In 990, the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon uncovered a small shrine within a house on the ramparts of Tel Ashkelon, located on Israel’s Mediterranean coast. Inside a ceramic vessel rested a small calf figurine. Made of bronze and gilded with silver, the calf had a detached leg but was missing only its left ear. Although the calf itself was virtually intact, the vessel surrounding it lay in pieces. The calf was sent to the Israel Museum for restoration. After cleaning and stabilizing the metal, specialists determined that the calf was composed of a bronze alloy of copper, lead, […]
