Ancient Golden Treasure Uncovered at Foot of Jerusalem's Temple Mount

Excavations at Jerusalem's Temple Mount have yielded two bundles of long-buried treasure, according to a team of archaeologists from Hebrew University.

The discoveries include 36 gold coins and jewelry hewn from silver and gold. By far the most exciting item from all of this is a 10 centimeter gold medallion with the image of a menorah etched into it.

Eilat Mazar is a third-generation archaeologist and the director of all excavations carried out on the City of David's summit and the Temple Mount's southern wall. According to the researcher, the medallion, which can be dated to the early 7th century, marks "a breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime discovery."

"We have been making significant finds from the First Temple Period in this area, a much earlier time in Jerusalem's history, so discovering a golden seven-branched Menorah from the seventh century CE at the foot of the Temple Mount was a complete surprise," Mazar said.

Discovered in a ruined Byzantine public structure some 50 meters from the Temple Mount's southern wall, the medallion also contains on its surface the image of a ram's horn and a Torah scroll.

Based on how the items were positioned when they were discovered, the archaeologists determined that one bundle was abandoned in haste, its contents somewhat scattered across the floor, while the other was carefully hidden underground. Given these observations, as well as the dating of the objects, Mazar hypothesizes they were abandoned during the Persian conquest of Jerusalem in 614 AD.

After the Persians conquered the famous city, many Jews returned to it in hopes they would be able to live and worship freely. As the Persian's power waned, however, they ultimately sought an alliance with the Christians, permitting them to expel the Jews from the city.

The medallion, which hangs on a gold chain, was likely made to ornament a Torah scroll. Should this be the case, it would represent the earliest Torah scroll ornament found in excavations to date.

Buried in a small depression in the floor, it was accompanied by two pendants, a gold coil and a silver clasp -- all of which the archaeologists believe to be Torah scroll ornamentations, too.

"It would appear that the most likely explanation is that the Ophel cache was earmarked as a contribution toward the building of a new synagogue, at a location that is near the Temple Mount," said Dr. Mazar. "What is certain is that their mission, whatever it was, was unsuccessful. The treasure was abandoned, and its owners could never return to collect it."