Archaeologists at the City of David in Jerusalem announced this week that they had identified an oil lamp that dates back 2,000 years to the Hasmonean period.

Though the find is, in itself, unremarkable, the find came just prior to the Hanukkah, the festival of light, celebrating the Maccabee victory of that time.

Dr. Philip Wakosowicz, director of the excavation, said, “Lamps like this one are not rare and are found in many digs, but it’s definitely exciting to excavate a Hasmonean-era lamp in the City of David right before Hanukkah.”

According to Wakosowicz, “The City of David excavation never stops yielding important finds, which testify to the long, rich history of the city and the region as a whole.”

The lamp was discovered during the excavation of a home located on the eastern slope of the park.

The lamp was filled via a hole in the top and the wick was inserted into a second smaller hole in the side. This hole was blackened and soot had accumulated at the bottom of the lamp indicating that the lamp had been used. 

A similar lamp from the same period was found this time last year while archaeologists were excavating the road that was used for pilgrimages in the days of the Second Temple.