Wednesday May 14, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Archaeology

Authorities bust destructive illicit dig in northern Israel

"It's incredible that people take the law into their own hands and for the sake of greed, damage and destroy antiquities and prevent the general public in Israel from enjoying its heritage," says deputy head of the Israel Antiquities Authority Robberies Prevention Unit.

by  ILH Staff
Published on  06-07-2021 11:34
Last modified: 06-07-2021 11:34
Authorities bust destructive illicit dig in northern IsraelIsrael Antiquities Authority

Pottery shards and sections of stone discovered at Khirbat al-Jahush in northern Israel | Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Five suspected antiquities robbers were caught red-handed over the weekend using a backhoe to conduct an illegal excavation at Khirbat al-Jahush, which lies in agricultural land between Kiryat Ata and Highway 70 in northern Israel.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

The suspects, residents of the villages I'billin and Tamra, were spotted and attempted to flee, but members of the Israel Antiquities Authority's Robberies Prevention Unit, Israel Police from the Tamra Station, Border Police, rangers from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and volunteers worked together to apprehend them.

In addition to the backhoe, the suspects used hand tools to dig up the site, causing damage.

Israel Antiquities Authority personnel inspect the gaping hole left by unsupervised digging with a backhoe at Khirbat al-Jahush (Dr. Eitan Klein/Israel Antiquities Authority)

After being apprehended, they were brought to the police station in Tamra for questioning. The authorities also seized two vehicles and the backhoe, which are likely to be confiscated during legal proceedings after the suspects are indicted.

Nir Distelfeld, an inspector for the Robberies Prevention Unit in northern Israel, explained that the excavation using the backhoe "caused irreparable damage to heritage ruins. Hewn stones that belonged to a public building were torn up, mosaic floors were broken, and so were pottery and glass shards."

According to Distelfeld, the suspects' capture prevented future destruction to the archaeological site.

Gilad Tzinamon, the IAA archaeologist for the western Galilee region, explained that archaeological surveys of the site had identified fragments of hewn stone and pottery shards from the Hellenistic, Byzantine, early Muslim, and Ottoman eras.

Tzinamon said that the illicit dig had exposed a wall constructed of "very high-quality" stonework as well as roof tiles and glass vessels that could indicate that the site was once home to a church. He said that the IAA would conduct a salvage excavation to save the finds that remains, and learn as much as possible about it.

Dr. Eitan Klein, deputy head of the Robberies Prevention Union, said that the site in question has yet to be researched, and therefore "any damage to the archaeological layers and archaeological artifacts there comprise mortal, irreversible damage that makes it difficult for archaeologists to understand the history of the site and the people who lived near it throughout the generations.

"It's incredible that people take the law into their own hands and for the sake of greed, damage and destroy antiquities and prevent the general public in Israel from enjoying its heritage," Klein said.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: antiquities robberiesarchaeologyarchaeology in Israelbiblical archaeologychurchpottery

Related Posts

Biblical kings' palace excavated in SamariaUzi Greenfeld

Biblical kings' palace excavated in Samaria

by Hanan Greenwood

"When digging in ancient Samaria, you are touching the Bible with your hands. Living in Samaria is not just a...

How Israel produced luxury dye 3,000 years agoMicheal Eisenberg

How Israel produced luxury dye 3,000 years ago

by Assaf Golan

Tel Shiqmona, located on the coast of Haifa, was one of the important production centers for purple dye, a rare...

World's oldest customer complaint reveals business practices haven't changed in 4,000 yearsGeni, used under CC-BY-SA 4.0 license

World's oldest customer complaint reveals business practices haven't changed in 4,000 years

by ILH Staff

The tablet, inscribed by a dissatisfied customer named Nanni, documents his anger over receiving poor-quality copper and being told to...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il