By May 18, 2008 Read More →

Coin Hoards from Ein Gedi, 498-565 CE

Coin_Hoard_from_Ein_Gedi

Coin Hoard from Ein Gedi

The excavations of En-Gedi yielded 1,247 coins, most of them (about 80%) from the area of the village. Such a large number of coins is indicative of intensive economic activity. Two hoards of gold coins, one consisting of 15 coins of Justinian (527-565) and the other comprising five coins of Anastasius (498-518), came as something of a surprise, since gold coins have usually been found thus far in urban rather than village contexts; their presence at En-Gedi is indicative of exceptional commercial activity. This activity was undoubtedly related to the perfume trade and other products of the Dead Sea, such as dates, salt and bitumen.

Posted in: Byzantine Period

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