Useless but Shiny: Israeli Archaeologists Find 300,000-year-old Trove of Pretty Pebbles
Prehistoric hominins had a sense of beauty, going by mysterious collection of colorful pebbles found in Qesem cave that had no obvious function
Ariel David
Ariel David is an editor at Haaretz English, and a Tel Aviv-based foreign correspondent for Italian and English-language publications. He worked for five years as AP's correspondent in Rome, covering Italy and the Vatican.
1,200-year-old Islamic-period Town Found in Israel, but You Will Never See It
Nebi Zechariah once housed Christians and Muslims living together, and now it's going to house a logistics center. Here’s why Israeli salvage digs almost always end in development
Ancient Civilization in Iran Recognized Transgender People 3,000 Years Ago, Study Suggests
Analysis of funerary artifacts in Iron Age burials at Hasanlu, Iran indicates there were three different sets of offerings: for males, females and a 'third gender'
How a Nazi Sympathizer Helped Found One of Sweden's Most Powerful Parties
The Sweden Democrats did well in the recent elections and have deadlocked the country’s politics. Now, a trio of researchers has traced just how deep the party’s Nazi roots run
Communist, Separatist, Nationalist: What You Need to Know About Italian Strongman Matteo Salvini
Here are some must-know facts about Rome's anti-immigrant deputy PM, the latest populist leader to be hosted by Israel
Hanukkah Gelt 900-year-old Cache of Gold Coins Found in Ancient Israeli City of Caesarea
Treasure was likely hidden before Crusaders seized the city from Muslim Caliphate in 1101. Owner may have been a local trader killed in the massacre of Caesarea’s population by conquering Christians
Canaanites Performed Primitive Brain Surgery 3,500 Years Ago in Northern Israel
Skeletons of severely malformed brothers who survived their maladies (if not the trephination) found in Megiddo show the ancient Canaanites cared for the disabled
Archaeologists Recover Rare 9,000-year-old Mask Found by West Bank Settler
The Neolithic-era stone mask could have been a local way to stake a claim to land in the transition from hunting and gathering to farming, archaeologists suggest
Stunning Fresco of 'Leda and the Swan' Sex Scene Found in Pompeii
Discoverers say this 1st century image of mythological bestiality is ‘exceptional and unique’ for its sensual and explicit portrayal of the episode that ultimately set in motion the Trojan war
Stan Lee May Be Gone, but His super-Jewy Superheroes Live On
For nearly 80 years, the legendary comic-book writer created characters who reflected the hopes, ideas and foibles of modern American Jewry
Analysis After U.S. Midterms, the Next Clash Between Democracy and Populism Will Be in Europe
Pushed by strong results in national votes and backed by the likes of Steve Bannon, far-right forces are set for big gains in EU parliamentary elections – an outcome likely welcomed by Washington and Israel
World’s Earliest Figurative Art Wasn’t in Europe, Archaeologists Reveal
Prehistoric people in Southeast Asia were decorating their caves with cattle drawings and hand stencils in Borneo as early as 52,000 years ago, thousands of years before the rock artists of Europe
Dead Sea Scroll Fakes Abound, and Scholars Admit They Share the Blame
By authenticating artifacts of unknown origin, researchers have unintentionally abetted their dissemination around the world, including to the Bible Museum in Washington
'Shame on You' Soros Comments to Haaretz Get Italy's State Media Chief Sued in Political Storm
Marcello Foa, the new head of the country’s public broadcaster, repeated a claim that EU lawmakers for Italy’s Democratic Party were paid by the billionaire Jewish philanthropist
Archaeologists Seek Signs of Joshua's Conquest in Last Unexplored Biblical City
Scrambling to save the last unexcavated biblical town from dirt bikers, archaeologists have found layers going back more than 4,000 years, since before Joshua's time
'Don't Be Scared of Europe's New Populists,' Italy's Media Czar and Bannon Connection Tells Haaretz
Marcello Foa, a leading voice in Italy's populist movement, says attacks on George Soros are not anti-Semitic, Bannon doesn't understand Europe and international institutions and migration are the real threats
Religion, Science Clash as Archaeologists Restore Ancient Jewish Catacomb in Rome
New finds in the 2,000-year-old underground cemetery include the first Hebrew inscription at the site, as well as signs that Christians and Jews may have shared the burial space
Oldest Jewish Community in Switzerland Is Disappearing, but Not Without a Fight
For three centuries, the Jews of Switzerland were only allowed to live in two villages. This is their unique story of resistance and survival in the face of persecution
Slam! Bam! Pow! Archaeologists Find Ancient 'Comics' Decorating Roman Tomb in Jordan
Rudimentary speech bubbles illustrate scenes from the Hellenistic frontier town Capitolias 2,000 years ago – in an incongruous combination of Greek and Aramaic
When God Wasn't So Great: What Yahweh’s First Appearance Tells About Early Judaism
The oldest extra-biblical reference to Yahweh is in a 3,000-year-old Moabite stele, which boasts of defeating Israel, may mention King David – and paints a very different picture of God than the one we know
We Didn't Kill the Neanderthals, Climate Change Did, New Study Says
Analysis of stalagmites in caves shows extreme cold lasting a thousand years froze Europe around 40,000 years ago – just about when Neanderthals went extinct
Mysterious 6,500-year-old Culture in Israel Was Brought by Migrants, Researchers Say
Genetic analysis shows ancient Galilean farmers warmly embraced blue-eyed, fair-skinned immigrants from Iran and Turkey in the late Copper Age
CSI Study of Shroud of Turin Proves Again: Jesus Relic Is Fake
Scientists do blood spatter analysis on simulated Shroud of Jesus: Marks on the linen are not compatible with an actual crucifixion, they explain
How Israel Honored Gino Bartali, the Italian Cycling Champion Who Saved Jews
Gino Bartali helped save hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust by smuggling forged documents in his bike
Opinion Not to Be Outdone by Trump, Italy Flirts, Dangerously, With Fascism
A Mussolini-style census of Roma people, proposed by Italy’s new hardline interior minister, was met by outrage. But Matteo Salvini's racist, unconstitutional pandering to his base has already paid off - and another red line has been crossed
Unique 1,000-year-old Islamic Amulet Found in Jerusalem
Clay talisman from the time of the Abbasid caliphate was owned by a man named Kareem, who prayed for Allah’s protection against the evil eye
Opinion Steve Bannon's Campaign to Conquer Europe Marks Its First Victory: Italy
Trump ex-strategist Bannon famously called himself a Leninist, but he's more like Trotsky, wandering Europe whipping up revolutionary fervor for his global populist movement. In Italy, he found the perfect set of circumstances
Opinion Return of Mussolini: Will Powerful Anti-immigrant Populists Bring Down the Italian State?
It’s certainly 'anti-establishment' for Italy’s populist political leader Matteo Salvini to threaten violence if his demands are not met. But it's also dangerous in a country that's never really come to terms with its fascist past
Analysis Italy’s New Populist Rulers Love Putin, Hate Immigrants and Are Confused About Israel
The ‘Italy first’ parties that will govern in Rome have expressed diametrically opposing views on Israel. But they have few doubts about putting Russia first in their foreign policy
Sacrificed Donkeys in Ancient Gath Reveal Canaanite Trade Secrets
4,700-year-old donkey skeletons found under houses in Gath, the biblical home of Goliath, show the Canaanites had mastered the art of the bit 1,000 years earlier than we thought