The Israel Antiquities Authority announced last week the discovery of four 1,900-year-old Roman swords and a pillar hidden in a cave in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve on the west bank of the Dead Sea.
Researchers who examined the findings believe that the Roman swords were probably kept as spoils of war by Judean rebels. The small cave in which they hid is located high in an isolated and inaccessible part of the cliffs on the north side of the park, an official said. The statement also states that 50 years ago, a stalactite with an inscription in ancient Hebrew, partially written in ink, was found in the same cave.
Ariel University archaeologist Asaf Gayer, Hebrew University of Jerusalem geologist Boaz Langford, and chartered photographer Shai Halevi recently revisited the cave to view the stalactite. However, during their visit to the cave, Gayer found a pilum (a long javelin) stuck in a crevice. After further examination, the research team concluded that pieces of processed wood (fragments of sword scabbards) were found in the recess next to the crack.
A thorough examination of the cave followed, revealing four Roman swords. According to the description, the iron swords were extraordinarily well preserved, with three of them still in their wooden sheaths. Three of the swords were between 60 and 65 centimeters long and one was about 45 centimeters long.
Eitan Klein, director of the Judean Desert Survey Project, said in a statement: “The hiding of the swords and pilum in deep crevices in the isolated cave north of ‘En Gedi’ suggests that the weapons were taken as booty from Roman soldiers or from the battlefield and were to be reused by Judean rebels.” “It indicates that he was hiding on purpose,” he said.
“We will try to identify the historical event that led to the storage of these weapons in the cave and determine whether this occurred during the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 132-135 AD,” Klein added.
What is the Bar Kokhba revolt?
The Bar Kokhba revolt was a Jewish revolt against Roman rule that eventually failed. But if the team’s initial results are correct, it appears that at least some Judeans were able to escape with the spoils of war. A bronze coin from the time of Bar Kokhba was found in the cave, providing further evidence that swords may have been stored at that time.
If the Dead Sea Scrolls weren’t proof enough, the discovery of hidden Roman weapons shows that Ein Gedi and its surrounding caves still hold many ancient secrets…
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