Intriguing Roman busts in Israel

Intriguing busts from Roman times that were discovered in a cemetery in northern Israel near the city of Beit She’an. The objects are dated to the 4th century CE.

The objects were discovered by accident after a heavy downpour, which flushed the earth covering the objects. Both limestone busts weigh about 30 kg and were probably part of the grave where the deceased were buried. The silhouettes show us a woman and a man with a beard.

The low quality of the workmanship suggests that the deceased were not wealthy, and the sculptures were made for little money. Similar objects were found in the area of the former Roman city of Sebaste, located in the near distance.