Another archaeological sensation! An ancient necropolis was discovered near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. But it is in this city, as you know, that Jesus Christ was born (let us also remember the Star of Bethlehem, fire and the Magi). In the necropolis, archaeologists have discovered more than 100 tombs, whose age is neither more nor less - 4 thousand years!
The burial ground was opened in the spring of 2013 during the construction of the industrial park. In 2014, a team from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities excavated several tombs, and in 2015 a joint Italian-Palestinian team created a plan for a necropolis for future exploration. Archaeologists have found that burials in it were carried out in 2200 - 650 years. BC.
Professor Lorenzo Nigro of the University of Rome La Sapienza stated that the finds from the necropolis indicate that the city next to which the necropolis was located was undoubtedly a very rich place and stood on trade routes.
Although the necropolis was partially destroyed by marauders, archaeologists were able to examine 30 tombs. In one burial, the remains of a man, a woman and a child were found with two bronze daggers and ceramic utensils. Archaeologists have determined that the tomb was made 3,500 years ago. In another grave, an almost complete skeleton of a man was found, buried with a ceramic oil lamp with four curved noses. This burial is more than 4 thousand years old.
In another tomb, amulets in the form of scarabs were found, which were fixed on bronze and gold rings. Egyptian scarabs have been found in many places in the eastern Mediterranean. According to ancient records, the Egyptians were very active in the area, trading and sometimes taking over territories.
“It looks like the city has suffered a crisis,” says Professor Nigro. What exactly happened in Bethlehem in 650 BC is unclear. However, Nigro noted that at this time the Assyrian and Babylonian empires were conducting military campaigns in which these lands were conquered.