Discoveries of submerged archaeological treasures off the coast of Israel

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Discoveries of submerged archaeological treasures off the coast of Israel

Near the port of Caesarea, Israel, the remains of ships and the treasures they carried to the IIIe and XIVe centuries have been discovered. Among these, a ring adorned with one of the earliest representations of Jesus.

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From archaeologist divers regularly explore the Israeli coast in search of remains that allow them to reconstruct human history in this region. During an expedition, archaeologist Jacob Sharvit explains that a broken anchor has been spotted and that explorers quickly discovered the remains of two shipwrecks near it, outside the port of Caesarea. The fact that both vessels sank in the same spot leads archaeologists to assume that the ships had to anchor urgently and did not have the time or opportunity to re-enter the port of Caesarea, which likely caused their loss to the during a storm. More than 500 pieces dating from the Mamluk era (XIVe century) have been discovered but most of the remains date from the roman period of IIIe century. Among these are coins, a red gem engraved with a lyre, an eagle figurine and bronze bells.

The red gem engraved with a lyre is smaller than a phalanx and is one of the many remains found with shipwrecks. © Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities Authority

An ancient representation of Jesus

One of the most surprising finds is a thick gold ring encrusted with a green gemstone featuring the engraving of a young shepherd holding a sheep in his arms. The archaeologists think it is the “good shepherd,” one of the earliest representations of Jesus. If this representation is known, it is rare to find it on a ring. His presence in a ship near the port of Caesarea attests to the presence of Christians in this city roman and the beginnings of the development of this religion in now mixed cities.

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