Archaeologists Discover Crusader Treasure Trove Reportedly Worth $500K in Israeli Coastal City
- Posted on July 11, 2012 at 7:23pm by
Erica Ritz
- Print »
- Email »
(Photo: Apollonia National Park Expedition / Pavel Shrago)
A joint team from Tel Aviv University and Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority have discovered a buried treasure estimated to be worth roughly $500,000 at an ancient Roman settlement near the country’s coast, according to reports.
The Israeli News site Haaretz relates:
The cache consists of 108 gold coins, 93 of them comprised of 4 grams of gold and worth about a dinar each and 15 coins worth a quarter of a dinar, comprised of 1 gram of gold each. The coins were minted in Egypt some 250 years before being buried in the fortress’ floor.
So how did the coins make their way to Israel?
Reports indicate that the area was a strategic stronghold for the Crusaders in the 12th and 13th centuries, and one of the most important residences for the Knights Hospitaller in the region.
Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it was the site of a famous 12th century battle between King Richard I – known as Lionheart – and the Muslim leader Saladin, Reuters relates. But by 1265, roughly 80 years later, the tide had dramatically turned. The Muslim army returned under a different general, hungry for revenge, and captured the city after 40 days of siege.
(Photo: YouTube / NTDTV)
The head of the Apollonia digging team, Professor Oren Tal of Tel Aviv University explained: “I think the stash was deliberately buried in a partly broken vessel, which was then filled with sand and laid under the floor tiles…So if anyone found it he would think it’s a broken pot and pay no attention to it.”
Apollonia National Park director Haggai Yoyanan declared: “It was hastily hidden just before the fall…With the other findings, it tells a story of a prolonged siege and a harsh battle.”
And after the siege, the castle was abandoned and has not been inhabited since– leaving the treasure intact.
(Photo: YouTube / NTDTV)
Fox News has more information:
The hoard of coins themselves — found on June 21, 2012, by Mati Johananoff, a student of TAU Department of Archaeology — date to the times of the Fatimid empire, which dominated northern Africa and parts of the Middle East at the time. Tal estimates their date to the 10th and 11th centuries, although they were circulated in the 13th century.
“Some were minted some 250 to 300 years before they were used by the Hospitaller knights,” he explained. The coins are covered in icons and inscriptions: the names and legends of local sultans, Tal said, as well as blessings.
Some also bear a date, and even a mint mark, a code that indicates where it was minted, whether Alexandria, Tripoli, or another ancient mint.
“Fatimid coins are very difficult to study because they are so informative,” Tal told FoxNews.com. “The legends are very long, the letters are sometimes difficult to decipher.”
(Photo: YouTube / NTDTV)
All that remains is for the researchers to thoroughly study and decipher the coins, before they are transferred to a museum. One of the largest treasure troves ever discovered in Israel, according to Haaretz, museums have predictably already started to bicker over who will host the findings.
Tal said the Israel Museum in Jerusalem is in the running, but so is the Eretz (or Land of Israel) Museum in Tel Aviv. But the professor has already done his part, and says of the museum selection: “It’s not for us to decide.”
NTDTV has video of the hoard, and interviews with the fortunate archaeologists:
Comments (16)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 684 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 647 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 523 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 361 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 316 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 181 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 212 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 181 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Kerri g
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:35pmWell now the Palastinians are going to be piss ed off. They are going to accuse Israel of steeling their money. Watch out for the rockets, they will be coming soon. Any reason you know.
Report Post »LawrenceofBessarabia
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 7:46amAnd they have every right to considering the fact that the Israelis stole their land — and don’t give me that pseudo-historical quasi-religious half-baked claptrap that the Holy Land always belonged to the ‘chosen people.’
Report Post »RedManBlueState
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:08pmThey look like Chuck E. Cheese tokens.
