Researchers Discover Gold Coins and Rare Ring Hidden in 30-Meter Ancient Garbage Pit

A large refuse pit at the ancient site of Apollonia-Arsuf has turned out to be anything but ordinary. Instead of just waste, archaeologists uncovered hundreds of Byzantine-era artifacts, including coins, lamps, and jewelry.

The excavation, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University, focuses on an area that once served as farmland for the nearby city. Over time, layers of daily life accumulated here, leaving behind a complex archaeological record.

According to the research team, the site was occupied for more than 1,500 years, from the Persian period through the Crusader era. That long timeline makes discoveries like this especially telling, since they reflect habits and events across multiple periods.

A Pit That Doesn’t Behave Like One

At the center of the discovery is a massive pit, more than 30 meters wide, first identified as a refuse dump. Professor Oren Tal and Dr Moshe Ajami said it contained typical debris such as pottery fragments, glass remains, industrial waste, and animal bones, suggesting routine disposal over an extended period.

But mixed in with this material were objects that don’t quite fit the idea of trash. The archaeologists stated that the pit also held “a large amount of usable artifacts,” which makes the whole picture harder to explain

“This is very fascinating. You don’t expect [intact lamps] to be found in dumps and refuse, because they need to be used and they need to be sold.” said Tal to The Jerusalem Post. “Our understanding is that there is some sort of probable cultic aspect of intentionally discarding usable and intact vessels among the Samaritan community that inhabited Apollonia in the late Byzantine period.”

Coins, Lamps, and Unexpected Preservation

The excavation of the pit brought to light more than 400 coins, most of them dating from the Byzantine period, which lasted roughly from 330 to 1453 following the division of the Roman Empire. According to the findings, the collection of the artifacts even includes a gold coin, along with many others of lower value.

Archaeologists also found around 200 intact Samaritan lamps. As reported by a statement by Biblical Archeology Daily, their condition is striking given the context. Alongside them were rings and gold jewelry, all discovered within the same deposit, adding to the sense that this was no ordinary discard site.

A Ring With A Message

One discovery immediately stands out: an octagonal ring engraved with lines from the Samaritan Pentateuch, each side carefully inscribed in Samaritan script, forming a series of short sacred phrases linked to the beliefs of the Samaritan community at the time.

“Among the Byzantine jewelry described in the IAA press release is a unique ring inscribed with verses from the Samaritan Pentateuch reading ‘Adonai is his name’ and ‘One God’,” the authors explained.

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