A rare cache of weapons from the Roman period found stashed away in a cave in the Judean Desert
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2023
- A sensational find in the Judean Desert: a cache of four 1,900-year-old, excellently preserved Roman swords and a shafted weapon were discovered in a crevice in a cave in the ‘En Gedi Nature Reserve. It appears that the weapons were hidden by the Judean rebels, after they were seized from the Roman army as booty. “Finding a single sword is rare-so four? It’s a dream! We rubbed our eyes to believe it,” say the researchers.
The rare weapons were exhibited for the first time in the press conference that took place this morning, with Eli Escusido, the Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority and the researchers. This conference is part of the launching of the book ‘New Studies in the Archaeology of the Judean Desert: Collected Papers’, devoted to new archaeological finds discovered in the Judean Desert Survey Project.
The weapons were discovered in a small hidden cave located in an area of isolated and inaccessible cliffs north of ‘En Gedi, in the Judean Desert Nature Reserve, under the jurisdiction of the National Parks Authority. Fifty years ago, a stalactite with a fragmentary ink inscription written in ancient Hebrew script characteristic of the First Temple period, was found.
Recently, Dr. Asaf Gayer of the Department of the Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Ariel University, geologist Boaz Langford of the Institute of Earth Sciences and the Cave Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Shai Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority photographer, visited the cave. Their aim was to photograph the Paleo-Hebrew inscription written on the stalactite with multispectral photography While on the upper level of the cave, Asaf Gayer spotted an extremely well-preserved, Roman pilum- a shafted weapon in a deep narrow crevice. He also found pieces of worked wood in an adjacent niche that turned out to be parts of the swords’ scabbards.
The researchers reported the discovery to the Israel Antiquities Authority Archaeological Survey Team, who are conducting a systematic scientific project in the Judean Desert caves. As part of this survey, initiated by the Israel Antiquities Authority, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and the Archaeological Office for the Military Administration of Judea and Samaria, hundreds of caves have been investigated over the past six years, and 24 archaeological excavations have been carried out in selected caves, with the aim of saving the archaeological remains from the hands of looters.
The Judean Desert Cave Survey team, together with Asaf Gayer and Boaz Langford returned to the cave and carried out a meticulous survey of all the crevices in the rock, in the course of which they were astonished to find the four Roman swords in an almost inaccessible crevice on the upper level of the cave. The swords were exceptionally well preserved, and three were found with the iron blade inside the wooden scabbards. Leather strips and wooden and metal finds belonging to the weapons were also found in the crevice. The swords had well-fashioned handles made of wood or metal. The length of the blades of three swords was 60-65 cm, their dimensions identifying them as Roman spatha swords, and the fourth one was shorter with c. 45 cm long blade, identified as a ring-pommel sword. The swords were carefully removed from the crevice in the rock and transferred to the Israel Antiquities Authority climate-controlled laboratories for preservation and conservation. The initial examination of the assemblage confirmed that these were standard swords employed by the Roman soldiers stationed in Judea in the Roman period.
“The hiding of the swords and the pilum in deep cracks in the isolated cave north of ‘En Gedi, hints that the weapons were taken as booty from Roman soldiers or from the battlefield, and purposely hidden by the Judean rebels for reuse,” says Dr. Eitan Klein, one of the directors of the Judean Desert Survey Project. “Obviously, the rebels did not want to be caught by the Roman authorities carrying these weapons. We are just beginning the research on the cave and the weapon cache discovered in it, aiming to try to find out who owned the swords, and where, when, and by whom they were manufactured. We will try to pinpoint the historical event that led to the caching of these weapons in the cave and determine whether it was at the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 132-135 CE.”
Following the discovery of the swords, an archaeological excavation was undertaken in the cave by the Israel Antiquities Authority, directed by Eitan Klein, Oriya Amichay, Hagay Hamer, and Amir Ganor. The cave was excavated in its entirety, and artifacts dating to the Chalcolithic period (c. 6,000 years ago) and the Roman period (c. 2,000 years ago) were uncovered. At the entrance to the cave, a Bar-Kokhba bronze coin from the time of the Revolt was found, possibly pointing to the time when the cave served for concealing the weapons. 
