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Two ancient jars dating back over 2000 years are mystifying archaeologists, as they were descended on a "cliff almost 30 meters" and were hidden in a tiny cave in Israel, just border with Lebanon. Baffled by the way these pots might have happened, Dr. Yinon Shavtiel, spelunologist at Safed Academic College, told reporters in Haaretz: "Someone had to be terrified to reach and take refuge in this inaccessible hole in the cliff. abrupt. Even if these pots were old kitchen utensils, the team of experts told reporters that "no one could have lived in the hole" and that the introduction of pots in the cavern would not have been an easy task.
Climbing with ropes to reached the cave. (Photo: Yoav Negev, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)
The cave was discovered last summer by Dr. Yinon Shivtiel, who studied the caves of Jewish rebels during the Galilee war. Great Jewish revolt (66-70 AD). "Hiding dedicated Roman warriors," said Shivtiel, demanded hiding places off the beaten track, which perfectly describes the sorry location of this tiny cliff hole.
According to an article in The Jewish Press, the rescue of this 2,000-year-old fragile discovery was made possible thanks to "the cooperation of Vladimir Boslov and Boaz Langford of the Israel Cavern Research Center". Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as volunteers from the Israel Explorers Club "and the excavations were authorized by the Israeli Authority of Nature and Parks, with the help of the Israeli army and of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The archaeological research in this curious cave has just begun and "carbon dating will probably happen but has not been made yet – but we already know that the discoveries have nothing to do with the Great Revolt, "Shivtiel told Haaretz, and the type of pottery says it was," placed in the cave centuries before the great revolt of 70, when the Romans defeated the Jews. "
Dr. Danny Syon (right) and Dr. Yinon Shivtiel in the cave Image: Omri Gaster / Authority Antiques from Israel
Dr. Danny Syon of the IAA told reporters: "Considering that the kitchen and service vessels were found, it would appear that those who brought them planned To live there for a moment ", but Shivtiel is convinced that did not live in the cave. 1×2 square meters [3.3×6.6 ft] "and," You can not climb into this cave, "he explains." It's 30 meters [98ft] above the ground and the cliff is absolutely steep. "
So, what could then do these pottery vessels, including the pots used to store wine and olive oil?" Stressed people were hiding in d & # 39; other caves in the area, which served as a cave for food. "What strikes me here, is that more often than not, artifacts are discovered without rational explanation in this great large ritual archaeological gathering. or ritual. "Why then, not here?
Ships have not not yet badigned as "ritual": Omri Gester / Israel Antiquities Authority
Last year, Haaretz was able to Blind the results of Professor Dani Nadel of Haifa University and his colleagues from Raqefet Cave at Mount Carmel in Israel. The first proof of the use of flowerbeds for burial began around 13,700 years ago! And, they have provided evidence of the widespread use of plants during cave-burying rituals. "
Could the two pots found in the" almost impossible cliff "contain plants? And that this cave was used for ritual purposes? And while it was common for priests to pick hard places to reach for meditation, prayer and worship, which wooden scaffolding did not make access relatively easy when the cave was used?
My speculations, like all the others will soon find a judgment as the test results come in. Wherever some people expect evidence of food to support their home, or survival theories, I will look for signs of Phytoliths, some of them microscopic living long after the decomposition of a plant.
And finally, it would not be a surprise to me if they found that the pots contained plants used to burn incense, another custom in ancient Israel that required pots, and that could justify this discovery otherwise "useless"! You can read about burning incense in ancient Israel here in this newspaper article.
Top image: Two jugs dug in the cave difficult to access the Israeli-Lebanese border. Source: Yinon Shivtiel / Israel Antiquities Authority
By Ashley Cowie
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