A cache of 44 pure gold coins was recently discovered in the ancient Banias site within the Hermon River Nature Reserve during an excavation by the Antiquities Authority. The excavation at the site is being conducted in preparation for connecting the 'Makam Nabi Khidir' site, which is sacred to the Druze, to the electricity grid.
Dr. Gabriela Bichovski, a coin expert at the Israeli Antiquities Authority who examined the treasure, determined that it contains several coins of Emperor Phokas and many coins minted by Emperor Heraclius. The coins of Heraclius date the newly found coins to the days of the Arab occupation.
Israel uncovers gold coins from 1400 years ago at northern nature reservehttps://t.co/njGRcEOd95 pic.twitter.com/Pr2y7rqRY4
— Ynetnews (@ynetnews) October 3, 2022
Dr. Yoav Lehrer, director of the excavation on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, said: "The treasure, which weighs about 170 grams, was buried at the base of a wall built of local stones, during the occupation of the Land of Israel by the Muslim successors from the Umayyad House. The find provides us with an image of a moment in time, when one can literally imagine a person hiding his wealth from the anxiety of war, and this in the hope of returning and collecting his possessions. Today we know that his fate did not favor him." Dr. Lerer noted that "finding the treasure could shed light on the economy of the settlement during the last 40 years of Byzantine control in the city."
"Most of the coins in the cache were minted by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius," added Dr. Bichovski, “and what is particularly interesting about them is that at the beginning of the emperor's career, you only see his portrait on the coin, but very quickly, the portraits of his family members join him. You can really see the growth process of his sons on the coins, from childhood - until they appear on the coin when they are the same height as their father the emperor, who appears with a long beard."
Israel uncovers gold coins from 1400 years ago at northern nature reserve https://t.co/2wI17TszIX
— drdivine (@drdivine) October 3, 2022
The excavation, which was carried out in the northwestern residential quarter of the ancient city of Banias, revealed the remains of buildings, canals and pipes for transporting water, a furnace for making ceramic vessels, and many small finds, including fragments of pottery, glass, metals and bronze coins. These date from the end of the Byzantine period, and the early Middle Ages.
The Banias is an archaeological site and also a nature reserve under the management of the Nature and Parks Authority. A settlement always existed during numerous ancient periods. However, the Canaanites were the first settlers, establishing a village there with a temple to the god Baal in the center.
“The discovery of the coin hoard may also shed light on the economy of the city of Banias during the last 40 years of Byzantine rule”
— Jonathan Benchimol (@Benchimolium) October 3, 2022
Archaeologists assessed that the treasure was hidden by its owner during the Muslim Conquest of the area in 635 CE.https://t.co/NdgM7y4U9B
In Christianity, the Banias became famous for being the place where Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. In 1129, European crusaders attempted to fortify the city, in order for it to be used as their starting point for the conquest of Damascus, but there fortification was short lived due to Muslim forces capturing the city in 1132.
