A Light-up Blast from the Past

As reported in the Hebrew weekly Shabbat magazine, מצבהרוח, on page 8, this was found at Tel Shiloh a week ago:

It is an oil lamp.

The large hole is the receptacle for the oil and the smaller hole is where the wick is placed.

Like this:

It dates from the late Hasmonean period, perhaps Herodian era.

Chanukah anyone?

What a reminder of the Jewish historical connection to this land, before the Arabs.

^