Strata

Heavy Metal

Tiberias Yields Islamic Treasure

Archaeologists recently dug up the largest collection of Islamic period objects ever found in Israel. The hoard was buried under the dirt floor of an ancient shop near Tiberias.

In all, five to six hundred bronze and brass objects were recovered in three large clay jars, each sealed with a stone. Several bowls with ancient Kufic Arabic script, a large candelabrum and snake and bird figurines were among the items found. “The amount, beauty and quality of the artistic work is incredible,” says Yizhar Hirschfeld, a Hebrew University archaeology professor who is director of the excavation. “It’s an incredible treasure from around A.D. 1000, a period from which we don’t have many pieces, especially metal, so it’s unique in every sense.”