In Israel, during excavations in the Jordan River Valley, archaeologists uncovered 160 ancient coins. This valuable treasure dates back approximately 2,100 years.
According to the team, the coins are dated to the reign of Alexander Jannaeus, who served as both high priest and king of Judea from the Hasmonean dynasty. Their kingdom was established in 167 B.C. when the Jewish inhabitants of the region revolted against the Seleucid Empire and seized part of its territory. In the 1st century B.C., the Roman Republic conquered the Hasmonean territory and allowed King Herod to establish his own kingdom there.
What Makes These Finds Special?
The coins feature engraved octagonal stars, along with inscriptions in Aramaic and Greek. They mention the name of Alexander Jannaeus and indicate that the coins were minted in the 25th year of his reign. As clarified by the University of Haifa, coins of this type were minted around 80-79 B.C.
Shai Bar, the excavation leader, told Live Science that Hasmonean coins are typically not found in large hoards, making this discovery quite rare.
The archaeologist also noted that the location where the treasure was found was once a resting place for travelers heading to the fortress of Sartaba.
Who and Why Buried the Treasure?
To be more precise, the scientists discovered the treasure in a cooking facility, near a fallen wall. This raises several theories about why the treasure was buried here.
Archaeologist Shai Bar suggested that the coins may have been buried during turbulent times in hopes of better days ahead. Alternatively, the treasure might not have been buried at all; it could simply have been a cash reserve for food merchants. Another theory posits that the coins were placed in the wall as an offering, although such practices were rare at that time, the archaeologist noted.
Excavations and research on the artifacts are ongoing. The team has promised to publish the results of their analysis of the coin hoard later.