Treasures from the Trash

Numerous finds dating to the Late Byzantine period (fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries AD) were among the antiquities discovered in excavations conducted in the agricultural hinterland of the ancient city of Apollonia-Arsuf, located east of the site [modern Herzliya]. Among the finds uncovered are installations for processing the agricultural produce as well as remains of walls that were apparently part of the ancillary buildings that were meant to serve local farmers.

According to Professor Oren Tal of the Tel Aviv University and Moshe Ajami of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The most intriguing find in the area is a number of Byzantine refuse pits. One of them is especially large—more than 30 meters [98.5 ft] in diameter. In the midst of the many sherds was a large number of usable artifacts, whose presence in the pit raises questions. Among other things, more than 400 coins were found which are mostly Byzantine, including one gold coin, as well as 200 whole and intact Samaritan lamps (among them lamps that were never used), rings, and gold jewelry.

“Noteworthy among the jewelry is an octagonal ring with parts of verses from the Samaritan Pentateuch engraved in Samaritan script on each of its sides (one side reads: Adonai is his name, another side: One God, and so on). Approximately a dozen Samaritan rings have been published so far in scientific literature, and this ring constitutes an important addition given the assemblage in which it was discovered”.

Archaeological excavations conducted from the 1950s until the present indicate that the site was inhabited continuously for more than 1,500 years—from the Persian period (late sixth century BC) until the end of the Crusader period (thirteenth century AD).