Israel Antiquities Authority

West Bank, Gaza antiquities bill raises international law concerns, legal adviser warns Knesset

The comments came as lawmakers prepared to advance the legislation on West Bank and Gaza antiquities toward final votes in the committee.

View of the ancient archeological site of Sebastia, near the West Bank city of Nablus, May 12, 2025.
The mysterious, ancient tunnel found near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel on the outskirts of Jerusalem, May 14, 2026.

Ancient tunnel with unknown age, purpose found near Kibbutz Ramat Rachel ahead of Jerusalem Day

INEXTG CEO Esti Shrieber, tapped to be the next director of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

Heritage Minister taps INEXTG CEO Esther Shreiber for next IAA director, first woman in role

Hasmonean-era coin depicted the seven-branched menorah (L) and silver tetradrachm minted in Ashkelon during the Persian period (R) which were returned to Israel from the United States earlier this week, May 13, 2026.

US returns two rare, ancient coins to Israel following joint antiquities theft investigation


Israeli AI, drone imagery revolutionizing mapping of archaeological sites

“Sites that appear on the surface as scattered stones suddenly become coherent, organized spaces, and it saves a lot of research time,” Dr. Yitzchak Jaffe said.

Drone imagery of an archaeological site.

Ancient lead menorah pendant sheds light on Jewish presence in Byzantine Jerusalem

Cast almost entirely of lead, the pendant is decorated on both sides with an identical image of a menorah framed within a circular border.

AN ANCIENT menorah pendant from the Byzantine period, found in Jerusalem.

Hasmonean era 'first wall' section revealed at Tower of David museum excavation - interview

Israel’s Heritage Minister, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, called the discovery: “tangible and moving evidence of Jerusalem’s might and stature during the Hasmonean period.”

Archaeologist Amit Re'em and Eilat Lieber, director of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum stand atop the recently uncovered section of the Hasmonean wall.

Unearthing Israel’s past: Archaeological discoveries change our understanding of history

As all these discoveries show, the land’s buried secrets have the power to transform our understanding of history, faith, and the human experience.

THIS SEAL, dated to the First Temple period, features Hebrew writing that reads: ‘Natan-melech the king’s servant,’ which is a quote that appears in the second ‘Book of Kings,’ 23:11.

Israel Antiquities Authority uncovers 5,500-year-old ‘Canaanite blade factory’ at Nahal Qomem

Dr. Jacob Vardi says the early bronze age site shows 'only exceptional individuals knew how to produce the Canaanite blades,' revealing a complex, specialized society.

Israel Antiquities Authority uncovers 5,500-year-old ‘Canaanite blade factory’ at Nahal Qomem.

Galilee cave yields 4th-century coin hoard tied to Jewish resistance under Rome

The coins were unearthed in Hukok, an ancient Jewish settlement near the Sea of Galilee associated with Jewish resistance under Roman rule.

Copper coins dating back more than 1,600, discovered in northern Israel.

New digital archive gives global access to Israel’s archaeological treasures

The Israel Antiquities Authority has launched a new database holding over three million historically significant records.

An intricately decorated 1,700-year-old ceramic oil lamp adorned with symbols linked to the Jewish Temple and discovered on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives, displayed in Jerusalem on Dec. 26, 2024

Israeli archaeologists unearth lavish 1,600-year-old Samaritan estate

The excavation revealed a magnificent mosaic floor decorated with a geometric pattern and images of fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, dates, and watermelons.

An olive press for production of oil in ritually pure conditions and an adjacent ritual bath (miqveh)

Ancient innovation uncovered: Some of the oldest lamp wicks in history found in Israel

The wicks, preserved in unusual circumstances, are a remarkable discovery given the moist Mediterranean climate, which typically causes organic materials to decompose.

A 4,000-year-old wick was discovered in its entirety in an  Israel Antiquities Authority excavation near Yehud.

IAA reveals how Israel's archaeologists helped locate missing persons post-Oct. 7

The exhibition, opening to the public on August 6, will be held at The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.

 The destruction caused by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, October 19, 2023.