Ancient Farmstead Containing Agricultural Implements Uncovered in Eastern Galil

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – An ancient farmstead containing large ceramic storage vessels,  iron agricultural implements, including various picks and scythes, and tens of loom weights used for weaving garments, has been discovered in the eastern Galil.

Based on coins retrieved from the farmstead, archeologists believe the site dates to the second half of the second century BCE.

The well-preserved artifacts were uncovered at Horbat Assad next to Nahal Arbel in the course of excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority prior to the Mekorot Company project to transfer desalinated water to the Kinneret. The 910 million shekel Northern Carrier will carry desalinated water to the basin in order to maintain the water level and anchor a continuous water supply for households, agriculture, and neighboring countries.

According to Dr. Amani Abu-Hamid, Director of the excavation on behalf of the IAA, “We were very lucky to discover a time-capsule, frozen in time, in which the finds remained where they were left by the occupants of the site, and it seems that they left in haste in face of an impending danger, possibly the threat of a military attack. The weaving loom weights were still on the shelf, the storage jars were intact…More research is required to determine the identity of the inhabitants of the site.”