BINYAMINA, ISRAEL, June 28 (World Daily Times) — Israeli archaeologists have uncovered two intact marble Roman-era busts, dating to about 1,700 years ago, in a Roman-Byzantine winepress pit near Binyamina on Israel’s coast, the Israel Antiquities Authority said.
The figures were found buried face-down during an excavation ahead of railway construction, according to the agency. One bust carries a Greek inscription reading “Lycurgus,” but researchers said the name could point either to the Spartan lawgiver or to a later Athenian orator.
The second bust has a long beard and no clear identifying features. Excavation director Eliran Oren said the team’s research is still in its early stages, and the figure has only tentatively been suggested as a philosopher or leading thinker.
The busts are expected to be shown publicly at Tel Aviv’s MUZA Eretz Israel Museum before conservation and further study.
