A metal detector beeped wildly in Susita National Park near the Sea of Galilee, Israel. The ancient Greek city of Hippos (Greek: Ἵππος), was founded in the Hellenistic period and became part of the Greco-Roman Decapolis before transforming into a Byzantine Christian center.
Operator Eddie Lipsman, assisting the University of Haifa excavation, moved soil near a large stone and saw flashes of gold. “The detector went crazy; I couldn’t believe it—gold coins began to be exposed one after another,” Lipsman recalled. What he uncovered turned out to be one of the largest Byzantine gold coin hoards ever found in Israel.
Coins and jewelry revealed
Archaeologists uncovered 97 gold coins along with fragments of earrings set with pearls, semi-precious stones, and glass. The coins span the reign of Justin I (518–527 CE) through the early years of Heraclius (610–613 CE). They include full solidi, halves (semissis), and thirds (tremissis).
This Is Our Land
Archaeologists from the University of Haifa have discovered a unique Byzantine-era treasure in the Susita National Park: 97 gold coins and dozens of fragments of gold earrings inlaid with pearls, semi-precious stones, and glass. The hoard was most likely hidden… pic.twitter.com/EvW3eiAleg
— nili lachovski (@LachovskiNili) September 25, 2025
Among them was a rare coin minted in Cyprus in 610 CE during the revolt of Heraclius the Elder and his son against Emperor Phocas. Only one other of its kind has ever been found in Israel.
“This is one of the major Byzantine-era hoards discovered on land in Israel,” said Dr. Michael Eisenberg, co-director of the excavation and a researcher at Haifa University’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology. “Gold is a noble metal, and when you find coins and jewelry that are about 1,400 years old that look like new, it’s a rare experience.”
A glimpse into history
Eisenberg noted that several coins still bore remnants of fabric from the pouch in which they were buried. Researchers believe the treasure was hidden during the Sasanian-Persian advance in the early seventh century, when Susita was engulfed in conflict.
Dr. Danny Shion, the team’s numismatist, stressed the value of the Cypriot coin. “This is a rare find that adds an important layer to the understanding of the political and economic history of the period,” he said.
The jewelry also drew attention for its artistry. “The earrings are the big surprise for me,” said Dr. Arleta Koblewska, co-director of the excavation. “Delicate goldsmithing combining semi-precious stones and pearls – I hope that contemporary goldsmiths will recreate this beauty.”
Susita’s turbulent past
Perched above the Sea of Galilee, Susita was a Christian center in the Byzantine period, serving as a bishopric with at least seven churches. Excavations over 26 years have uncovered signs of the Sasanian conquest, including the burning of the Church of the Martyr Theodoros. Scholars suggest some Jewish communities may have sided with the Sasanian army against Byzantine rule.
“Susita National Park is a mountain of surprises with a thousand years of history,” said Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef, heritage supervisor for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. “To understand the complexity of the area some 1,400 years ago, it is enough to climb Mount Susita and look west towards Tiberias – the Jewish city.”
