Hoard of Crusader Gold Found in Ruins Thursday, July 26, 2012
TAU uncovers unprecedented trove of gold coins in 13th century
castle A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University has
uncovered a hoard of real-life buried treasure at the Crusader
castle of Arsur (also known as Apollonia), a stronghold located
between the ancient ports of Jaffa and Caesarea, in use from
1241 to its destruction in 1265. The hoard, comprised of 108
gold coins, mostly dinars dated to the Fatimid Period (ca. 900
to 1100 AD), was discovered in a pot by a university student.
The coins bear the names of sultans and blessings, and usually
include a date and a mint name that indicates where a coin was
struck. This fascinating find is the first of its kind, says
Prof. Oren Tal, director of the excavation and Chairman of TAU's
Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures.
"The scientific value is unprecedented. This is the first hoard
of gold coins that we have in Israel that we can date to the
Crusader period." Prof. Tal b