Ancient cemetery, Beit Shearim, Lower Galilee

Mar. 27 Ancient relics discovered at Excavation of Beit Shearim in Lower Galilee: Beit Shearim, situated West of Nazareth in Lower Galilee was one of Israel's central towns in the Era of Talmud. After the great Jewish revolt in the year 66 BC the Jewish population remained and after the burial of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi, Beit Shearim was converted into a cemetery. Excavations were started there in 1936 and among the discoveries was a Synagogue of the year 350 BC which was destroyed by the Romans. Between 1930 and 1954 work was at a standstill but excavations were resumed in 1954 by Dr Avigad of the Archaeological Department of the Hebrew University. Now about 30 persons are engaged in digging there and many interesting items have been brought to light including new rows of tombs and coffins many of them inscribed in Greek and Hebrew signs. Some of them damaged by robbers throughout the ages, searching for valuables. The excavations of Beit Shearim are said to be among the most important new being carried out in Israel. Photo shows layer after layer of burial chambers in the rock at Beit Shearim

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Avigad Beit Chambers Coffins Digging Discovered Discoveries Engaged Excavations Galilee Hebrew Interesting Layer Nazareth Relics Remained Resumed Revolt Robbers Rows Searching Shearim Situated Standstill Synagogue Talmud Throughout Tombs Valuables

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