approximately 150 years. The Horus names and names of the Queens are taken from Dodson and Hilton. Manetho writes that the Dynasty V kings ruled from Elephantine, but archaeologists have found evidence clearly showing that their palaces were still located at Ineb-hedj (“White Walls”).

Egyptian Pharaonic Princess Tomb Discovered

Expeditions were sent to Wadi Maghara and Wadi Kharit in the Sinai to mine for turquoise and copper, and to quarries northwest of Abu Simbel for gneiss. Trade expeditions were sent south to Punt to obtain malachite, myrrh, and electrum, and archaeological finds at Byblos attest to diplomatic expeditions sent to that Phoenician city. Finds bearing the names of a several Dynasty V kings at the site of Dorak, near the Sea of Marmara, may be evidence of trade but remain a mystery.

How Pharaoh Userkaf founded this dynasty is not known for certain. The Papyrus Westcar, which was written during the Middle Kingdom, tells a story of how king Khufu of Dynasty IV was given a prophecy that triplets born to the wife of the priest of Ra in Sakhbu would overthrow him and his heirs, and how he attempted to put these children – named Userkaf, Sahure, and Neferirkare – to death; however in recent years, scholars have recognized this story to be at best a legend, and admit their ignorance over how the transition from one dynasty to another transpired.

During this dynasty, Egyptian religion made several important changes. The earliest known copies of funerary prayers inscribed on royal tombs (known as the Pyramid Texts) appear. The cult of the god Ra gains added importance, and kings from Userkaf through Menkauhor Kaiu built temples dedicated to Ra at or near Abusir. Then late in this dynasty, the cult of Osiris assumes importance, most notably in the inscriptions found in the tomb of Unas.

Ancient Wine Presses Discovered In Jerusalem

When a dog fell into a hole and had to be rescued, this led to more holes in the vicinity and a major archaeological discovery in Jerusalem. Among the discoveries at the location are wine presses from the days of the First Temple, as well as pottery shards and two bronze coins from the Second Temple period. Massive digging at the location has been carried out by the authorities with the participation of local residents and school children.

A full reconstruction of the wine presses is planned, under the supervision of renowned archaeologist Amichai Mazar.

String of colored beads (Photo: Clara Amit, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

The barter that transpired at the time is attested to by thin sharp blades made of obsidian, a volcanic stone that is not indigenous to the region and the closest source is in Turkey. These items constituted part of the network of trade that stretched over thousands of kilometers in such an ancient period. Among the special finds that were uncovered in the excavation is a group of small stone bowls that were made with amazing delicacy. One of them was discovered containing more than 200 black, white and red stone beads. Other important artifacts are clay figurines of animals that illustrate the importance of animal breeding in those cultures. The most important finds are stone seals or amulets bearing geometric motifs and stone plaques and decorated bone objects.

Israel Antiquities Authority excavation directors Dr. Ianir Milevski and Nimrod Getzov stated, “The excavation revealed remains of an extensive settlement from the end of the Neolithic period and beginning of the Chalcolithic period in the country belonging to the ‘Wadi Rabah’ culture. “The presence of remains from the Wadi Rabah culture in most of our excavation areas and in surveys that were performed elsewhere at the site shows that Ein Zippori is an enormous site that stretched across c. 200 dunams. It turns out that this antiquities site is one of the largest, if not the largest, in the country where there are remains of this culture. “The architecture is rectangular and the floors were made of crushed chalk or very small stones. The foundations were made of stone and the walls above them were built of mud bricks”.

Site of 1,500-year-old Jewish town - Israel news photo courtesy of Nir Shimshon Faran (IAA)

The Jewish village which was quite large, was located approximately 8 kilometers (3 miles) from another Byzantine-era synagogue, at Hurvat Rimon. It apparently was abandoned at the same time of the Islamic conquest at the end of the sixth or beginning of the seventh century. Another synagogue from the same era is located several miles east at Susiya, whose ancient community also was inexplicably abandoned.

Israel Antiquities Authority officials stated the remains were found during excavation work in extending the southern leg of Israel’s north-south super highway, Kvish 6, (Highway 6) to the Lehavim junction, located five miles north of the “capital of the Negev.” The discovery along the route of Kvish 6 follows several other finds since construction started on the highway several years ago.

Stone age figurine found near Jerusalem highway (Yael Yolovitch courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

The first figurine, in the shape of a ram with twisted horns, was fashioned from limestone and is approximately 15 cm (6 inches) in size. The sculpting precisely depicts details of the animal’s image in which the head and the horns protrude in front of the body and their proportions are extremely accurate. The body was made smooth and the legs of the figurine were incised in order to distinguish them from the rest of the body. The second figurine which was fashioned on hard smoothed dolomite is an abstract design but appears to depict a large animal with prominent horns that separate the elongated body from the head. The horns emerge from the middle of the head sideward and resemble those of a wild bovine or buffalo.

During the New Stone Age period, “Transition began from nomadism, based on hunting and gathering, to sedentary life, based on farming and grazing,” Dr. Khalaily stated. “It was at this time that mankind began to inhabit permanent settlements and started building settlements that extended across a large area. “In several sites that were exposed in our region remains were discovered indicating preliminary architectural planning of those same settlements and complex engineering capabilities including the construction of two story houses.” “The discovery reveals the religious life and beliefs of Neolithic society”. “It is known that hunting was the major activity in this period.” “Presumably, the figurines served as good-luck statues for ensuring the success of the hunt and might have been the focus of a traditional ceremony the hunters performed before going out into the field to pursue their prey.”

Another theory presented by archaeologist Eirikh links the figurines from Motza to the process of animal domestication, such as the wild bovine and different species of wild goat.

Gravestone or carving of man

Site Where Carving Found

Archeologist Dr. Michael Eisenberg explained that the “Susita man” rock was found in the course of a pre-season dig at the site of a small fortress guarding the main entrance to the road that led up to Susita. Eisenberg believes that the carved rock was removed from its original location at a cemetery where it had served as a gravestone and was used to build the fortress. “This is a simple work of art by a folk artist that fits the late Roman period around the 3rd century CE.,” he stated. “The portrait of the first Susita resident in our hands and we hope to be able to decipher his name soon, too,” referring to the Greek letters that were engraved next to the portrait. Archeologists also found what was likely the town’s garbage dump, which will determine how the residents’ lived day-to-day lives and their diet.

Pottery

Excavation Site

Ancient Olive Press

Excavation team leader Durar Masarwa stated, “We discovered the surface on which olive oil was extracted as well as a network of pipes, canals and holes that drained the liquid oil.” Amit Re’em, Central District Archeologist at the IAA, stated “we were surprised to discover that the olive press system had been carved into huge building slabs that were sunk into the ground.” “This is a rare type of olive press, because usually olive presses were made directly on the bedrock. It seems that, because the soil in the Hod HaSharon area is soft hamra ground and the building had to have a solid base, they took an unusual step and brought hewn rock and heavy stone sheeting upon which they built the olive press.”