The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has announced the discovery of shipwrecks near the town of Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. This area was once a center of activity for the Romans.
The Roman Empire and the Mamluk Islamic Kingdom ruled vast territories in the eastern Mediterranean for several centuries.
Archaeologists have dated the shipwrecks to approximately 1,700 and 600 years ago.
The Good Shepherd Ring – (Photo: Picture Alliances).
The ancient “Good Shepherd” ring dates back 1,700 years. The ring features a green gemstone engraved with the image of the “Good Shepherd,” depicting a young shepherd boy carrying a sheep on his shoulders. This motif is believed to be associated with Jesus and was prevalent during Roman times, before Christian organizations began to emerge.
Additionally, archaeologists recovered hundreds of Roman silver and bronze coins from the shipwreck, along with over 500 silver coins from the medieval period of the Mamluk Islamic Kingdom.
Besides the coins, the archaeologists also discovered small statues, bells, ceramics, and metal artifacts that once belonged to the ship, including nails and a broken iron anchor.
Mr. Jacob Sharvit, head of the IAA’s Marine Archaeology Unit, stated that the Roman ship may have originated from Italy. He noted that it is still unclear whether any remains of the intact wooden ships lie beneath the sand.
