In the depths of Te’omim Cave in Jerusalem, a significant archaeological discovery has shed light on ancient ritual practices associated with magic.

Researchers have uncovered evidence pointing to dark ceremonies where necromancers possibly sought to summon the spirits of the deceased, as indicated by the presence of human skulls and daggers.

The findings, detailed in a study published by Cambridge University Press in the Harvard Theological Review, resulted from over a decade of research conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Bar-Ilan University.

The study focuses on 120 oil lamps discovered within the Judaean hills, dating back to the late Roman to early Byzantine period, specifically the late second to fourth centuries CE.

The researchers noted that all of these lamps were deliberately placed in narrow and deep crevices within the main chamber walls or beneath the rubble, the Business Insider has reported.

Some of these crevices contained clusters of oil lamps alongside weaponry and pottery vessels from earlier periods, or were positioned alongside human skulls.

Eitan Klein and Boaz Zissu, the authors of the study, suggest that the lamps’ insertion into hidden and hard-to-reach crevices indicates that their purpose extended beyond simply illuminating the dark cave.

The scholars theorize that these lamps were used in rituals and ceremonies, serving as a component of the necromantic practices conducted within the cave.

Alongside the oil lamps, archaeologists also discovered weapons such as daggers and axe heads within the cave, along with three human skulls. Interestingly, no other human bones were found in conjunction with the skulls.

Based on their findings and a thorough examination of ancient papyrus scrolls from the Late Roman period, which documented spells and customs associated with the cave, the researchers reached a conclusion.

They determined that these artifacts were likely utilized as integral components of necromancy ceremonies conducted within the cave during that period.

The scrolls provided valuable insights into the rituals and practices that honored the significance of the cave within the cultural and spiritual context of the time.

Written by staff