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1,900 years. They just sat there as history unfolded and the people that placed them there lived their lives and were forgotten. Pretty incredible.
I don’t think it would be unreasonable to assume that whoever (likely Jewish rebels) stashed those weapons there was either captured or died shortly after doing so. Otherwise they likely would have gone back to retrieve them. Who’s knows for sure tho.
@@seanharris8419 Well, ultimately the Bar Kochba rebellion failed after 4 years, so if the swords were indeed related to it, it's not a secret what happened to whoever stashed them. It was the last war between the Romans and the Jews, and the Romans won...
@@alimanski7941 I agree. That’s what I was implying.
@@seanharris8419😊😊😊😊😮😮😮
@@seanharris84192:22
so well-preserved. fascinating to think someone held them 1,900 years ago. I love history
Exactly what I thought. These items were carefully hidden by someone 1,900 years ago, and they sit exactly as he left them. The archeologists are taking a handoff from across time.
Me too.
@@MrJeffcoley1well said:) handoff across time
Didn't General Patton or some other smart fellow say ??? *COMPARED TO WAR ALL OTHER FORMS OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR FADE TO INSIGNIFICANCE.* Weapons are evidence of the human desire for war. Or rebellion. Call it what you will. Yes i love history that shows our true nature . . . BEASTS.
The people that held them murdered many multiples of people. The murdered might not love history as much as you.
Wow. Their pure joy is evident. Kids in a sweet shop. What an achievement in your lives. I love archaeology.
Agreed!
Would be cool to hear the whole story of how the Israel Antiquities Authority made the discovery
Achievement…
?
@@astropioneer3296 Oh yeah huh? Probably will never be told that though.
Intact spatha not destroyed by corosion. What an amazing find. Sword experts the world over will find this an exciting time
I thought spatha were much later than gladius type swords.
Spatha and gladius styles swords were around at the same time. Spatha were used by cavalry more than infantry. They switched to spatha in the infantry towards the later end of the roman empire
I'm off to r/swords to witness wide eyed nerd joy!
Those are gladius. People think gladius were always very short but they vary in sizes.
In the original article in the news where i was directed here to it said they were spatha. Could i query then with you when it stops being a gladius and becomes a spatha. As far as my knowledge goes the length is the factor
Incredable. After a failed revolt a captured Roman sword is something to definitely NOT be caught with.
That person would certainly become a very visable example of punishment.
Right, like Jesus Himself!
jsus WHO? Jsus is irrelevant! If you're referring to the fact that he was an insurrectionist against the Roman Empire, then yes, but that was all, nothing more, nothing less.@@ElektriKfaUN
@@ElektriKfaUNa Jew Jesus???
Do you want to pick a fight with the God of Israel???
@@fernandosuba9163 You really don't need to tell everyone you are ignorant.
He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.
Nearly 2 millennia have passed and the weapons held up damn well! Oh how I love history ⚔️
Whoever hid them there did a pretty good job hiding them.
A Roman Sword ! , a weapon , most people recognise from movies ,
But this real one from 1900 years ago , and exactly how you would imagine a Roman Sword to look like
Its like confirmation of a lifelong held belief ,
Utterly incedible to behold
there are roman swords already + art thats why they exactly like the movies
Well said .
Well, there are others. That's how we know what they look like.
What an incredible find. I can’t wait to see them cleaned and restored to museum level. Really looking forward to seeing this.
Curious as to what you mean by 'museum level'... I hope (and suspect) that they will do absolutely nothing to the artifacts themselves apart from take a few small samples for testing before putting them in a climate controlled space to preserve them. Interventive conservation has been falling out of favour for decades. It is too easy to accidentally do something that ends up doing more harm than good to an artifact. There is the possibility of removing something that may prove to be valuable in the future with tests that we haven't invented yet, contamination by modern materials, or the curator just getting something wrong. Museums are full of disaster 'restorations' by well meaning but mistaken curators and archeologists.
@@imperialus1 I mean just cleaning the dust off them. I don’t mean polish. I museum curator won’t destroy the patena but will remove the dust as any Egyptologist will do with their brushes with artefacts. There could be words under that dust.
@@imperialus1. Most of what you are saying is correct, but in this case, no. The swords can be restored somewhat without degrading them. The scabbards will be the most difficult restoration and probably better left alone.
