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In a remarkable discovery, archaeologists excavating in the City of David in Jerusalem have unearthed a 2,300-year-old gold ring . The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced this find on May 27, 2024, describing the ring as “exceedingly well-preserved” and adorned with a red garnet. The small diameter of the ring suggests it was likely made for a child’s finger, dating back to the early Hellenistic era , around the 3rd or 4th century BCE.

The ring was found during ongoing excavations at the Givati Parking Lot , a site that has yielded numerous artifacts from various periods of Jerusalem’s history. This particular piece of jewelry is indicative of the fashion trends of the time, where gold jewelry with set stones became popular following Alexander the Great’s conquests, which facilitated transport and trade across the Hellenistic world. Tehiya Gangate , a member of the excavation team, recounted the moment of discovery with excitement: “I was sifting earth through the screen and suddenly saw something glitter.



I immediately yelled, ‘I found a ring, I found a ring!’” The discovery was met with great enthusiasm from the team, as it is not every day that such an emotionally moving find is made. The ring’s excellent state of preservation is noteworthy, having accumulated neither rust nor other weatherings of time since its last use over two millennia ago. It was manufactured by hammering thin pre-cut gold leaves onto a metal ring base, a technique that re.

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