Archeological Finds
The first was of a niche of skulls. Tucked away in a crevasse opening were remains of human skeletons, wrapped in textiles and covered in a large mat. One skeleton was covered by a colorful mat and other textiles, while the remains of a child dressed in a tunic were discovered in a leather lined basket. The textiles found were some of the earliest known of the Roman period and were dated around 135 AD, the end of the Bar-Kokhba Revolt. These textiles were of importance in showing the kinds of dyes and the weaving material used, but of greater importance was the acquisition of a complete set of clothes worn by Jews of the 1st and 2nd century. Other significance also discovered were the mantles of men and women, a child’s linen tunic, some un-spun wool dyed purple. Other finds of archeological significance were some coins inscribed on one side ‘Shimeon’ and on the other side of the coin, ‘of the Freedom of Jerusalem’. Some arrows were found at the entrance of the cave, and a basket of bronze vessels. They had been made with pagan images on them but the faces of the various pagan gods and creatures were defaced, allowing their Jewish owners to use them (their religion forbidding them from associating with graven images). The first bundle of letters from the Bar-Kokhba period was found in what appeared to be a woman’s bag (based on its contents of wool, cosmetic tools, beads, a perfume flask and a mirror).
Read more about this topic: Cave Of Letters
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