Whose Are the Centuries-Old Jewelry Unearthed Near Modiin?

Students from grades 4 to 12 were astonished to discover a trove of rings, bracelets, earrings, and hairpins aged 900 years. These artifacts were unearthed during a dig by the Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with the Modiin-Maccabim-Reut municipality, as part of an educational and community archaeological excavation at Titora Hill in the city.

According to the plan, each school day a different class comes to dig at the archaeological site, alongside retirees and local volunteers. The dig aims to provide residents of all ages the chance to directly connect with the cultural heritage of their city.

Titora Hill is a unique and fascinating archaeological site within Modiin-Maccabim-Reut's boundaries. Previous digs at the hill revealed evidence of life spanning from the Chalcolithic period to modern times. Located on the main route from the coastal plain to Jerusalem and surrounded by fertile valleys, the site has been vital for agriculture and the subsistence of local inhabitants over generations.

Avraham Tendler, the dig director from the Israel Antiquities Authority, explains, "We uncovered an ancient kitchen where cooking and baking took place for hundreds of years during the Middle Ages. We found tabuns (clay ovens), cooking pots, jugs, serving utensils and tables, food remnants like olive pits, legumes, charred grape seeds, and animal bones."

Women's jewelry found in the Crusader tower kitchen (Photo: Vered Bosidan / Israel Antiquities Authority)

Tendler adds, "It seems the ancient cooks weren't very careful with their jewelry during cooking and baking since numerous pieces were found in the dig, some made of bronze and silver."

Most of the jewelry was found by Mati Yohannoff – a volunteer archaeologist dedicated to attending the dig. He notes, "The site yielded many metal items, including coins, rings, bracelets, and cosmetic utensils. These findings traditionally indicate domestic feminine activities."

Currently, the Modiin-Maccabim-Reut municipality is spearheading the creation of an urban nature park at Titora Hill, aimed at making the findings accessible to the public. "We will continue to collaborate with all relevant parties to make Titora Hill an accessible urban nature site for everyone and a source of learning about the region's treasures," promised the mayor.