Israeli archaeologists unearth well-preserved 4,000-year-old lamp wicks

A team of Israeli archaeologists has uncovered 4,000-year-old well-preserved lamp wicks, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) revealed on Sunday. The rare wicks, which are believed to be among the oldest of their kind in the world, were discovered at an archaeological site close to Yehud, a central Israeli town east of Tel Aviv.

The wicks, made of woven textile, date to around 2500–2000 B.C. Researchers believe the material was linen, which was commonly used at the time and known for its high burning efficiency.

Wicks were reportedly common in the ancient world. However, researchers with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) stressed the uniqueness of the ancient artifacts.

“This is a unique discovery that we did not expect could ever be found in the moist Mediterranean climate; these wicks are among the few of their era known to us in the world.” Dr. Naama Sukenik and Dr. Yonah Maor explained.

While wicks were widely used for lighting in the ancient world, their composition from organic fibers makes them difficult to discover in an archaeological dig. According to the researchers, even in cases where organic material survives – such as in desert climates – it is challenging to identify a wick unless it is found inside a lamp, since it lacks distinctive features that set it apart from other textiles, threads, or ropes. This challenge is compounded by the fact that wicks are meant to be burned, and as a result, they are usually not preserved after use.

“The fact that three wicks were found – and that one of them survived in its entirety, is especially surprising in the humid climate of the coastal plain,” they added.

The excavation directors, Dr. Gilad Itach, Yossi Elisha, and Yaniv Agmon, assessed that “while these lamps must have been used to illuminate the underground dark burial space during the burial ceremony itself, it seems that this was not their only function.”

“The fire burning in a lamp has been associated with magical power since the dawn of humankind, thanks to its ability to provide light and heat, and its ability to transform materials in various ways, including burning, melting and firing,” they continued, explaining that the wicks “demonstrate the central role of fire in burial ceremonies. Just like today, thousands of years ago, the fire burning in a lamp symbolized the human soul.”

IAA Director Eli Escusido welcomed the latest discovery.

“The Antiquities Authority continues to maintain the flame of research, and it invests many resources in learning, documenting and making the knowledge of the archaeology of Israel accessible to the general public. Every discovery, no matter how small, is part of the great story of this country, and we see the utmost importance in publishing these findings,” he stated.

Israel, with its rich ancient and biblical history, is home to archaeological sites of global significance. In December 2024, archaeologists uncovered an ancient “Mount of Olives” lamp in Jerusalem bearing Jewish Temple symbols.