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Itongadol.- Egyptian culture pervaded ancient Israel years after Moses led the Exodus, artifacts unearthed during a recent underground excavation of a southern Israel cave reveal, the Antiquities Authority announced on Wednesday, two days before Passover.
While displaying the relics at Jerusalem’s Rockefeller Museum, IAA archeologists said that hundreds of pottery vessels and dozens of pieces of jewelry dating to the Late Bronze Age (1500 BCE) and the Iron Age (1000 BCE), were found during a looting investigation in the Tel Halif region.
“Inspectors from the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery discovered that antiquities thieves had broken into the cave and began looting pottery vessels from 3,000 years ago and disturbed the ancient archaeological strata,” said spokeswoman Yoli Shwartz.
“The IAA officials thwarted further damage to the cave and carried out a salvage excavation there in order to save the artifacts and extremely valuable archaeological information from the robbers’ pick axes.”
Shwartz said more than 300 pottery vessels of different varieties “fashioned from yellowish alabaster, seals, seal impressions and cosmetic vessels” were found in the cave, some of which were still intact.
Nearby, dozens of pieces of jewelry made of bronze, shells and faience were also found.
Amir Ganor, director of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, said that among the artifacts that were discovered, many attest to the existence of an Egyptian administrative center in the region 3,400 years ago.
“We found dozens of stone seals, some of which are shaped in the form of a winged beetle [scarabs] and bear carved symbols, and images typical of the Egyptian culture which prevailed in the country in the Late Bronze Age,” he said.
“It is true the Israelites left Egypt, but the evidence from the excavation in the cave shows the Egyptians did not leave the Israelites and their descendants,” Ganor added. “Some of the seals were fashioned on semi-precious stones that come from Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula.”
Dr. Daphna Ben-Tor, curator of Egyptian archaeology at the Israel Museum, said most of the scarab seals found in the excavation date to the 15th and 14th centuries BCE, during which Canaan was ruled by Egypt.
“The names of kings appeared on some of the seals,” said Ben-Tor. “Among other things, we can identify a sphinx lying opposite the name of the pharaoh Thutmose, who reigned from about 1504–1450 BCE.”
“Another scarab seal bears the name of Amenhotep, who reigned from about 1386–1349 BCE,” she continued. “Still another scarab depicts Ptah, the principal god of the city of Memphis.”
Other artifacts discovered included seal rings made of faience, and a number of figurines and amulets in the image of gods sacred to the Egyptian culture.
“This has been attested to in archaeological excavations where we uncovered evidence from many years after the exodus, which reflects the influence of Egyptian culture on the Judahite residents of the country.”
Ganor added that an examination of the antiquities shows that some of the objects were produced in Egypt, and subsequently brought to Canaan by the Israelites or merchants. However, he added that other artifacts were made in ancient Israel using methods imitating Egyptian production techniques and copying Egyptian cultural motifs, while utilizing indigenous raw materials.
According to the IAA’s Dr. Amir Golani, during the Late Bronze Age Egypt was an extremely powerful empire and imposed its far-reaching authority throughout our region.
“Egyptian authority was not only manifested in political and military control, but was also a strong cultural influence that contributed to shaping society,” said Golani.
“Along with an administration of Egyptian officials in Israel, a group of the local elite evolved in the country, who adopted many of the Egyptian customs and their artistry.”
The artifacts have been transferred to IAA laboratories for further treatment and analysis, Golani added.
“The investigation of the cave and the finds is still in its early stages, and upon completing the treatment of the hundreds of objects that were exposed, it will be possible to add important information regarding Egypt’s influence on the population of the Land of Israel in the biblical period,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ganor expressed satisfaction that the attempted robbery in the cave was thwarted, saving hundreds of invaluable relics from being sold on the black market.
“These findings were saved from plundering and looting, and archaeologists were able to carry out a systematic study of the site that will provide very valuable information for understanding the culture of the country in antiquity,” he said.