As of: 09/18/2022 9:14 p.m
An intact burial chamber from the time of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II was discovered on Israel’s coast during construction work. In the complex are clay vessels and human bones. Archaeologists speak of a spectacular find.
An intact burial cave from the 13th century BC has been discovered on the Israeli coast. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced that an excavator uncovered the stone-carved complex from the time of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II during construction work in Kibbutz Palmachim on the Mediterranean Sea. In the burial chamber, archaeologists found amphorae, oil lamps, jugs and bowls of all kinds, small vessels for precious substances, but also arrowheads and spearheads made of bronze.
“It’s like a set from ‘Indiana Jones’, a cave with vessels on the floor that hasn’t been touched for 3,300 years,” enthused Eli Yannai, IAA expert on the Late Bronze Age, referring to the Indiana archaeologist’s adventure film series Jones.
According to Yannai, the cave was built in the time of Pharaoh Ramses II, who had expanded his empire from Egypt along the Mediterranean coast to Syria. It is unclear who used it, writes the Haaretz newspaper, citing the IAA. It must therefore have served a family or group as a burial place for several generations. Some bodies were laid on their backs, other bodies were obviously moved. However, the remains did not allow DNA analysis. On the other hand, one hopes to get information from the residues in the bowls and jugs.
Numerous clay vessels and bronze arrowheads and spearheads as well as human bones were found in the tomb from the time of Pharaoh Ramses II.
Image: AFP
“Extremely rare find”
This would at least determine what people ate back then. It is true that the cave of Palmachim was not plundered by tomb robbers like so many others in antiquity. But apparently modern thieves managed to steal some of the exhibits. After the find and the opening of the seal, the IAA imposed a media ban on Friday. However, the news circulated on social media. And apparently unauthorized persons managed to enter the cave past the guards.
Archaeologist Eli Yannai from the Antiquities Authority spoke of an “extremely rare” find that researchers only made “once in a lifetime”. The burial chamber, sealed until its discovery, could possibly provide “a complete picture of Bronze Age burial rites” in the region.