Archaeologists in northern Israel have uncovered a stunning hoard of copper coins dating back more than 1,600 years, buried deep within an ancient underground complex at the Hukok site in Lower Galilee. The 22 coins, discovered in a narrow crevice at the end of a winding tunnel, appear to have been deliberately hidden during one of the most turbulent times in Jewish history, the Gallus Revolt of 351–352 CE.

The rare coin hoard discovered in the Galilee. Credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

The discovery was made in the course of a collaborative excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Zefat Academic College, undertaken in preparation for making the site accessible to the public. The Hukok hiding complex, a network of tunnels and chambers under the ancient settlement, was carved during the Great Revolt against Rome (66–70 CE) and later extended for use in the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132–136 CE). Scholars originally presumed any treasure found there would belong to one of those two uprisings.

To their surprise, however, the coins bear the images of Roman emperors Constans I and Constantius II, whose reigns correspond to the Gallus Revolt—the last documented Jewish revolt against the Romans. The revolt, which began in the mid-4th century CE, was a brief but bloody conflict in which Jewish communities rebelled against Roman authority in the eastern provinces. Mentions of it by ancient historians are scarce, and archaeological evidence has been limited. The coin hoard**, therefore,** provides unique confirmation that the underground shelters constructed centuries earlier were repurposed in later crises.

The Gallus Revolt ended in disaster, with Roman forces crushing the rebellion. However, the Hukok find suggests that people still clung to hopes of survival and eventual return. Concealed deep within the tunnels, the coins were likely stored as a reserve to be recovered when conditions improved—a dream never realized.

The coin hoard after cleaning. Credit: Prof. Yinon Shivtiel, Zefat Academic College

The Hukok complex is one of the largest and most intricate of its kind in Galilee, with twisting tunnels, chambers, and hidden pits. Excavations uncovered much of the system between 2019 and 2023.

The treasure will soon be formally presented to scholars and published in the Israel Numismatic Society journal Israel Numismatic Research. The authorities consider Hukok to be a flagship site that highlights the resilience of Jewish communities in Galilee under Roman authority. Already, there are plans for the site to be developed as a major destination for archaeological tourism.

The coins bear the images of Roman emperors Constans I and Constantius II. Credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority

Although the Gallus Revolt was tragic for the area, the tale of Hukok was far from over. Archaeological evidence shows that, soon after the revolt, the settlement entered a new era of prosperity, marked by the construction of a synagogue with mosaic floors on the hill.