1600-Year-Old Coin Hoard Found Under Galilee – Roman Rebellion
- Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a hoard of ancient Roman coins hidden within a network of tunnels used by Jews to hide during Roman rebellions.
- Though, the newly discovered coins date to the reign of emperors Constantius II and Constans I (A.D.
- "This shows that hundreds of years after these tunnels were dug out, they were reused," said archaeologists Uri berger of the Israel Antiquities authority (IAA) and Yinon Shivtiel...
Ancient Coin Hoard Reveals New Clues About Last Jewish Revolt Against Romans
Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a hoard of ancient Roman coins hidden within a network of tunnels used by Jews to hide during Roman rebellions. The tunnels,known as the Hukok hiding complex,were previously known to have been used during the Great Revolt (A.D. 66-70) and the Bar-Kochba Revolt (A.D.132-135).
Though, the newly discovered coins date to the reign of emperors Constantius II and Constans I (A.D. 337-361 and A.D. 337-350 respectively), indicating they were hidden during the Gallus Revolt (A.D. 351-352). This is important because the Gallus Revolt is believed to be the last Jewish revolt against the Romans, and historical evidence about it is scarce.
“This shows that hundreds of years after these tunnels were dug out, they were reused,” said archaeologists Uri berger of the Israel Antiquities authority (IAA) and Yinon Shivtiel of Zefat Academic College. “The hoard provides – in all probability, unique evidence, that this hiding complex was used in one way or another during another crisis - during the Gallus Revolt – a rebellion for which we have only scant historical evidence of its existence.”
The coins were found deliberately hidden in a pit at the end of a narrow tunnel, suggesting the people who hid them intended to retrieve them once the danger had passed. The Hukok complex allowed Jewish people to hide and continue religious practices undetected by the Romans.
This finding provides valuable new insight into a little-known period of history and demonstrates the continued use of these ancient tunnels long after their initial construction.
related: 2,100-year-old farmstead in Israel found ‘frozen in time’ after owners disappeared