Four swords with wooden and leather hilts, dating back to 1,900 years ago, were found in Israel. A wonderful discovery: they are practically intact, with no rust and sharp blades. They were located in a small hole in a cave near the national park of Ein Gedi, in the desert near the Dead Sea. According to experts, these swords are part of the Judea rebels’ treasure, collected during the rebellion in Bar Kochba.
A wonderful discovery
“We’re talking about an extremely rare find, the likes of which have never been found in Israel. Four swords amazingly preserved, including the fine condition of the metal, the handles, and the scabbards”, said Eitan Klein, one of the directors of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Judean Desert Survey (source The Time of Israel). Three of the swords have a length of between 60 and 65 centimeters, while the 4th is smaller, with a length of about 45 centimeters. The handles are decorated with wood, metal, and leather stripes. Archeologists say the swords are probably Roman and were stolen by Judean rebels, who probably hid them so as to not be found with them.
Thanks to desert climate
Eli Escusido, director of the Antiquities authority of Israel, called the area in which the swords were found a “unique time capsule”. There it’s possible to find “pieces of parchment, coins, leather sandals and now still sharpened swords”. The local dry climate facilitates the conservation of items, including materials such as wood and leather. Such materials are very rarely found in good conditions in the wetter parts of the country.
Photos taken from Facebook
Read also:
