Second 2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring Uncovered in Jerusalem’s City of David

In June 2025, archaeologists uncovered a second small gold ring from Jerusalem’s City of David, dating back around 2,300 years to the Second Temple period. This remarkable find, along with other jewellery from the Early Hellenistic era, was discovered during excavations supported by the Elad Association and led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University.

Rivka Lengler, a City of David excavator present when the ring was uncovered, said, “We sifted the dirt through a sieve, right near the excavation area, and suddenly Ben, who works with me, pulls a gold ring out of the dirt. At first, he was sure it must be a modern item dropped by one of our excavators, but when I examined the ring, I immediately assessed it as something ancient. We called over the archaeologists, everyone gathered around us and marvelled at the special find; It was very exciting. Already at first glance, you could see its great similarity to the ring discovered in our excavation only a few months ago, just that this one was even smaller. When I held this ring in my hand, I felt part of my history. I felt that I could actually touch and connect with the people who lived here in Jerusalem thousands of years ago.” 

According to the excavation managers, Dr Yiftah Shalev and Dr Marion Zindel from the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Efrat Bocher from the Ancient Jerusalem Research Center, and Prof Yuval Gadot from Tel Aviv University, “The two gold rings were discovered in a layer dating to the late 3^rd century or early 2^nd century BCE, set in the foundations of a large building which bears witness to its occupants’ wealth. In the same stratum in which these rings were unearthed, a number of bronze earrings were also recently found. And it is in this very same stratum that a gold earring decorated with a horned animal image and a decorated gold bead were also discovered – all dating from the Early Hellenistic period.” 

The ring, set with a red gemstone, resembles one found earlier in the same excavations, though slightly smaller. Experts believe these pieces were likely buried as part of a well-known Hellenistic tradition, where betrothed women would bury jewellery and childhood objects in foundations symbolising their transition to adulthood.

The rings were found in a layer dating to the late 3^rd or early 2^nd century BCE, beneath the remains of a sizeable, opulent building. Alongside the rings, archaeologists also uncovered bronze earrings, a gold earring decorated with a horned animal, and a gold bead, all dating from the same period.

According to Dr Marion Zindel, who conducted the ring’s research,” That the two small rings and the rest of the jewellery were all discovered under the building’s floors raises the possibility that they were buried there on purpose. One of the possibilities now being examined is that the jewellery found in the building’s foundations was in the context of executing of a well-known Hellenistic period custom in which betrothed women would bury jewellery and other childhood objects in the house foundations as a symbol of the transition from childhood to adulthood.” According to the researchers, “Jewellery that combines gold with brightly coloured precious stones, such as the garnet stone, were well-known from this period, in which fashion was influenced by Eastern countries such as India and Persia. These fashionable influences were enabled thanks to Alexander the Great’s conquests, and the consequent trade channels opening with these regions.” 

According to Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The discovery of the golden rings from the time of the Second Temple in the City of David is tangible evidence of the wealth, beauty and importance of Jerusalem even thousands of years ago. The Israel Antiquities Authority is proud to lead the archaeological research of Jerusalem, and to make accessible to the public the heritage of 'Jerusalem of Gold' – not just as words in a song, but as historical facts uncovered right under our feet.”