Israeli archaeologists have discovered a biblical artifact from Herod's Second Temple adorned with images of the menorah.

The ancient piece of jewelry is engraved with a seven-branched candelabrum or menorah (the symbol of the Hanukkah holiday).

They found the piece during a pre-construction examination of land near Mount Carmel National Park, which researchers think was a large settlement during the late Roman or early Byzantine period.

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On December 18, the excavators uncovered a box containing hundreds of glass fragments thrown into a refuse pit. Among the old pieces of glass was a small fragment of decorated glass from an ancient bracelet.

"After cleaning, we were excited to discover that the bracelet, which is made of turquoise colored glass, is decorated with symbols of the seven-branched menorah - the same menorah which according to tradition was kept alight in the temple for eight days by means of a single cruse of oil," said Limor Talmi and Dan Krizner, excavation directors for the Israel Antiquities Authority, in a statement.

The significance of the symbol has something to do with its reference in Exodus 25 verses 31 through 33 where God instructs Moses on the exact creation of the Ark of the Covenant and the golden lampstand.

Yael Gorin-Rosen, head of the ancient glass department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said symbols like that have been found on jewelry in Lebanon, Syria and Israel.

Archaeologists are now trying to figure out why the jewelry was in the garbage pit of an ancient settlement in the upper Carmel region. They said it's possible Jews resided in the area during the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. They added it could also be the home of Christians, pagans or Samaritans.

Researchers also assume the piece may have been made in a workshop in the region for shipment elsewhere because glass debris like pieces of windowpanes and glass vessels were found in the same place. They hypothesized the site could be part of an industrial area where goods were made for nearby households

Tagsglass fragment, biblical artifact, artifact, ancient glass bracelet, King Herod, Exodus, Bible, jewelry, ancient jewelry, menorah