An iron nail discovered at an archeological excavation in Hebron tells the tale of Jewish life 2,000 years ago. The find was uncovered during routine conservation work at the Tel Hebron Archeological Park and dates to the time when Hebron was burned by the Romans.
Ilya Borda, director of the Tel Hebron site for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority stated, “these findings are not just archaeological exhibits, they are a snapshot frozen in time of the moment when this house burned down.”
Site worker Lilach Atria noticed a small object while cleaning an ancient lintel area of a room. Hidden among the pottery shards and soil was a homemade iron nail.
The discovery of the nail completes the story of a previous find at the site eight years ago when Emmanuel Eisenberg and Prof. David Ben-Shlomo on behalf of the Civil Administration’s Archaeology Division discovered an iron key along with about 20 pottery vessels under a thick layer of burnt clay. This indicates that the Jewish villagers who once lived there fled hastily during the Roman invasion.
The newly found nail was part of heavy wooden planks that made up the entrance door, which was completely burned down when the city was conquered.
The conquest of Hebron by the Romans is described by the historian Josephus.
“Seeing an everyday small object like an iron nail or an ancient key is a direct encounter with history,” Borda explained. “When we hold the key and the nail, we are directly touched by the dramatic story of the residents of Hebron during the Great Revolt, at the moment when their lives changed forever,” he said.
Other finds at the Tel Hebron site include some of the largest ancient mikvahs discovered in Israel, a wine press and olive press.
Lilach Atria finds iron nail from Great Revolt against the Romans. Credit: Ilya Borda, director, Tel Hebron Nature and Parks Authority
NOTES:
- Nail and key tell story of destruction of Hebron 2,000 years ago. – Ynet News
- Exciting Discovery at Tel Hebron – Nature & Parks Authority