Report Post »Jack of Hearts
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:49amRichard was one of the great warrior Kings of England. Not only did he lead successful campaigns in the Holy Land he knew how to deal with heretics at home. When he was crowned, Richard barred all Jews from the ceremony, but some Jewish leaders arrived to present gifts for the new king. According to Ralph of Diceto, Richard’s courtiers stripped and flogged the Jews, then flung them out of court. When a rumour spread that Richard had ordered all Jews to be killed, the people of London began a massacre. Many Jews were beaten to death, robbed, and burned alive. Many Jewish homes were burned down.
Report Post »Muscular Christianity at its best.
SunTzuYou
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:57amOff topic, the point of mentioning Richard (80 some years earlier) was that they had a deal which the Muslims apparently broke. Can you name the Muslim? No? Probably because “revenge” is a virtue to the Muslim and you may loathe the West. (By the way, when you cut and past from Wikipedia, it is good form to provide attribution.) I am not defending Richard, or his sexuality, but this is why we in the West appreciate the Magna Carta, that curbed the absolute power of his brother John. Speaking of John (Roberts), he may have reversed nearly a millineum of progress of liberty since the Magna Carta. Cheers!
Report Post »Jack of Hearts
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:14pmOK, so many points but I’ll try to address them all:
Report Post »-No-one mentioned his sexuality (rumours were untrue anyway – read John Gillingham’s book)
-It’s not off topic since he is the one crusader most people have heard of
-It so happens that one of my ancestors went into captivity with Richard when he was captured for ransom, so don’t patronise me with cr*p about “we in the west”
-You obviously have no idea what was in Magna Carta but I haven’t got time to educate you now
-I love the west – why talk about loathing it?
The only valid point you make is about attribution of sources and there I concede, it was quicker to use that source.
Cheers yourself old man.
SunTzuYou
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 4:57pmJack, once again, off topic. What do Jews in London have to do with an event 80 plus years after… I did not mean to get under your skin, but the cut and paste without attribution failed to tell the rest of the story that a fan of yours could learn more (which I did). I thought the Magna Carta had more to do with Richard (which was off topic) than the Jews, and would be interested if you see no connection at all, certainly more than Richard-Jews-coins 80 years after. Interesting ancestry comment, I am jealous of your pedigree, must be an interesting story there. Lastly I could not find “patronise” in the dictionary, might consider Spell Check with Wikipedia, potty mouth reduces the credibility of your position. Which of John Gillingham’s books on Richard would you recommend? Lastly, I looked up “Muscular Christianty” on your Wikipedia, not sure it is the same thing, maybe you have a different definition. Once again, cool ancestry, I am just a peasant.
Report Post »Jack of Hearts
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 5:24amSun,
Report Post »Patronise is the English spelling (see Oxford English dictionary) although both “s” and “z”are correct. I try to spell in American whenever I can – color/colour etc but sometimes I miss one.
The point I was trying to make was merely that many non-muslims, for example Jews or in Eastern Europe Slavs, were killed in the Crusades.
Muscular Christianity is again an English concept and refers back to the Victorian foundation of the Salvation Army.
Anyway, nice to have a conversation with you – apologies for any naughty words I used!
thegoldman
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:47amThat would have went right in my pocket !
You know, Finders keepers !
Report Post »Welcome Black Carter
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:59amHow long ’till we hear the mooslims claiming rights to the coins?
Report Post »The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 9:19amThat is so cool! The nerd in me is beaming
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:29amI always find it amazing… how much damage that King Richard did to the Vast Forces of Saladin… with 50 Knights and 2,000 FootMen!
Report Post »Aaryq
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:37amI agree. Knights Hospitaller have gotten the back seat in the crusades talks because of the Templars being featured in novels and movies but the Hospitallers were some rough dudes.
Report Post »The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:25pmAye, the West scraped by on the skin of it’s teeth. The reason the old caliphate could not land a finishing blow to Europe was turmoil within. A renegade sect of Islam attacked it’s self. If it weren’t for them, we would all be speaking arabic today.
Report Post »SunTzuYou
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:34amPeace loving Muslim army on its way to Vienna, through Constantinople (oops, I mean Istanbul) to liberate Europe.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:16amVlad Tepes… light up the Bat Signal!
Report Post »