2,000-year-old gemstone ring discovered in Israel

Scientists from the Israel Antiquities Authority found the gemstone ring in Jerusalem’s City of David National Park. The ring was discovered in what appears to be an ancient ritual bath on the Pilgrimage Way, an ancient route that led from the Shiloach Lake to the Temple Mount. It is believed to have been the main route used by pilgrims to reach the mountain.

The archaeological team included Dr. Joe Uziel and experts Nachshon Zenton, Moran Hajabi, Ari Levy. "It seems that in the past, rings and jewelry were often removed during bathing and sometimes forgotten, just like today. This is probably why we found the ring in a ritual bath," the archaeologists said.

“It helps us connect with the past of a person who lived 2,000 years ago,” the team added. The ring and other findings also help scientists understand more about the lives of ancient people.

"It's incredible that this beautiful ring lay at the bottom of the ritual bath on Pilgrimage Road for 2,000 years before being discovered by archaeologists. This is a new piece in the puzzle of ancient Jerusalem," said Doron Spielman, vice president of the City of David National Park Service.

The City of David is the largest archaeological site currently under excavation in Israel. According to the Hebrew Bible, this is where King David established Jerusalem as the capital of Israel 3,000 years ago.