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Biblical Archaeology - Recent Discoveries
A Just Weight
The IAA, the Customs Authority and the Postal Authority worked together to prevent a precious artifact, a lead weight, from being smuggled out of the country. The weight dates back to the time of Bar Kochba (the second century AD) and is decorated with traditional Jewish symbols, including a palm tree and menorah.
Ancient Hebrew letters are engraved on the weight, which was a common practice during the first and second Jewish revolts against the Romans. The IAA believes that Palestinian antiquities thieves found this weight in Judea. It is one of only four known weights that use the maneh, the measure for weighing gold and silver in Second Temple times. All of them have the following Hebrew inscription: “Shimon Bar Kochba – Ruler of Israel – Freedom.”
Smugglers wanted to ship the weight in a hollowed-out book to the US. It’s the first time that this method of smuggling was uncovered. The IAA was able to locate the sender, a former antiquities salesman, who wanted to send the valuable artifact to his colleagues in America. More antiquities were revealed in his apartment. Police say there have been other smuggling attempts, and the investigation has expanded to the US.
Hidden Treasure: Smugglers tried to hide the ancient weight in a book There are only four such weights from Second Temple times
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