i24News reports that a desert hilltop in the Judean Desert called "Hyrcania " is one of the most interesting historical sites in the Holy Land, but, it has never been excavated, until today.

Archaeologists and volunteers gathered last month for the first time to dig and research the magnificent site, whose history goes back to the second century BCE.

"The archaeological significance of the site is tremendous. Unearthing the evidence, it's something that overwhelms us" said Michal Haber, one of the archaeologist who led the excavations. 

Hyrcania is mentioned in Josephus' book "Antiquities of the Jews" as one of the three fortresses that queen Salome Alexandra, wife of Alexander Janneaus (the second Hasmonean king who ruled the land during the first century BCE), refused to give up to the Pharisee party. 

Later, the site was associated with the famous king Herod the Great. It was known as the place where the Roman-appointed king of Judea imprisoned and tortured his rivals. The fortress is also linked to the copper scroll, one of the famous Dead Sea scrolls, which contains instructions about a mysterious treasure. 

Dr. Oren Gutfeld, the head of the excavation, has a long history of research in the area. He excavated the tunnels located on the slop of the hill, tunnel which he believed are associated with the copper scroll.

"We assume that the treasures which are mentioned in the scroll are the treasures of the temple. The late archaeologist Hanan Eshel suggested that they are also treasures from the first temple era" Gutfeld said, "we conducted excavations in two locations, of two tunnels on the foothill. They were huge - two-meter high, one meter wide, with a length of 123 meters." 

Source - i24News/Twitter - Image - Screenshot