Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Marine Archeology Unit discovered hundreds of silver and bronze coins, silver and gold rings, rare stones, figurines and bells in the process. Excavation of two ancient shipwrecks off Caesarea is underway.

Spectacular Artifacts Found in Two Ancient Shipwrecks

The two ships went down more than 1,700 years ago (Roman period) and 600 years ago (Mamluk period) off the coast of Caesarea.

The ships’ cargoes and the remains of their wrecked hulls were found scattered in shallow water at a depth of about 4 m (13 feet).

“The ships were probably anchored nearby and were wrecked by a storm,” IAA archaeologists said.

“They may have been anchored offshore after getting into difficulty, or fearing stormy weather because sailors know well that mooring in shallow, open water outside of a port is dangerous and prone to disaster.”

Spectacular Artifacts Found in Two Ancient Shipwrecks

The archaeologists found hundreds of silver and bronze Roman coins from the mid-third century CE and a large hoard of silver coins from the Mamluk period.

They also found an inkwell, a bronze figurine in the form of an eagle, a figurine of a Roman pantomimus in a comic mask, numerous bronze bells and pottery vessels, dozens of large bronze nails, lead pipes from a bilge pump, and a large iron anchor.

“The underwater remains include rare personal effects of the shipwrecked victims,” the researchers said.

“Among these were a beautiful red gemstone for setting in a ‘gemma’ ring; the carving of the gemstone shows a lyre. In Jewish tradition, it is called Kinor David.”

Spectacular Artifacts Found in Two Ancient Shipwrecks

“Another exquisite and rare find is a thick, octagonal gold ring set with a green gemstone carved with the figure of a young shepherd boy dressed in a tunic and bearing a ram or a sheep on his shoulders,” they added.