Jerusalem: Researchers have unearthed a tiny stamp bearing an image of the Temple Menorah of Israel which they believe was used on baked goods some 1,500 years ago.
The ceramic stamp, discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority while excavating at Horbat Uza, a rural settlement near the city of Akko before construction of a railroad track.
The finding of such an old bread stamp proves that a Jewish community existed there at that time, known as the Christian-Byzantine period, the researchers said. From the Byzantine period, they said, the stamp was used to identify baked goods, and the said stamp probably belonged to a bakery supplying kosher bread to the Jews of that area, LiveScience reported. Engraved into the stamp is the seven-branched menorah on top of a narrow base.
This supports the idea that it belonged to the Jews, as Christian bread stamps tend to have a cross pattern on them, said Gilad Jaffe, one of the directors at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The stamp is important because it proves that a Jewish community existed in Uza in the Christian-Byzantine period,” Danny Syon, an Israel Antiquities excavation director, said.
“The presence of a Jewish settlement so close to Akko, a region that was definitely Christian at this time, constitutes an innovation in archaeological research.” The stamp also have several Greek letters around a circle and dot, all of which are engraved on the end of the menorah’s handle.
The researchers suggest the letters spell out the name Launtius, a common name among Jews which was likely the name of the baker.
“A potter engraved the menorah image in the surface of the stamp prior to firing it in a kiln, whereas the owner’s name was engraved in the stamp’s handle after firing,” said David Amit of the Israel Antiquities Authority who studies bread stamps.
“Hence we can assume that a series of stamps bearing the menorah symbol were produced for Jewish bakers, and each of these bakers carved his name on the handle, which also served as a stamp.” (PTI)