@@1BobsYourUncle that exactly what I’m getting at. The idea is to see the sword as they were found so just removing the dust and debris is the correct way. Restoring or removing metal from any ancient sword is a crime I think.
@@Biketunerfy Nah, people want to see what a sword looked like when it was in good shape, we can find rusty metal anywhere.
Fascinating - the Judean Desert has been the source of some amazing archaeology, not least the Dead Sea scrolls of course! Anyone visiting this part of the world should make the effort to visit Masada, which is one of the most extraordinary and evocative historical sites I've ever been to.
It makes sense when you think of the environmental conditions. The stuff that blows my mind are things like the Vindolanda tablets. (Those are thin leaves of wood with writing in ink, found at Vindolanda, just south of Hadrian's Wall, utterly mindblowing that they survived. They are personal letters written by soldiers stationed there as well as official documents... far far far more interesting than any arms or armor)
Don't get me wrong. It is all awesome. It is just that I expect deserts to preserve things far better than many other environments.
Just got back on Wednesday and it truly an amazing two weeks in Israel and Jordan. We especially enjoyed the Dead Sea, Masada, Wadi Muse, Bethlehem and Petra.
I was Blessed to have visited Israel in November of 2016, the first place we stopped after leaving the Airport in Tela viv was Caesarea Maritime, the large arena there, sat at the top of of the arena and read Scripture then we walked around took photos, then later in the week we toured the site at Masada. Every place we toured was absolutely Awesome.
Your so lucky ! Its my dream to go there now. Because all my last dreams were just rock concerts and that life did a number on my its no joke. I once had enuff money to go but because of the attacks on Israel back in early 2000's my parents open heartly convisned me to stay and go another time when I was older. Did the romons really build a wall all around Mesada ? Thats crazzy .. how they filled in that vally with rocks to make way for there seige towers ? I wonder how they did it . God bless Israel
What an awesome find! It's incredibly lucky to find them in such a great state of preservation!
Amazing find for Israel and the world, Mazel Tov!
When I see such findings, I remember the Life of Brian.
Congratulations on a wonderful find! You all look visibly happy and excited as one should be 👏
Beautiful! I hope it starts a pattern of finding even more stashed artifacts in the surrounding caves!
Wow truly amazing! Just imagine a man frantically stashing them swords 2000 yrs ago and to look at each sword and imagine the amount of blood those swords once had on them. Amazing
Why would you imagine "the amount of blood"?
@@thebell313 um because it’s an imaginary way to remember and respect the vicious and unimaginable times these people lived in duhhh
Them swords could of fought all over the Roman Empire. From Britannia to Gaul (Germany) and the Middle East to the Mediterranean. Just imagine if they could tell us their story.
@@thebell313Thats how swords kill people.
@thebell313 He's curious as to what this weapon could possibly have seen, and to refer to blood is to refer to the weapons job to you know draw blood.
Those swords sat there for 1900 years, just waiting to be discovered....pretty amazing
No they are inanimate objects . They do not have an abilty to "wait"
Sobering thought that the ones who made this cache never retrieved it. They died fighting the invaders.
The Romans occupied Israel from 63 BC to approximately 350 AD.
This is an impressive find, especially considering it is at least 1600 years old.
Owned, not occupied. Also it was Syria-Palestina after the revolt of the false messiah.
Don't care what terms you use, but the Roman period extended in to the 7th Century. Basically, the Muslims took it from the Christians.
@@Non-nt5lnIt was always Israel and will always be Israel.
I love how excited these people are- it is great to see their responses. Very cool find. How does one find the book that they released?
I'm also wondering!
@@Shoshi2048 Un catalogue comme ceux qui sont édités dans les musées, lors des expositions, et qui expliquent la provenance de l'objet avec souvent de trés belles photos.
@@patricebratanoff6038 In order to find the book that the Israel Antiquities Authority was speaking about on this article/video, please see the description box under the video. Here you will find more detail regarding this archeological discovery.
AS QUOTED FROM ABOVE…… “The rare weapons were exhibited for the first time in the press conference that took place this morning, with Eli Escusido, the Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority and the researchers. This conference is part of the launching of the book ‘New Studies in the Archaeology of the Judean Desert: Collected Papers’, devoted to new archaeological finds discovered in the Judean Desert Survey Project.”
