Ancient gold found in Judean desert

Israeli archaeologists unearthed gold at a former Christian monastery in the Judean Desert.

The ancient treasure was found at the Hyrcania archaeological site in the northern Judean Desert, located around ten miles east of Jerusalem in the West Bank. Two gold coins and a delicate gold ring were found. The solidi bear the image of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, who reigned from 610 to 641 AD. The site was founded in the late Hellenistic period, between the second and first centuries BC, when it was used as a fortress. During the Byzantine period a Christian monastery was established at the site, attributed to the activity of Saint Sabbas.

Saint Sabbas was one of the founders of desert monasticism which operated for hundreds of years.