Israeli archaeologists find gold coins at Judean Desert monastery
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Israeli archaeologists recently unearthed ancient gold in an ancient Christian monastery in the Judean Desert.
The announcement was made this month by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). The ancient treasure was found at the Hyrcania archaeological site in the northern Judean Desert, located about ten miles east of Jerusalem on the West Bank.
The treasure consisted of two gold coins and a delicate gold ring. Although the area was vulnerable to looted antiquities in the past, the artifacts miraculously survived for 1,400 years.
The site was founded between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC during the late Hellenistic period, when it was used as a castle.
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Israeli archaeologists unearthed gold coins and a ring in the Hyrcania region (seen at left); this highlights Christian activities in the Judean Desert during the Byzantine period. (iStock; COGAT Spokesperson)
The gold coins were thick It bore the image of Heraclius, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 610 to 641 AD.
According to COGAT, the finds “evidence Christian activities in the region during the Byzantine period.”
“With the development of Judean Desert monasticism during the Byzantine period, a Christian monastery was established in the region, which is attributed to the activities of St. Sabbas, one of the founders of desert monasticism, and has been active for hundreds of years,” the agency’s press release said. The statement was included.
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“These discoveries strengthen the understanding that Hyrcania was part of the monastic and religious environment that operated in the Judean Desert during the Byzantine period.”
Archaeologist Binyamin Har-Even said in a statement that the artifacts “reflect an important part of the Byzantine period and the early Christian tradition in the region.”
The discovery in Hyrcania includes two gold solids that survived nearly 1,400 years despite past plunder. (COGAT Spokesperson’s Office)
“As an Israeli institution operating in the region and tasked with preserving its historical heritage, the Civil Administration Archaeological Unit attaches great importance to the preservation and research of sites belonging to all periods and communities that have operated there for generations,” Har-Even said.
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““Our work aims to preserve the past, ensure its research, and make it accessible to everyone.”
This discovery isn’t the only Judean Desert find to make international headlines this year.
Israeli officials say the gold ring provides rare physical evidence of Byzantine-era Christian activity in the region. (COGAT Spokesperson’s Office)
In early 2025, archaeologists came across a “mysterious pyramid-shaped structure” in the desert dating back 2,200 years.
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The structure is made of hand-hewn stones, each weighing hundreds of kilos.
Fox News Digital’s Ashley DiMella contributed reporting.
