Researchers from the University of Haifa discovered a rare Byzantine-era hoard during archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Sussita, near the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). The find includes 97 gold coins and dozens of fragments of gold earrings decorated with pearls, semi-precious stones, and glass.
“This is one of the most significant Byzantine-period hoards ever discovered in Israel. Its uniqueness lies in the combination of jewelry and gold coins from various imperial periods. Furthermore, some of the coins retain traces of fabric—remnants of the pouch in which the hoard was hidden,” said Dr. Michael Eisenberg, one of the expedition leaders from the Zinman Institute of Archaeology and the School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures at the University of Haifa.
Among the findings is a particularly rare tremissis (one-third of a solidus), likely minted in Cyprus in late 610 CE by Emperor Heraclius and his son during the rebellion against Emperor Phocas. This is only the second such example ever found in Israel.
“This rare find makes an important contribution to understanding the political and economic history of the period,” explained Dr. Danny Syon, the expedition’s numismatist.
The hoard was discovered accidentally at the end of July 2025. Metal detector operator Edi Lipsman, who was accompanying the expedition, was passing near a large stone when his device began signaling. Moments later, gold coins began emerging from the archaeological layer one after another.
“The device literally went crazy; I couldn’t believe my eyes—coins were appearing one after another,” Lipsman recalled. The researchers chose to delay the publication of the information to ensure no other nearby finds existed and to complete the initial investigation.
The coins date from the reign of Emperor Justin I (518–527 CE) to the beginning of the reign of Heraclius (610–613 CE). They include whole solidi, halves (semissis), and thirds (tremissis).
“Gold is a noble metal, and finding coins and jewelry around 1,400 years old, preserved as if new, is extremely rare,” Dr. Eisenberg noted.
His colleague, Dr. Arleta Kobelewska, added, “The greatest surprise was the earrings. The delicate work with stones and pearls—I hope modern jewelers will recreate this beauty.”
The ancient city of Sussita, which rises east of the Kinneret, was an important Christian center during the Byzantine period, serving as the seat of a bishop and home to at least seven churches. It has been investigated by the University of Haifa archaeological expedition, led by Dr. Eisenberg and Dr. Kobelewska, for 26 years. A gold hoard of this magnitude has been found here for the first time. Earlier, archaeologists had discovered evidence of the Sasanian conquest, including a burned church of the martyr Theodore, leading to the theory that local Jews may have participated in the revolt alongside the Sasanian army against Byzantine rule.
“The Sussita National Park is a mountain of surprises with a thousand years of history. The excavations have shed new and unexpected light on both the pagan and Christian worlds. The history of Sussita demonstrates the coexistence of many cultures and religions, and the diversity of its inhabitants. To understand the complexity of the region 1,400 years ago, one need only ascend Mount Sussita and look west, toward Tiberias—a Jewish city. While a Christian community flourished in Sussita around seven churches, the residents of Tiberias lived a Jewish life centered around synagogues,” remarked Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef, archaeologist and heritage curator of the Northern District of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
