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Byzantine era

Some of seven surface limestone-built tombs, discovered in the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site, are seen west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Egypt, in a photo provided on July 4, 2026. (Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry via AP)
July 4, 2026, 8:54 pm
Egypt says it uncovered lost Byzantine-era residential city in western desert
Discovery of well-preserved city and churches at Dakhla Oasis announced by Cairo alongside finding of ancient tombs in Marina el-Alamein, as Egypt looks to boost tourism
By Samy Magdy
The remains of a Byzantine church dating back some 1,500 years in the northern city of Nahariya were hit by a Hezbollah rocket on April 10, 2026. (Emil Aladjem/ Israel Antiquities Authority)
April 12, 2026, 11:13 pm
Hezbollah rocket hits remains of 1,500-year-old Byzantine church in northern Israel
Israel Antiquities Authority says modern-day structure preserving the mosaic in Nahariya was damaged but the ancient floor is intact
By Rossella Tercatin
The rectangular marble block with three hemispheric cavities for oils unearthed in the southern hall of the cathedral at Hippos, east of the Sea of Galilee, in a discovery announced in March 2026. (Michael Eisenberg/University of Haifa)
April 3, 2026, 11:05 am
Marble bowl buried 1,300 years ago in Golan church sheds light on ancient baptisms
Found in a cathedral destroyed by an earthquake in 749, a unique liturgical object suggests the ceremony there featured three moments of anointment, a ritual never documented before
By Rossella Tercatin
A 1,400-year-old church featuring colorful mosaic floors has been discovered in the Nitzana National Park in the Negev, in a discovery announced on March 16, 2026. (Nitzana Delegation/Ben-Gurion University)
March 17, 2026, 2:58 am
On the trail of Lawrence of Arabia: 1,400-year-old church found in the Negev
Mosaic-decorated church uncovered at Nitzana National Park sheds light on the scene among pilgrims traveling through the Holy Land to Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt
By Rossella Tercatin
A 1400-year-old limestone mold to craft flasks decorated with a cross and bearing the inscription ‘Lord’s blessing from the holy places’ was found at the site of Hyrcania in the Judean Desert in the West Bank. (Michal Haber/Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
December 25, 2025, 8:10 pm
Forget keychains, Byzantine pilgrims took home ‘souvenir’ flasks, newly found mold shows
Judean Desert finds dated 1,400 years ago bear witness to ‘flourishing Christian pilgrimage industry’ as travelers from around Roman Empire sought mementos of visits to Jesus-linked sites
By Rossella Tercatin
A 1,300-year-old menorah-decorated pendant was found at the Davidson Archaeological Park in Jerusalem, in a discovery announced on December 15, 2025. (Eliyahu Yanai/City of David)
December 16, 2025, 1:07 am
1,300-year-old menorah pendant suggests Rome couldn’t keep all Jews out of Jerusalem
After Holy City was razed in 135 CE, an edict seemed designed to prevent a Jewish return. The discovery of an ancient artifact indicates some tenacious residents refused to stay away
By Rossella Tercatin
Abbie Rosenbaum Braha, area supervisor at the archaeological excavation in the Yehudiya Nature Reserve in the Golan, stands next to an ancient ‘tabula ansata,’ (large stone table with dovetail handles) found in an approximately 1,500-year-old synagogue whose discovery was announced on October 5, 2025. (Dr. Mechael Osband - University of Haifa/Kinneret Academic College)
October 5, 2025, 9:58 pm
Archaeologists unearth 1,500-year-old synagogue below abandoned Syrian village in Golan
A team from the University of Haifa and Kinneret College identifies an ancient wall facing Jerusalem and 150 synagogue items, including a stone engraved with a menorah
By Rossella Tercatin
A hoard of 97 pure gold coins dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries CE, unearthed during archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Hippos (Sussita), near the Sea of Galilee, in a discovery announced on September 25, 2025. (Dr. Michael Eisenberg/University of Haifa)
