An archaeological excavation in Israel recently revealed ancient faces that haven't been seen in centuries.Two statues were discovered near Binyamina, Israel, according to a June 15 press release from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).Archaeologists were digging ahead of construction of a coastal high-speed railway when they found two marble statues in the wine collection pit of a Roman-Byzantine winepress, the IAA said.RARE 1,600-YEAR-OLD MOSAIC FROM CHRISTIAN MONASTERY UNVEILED AFTER CENTURIES OF OBSCURITYThe statues, which date back around 1,700 years, depict two unknown figures from the ancient Greco-Roman world.One of the statues bears a Greek inscription with the name "Lycurgus," according to officials.A recent excavation near Binyamina revealed two ancient marble statues that researchers believe were intentionally buried centuries ago.(Israel Antiquities Authority)Michael Sorotskin, an IAA archaeologist who helped find the statues, called the discovery "simply wondrous.""While digging the winepress, something was sticking out of the ground, and the workers called me," said Sorotskin in the release.
"There was a feeling that we were about to discover something that really shouldn't be there."ANCIENT CHRISTIAN FIGURINES DISCOVERED IN 1,500-YEAR-OLD DESERT GRAVES"Suddenly, we saw that this was not the usual pottery – it was marble," he added."Then, slowly, slowly, the two statues were revealed.
I'm still struggling to find the right words."Eliran Oren and Avishag Reiss, the excavation directors for the project, said the statues were found "neatly laid, face down." It appeared they had been intentionally buried when the winepress went out of use.Archaeologists described the discovery of the two marble figures as a rare and unexpected find from the Roman period.(Israel Antiquities Authority)"At present, it is not known why the statues were hidden here – perhaps to preserve them," Oren and Reiss said in a joint statement."This is a once-in-a-lifetime ...