For the very first time, evidence has been found in Lod from the Gallus Revolt, the last Jewish resistance against Roman rule.
The dramatic discovery – a large public building, in whose foundations a 1650-year-old hoard was hidden, will be publicized in a new book commensurate with the annual Central Israel Region Archaeological Conference, open to the public free of charge.
An excavation on Nordau Street in Lod, led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Lod Municipality, uncovered a public building from the Late Roman—Early Byzantine period that suffered violent destruction.
Its foundations held 94 silver and bronze coins dating between 221—354 CE, which were deliberately placed there – in the hopes of returning to collect them when the situation would calm. The latest coins are dated from the time of the Gallus Revolt (351-354 CE).
Though written evidence is sparse regarding this revolt, there are texts reporting that major Jewish communities such as Lod, Zipori and Tiberias were destroyed by the forces of Roman Ceasar Flavius Constantinus Gallus.
Israel Antiquities Authority Director Eli Escusido says, “The impressive finds uncovered here reinforce our responsibility to investigate and to conserve Lod’s history and rich heritage. Along with the city’s new exhibition center of the beautiful Lod mosaic, we now bring this building to the awareness of the general public.”