The swords discovered in a national park in Israel were probably "booty" hidden there by Judean rebels who did not want to get caught with them by Roman authorities.
Roman-era swords found in Dead Sea-area cave nydailynews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nydailynews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The rare weapons are believed to have been hidden by Judean rebels after they were seized from the Roman army nearly 2,000 years ago, researchers said.
The operation to survey and excavate the desert caves and ravines has been running since 2017. It is a collaboration between the IAA and the Staff Officer of the Archaeology Department of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, with funding from the Landmarks Program of the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, explained the IAA statement .
Since the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in the region over 70 years ago, the area has been targeted by thieves and looters. The aim of the survey was to find and recover any antiquities that might remain in the area, to save them from the hands of thieves.