If you read what I wrote, the book is “launching,” more than likely it has not been published and is still a work in progress, but you’ll have to research this out yourself if you or others are interested.
Not just "these people", but MY people discovering swords used by our ancestors in the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans!🇮🇱
That is incredible!! Woo good job people!! (Plus - that's mental how they are so unfazed by being so close to the edge of that cliff!!)
A friend still makes these as high dollar reproductions using quality materials. Fully functional, too. Recently completed one with silver covered hilt & embossed sheath.
These arent reproductions though. They are real
@@travisgoesthere Have they been tested already, to date them?
Honestly with that one mostly intact sword, you probably could clean it up, rehilt it, and have a perfectly functional weapon.
Amazing discovery! But there must be tragic stories behind it that we'd never know. No warrior likes to abandon or hide one's weapon away and become unarmed civilians who may be subject to enemies' brutality at any time. Considering these swords were hidden there for the millennials, the most reasonable explanation is that whoever hid them perished without a chance to retrieve the swords to fight another day as they planned.
That's what I was thinking. Whoever hid them there did no live to retrieve them-- and thus, they were lost to time (until now).
The region was under Roman control for quite a long time.
Super congratulations to the archeologists of thew Israeli Antiquities Authority who found these amazing Roman swords! 👏
That is absolutely brilliant. Kudos to these people that take the time to give us all these amazing insights into the past.
happy to see so many people involved in this that got to share in the thrill of discovery, which will inspire many more people to value this work.
I read a small article a week or so ago. It is great to see video of the actual find. Incredible.
Astounding and outstanding.
Good on you all.
Thank you for bringing our history to life.
Wow! Thanks for documenting this extraordinary find.
O😮😮😮 I literally am watching in awe. Incredible. I can't imagine how it must have felt to have been there and actually touch one of the swords. The edge of that one sword looked sharp still. Awesome.
Amazing! There’s been millions of people all over that part of the world for centuries and they’re still finding stuff!
This is amazing! Thank you too, for putting English sub titles. Toda Raba!
Imagine the souls who put them there….never to return.
Then being told 1900 years later (now in the afterlife) that yo, the swards you hid in the live cave hole just made some archeologists very excited back on earth!
I can imagine both the souls who hid them, and the original owners of them are curiously looking down from the clouds, seeing what they look like now!
Possibly even the Popular Front of Judea , i can just imagine them sitting in that cave arguing > Yea what has the Romans ever done for us ?
What an amazing discovery!
Well done! Nice to see some amazing good news for a change!
Amazing find, Congratulations!!
Terrific news and fascinating 👏. Thank you for your hard work. Keep it coming. We look forward to your newest finds.
Well done to the archaeologists on their find and thanks for sharing this…..can’t wait for the book to come out
That’s an incredible find….
i hope they can do some dendrochronology on the wood and find where and when they were made.
I hope they find even more things to find. 😎👍
Hmm
What a spectacular find! Makes you wonder what else is out there!
Just think there’s always more to be discovered ❤
It would be a good idea to manufacture a few exact museum quality replicas so that people could hold them, to help understand what they are, and how they were used.
Thank you for sharing this historical treasure
Impressive to see a shine on it still, oxidation has taken many treasures from us. Be curious to see what the tests reveal.🤔
Wow, amazing and with all parts. Congrats, to the team.
I want these swords to be real, but my inner skeptic tells me to be cautious until a full analysis has been done. After all, there are ways to artificially age or repurpose materials to trick even a trained eye. After all, anything an ancient sword expert can learn about certain artifacts, so can a forger. And it wouldn't be the first time. Recall the story of the so-called "Persian Princess" who was alleged to have been a 2600 year old daughter of king Xerxes, and looked quite authentic at a first glance. Subsequent investigations revealed the body to be thoroughly modern, and possibly (horrifically) a murder victim.
And there's also the very convincing-looking "Amarna Princess" statue, which was made by infamous forger Shaun Greenhalgh.
