Two Israeli scholars have revealed the discovery of a rare four-line Aramaic inscription in a cave near the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert, a find they believe may date to the Bar Kochba Revolt against the Romans in the 2nd century CE.
Unveiled at a major academic conference in Jerusalem, the inscription’s first line reads, “Abba of Naburya has perished.” Only fragments of the remaining text have been deciphered, with words such as “on us,” “he took,” and “the.”
Cave already known for its ancient Hebrew inscription
The cave, near Ein Gedi National Park in the Dead Sea region, was already known to archaeologists for a First Temple period inscription written in ancient Hebrew script on a stalactite. In spring 2023, a research team visited the site to photograph the earlier text using multispectral imaging to detect writing invisible to the naked eye.
A four-line ancient Aramaic inscription, possibly inked by Jewish rebels from the Bar Kochba Revolt against the Romans in the 2nd century CE, has been discovered in a cave in the Judean Desert, two Israeli scholars revealed at a prominent academic conference in Jerusalem on… pic.twitter.com/r2XplAy9Sb
— Rita Rosenfeld (@rheytah) August 7, 2025
The team included Dr. Asaf Gayer of Ariel University, geologist Boaz Langford of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel Antiquities Authority photographer Shai Halevi, and Prof. Jonathan Ben-Dov of Tel Aviv University.
Unexpected find of a new inscription and weapons
While examining the stalactite, the team unexpectedly identified the Aramaic inscription on its lower section and uncovered four remarkably well-preserved Roman swords nearby.
Gayer said the earlier Hebrew inscription had been documented in the 1970s, but advanced imaging was expected to produce clearer results. The discovery of the second inscription, he added, came by chance.
The Aramaic text, measuring about 8 by 3.5 centimeters (3.15 in by 1.38 inches), is written in square Hebrew script — the same style used in modern Hebrew. Gayer said the writer appeared to aim for a polished inscription but struggled, possibly due to the uneven surface or lack of formal training. The result blends semi-formal and cursive characters.
Dating points to the early centuries CE
Square Hebrew script emerged in the region after the Babylonian exile, replacing ancient Hebrew script during the Persian period as Aramaic became the dominant written and spoken language.
Based on the language and style, Gayer believes the inscription dates to the 1st or 2nd century CE. However, its poor preservation makes it unclear whether it belongs to the First Jewish Revolt, the years between uprisings, or the Bar Kochba Revolt.
Its proximity to the swords and a Bar Kochba coin suggests the latter period, but certainty remains elusive.
Rebels likely hid Roman swords
The swords, three still in their scabbards, are believed to have belonged to Roman soldiers and were hidden by Judean rebels to avoid detection or for later use. The cave, too small for habitation, was likely an outpost for launching raids.
Little is known about “Abba of Naburya.” Abba was a common Jewish name in the early centuries CE, and Naburya was a Galilean village near Safed mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud.
Search for more inscriptions continues
The inscription is one of the very few multi-line texts from the era outside the Dead Sea Scrolls. Gayer and his colleagues are preparing a peer-reviewed publication on the find and have begun surveying other caves that sheltered Jewish refugees, using advanced imaging techniques.
So far, they have identified a one-word inscription in a water system and expanded readings of another previously known text. “Every new letter found matters,” Gayer said. “There is great potential for new discoveries.”
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