September 25, 2025, 8:39 pm
Fabulous 1,400-year-old trove of gold coins sheds light on Galilee Christian city’s demise
Metal detector beeps lead archaeologists to nearly 100 coins and jewelry hidden during the 7th-century Sassanid invasion at Hippos (Sussita), including an unusual mix of denominations
By Rossella Tercatin
A close-up of an inscribed medallion saying "Peace be with the elders" flanked by Egyptian geese, found at the Hippos site in northern Israel. (Michael Eisenberg/University of Haifa)
August 18, 2025, 2:06 pm
1,600 years of care: Archaeologists in northern Israel uncover world’s earliest home for elderly
University of Haifa researchers discover mosaic medallion bearing inscription ‘Peace be with the elders’ in Byzantine city of Hippos
By ToI Staff
A third-century marble sarcophagus engraved with scenes of Greek mythology was uncovered in Caesarea, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on June 9, 2025. In this scene, Heracles lies on a lion’s skin. (Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
June 9, 2025, 4:38 pm
Archaeologists find unique 1,700-year-old sarcophagus depicting booze battle with a god
A marble coffin with vivid carvings of a fabled face-off between Heracles and Dionysus discovered in Caesarea is the sole example in the region and likely belonged to a wealthy family
By Rossella Tercatin
A 1,600-year-old mosaic discovered in a Byzantine monastery is on display for the first time at Merhavim Regional Council’s headquarters in Western Negev, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on May 27, 2025. (Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority)
May 27, 2025, 2:08 pm
Kaleidoscopic 1,600-year-old monastery mosaic on display for first time in the Negev
Roaring lions, gazelles fleeing wolves and a farmer wiping sweat from his forehead are among the scenes from Byzantine Israel depicted on the artifact
By Rossella Tercatin
Left: Ebony figurine discovered in an excavation at Tel Malhata in the Negev. Right: Tomb excavated at the site of Tel Malhata in the Negev. (Dafna Gazit, Israel Antiquities Authority; Svetlana Talis/Israel Antiquities Authority)
May 14, 2025, 4:39 pm
Wood from India, made in Africa: 6th century figurines found in Christian tombs in Israel
Mysterious owners of the artifacts, possibly a mother and child, might have moved to Byzantine village in the Negev from Egypt or the Horn of Africa
By Rossella Tercatin
Archaeologists discovered a 1200-year-old clay jug depicting camels at Yatir Forest in the Negev. (Emil Aladejm, Israel Antiquities Authority)
March 27, 2025, 1:19 pm
Archaeologists in Negev unearth 1,200-year-old jug decorated with camels
Artifact daubed with red pattern and trio of animals, considered advanced for its time, discovered near olive press in Yatir Forest
By Rossella Tercatin
Archaeologists examine a rare skeleton bound in iron rings found in the remains of a church some three kilometers northwest of Jerusalem. (Yoli Schwartz/Israel Antiquities Authority)
March 10, 2025, 4:14 pm
Chained in faith: 5th-century female skeleton may be world’s 1st self-mortifying Christian nun
Cutting-edge technology allows a team of Israeli researchers to determine that mysterious ironclad remains found in a church near Jerusalem belonged to a woman
By Rossella Tercatin
Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem finished their second season of excavations at the Hyrcania fortress in the Judean desert in the West Bank in January 2025 in cooperation with the Staff Officer of Archaeology of Judea and Samaria. In the Byzantine compound, they uncovered a medallion mosaic which had been intentionally defaced with a column drum from the Herodian period. (Oren Gutfeld/The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
February 20, 2025, 2:23 pm
Mikvehs and monks: Vivid hues link rare Jewish and Christian finds in Judean Desert
Archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem just concluded their second season of excavations at Hyrcania, where they found colorful Byzantine mosaics and Herodian frescoes
By Rossella Tercatin
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