1,600-Year-Old Coin Hoard Unearthed in Galilee Reveals Final Jewish Revolt Against Rome!
Archaeologists working in northern Israel have made a remarkable discovery: a stash of copper coins hidden for more than 1,600 years in an underground complex at Hukok, a village in Lower Galilee.
The hoard, 22 coins in total, was found tucked into a narrow crevice at the end of a winding tunnel. Experts believe they were deliberately concealed during the Gallus Revolt of 351–352 CE, a turbulent and little-documented moment in Jewish history.
The excavation, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority in partnership with Zefat Academic College, is part of wider efforts to make Hukok accessible to the public. The underground network itself has a long and dramatic history. First carved out during the Great Revolt against Rome (66–70 CE), the tunnels were later expanded during the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132–136 CE). Until recently, scholars assumed any finds would relate to one of these earlier uprisings.
Photo Credit: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority
Instead, the coins bear the faces of Roman emperors Constans I and Constantius II, firmly placing them in the mid-4th century CE. This aligns them with the Gallus Revolt, the final Jewish rebellion against Rome.
The Gallus Revolt was brief and brutally suppressed. Ancient texts mention it only in passing, and until now, there has been little archaeological evidence to shed light on the events. That makes the Hukok hoard especially valuable: proof that hiding complexes, built centuries earlier, were still being used in later crises.
The coins were probably intended as a reserve, hidden away until life returned to normal. Sadly, that moment never came. Roman troops crushed the rebellion, leaving hopes of survival and recovery buried with the treasure.
Despite the devastation, Hukok’s story didn’t end with the revolt. Archaeological remains show that the village bounced back, entering a period of prosperity soon afterwards. On the hill above the tunnels, a synagogue was built, decorated with stunning mosaic floors, a symbol of resilience after years of upheaval.
The Hukok complex, with its twisting passages, chambers and hidden pits, is one of the most extensive of its kind in Galilee. Excavations between 2019 and 2023 revealed much of the system. The coin hoard will now be presented to scholars and published in the journal Israel Numismatic Research.
Authorities hope the site will become a flagship destination for archaeological tourism, showcasing not just the treasures themselves, but the endurance of Jewish communities under Roman rule.