3,800-Year-Old Biblical Artifact Found in Israel’s ‘Cave of Skulls’

Long ago, the colors of fabrics were more than just fashion statements. They were a nonverbal form of communication that showed economic and social status in ancient societies. But textiles, like other organic materials, tend to decay quickly and are often lost to time.

Thanks to a new study by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), Bar-Ilan University, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, we’ve learned that special conditions in the dry caves of the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea helped preserve these materials for over 11,000 years.

This stable, dry microclimate allowed for the rare survival of ancient artifacts, including thousands of years old textiles recently discovered in the “Cave of Skulls.”¹

Discovery of Ancient Textile with Scarlet Dye

In 2016, researchers found a rare textile in the “Cave of Skulls” that is 3,800 years old. The small textile, measuring less than 0.79 inches, was discovered during an excavation led by Dr. Eitan Klein, Dr. Uri Davidovich, Roi Porat, and Amir Ganor from the IAA and Hebrew University.

Published in the Biblical Archaeology Review, the excavation aimed to protect artifacts in the Judean Desert caves from looting. The textile was dated to the Middle Bronze Age (1767-1954 B.C.) using carbon-14 analysis.(ref)

Recently, that piece of bright red textile contributed to a new research project led by Dr. Naama Sukenik from the Israel Antiquities Authority and professors from Bar-Ilan University.

The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, identified the dye as “kermes,” made from from oak aphid insects, known in the Bible as “Tola‛at Hashani” (the “scarlet worm”), that lived on the kermes oak tree (Quercus coccifera).

The researchers used High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to detect high levels of kermesic acid in the dyed textile. 

Historical & Archaeological Significance of Red Dye

The researchers’ discovery connects historical records with archaeological evidence, showing that ancient people knew how to dye wool red using scale insects as early as the Middle Bronze Age. This rare textile points to extensive international trade networks and suggests the presence of an elite society at that time, according to Na’ama Sukenik of the IAA. (ref)

In the Bible, scarlet is mentioned 25 times, often alongside purple (Argaman) and blue (Tekhelet), which were considered the most valuable and prestigious colors in the ancient world. These colors were used for luxury clothing, priestly garments, and ceremonial purposes in the Tabernacle and temple.

The insects used to create the red dye were collected in a single summer month, when dye concentration was at its highest. The short harvesting period, low dye yield, and the insects’ camouflage made the scarlet color very expensive and were reserved for the wealthy. 

The biblical connection of this color to a living organism reflects the impressive zoological knowledge of the ancients, who mistakenly believed the female scale insects to be plants due to their appearance.

The red textile from the “Cave of Skulls” is considered rare because it is the earliest known example of wool dyed with kermes. Although scale insect dyes were widely used in ancient times, very few pre-Roman textiles dyed with kermes have been found.

Source:

1. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports