In November 2015, exactly a week before the famous Latin Faunalia Rustica (December 5th), during the University of Haifa’s ongoing excavation work at Hippos-Sussita National Park by the Sea of Galilee, Israel an extremely rare discovery was made.
Excavations Project director Dr. Michael Eisenberg of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, explains the background;
“This mask of Greek god Pan (Faunus in the Roman pantheon) was found next to our main excavation area while clearing the surface of another Roman period basalt tower beneath the defensible ditch.
Dr. Alexander Iermolin, the Institute's head Conservation Lab operated the Minelab machine here and insisted staying there after hearing a deep hum.
After a few min I heard him shout (in Russian) from a distance waving the metal detector. I approached and there he was pulling a big bulk from the ground. It was detected about 45 cm below ground level.
A few months later we excavated the surface where it was found and dated the plaster floor, to the Early Roman period (1st-2nd cent CE).
It is the only of its kind in the world, and by far one the most unique finds of the Classical period found in Israel.”
Hippos saddle ridge, looking towards the mountain and the Sea of Galilee
Dr. Alexander Iermolin pulling out the bulk (Pan mask) from the ground
Dr. Michael Eisenberg with the Pan mask just after it was unearthed
Read more here :
http://hippos.haifa.ac.il/images/Publications/BAR_ND15_Eisenberg_2S.pdf
The next excavation season at Hippos will take place during July 2016. The project is an international one, accepting people from all over the globe and offer academic credentials. For details:
http://hippos.haifa.ac.il/images/General/Hippos_2016W.pdf
