Archaeologists in Jerusalem’s City of David were amazed to discover a small gold ring set made some 2,300 years ago.
The excavations were carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IIA) and Tel Aviv University (TAU) as part of the Jerusalem Walls National Park project, with the support of the Elad Foundation.
The red precious stone was apparently a garnet and the gold a very refined, well-preserved material. Despite last being used over two millennia ago, the ring has not accumulated rust or suffered any other weathering of time.
The ring was recently discovered by Tehiya Gangate, a City of David excavation team member.
While she was sifting earth through a screen, she saw something glitter. “I immediately yelled: ‘I found a ring, I found a ring!’” she said. “Within seconds, everyone gathered around me, and there was great excitement.
“This is an emotionally moving find. I always wanted to find gold jewellery, and I am very happy this dream came true – literally a week before I went on maternity leave.
Dr Yiftah Shalev and Riki Zalut Har-tov, the IAA excavation directors, said: The ring is very small. It might fit a woman’s pinkie or a young girl’s or boy’s finger.”
Dr Marion Zindel added that the ring was created by hammering thin pre-cut gold leaves on a metal ring base.
It is said to reflect the common fashion of the Persian and Early Hellenistic periods, dating from the late fourth to early third century BC and onwards. In this period, it is said that people preferred gold with set stones rather than decorated gold.
Other recent excavations found in the City of David include a horned-animal earring and a decorated gold bead, according to TAU Prof Yuval Gadot and excavator Efrat Bocher.
The Givati car park excavation discoveries are beginning to paint a new picture of the nature and stature of Jerusalem’s inhabitants in the Early Hellenistic period.
Previously, experts assumed that Jerusalem was a small town limited to the top of the south-eastern slope (the City of David), and with relatively very few resources. However, the structures being unearthed now consist of an entire neighbourhood.
