A clay jug estimated to be 1,200 years old, bearing distinctive camel decorations, has been unearthed at the archaeological site of Horvat ‘Anim in the Yatir Forest, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday.
The discovery was made during excavations carried out in cooperation with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund as part of a broader initiative to improve public access to the site.
Yatir Forest is located on the southern slopes of the Hebron Hills, near the edge of the Negev Desert in southern Israel.
Dating back to the Abbasid period (9th–10th centuries C.E.), the red-painted vessel was found inside a cave that had initially served as an olive press and was later repurposed as a dwelling. The jug features geometric patterns and depictions of animals, including a camel and what may be either an ostrich or a donkey.
“The depiction of camels on the vessel highlights the importance of the animal, which was a central means of land transportation around 1,200 years ago,” said IAA archaeologist Oren Shmueli. “In the Islamic period, the camel replaced the Roman ship with the ‘ship of the desert.’”
The excavation also includes the preservation of an early Islamic-era olive press, alongside a restored synagogue from the Byzantine period, known for its intricate mosaic flooring. Shmueli emphasized the significance of the synagogue, stating, “There is no doubt that the synagogue discovered in ‘Anim served as the religious center for the Jewish population living there.”
KKL-JNF chairperson Yifat Ovadia Luski expressed enthusiasm about the find, noting that it “strengthens our deep connection to the Negev and the region’s cultural heritage.”
Details of the discovery were shared during the Israel Antiquities Authority’s 20th Annual Southern Research Conference, hosted at Ben-Gurion University.