Remains have been uncovered in Yavne of a building dating from the time of the Sanhedrin - IAA

Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in Yavne are revealing evidence of the life—and death—of Yavne’s inhabitants at the time of the Sanhedrin, in the late first and second centuries CE; for the first time ever, the excavation has discovered remains of a building dating from the time of the Sanhedrin that contains chalk stone cups, clear evidence that its occupants were observing Jewish laws of ritual purity. The excavation, prompted by work on the city’s expansion initiated by the Israel Land Authority in cooperation with Yavne municipality, also uncovered a large cemetery dating from the same period. The excavation area is located close to a massive Byzantine wine-production center unearthed in recent excavations. During this week’s festival of Hanukkah, as part of Israel Heritage Week, the public is invited to register for tours of the excavation. “The discovery of finds from the time of the Sanhedrin is very exciting,” say Pablo Betzer and Dr. Daniel Varga, directors of the Yavne excavation for the Is