Rare 2,000 year-old oil lamp uncovered in Jerusalem

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered a very rare bronze oil lamp that was buried at the foundation of a Roman-era building constructed in Jerusalem’s City of David almost 2,000 years ago, the Times of Israel (ToI) reported last week. The first of its kind discovered in Israel, the lamp is shaped like one half of an ugly, distorted face and may have been buried as an offering of good luck for the residents of the new building.

In a statement last week Wednesday, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said the bronze lamp was found at the foundation of a building in the City of David’s Pilgrimage Road, a road which Jewish pilgrims took on their way to the Temple, ToI reports. The lamp is thought to be from the late 1st century or the early 2nd century AD.

Foundation offerings were frequently made in the Roman era, and were buried under floors of buildings to ensure luck for the residents, the IAA said.

Referring to the location of the rare lamp at the foundation of the building, IAA archaeologists IAA directors of excavations Ari Levy said in a statement: “It is possible that the importance of the building, and the need to bless its activity with luck by burying a foundation deposit, was due to its proximity to the Siloam Pool, which was also used in the Roman period as the central source of water within the city.”

In a further rare find, IAA researchers also discovered the lamp’s wick, which is in very good condition and was found to be made of flax, ToI said.

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