Ancient Gold Ring Discovered in City of David

Archaeologists in Jerusalem's City of David have made an extraordinary discovery: a 2,300-year-old gold ring, intricately designed and set with a precious stone, believed to have been worn by a young child during the Hellenistic period. This remarkable find offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Jerusalem's ancient inhabitants.

The excavation, conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and Tel Aviv University (TAU) as part of the Jerusalem Walls National Park project and supported by the Elad Foundation, uncovered the ring in pristine condition. The small gold ring, adorned with a red garnet, has remarkably retained its luster without any signs of rust or degradation over the millennia.

Tehiya Gangate, a member of the City of David excavation team, discovered the ring while sifting through earth. "I immediately yelled, ‘I found a ring, I found a ring!’ Within seconds, everyone gathered around me, and there was great excitement," Gangate recounted. "This is an emotionally moving find. I always wanted to find gold jewelry, and I am very happy this dream came true – literally a week before I went on maternity leave."

The IAA excavation directors, Dr. Yiftah Shalev and Riki Zalut Har-Tov, noted the ring's delicate size, suggesting it may have fit a woman's pinky or a young child's finger. Dr. Marion Zindel explained that the ring was crafted by hammering thin gold leaves onto a metal ring base, a technique indicative of Persian and Early Hellenistic styles from the late Fourth to early Third century BCE. During this era, there was a shift towards using gold with set stones rather than ornate gold designs.

The discovery of this gold ring adds to a collection of Hellenistic period ornaments found in the City of David excavations, including a horned-animal earring and a decorated gold bead. These artifacts highlight the influence of Alexander the Great's conquests, which facilitated the spread of luxury goods and cultural motifs across the Hellenistic world.

TAU's Prof. Yuval Gadot and excavator Efrat Bocher emphasized that these findings are reshaping our understanding of Jerusalem's status during the Early Hellenistic period. Previously, scholars believed Jerusalem was a modest town with limited resources. However, the recent discoveries of substantial structures and luxury items suggest a prosperous city with significant economic and social standing.

The excavation reveals an entire neighborhood comprising both domestic and public buildings, indicating that the city expanded westward from the hilltop. The opulence of these buildings and the presence of gold artifacts reflect Jerusalem's integration into the Hellenistic cultural sphere prevalent in the eastern Mediterranean Basin.

IAA director Eli Escuzido highlighted the significance of these findings for understanding Jerusalem's history. To celebrate Jerusalem Day, the public is invited to an evening event dedicated to these fascinating discoveries. Details are available on the Israel Antiquities Authority website.

The gold ring will be publicly displayed for the first time at the "Jerusalem Mysteries – the Archaeology of Jerusalem" conference on June 5 at the IAA’s Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel near the Israel Museum.

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