Ancient coin discovered during Brazilian visit to Shiloh
Elected officials from Brazil just happened to be visiting the archaeological excavation in the Benjamin Region when the coin was discovered.
A rare coin was discovered at an archaeological dig in Shiloh during a visit by Brazilian officials this week.
Today, there is a modern Jewish community in Shiloh and the Brazilian delegation met with local residents to learn about the political situation and the history of the area.
The visit was a part of a tour of the Benjamin Region of Samaria, located in the post-1967 areas north of Jerusalem.
Among the participants where Everaldo Dias Pereira, head of the Social Christian Party who made headlines three years ago when he baptized Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, then Federal Deputy for Rio de Janeiro, in Israel's Jordan river.
Also participating in the Benjamin Region trip were Wilson Lima, Governor of the state of Amazonas, Claudio Castro, Deputy Governor of Rio de Janeiro, and other elected officials.
The Brazilian delegation visited the Psagot Winery, where locally produced kosher wine is manufactured and sold around the world. There they met with Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council.
"A major part of Biblical history took place in the Benjamin region," Gantz told the delegation. "Almost every hill has antiquities from ancient times. Our role is to revive healthy and happy lives in these hills," he stated.
Gantz stressed education as a major focus of the council as well as improving infrastructure.
Located in Area C of the West Bank, the Benjamin Region has dealt with numerous security issues from terrorists emanating from the nearby self-governing Palestinian Authority areas. Gantz praised the local emergency volunteer teams that operate in the Benjamin Region's over 40 communities. He also demonstrated a new locally-developed smartphone app for immediate response in dangerous security situations.