Thousand-Year-Old Egg Unearthed in Yavne
A rare find in Yavne – a 1,000-year-old chicken egg was unearthed in pristine condition during an archaeological excavation. "Even on a global level, this is an extremely rare find," says Dr. Lee Perry Gal, an archaeozoologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority and an expert in ancient birds.
A 1,000-year-old egg. Photo: Dafna Gazit / Israel Antiquities AuthorityDuring an archaeological dig conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in Yavne, an exceptionally rare artifact was discovered - an ancient chicken egg was unearthed in perfect condition. The excavation took place in a residential sewage pit dating back to the Islamic period about a thousand years ago, as part of an Israel Land Authority project for building a new residential neighborhood. The dig also unveiled a broad and diverse industrial area from the Byzantine period.
The archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority are uncertain how the egg ended up in the cesspit. However, they noted that alongside the egg, other fascinating artifacts were retrieved, including three bone dolls typical of the Islamic period, used in play a thousand years ago.
The dolls found in the excavation. Photo: Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority
Dr. Lee Perry Gal, an archaeozoologist with the Authority and expert on ancient birds, stated, "Eggshell fragments are known from even older periods, such as in the City of David, Caesarea, and Apollonia. But due to the egg's fragile shell, whole chicken eggs have rarely been preserved. Even on a global level, it is an extremely rare find."
"In archaeology, we occasionally find intact ostrich eggs, which are preserved due to their thicker shells," Dr. Gal added.
According to Ella Nagorsky, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, "Even today, eggs barely survive the trip from the supermarket in cartons. It’s amazing to think this find is a thousand years old. The egg's unique preservation likely results from the conditions of its surroundings for centuries: a soft substrate in a cesspit that likely contained soft human waste, protecting it," she explained.
Despite the careful extraction process, aided by a conservation expert, the eggshell, which had been preserved underground under unique conditions, cracked. In the Israel Antiquities Authority's organic laboratory, conservator Ilan Naor performed restoration activities that restored the egg to its complete state.
