2017-04-20 Thu

A hoard of Bronze coins was found in June 2016 by Israel Antiquities Authority when they were working on Highway One, a road connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. After further excavations, a large two-story structure, a wine-press and a Byzantine church were also discovered at the site. Nine seventh century AD bronze coins from the end of the Byzantine period were also.

Struck at Constantinople, Antioch, and Nicomedia, these coins feature portraits of three important Byzantine emperors on the obverse: Justinian (483-565 AD), Maurice (539-602 AD) and Phocas (547-610 AD). They are wearing military garbs and holding crosses. The reverse shows the coin’s denomination and the inscription M.

Experts believe that these are remains of a settlement called Einbikumakube who lived near flowing springs by the roadsides of Christian pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. The site also has some links to the 614 CE Sassanid Persian Invasion that ended Byzantine rule in Israel.

Efforts are being taken to conserve the site as a landmark.