Golden Trove at Hippos: 97 Byzantine Coins and Jeweled Pieces Unearthed Near Sea of Galilee
Archaeologists from the University of Haifa say they uncovered a cache of 97 pure-gold coins and fragments of gold jewelry during July excavations at Hippos (Sussita) National Park, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The hoard—recovered by the long-running expedition directed by Dr. Michael Eisenberg and Dr. Arleta Kowalewska—spans the late sixth to early seventh centuries and includes a rare coin minted in Cyprus in 610 CE, documented in Israel only twice. Researchers believe the treasure was concealed in the turbulent years before the Sasanian-Persian conquest of 614 CE and never retrieved, even after a brief Byzantine return.
“This is one of the largest hoards from the Byzantine period discovered on dry land in Israel, and its uniqueness lies in the combination of jewelry and gold coins from the reigns of different emperors,” Eisenberg said. Coins range from Emperor Justin I (518–527 CE) through the early reign of Emperor Heraclius (610–613 CE). He added: “Remnants of fabric were found on some of the coins—a trace of the cloth pouch in which the hoard had been hidden.”
Give the gift of hope
We practice what we preach:
accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone.
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
Join us.
Support The Media Line. Save democracy.
The jewelry fragments—earrings inlaid with pearls, semi-precious stones, and glass—point to elite ownership in a city that flourished under Byzantine rule as a Christian center with at least seven churches. Founded in the 2nd century BCE by the Seleucids, Hippos persisted after the Arab conquest but was leveled by an earthquake in 749 CE and abandoned.
Set within a national park managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and under the Jordan Valley Regional Council, Hippos has been excavated for 26 years. Eisenberg called the find a time capsule of prosperity abruptly interrupted: “Gold is a noble metal, and when you find coins and jewelry nearly 1,400 years old that look new, it is a rare experience.”
