The archaeologists excavate the cave - with an extraordinary view.Photography Oriya Amichai, Israel Antiquities Authority
Posted on 09/08/2023 5:44:08 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Three of the 1,900-year-old weapons, whose iron blades are 60-65cm long (24-26in), were still in wooden scabbards.
They were found in a near-inaccessible crevice by a team photographing an ancient inscription on a stalactite.
Archaeologists believe the swords were hidden by Judean rebels after they were seized from the Roman army as booty...
Fifty years ago, a stalactite with an incomplete ink inscription written in ancient Hebrew script was found in a small cave high on a cliff above the Dead Sea, north of the En Gedi oasis in eastern Israel.
Archaeologist Dr Asaf Gayer of Ariel University, geologist Boaz Langford of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and photographer Shai Halevi of the IAA recently went to the cave with the aim of using multispectral photography to decipher parts of the inscription not visible to the naked eye.
While on the upper level of the cave, Dr Gayer spotted a well-preserved Roman pilum, or javelin, in a narrow crevice. He also found worked wood in a nearby niche that turned out to be parts of the swords' scabbards.
The researchers reported the discovery and returned with another team to carry out a survey of all the crevices in the cave, during which the swords were uncovered...
The three swords that were still in their wooden scabbards were identified as Roman spatha, or long swords, while the fourth, shorter weapon was identified as a ring-pommel sword.
They had well-fashioned handles made of wood or metal.
Leather strips and pieces of wood and metal belonging to them were also found...
They were then purposefully hidden for reuse, possibly during the second major Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire in Judea - the Bar Kochba Revolt (132AD-135AD).
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
The archaeologists excavate the cave - with an extraordinary view.Photography Oriya Amichai, Israel Antiquities Authority
Thanks BenLurkin.
Roman long swords were only 24” long?
What a find!
Someone really really wanted those weapons hidden!
Skinny Judeans?
The blades. The blades of a gladius was only about 18” long. Note that Roman weapons were only iron, and not steel. Longer iron weapons might break or bend in use.
Romans fought at very close quarters and in formation, European style long swords would have been unwieldily.
Was there a sign on the cave that said “Bob’s discount swords and daggers”?
Cool find though.
Jewess Jeans
Yes, the romans had very short arms
That’s what she said.
No, it was “Bloodbath and Beyond”
The Romans made and used steel, specifically for their weapons. Their steel isn't considered to be high quality, but they knew how to make it and they did.
But they were cunning runts….
I wonder how much of the massive Roman siege camp below Masada has yet been fully explored?
The Romans made swords out of steel. Not what we would consider good steel today, but steel. Wikipedia has a pretty good summary of the processes used, under Gladius.
I should have checked before posting. I type too slowly.
Looks like an assault sword!!
That's why they hid it near assault sea.
Possibly the sort of sword used by some auxiliaries (auxilia) or Cavalry. These don’t look like the known gladius examples.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
