Echoes from the Ancients

The Jewish hilltop settlement of Yodefat fell to the Roman army in 67 AD, after a siege lasting more than 40 days. Later, the Romans would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem (70 AD), profoundly changing the dynamics of Jewish life in first century Judea. Ultimately, they would overwhelm the zealots of Masada, crushing the last vestiges of Jewish resistance to Roman rule. Yodefat is significant because the battle was well chronicled by Josephus, a historian who was one of the few survivors of the siege. Also, the site is preserved in almost pristine condition, giving insights into everyday life in Biblical times in the upper Galilee, near areas where Jesus walked and preached. This video shows research teams at work in Yodefat, sifting through the rubble using the usual archaeological tools, but also with the help of computers and digital imaging. They not only found evidence of a battle, but also remnants of the life the Jews were trying to preserve. Most of the residents of Yodefat were poor or middle class, but the diggers unearthed a ruined villa with luxurious wall decorations. Scholars found strong evidence of a commitment to Jewish rituals and ultimately, poignant reminders of the last desperate days of Yodefat, including a mass grave. Narrated by Anne Bancroft, this video is not only an informative view of early Jewish history, but also an example of the "long echo" of archaeology, which we can still hear thousands of years later. Recommended. (S. Rees)