Rare Discovery: Ancient Inkstand Unearthed in Gush Etzion

In the midst of archaeological excavations at the "Horvat Brakhot" site in Gush Etzion, a rare find was uncovered: a complete inkstand from the late days of the Second Temple. The excavation was overseen by the Archaeology Staff Officer of the Civil Administration, in collaboration with the Herzog Academic College.

The inkstand, found within a large building dated to the Second Temple period, is made of cylindrical clay with a flat base, featuring a rounded handle and a narrow opening with an inward-facing lip—designed for inserting ink and a quill. Inkstands from this period are considered rare, with similar items previously uncovered at only about a dozen sites nationwide.

The discovery of the inkstand strengthens the hypothesis that literacy was relatively widespread among the Jewish population in the Land of Israel during the Second Temple era. The inkstand likely belonged to a scribe or merchant residing in the area during the years preceding the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

"The rare find at the archaeological site joins a wealth of discoveries made by the Archaeology Staff Officer, representing significant national and cultural heritage," said Hanania Hizmi, the Archaeology Staff Officer at the Civil Administration. "I am pleased that we continue to uncover various archaeological finds that greatly contribute to the study of Jewish history in the region. I wish to thank Dr. Dvir Raviv, Chaim Shkolnik, and Dr. Yitzhak Maitlis, who led the archaeological excavations and helped reveal this find."