And there are many other examples. Does that mean these swords are fake or were found elsewhere separately and relocated to one site for reasons unknown? No. But it's also a possibility. "Too good to be true" sometimes applies. If these are authentic, and I hope more than anything that they are, then it is a rich and wonderful find for Israel and the world. But if they are fake or somehow inauthentic, then we have a very interesting mystery on out hands. Either way, I believe it's the job of the archaeologists and scientists to figure it out.
Has the organic material been carbon dated? Is the wood from a timber that would have been local to the area? What does the metallurgy of the steel reveal? Does the steel contain any isotopes, peculiar impurities or anomalies that point to the source of the ore? Has the steel been examined under a microscope and compared with similar blades? What kind of debris was found with the cache? Are there any nicks or dings that suggest battle damage, or if the organic material is well preserved, could there even be traces of blood?
I want to know!
Relax
@@spurgear I'd rather keep my passion for truth and history intact and energized, thank you.
they do it all the time in His Whale
In all honesty you may have a point the blades look really thin they don't look like real swords they look like decorative wall hangers
The wood doesn’t have to be local to that area for it to be authentic. That sword could’ve traveled the world for all we know. But ur not wrong to question everything.
Still deadly in the right hands. The 100 AD version of the AK-47. Nothing ever changes.
Proving Swords dont go obsolete...
They are cutting edge technology.
Fascinating. The history of this area is incredible with loads more still to discover.
Fantastic discovery and something that will excite the historians and many others. Well done!
My heart make a little jump with their joy🎉 😂 man.. amazing ❤
wow just wow, imagine the condition for all these years, this was a great find, like opening diaries in a box
Fantastic find!
Why was it hidden in such a difficult location? Great job 👏
Fantastic, i love history /archaeology
Wow.. This is amazing. Like hitting the treasure jackpot! Don't even think we've found that well preserved viking swords here in Sweden.
That was a very intriguing find.i love history!
Fantastic! What a wonderful discovery-congratulation!
Somebody went thru great lengths to hide those swords and never came back to get them
I subscribe to World Archaeology -- and hope I will soon read and see more information about this amazing find!
1900 years ago....placed, hidden, and undisturbed!
If only the swords could speak!!!
Congratulations on such a find!
Wow. Amazing find.
You can see genuine happiness! Thank You!
Wow that's a truly amazing find.
It’s pretty obvious how they got there. They were stashed by the Judean People’s Front.
Incorrect. They were actually put there by the People's Front of Judea
@@johnwaugh1719*Popular Front!
@@johnwaugh1719 SPLITTERS...
@@ef2718 😆🤣
Ah, thats where i left my swords. Glad you guys found them
Wow! Amazing find.
Incredible find!
Can you imagine the soul that put all that in that cave?
What he was like?
Wow the one sword still had an edge what a great find, such a cool job to go caving looking for stuff.
Just. Wow.
Amazing find... Congratz
Excitement and passion is a universal language understood by all.
Amazing find.
Marvelous find.
Amazing find
absolutely fascinating discovery : well done‼️👊🔥🥂
What an awesome find!
Truly an amazing find.
I'd guess these valuables were stashed by persons who died shortly thereafter. Nobody would just forget about them.
So much history there, just amazing. 👍
I would like to see more details of them and analysis.
Et tu thou Doubting Thomas?
Amazing
Wow... Amazing!!
Amazing find!!! Congratulations!!!
“ And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)
Fantastic discovery~
Soo dope 🔥🔥🔥
I was blown away as well when I saw the swords😍😍😍😍😍😍
Amazing discovery !
This is great news. I hope they can find writing on some of the swords, and find even more ancient artifacts.
Wow! Sword making techniques will be shared with the world by these wonderful examples. Great find!
Its not the first ones weve found lol and the art of sword making hasnt disappeared
@@travisgoesthere Agreed, but most iron roman swords are nothing but rust. You can get a better visual with these non-rusted examples than from other representations of roman swords.
Awesome! Hi from Ukraine
Fantastic!
Awesome discovery. Congratulations.
Amazing there in such good shape the condition in that cave must have been absolutely dry
A superb find.
Wonderful find.
Absolutely, Absolutely amazing. I'm addicted to everything Roman so this just makes the hair on my neck stand up. Those are real Roman Gladius. One of the coolest things I've ever seen.