Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) have found a large number of Egyptian artifacts and pottery vessels dating back to the Late Bronze Age (1500 BC) and the Iron Age (1000 BC) in a cave in the vicinity of Kibbutz Lahav, southern Israel.
Ring inlaid with a seal depicting an Egyptian warrior with a shield and sword. Image credit: Israel Antiquities Authority, Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery.
“The Israelites left Egypt; however, it seems that even years after their return Egypt did not leave the Israelites and their descendants,” explained Dr Amir Ganor of the IAA.
The archaeologists suggest the existence of an Egyptian administrative center in the region 3,400 years ago.
“More than 300 pottery vessels of different types were found in the cave, some of which were discovered intact,” they said.
The scientists also found dozens of pieces of bronze jewelry, shells and faience, unique vessels fashioned from yellowish alabaster, seals, seal impressions and cosmetic vessels.
“Among the many artifacts that were discovered, most of which are characteristic of the Judahite culture in the south of the country, we found dozens of stone seals, some of which are shaped in the form of a winged beetle (scarabs) and bear carved symbols and images typical of the Egyptian culture which prevailed in the country in the Late Bronze Age. Some of the seals were fashioned on semi-precious stones that come from Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula,” Dr Ganor said.
Scarab seal from the reign of Thutmose III with a sphinx crouching near the pharaoh’s name. Image credit: Clara Amit / Israel Antiquities Authority.
Dr Daphna Ben-Tor of the Israel Museum added: “most of the scarab seals found in the excavation date to the 15th-14th centuries BC. During this period Canaan was ruled by Egypt.”
“The names of kings appeared on some of the seals. Among other things, we can identify a sphinx lying opposite the name of the pharaoh Thutmose III who reigned from about 1504-1450 BC.”
“Another scarab seal bears the name of Amenhotep III who reigned from about 1386-1349 BC. Still another scarab depicts Ptah, the principal god of the city of Memphis.”
Other artifacts discovered included seal rings made of faience and a wealth of figurines and amulets in the image of gods sacred to the Egyptian culture.
“It is true the Israelites left Egypt but the evidence from the excavation in the cave shows the Egyptians did not leave the Israelites and their descendants. This has been attested to in archaeological excavations where we uncovered evidence from many years after the Exodus which reflects the influence of Egyptian culture on the Judahite residents of the country,” Dr Ganor said.
Faience amulets depicting Egyptian gods. Image credit: Clara Amit / Israel Antiquities Authority.
“An examination of the finds shows that some of the objects were produced in Egypt itself and were brought to Canaan by the Israelites or merchants. However, some of the artifacts were made in the country using methods imitating Egyptian production techniques and copying Egyptian cultural motifs, while utilizing indigenous raw materials,” the scientists said.
“The IAA team discovered that antiquities thieves had broken into the cave and began looting pottery vessels from 3,000 years ago and disturbed the ancient archaeological strata. The archaeologists thwarted further damage to the cave and carried out a salvage excavation there in order to save the artifacts and extremely valuable archaeological information from the robbers’ pickaxes.”
