Israeli Archeologists Uncovered Burial Cave Dated Back to Rameses II Reign

Hundreds of pieces of pottery and bronze items have been found in a burial cave that dates to the reign of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Rameses II, according to an announcement by Israeli archaeologists on Sunday.

The Discovery of Ancient Pottery on a Beach

The cave was discovered on a beach Tuesday after a mechanical digger working at the Palmahim national park struck its roof. Archaeologists entered the roomy, square cave created by humans using a ladder. Ynetnews posted a photo on its Twitter.

In a video made public by the Israel Antiquities Authority, startled archaeologists beam flashlights on dozens of clay pieces from the time of the ancient Egyptian king, who passed away in 1213 BC. The pots are made in a range of shapes and sizes.

Ancient Objects Retrieved from Palmahim National Park

According to Phys.org, the cave contained bowls, some painted red. It also contained bones, chalices, cooking pots, storage jars, lights, and bronze arrowheads or spearheads.

The items, which had been there for almost 3,300 years and had never been touched, were funeral offerings meant to accompany the departed on their final journey to the afterlife. Two rectangular plots in the cave's corner included at least one relatively intact skeleton.

Eli Yannai, an IAA Bronze Age expert, remarked that the cave might provide a complete picture of the Late Bronze Age burial rituals.

Yannai described it as an extremely rare, once-in-a-lifetime discovery, highlighting the additional benefit of the cave remaining locked up until its recent discovery.

The provenance of the ceramic vessels, according to Yannai, is evidence of the active trading that took place along the shore.

According to Ynetnews, the little pitchers discovered adjacent to the jars were imported to Israel from the region of Tyre, Sidon, and other port cities on the coast of Lebanon. He continued, adding that some of the jars were made on the shores of Lebanon and Syria.

Rare Vessels Dated During Rameses II Ruling

The discoveries are related to Rameses II, who ruled over Canaan, roughly corresponding to present-day Israel and the Palestinian territories.

IAA archaeologist, David Gelman, made assumptions about the origins of the bones found in the cave. According to him, the burial of these individuals with weapons, including whole arrows, indicates that they may have been soldiers or ship guards. He thought that they might have been able to find vessels from all across the region because of this.

He said that burial caves are already uncommon and that discovering one that hasn't been used since it was first inhabited 3,300 years ago is extremely rare.

He continued that it has the feel of an Indiana Jones film scene. Went into the ground and saw everything still lying in place as it was at first, including weaponry, bronze vessels, and intact pottery vessels.

According to the IAA, the cave has been resealed and is being watched over while a strategy for its excavation is being developed.

In the brief time between its discovery and closing, it was observed that a few objects had been stolen from it.

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