Israeli girl finds ancient coin at Talmud-era village of "Tzippori"

 

A scavenger hunt at a Talmud-era village in northern Israel took a surprising turn on Tuesday when an Israeli girl found a 1,500-year-old bronze coin.

The girl and her family were visiting the Korazim archeological park, near the Sea of Galilee, The Times of Israel reported.

During the game, the girl found the coin on the ground.

According to Korazim Park director Dekel Segev, the coin dates to the Talmudic period, between the fourth and fifth centuries CE. The park's website quotes Segev explaining that Korazim is a Jewish village some 2,000 years old, which reached its heights during the time of the Mishnah and Talmud.

According to Dekel, what makes Korazim special is not only its wealth of archaeological artifacts, but how intact it is. Korazim is one of the only sites in Israel that shows visitors an ancient Jewish farming community that boasts a synagogue, homes, a mikveh, olive oil presses, and a wine press.

In addition to refurbishing walking paths and creating the scavenger hunt activity, the park also offers curious visitors a chance to get their hands dirty by digging with a professional archaeologist in a program it calls "Digging Through Time."

Segev praised the girl for immediately handing the coin over to the park authorities.

"The young girl and her family showed good citizenship and brought us the coin because it is a national treasure," he said. "The piece will be forwarded to the Israel Antiquities Authority for further research and preservation."