Incredible Discovery: Ancient Swords Found in En Gedi Cave

A sensational find in the Judean Desert: A cache of four Roman swords and a spearhead dating back approximately 1,900 years was discovered in a hidden nook in a cave in the En Gedi Nature Reserve, with the artifacts in excellent preservation. It appears that these weapons were hidden by Jewish rebels who took refuge in the caves after capturing them as spoils of war from the Roman army. 'Finding one sword like this is rare, so four? It's a dream. We rubbed our eyes to believe it,' say the researchers who examined the find.

Indeed, the weapons were discovered in a small, concealed cave located in an isolated and difficult-to-access cliff area north of En Gedi, within the En Gedi reserve managed by the Nature and Parks Authority. About 50 years ago, remnants of a Hebrew inscription, written in ink on a stalactite in ancient Hebrew script typical of the First Temple period, were discovered in this cave.

(Photo: Emil Aljem, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Recently, Dr. Asaf Gayer from the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Ariel University, geologist Boaz Langford from the Institute of Earth Sciences and the Cave Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Shai Halevi, a photographer for the Israel Antiquities Authority, visited the cave. Their goal was to photograph the Hebrew inscription on the stalactite using multispectral imaging, allowing additional parts of the inscription that are invisible to the naked eye to be deciphered. During their exploration of the upper level of the cave, Dr. Gayer found a spearhead in exceptional preservation within a deep and narrow niche. In an adjacent niche, Gayer identified pieces of finished wood, which later turned out to be parts of the sword scabbards.

(Photo: Emil Aljem, Israel Antiquities Authority)

The researchers reported this discovery to the archaeological survey team of the Israel Antiquities Authority, which is currently conducting a systematic scientific project in the caves of the Judean Desert. As part of this survey, initiated by the Israel Antiquities Authority and in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and the Archaeology Staff Officer in the Civil Administration, hundreds of caves in the Judean Desert have been documented over the last six years, and 24 archaeological excavations have been conducted in select caves to rescue unique archaeological remains preserved in the Judean Desert from antiquities theft.

'The concealment of the swords and the spearhead in deep crevices in an isolated cave north of En Gedi suggests that the weapons were taken as spoils from Roman soldiers or from the battlefield and deliberately hidden by Jewish rebels for reuse,' says Dr. Eitan Klein, co-director of the Judean Desert Survey Project. 'It's likely the rebels did not want to be caught with the weapons when encountering Roman authorities. We are only at the beginning of the study of the cave and the ensemble of weapons discovered in it, and our goal is to try and determine who owned the swords, where, and when they were manufactured, and by whom. We will try to understand the historical event following which the weapons were hidden in the cave, and whether it indeed took place during the Bar Kokhba revolt.'

(Photo: Emil Aljem, Israel Antiquities Authority)

According to the Minister of Heritage, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, 'As with previous discoveries in the Judean Desert, we are once again exposed to exciting finds that reveal a glimpse into the daily lives of our ancestors who lived here about 2,000 years ago. The finding of the swords in a cave that already contained a Hebrew inscription from the days of the Temple is further proof of the long-standing tradition of the people of Israel regarding the importance of both spirit and sword, their spiritual and physical heritage alike. The Ministry of Heritage, together with the Israel Antiquities Authority and its staff, will continue to work to discover, preserve, and pass on the long-standing history of the people of Israel in their land.'