Hoard of Gold Coins Found at Israel Crusades Site

(Reuters) - A 1,000-year-old hoard of gold coins has been unearthed at a famous Crusader battleground where Christian and Muslim forces once fought for control of the Holy Land, Israeli archaeologists said on Wednesday.

The treasure was dug up from the ruins of a castle in Arsuf, a strategic stronghold during the religious conflict waged in the 12th and 13th centuries.

The 108 coins - one of the biggest collections of ancient coins discovered in Israel - were found hidden in a ceramic jug beneath a tile floor at the cliff-top coastal ruins, 15 km (9 miles) from Tel Aviv.

"It is a rare find. We don't have a lot of gold that had been circulated by the Crusaders," said Oren Tal, a professor at Tel Aviv University who leads the dig.

Arsuf, which overlooks the Mediterranean sea, was the site of a famous 12th century victory for England's King Richard I - known as Lionheart - over Muslim leader Saladin.

This is the 3rd time in 2 days that this has been posted, but that's OK. I love this story. It's too bad you didn't post any pictures.

Cool story! We found a castle (no gold) in France where the crusaders gathered and then went on to the Holy Land. It is called Busseol and was built in 1170 on a Roman ruin built in the 11th century. It reminds one of the most interesting places I have ever visited.


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Thanks exit82. Their sisters hoard half of it. The Crusaders' last stand: Pot of gold worth £300,000 found in fortress Hoard of Gold Coins Found at Israel Crusades Site Former church caretaker arrested for the Codex Calixtinus theft -- manuscript recovered Mosaic in Israel Shows Biblical Samson Was Ezekiel an epileptic? England's Saints Have Been Written Out of History How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus: One Theory Sky 'Crucifix' in Ancient Text May Be Mystery-Solving Supernova Metal Detector Hobbyists Find Rare Heap Of Celtic Coins World's Oldest Purse Found -- Studded With a Hundred Dog Teeth? Buried "treasure" in Southeastern Pennsylvania Freeper help needed Egypt's Government Planning to Destroy the Great Pyramids? Calls to Destroy Egypt's Great Pyramids Begin Calls to Destroy Egypt's Great Pyramids Begin Calls to Destroy Egypt's Great Pyramids Begin Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

“I will not go as a pilgrim to a city I have sworn to take in fire and blood.”

Richard the Lionhearted when refusing Saladin’s offer of a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

7 posted on 07/12/2012 3:06:33 PM PDT by allmendream (Tea Party did not send GOP to D.C. to negotiate the terms of our surrender to socialism)

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