The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/archaeology/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Wed, 10 Jun 2026 01:11:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png archaeology | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/archaeology/ 32 32 Netanyahu said to halt progress of controversial West Bank and Gaza antiquities bill https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-to-halt-progress-of-controversial-west-bank-and-gaza-antiquities-bill/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:07:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3835340 Legislation to create new authority under the Heritage Ministry, opposed by IDF and many archaeologists, was pitched by sponsors as a step toward annexation

The post Netanyahu said to halt progress of controversial West Bank and Gaza antiquities bill appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> 12-year-old finds ancient gemstone in Galilean Jewish village cursed by Jesus https://www.timesofisrael.com/12-year-old-finds-ancient-gemstone-in-galilean-jewish-village-cursed-by-jesus/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:00:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3833900 Sixth-grader Alon Horowitz finds rare 'Nicolo' stone, likely dating back at least 1,500 years, during community excavation at Korazim National Park

The post 12-year-old finds ancient gemstone in Galilean Jewish village cursed by Jesus appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Archaeologists petition High Court to block appointment of new antiquities authority chief https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-petition-high-court-to-block-appointment-of-new-antiquities-authority-chief/ Thu, 28 May 2026 23:37:56 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3832265 Petition deepens rift between academics and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, who have been at loggerheads over a controversial West Bank and Gaza antiquities bill

The post Archaeologists petition High Court to block appointment of new antiquities authority chief appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill breaks Israel’s international obligations – legal official https://www.timesofisrael.com/west-bank-gaza-antiquities-bill-breaks-israels-international-obligations-legal-official/ Sun, 24 May 2026 16:09:19 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3829538 As Knesset committee gears up to bring legislation for final votes in plenum, panel's legal adviser warns it reinforces ‘creeping annexation’ claims; army also opposes it

The post West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill breaks Israel’s international obligations – legal official appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill advances as government okays $86 million heritage plan https://www.timesofisrael.com/west-bank-and-gaza-antiquities-bill-advances-as-govt-okays-nis-250m-heritage-plan/ Thu, 21 May 2026 00:02:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3827731 Knesset committee working to finish controversial legislation, which critics say would mark an unprecedented step toward annexation, for final votes in the plenum on Sunday

The post West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill advances as government okays $86 million heritage plan appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Smaller prey, not bigger brains, drove prehistoric tech revolution, Israeli researchers say https://www.timesofisrael.com/smaller-prey-not-bigger-brains-drove-prehistoric-tech-revolution-israeli-researchers-say/ Wed, 20 May 2026 19:07:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3827433 New study by Tel Aviv University scientists posits disappearance of megaherbivors in the Levant drove humans to develop smaller, more sophisticated tools 200,000 years ago

The post Smaller prey, not bigger brains, drove prehistoric tech revolution, Israeli researchers say appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Knesset panel fast-tracks West Bank antiquities bill seen as de facto annexation https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-panel-fast-tracks-west-bank-antiquities-bill-seen-as-de-facto-annexation/ Tue, 19 May 2026 06:28:57 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3826265 Legislation aims to create new civilian body beyond Green Line, as heritage minister pushes to appoint ideological ally with limited experience to run Israel Antiquities Authority

The post Knesset panel fast-tracks West Bank antiquities bill seen as de facto annexation appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> How ancient seeds are rewriting the history of biblical-era trade with Arabia https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-ancient-seeds-are-rewriting-the-history-of-biblical-era-trade-with-arabia/ Sat, 16 May 2026 04:51:35 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3818320 New radiocarbon dating of Ein Hatzeva fortress on ancient trade route in the Arava suggests it was built 2,800 years ago by the Kingdom of Israel, shoring up Bible's account

The post How ancient seeds are rewriting the history of biblical-era trade with Arabia appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> 2,000-year-old coin with earliest menorah image returned to Israel after seized in US https://www.timesofisrael.com/2000-year-old-coin-with-earliest-menorah-image-returned-to-israel-after-us-seizure/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:43:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3822550 Joint operation also sees return of 2,500-year-old silver coin, one of two known examples in the world, as officials stress importance of international cooperation to combat looting

The post 2,000-year-old coin with earliest menorah image returned to Israel after seized in US appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Mysterious ancient tunnel, possibly thousands of years old, discovered in Jerusalem https://www.timesofisrael.com/mysterious-ancient-tunnel-possibly-thousands-of-years-old-discovered-in-jerusalem/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:26:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3823394 Dating and purpose of structure near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel still not clear; archaeologists say its construction required significant resources and manpower

The post Mysterious ancient tunnel, possibly thousands of years old, discovered in Jerusalem appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Knesset advances controversial West Bank antiquity bill in first reading https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-advances-controversial-west-bank-antiquity-bill-in-first-reading/ Mon, 11 May 2026 22:59:53 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3821425 Legislation's critics maintain it amounts to de facto annexation, while supporters say it is necessary to preserve territory's unique heritage

The post Knesset advances controversial West Bank antiquity bill in first reading appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Eight-year-old boy finds 1,700-year-old statuette fragment while hiking in Negev https://www.timesofisrael.com/eight-year-old-boy-finds-1700-year-old-statuette-fragment-while-hiking-in-negev/ Mon, 11 May 2026 09:05:35 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3820819 Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist says the artifact might depict Roman god Jupiter

The post Eight-year-old boy finds 1,700-year-old statuette fragment while hiking in Negev appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> New secrets of human evolution unlocked in study of ancient DNA from Europe and Near East https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-secrets-of-human-evolution-unlocked-in-study-of-ancient-dna-from-europe-and-near-east/ Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:35:36 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3803780 Scientists analyze 22,000 genomes documenting hundreds of genetic changes due to natural selection over the past 10,000 years, including variants linked to celiac disease and multiple sclerosis

The post New secrets of human evolution unlocked in study of ancient DNA from Europe and Near East appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Rare ancient charcoal shows how prehistoric ‘Israelis’ were already grilling 780,000 years ago https://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-ancient-charcoal-shows-how-prehistoric-israelis-were-already-grilling-780000-years-ago/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:12:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3805618 A new study testifies to how hominins at Gesher Benot Ya’akov took advantage of their environment to fuel fires, showing advanced cognitive abilities

The post Rare ancient charcoal shows how prehistoric ‘Israelis’ were already grilling 780,000 years ago appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]> Shepherds without borders: In biblical Israel’s war zone, flocks traversed contested lands https://www.timesofisrael.com/shepherds-without-borders-in-biblical-israels-war-zone-flocks-traversed-contested-lands/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:04:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3802855 Study of 3,000-year-old animal teeth from Tel Hazor in the Upper Galilee shows herds moved between warring Israel and Aram, shedding light on ancient boundaries' permeability

The post Shepherds without borders: In biblical Israel’s war zone, flocks traversed contested lands appeared first on The Times of Israel.

]]>