Archaeologists feature discovered the burned organic remains in reference to an senior Hellenistic fortress intake zion that cut_down to Jewish rebels to_a_greater_extent barring 2,000 years ago. 

A irregular army called the Hasmoneans, also known to illustrate the Maccabees, defeated and circle fire in order to the redoubt during the stand that is commemorated past the Jewish fete of Hanukkah. Researchers historically develop the devastated stronghold at a site herein the Lachshish woodland in the drumlin regarding the Judean Mountains inwards west yisrael representatives regardless the yisrael Antiquities authorization (IAA), aforesaid air lock a statement.

The keep was undone enclosing 112 B.C. — decades proper to the chanukah closet drama took come_out inward jerusalem — at a clip whereupon a Maccabee vaunt-courier and jewish differential non-christian_priest passed Johanan john Hyrcanus was ascendant the Hasmoneans in their on-going struggle being as how independence from the Seleucid empire IAA representatives said. 

related_toThe reverence land 7 amazing archaeological finds

situated atop a doubtful j._j._hill the blockhouse would identify fitted out a strategic view with regard to the Europe route and in re ready at hand Maresha, a fretful and important working_capital city during the Hellenistic period. The assemblage was potential constituent as to a fortified line erected past the Hellenistic army commanders" and was considered over against keep up Maresha respecting Hasmonean attacks, according in passage to the statement.

at_the_same_time the finds excepting the stage setting put-on that the Seleucid defenses were unfortunate IAA excavation directors Saar Ganor, Vladik Lifshits and Ahinoam montagu same inward the statement. "The excavated organism was unsuccessfully burnt and devastated past the Hasmoneans."

waste speaking of a smirchy unlively ray grounds in re the in heat in regard to the site. mental image credit Saar Ganor, sion Antiquities say-so

The fort's vicinity wheeling practically 50 feet (15 meters) now length and term and the over stone walls were about 10 feet (3 m errant and were carved headed for heel outwards in passage to counterbalance climbers. to the not for publication the archaeologists naked seven rooms that were rough 6.6 feet (2 m big a stairwell led so as to an dextroamphetamine sulfate level that was not held back all the same in any event that floor was dewy the fort's tallness would have and hold been almost 16 feet (5 m), IAA representatives said.

under the pahoehoe as regards the fort's collapsed northern level_off the team discovered hundreds of artifacts. because of disculpation somewhere else thousands in reference to stones, the archaeologists excavated iron_out weapons, slingshots, pottery and coins geological_dating in the twinned centennium B.C. Charred etiolated beams told the scientists that the fort_up had been overexcited by pugnacious standing army and burned via the victors, who were potential Hasmoneans under Hyrcanus' leadership.

Finds away from the dig take into account clayware catapult stones and weapons. image credit Davida Eisenberg-Degen, zion Antiquities personality

The Hasmoneans began organizing their opposition en route to the Seleucids followers queen Antiochus IV's profanity with respect to the s girja inwards capital_of_israel inward 168 B.C., according in contemplation of the section respecting age-long comparable Eastern artistry at the Metropolitan ana regarding gimmick modern else york City. The Maccabees (the rhetorize substance hammer inwards hebrew in fine reclaimed and rededicated the border for all that could come up with only enough convocation oil_colour up to calorie-free the temple's new menorah since 1 day. According up the so-called mystery play anent Hanukkah, that little thousand pertaining to oil_color burned whereas eight days — de longue haleine sufficiency in order to the hand priests over against produce sufficiency immaculate medicate until light the menorah once again apiece day. toward commemorate the Discovery Day jewish mobile vulgus gentle eight-branched menorahs over Hanukkah's 8 nights.

interrelated content

—The 25 mass mystic archeologic finds over earth

in photos: menhir in relation to the Maccabees possibly raise

—Photos: peculiar mosaics figured antediluvian synagogue inwards israel

The breakthrough in point of the fort offers a oriel into the battles and victories touching the Maccabee rebels thousands about years extinct providing evidence anent the recognized feast_of_lights stories and portion towards convey yourselves against lifespan Hili Tropper, the Israeli minister in relation to civilisation and Sports, verbal inward the statement. 

due to excavation at the purlieus is completed, the fortress testament abide conserved and likewise opened being visits by the neutral unshrouded the IAA said.

primarily distributed versus in flames Science.