A silver hoard unearthed nearly a century ago may finally provide physical evidence of Pharaoh Thutmose III’s military campaign and legendary conquest of Canaan. The 44-piece silver collection, Set 5034, was first excavated in the early 1930s by archaeologists from the University of Chicago at the historic site of Megiddo, in northern Israel.
Stored for decades with little public attention, the hoard has recently come under new scrutiny by a team from the University of Haifa.
Researchers analyzed the objects, which included bars, cut pieces, sheets, and wires, all found in a room with a dirt or plaster floor in the heart of the ancient city. The treasure was originally linked to Phase XIIIA, part of the early Middle Bronze Age. If accurate, it would mark the oldest known example of silver used as currency in the southern Levant.
However, the University of Haifa scholars now question that timeline. They argue the silver may have been placed beneath the floor during a later period—an ancient practice used to hide valuables. Their findings suggest a more likely connection to the Late Bronze Age.
Scientific testing links silver to broader trade networks
Recent scientific testing supports that theory. Researchers conducted chemical and lead isotope analysis on several pieces from the hoard. The results closely match other regional Late Bronze Age silver discoveries, including a notable treasure from Tel Abel Beth Maacah.
In contrast, the Megiddo silver does not align with the chemical makeup of Middle Bronze Age silver found at sites such as Shiloh and Gezer.
Pharaoh Thutmose III fighting rebellious Canaanite vassals at the Battle of Megiddo, 1457 BC. pic.twitter.com/nUDxHHadkW
— Historiae Āfricānae (@africanae9732) March 20, 2025
More strikingly, the silver’s isotopic signature resembles items from distant Late Bronze Age locations, including the Uluburun shipwreck off the coast of Turkey and Tell Munbaqa in Syria.
This suggests the silver in Set 5034 may have been collected, melted, and remixed from various sources across the ancient world. Researchers believe this may have occurred during intense trade or political change.
Possible timelines and a new historical link
Two potential timelines have emerged. One places the silver in Phase XI, tied to the construction of a large palace at Megiddo during the Middle Bronze Age II-III. Under this scenario, the silver would represent the wealth the local elite held.
However, the researchers see a more compelling link between the silver hoard and Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III’s conquest of Megiddo in the mid-15th century B.C. His military campaign is well-documented in Egyptian records, describing a siege and capture of the city. Megiddo remained under Egyptian control for nearly 400 years.
Until now, physical evidence of that pivotal moment had been lacking. The silver hoard may offer the first tangible connection to the city’s dramatic fall and its lasting role in the Egyptian Empire.
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