4000-Year-Old Oil Lamp Wicks Discovered in Archaeological Dig Near Yehud, Israel
The rare findings were uncovered in an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation during development work for a new Yehud neighborhood, funded by the Israel Lands Authority * “A singular event of organic preservation in a humid climate”, say the researchers
Lamp wicks made of textiles, approximately 4,000 years old – among the oldest known in the entire world – were discovered in unusual circumstances during an archaeological dig at the Newe Efraim antiquities site near Yehud, Israel. The wicks, uncovered in an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation, funded as part of development works by the Israel Lands Authority to establish a new neighborhood in the city of Yehud, were preserved inside clay lamps, used for illumination in the Intermediate Bronze Age (c. 2500–2000 BCE).
According to Israel Antiquities Authority researchers Dr. Naama Sukenik and Dr. Yonah Maor, “This is a unique discovery that we did not expect could ever be found in the moist Mediterranean climate; these wicks are among the few of their era known to us in the world. Although wicks were a common product for lighting in the ancient world, the fact that they are made of organic fibers makes it difficult to discover them in an archaeological dig. Even in cases where the organic matter is preserved, such as in desert climate conditions, it is difficult to identify a wick, unless found inside a lamp, since it has no special characteristics to distinguish it from any group of fibers, threads or ropes. All of this is made more difficult by the fact that a wick is intended for combustion, and therefore, by virtue of its function, it is not preserved at the end of its use. The fact that three wicks were found – and that one of them survived in its entirety, is especially surprising in the humid climate of the coastal plain.”
According to Dr. Gilad Itach, Yossi Elisha, and Yaniv Agmon, the excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The excavation revealed many tombs dated to the Intermediate Bronze Age (2,000-2,500 BCE). The wicks were discovered inside oil lamps uncovered in the graves alongside other burial offerings, including various types of pottery, animal bones, metal weapons, and jewelry. While these lamps were likely used to illuminate the underground, dark burial space during the burial ceremony itself, it appears that this was not their only purpose. The fire burning in a lamp has been associated with magical power since the dawn of humankind, thanks to its ability to provide light and heat, and its ability to transform materials in various ways, including burning, melting and firing. Admittedly, the Intermediate Bronze Age population in the Land of Israel did not leave any writings behind, but various sources from around the ancient Near East demonstrate the central role of fire in burial ceremonies. Just as it does today, thousands of years ago, the fire burning in a lamp symbolized the human soul. The common term we use today, “Ner Neshama”, the flame of the soul, probably originated thousands of years ago.
Traces of soot were found in the wicks tested in the study, indicating that these lamps were actually used; they were seemingly lit while the grave was being prepared and/or during the burial ceremony.
Laboratory analysis conducted on the wicks by the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed that they underwent a particularly rare process, a form of “fossilization” over time, which enabled their preservation for thousands of years. The analysis also revealed that the wicks were apparently made from reused linen fabric—a raw material commonly used in the textile industry of that period. “It is unlikely that an expensive textile such as linen would have been woven especially for an object intended for combustion,” says Dr. Naama Sukenik. “We speculate that the wicks were recycled from other textiles, after their original purpose was completed. According to our analysis, we can reconstruct this wick as made from textile cut into long strips that were twisted together. The secondary use of textiles indicates smart economic conduct, in which precious raw materials were maximally utilized. This attests to creativity, thrift, and shows that people recycled objects even 4,000 years ago.”
According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The Antiquities Authority continues to maintain the flame of research, and it invests many resources in learning, documenting, and making the knowledge of the archaeology of Israel accessible to the general public. Every discovery, no matter how small, is part of the great story of this country, and we see the utmost importance in publishing these findings.”
The full study appeared now in the new issue of the ʼAtiqot Journal Vol. 118, published by the Israel Antiquities Authority – a platform for current scientific research in the realm of the archaeology of the Land of Israel, published by the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Article: Israel Antiquities Authority
