A 3600-year-old trove of gold and silver artifacts has been discovered at Tel Gezer National Park. The hoard was found inside a clay pot, wrapped in cloth, and seemingly placed in the foundations of a building. The specific items include figurines of Canaanite gods, a silver pendant featuring an eight-pointed star, and an Egyptian scarab in a gold bezel that dates to the Hyksos era. Archaeologists hypothesize that this trove was deliberately placed in the foundation of the building as an offering to the gods to seek their blessing for the structure. In the Canaanite period, Gezer was an important city, and was rebuilt during the Israelite period by King Solomon (1 Ki 9:17).
Off-site Links:
- http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.753136
- http://www.timesofisrael.com/rare-canaanite-era-trove-of-gold-and-silver-unearthed-in-central-israel/