Rare Roman Statues Unearthed in Binyamina During High-Speed Rail Excavations

Archaeologists uncovered two rare Roman-Byzantine marble statues near Binyamina during preliminary excavations for a new high-speed coastal railway line. The statues, approximately 1,700 years old, were found deliberately buried face down inside a wine press collection pit, likely to protect them from destruction when the press fell out of use. One statue bears a Greek inscription with the name "Lycurgus," possibly referencing a historical figure from Sparta or Athens, though research is ongoing to confirm the identity.

The discovery was made by Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists, including Michael Sorotzkin, who described the find as unexpected and extraordinary. Excavation directors Eliran Oren and Avishag Reis noted the statues were carefully placed, suggesting intentional burial. Peter Gendelman, an expert on the Caesarea region, highlighted that this is the first find of its kind in the area in about 30 years and that the statues likely adorned a wealthy Roman villa or public building, possibly near a bathhouse previously uncovered nearby.

The Israel Antiquities Authority is currently cleaning and preserving the statues for further study. This discovery adds to a series of significant archaeological finds in Israel recently, including a 1,700-year-old Roman figurine found in the Negev desert and an ancient tunnel near Jerusalem linked to the biblical Kingdom of Judah. These findings continue to shed light on the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region.