Jesus-Era Bling Dug Up in Jerusalem

2000-year-old earring discovered

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 11, 2008 5:34 AM CST

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Jesus-Era Bling Dug Up in Jerusalem — A 2,000-year-old gold earring discovered beneath a parking lot next to the walls of Jerusalem's old city. The earring is inlaid with pearls and emeralds and was made around the time of Christ. (AP Photo/IAA, HO)

A spectacular gold, pearl, and emerald earring, dating to the time of Jesus, has been discovered in Jerusalem, AP reports. The 2,000-year-old find, close to the Old City walls, is causing a sensation because Roman-era jewelry is rare as the city was ultimately destroyed and what survived was often melted down.

"Suddenly, one of the excavators came up shouting 'Eureka!'" said the dig director. "Jewelry is hardly preserved in archaeological context in Jerusalem. Such a precious item, it couldn't be one of just ordinary people. It must have belonged to one of the elite in Jerusalem."

(More jewelry stories.)

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