“The production of olive oil soap has been discussed in writings since the 10th century AD and is a vital industry in the region from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century,” the Israel Antiquities Authority said in an envoy to Fox News. “During the soapmaking process, olive oil was used as a base material, combined with the ash produced by the burning of salsola soda (salt) plants, which involve potash and water.”
ANCIENT CANNABIS AND FRANKINCENSE DISCOVERED IN THE SHRIN OF THE BIBLICAL ERA IN ISRAEL
The aggregate was cooked for about seven days, archaeologists say, and pointed out that the liquid was then transferred to a shallow pool. In the pool, the soap hardened for about 10 days until it can be cut into bars and left to dry for two months. “Researchers from the Antiquities Authority received samples of the discoveries, with the aim of identifying the fabrics used in the production process,” the experts said in the statement.
“This is the first time that a soap shop as old as this has been discovered, which allows us to recreate the classic production procedure of the soap industry,” explained Dr. Elena Kogen Zehavi, Director of Excavations at the IAA. “For this reason, it is unique. We know vital centers for the manufacture of soap from a much later era, the Ottoman era. They were discovered in Jerusalem, Nablus, Jaffa and Gaza.”
A circular limestone board used in an old strategy game called “WindMill” was also discovered on the site. The popular game at the time and in the 3rd century, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
HIDDEN UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS DISCOVERED NEAR JERUSALEM’S WEST WALL
Israel continues to reveal new facets of its rich history. For example, it was recently discovered that the curtains on the altars of an ancient shrine contained hashish and incense.
In some other project, hidden underground chambers dating back 2000 were recently discovered near the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
A 6-year-old boy in Israel also recently discovered a 3,500-year-old clay pill depicting a former captive and his kidnapper.
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In some other project, an Iron Age temple complex discovered near Jerusalem casts a new tone on an ancient biblical city.
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