COINS FOUND IN A CAVE IN ISRAEL

Zakai was recently spelunking with his father and a friend, all of whom are members of the Israeli Caving Club, when Zakai spotted a shiny silver object in one of the most well-hidden stalactite caves in northern Israel.

As Zakai moved in for a closer look, he found two ancient silver coins stashed inside a nook. The coins were meant to be hidden, perhaps to be retrieved at a later date. Instead, they lay in secret for more than 2,000 years in a small hoard that will give archaeologists a valuable insight into ancient Israel.

"We saw the pictures of some of the items that were found in the cave," says Eitan Klein, deputy director of the Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit at Israel Antiquities Authority, "and we understood that we are talking about something very, very unique."

The two silver coins were minted during the reign of Alexander the Great, who conquered the region in the late fourth century B.C. On one side of the coin is an image of Alexander the Great, while on the other side is an image of Zeus sitting on his throne, arm raised as if ready to wield his fearsome lightning bolts. The coins allowed archaeologists to date the find.

Along with the coins were pieces of silver jewelry, including rings, bracelets and earrings. The whole cache is thought to have been originally contained in a cloth pouch.

"The valuables might have been hidden in the cave by local residents who fled there during the period of governmental unrest stemming from the death of Alexander, a time when the Wars of the Diadochi broke out in Israel between Alexander's heirs following his death," said the Israel Antiquities Authority.

There are many unexplored crevasses in the cave, according to archaeologists, and perhaps many more priceless caches to discover.

To read the complete article, see:
Cavers find treasure from era of Alexander the Great in Israel (http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/09/middleeast/israel-ancient-treasure-found-in-cave/)

To read the complete article, see:
Watch: Rare 2,300-year-old silver and bronze coins, jewelry found in ancient northern cave (www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Rare-2300-year-old-silver-and-bronze-coins-jewelry-found-in-ancient-northern-cave-393360)

To read the complete article, see:
Israel's cave of wonders: Silver coins and treasure dating back 2,300 years to Alexander the Great discovered (www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2986454/Israel-s-cave-wonders-Silver-coins-treasure-dating-2-300-years-Alexander-Great-discovered.html)

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