Experts Stumped by Mysterious Handprint Found in 1,000-Year-Old Israeli Moat

By Tim Binnall

Archaeologists in Israel have been left scratching their heads after uncovering a mysterious handprint embossed into the wall of a 1,000-year-old moat. According to an announcement by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the peculiar impression was found during an excavation on the outskirts of Jerusalem earlier this month. During the dig, which was conducted in perpetration for a forthcoming infrastructure project, they discovered "part of an ancient defensive moat, believed to date back to the 10th century CE or earlier."

While exploring the fortification, which once encircled the city and protected it from being invaded, they were surprised to see a handprint that had inexplicably been carved into a wall centuries ago. The curious carving has proven to be something of a mystery to archaeologists, who say that they uncertain what it could mean. "Does it symbolize something? Does it point to a specific nearby element? Or is it just a local prank? Time may tell," researchers from the dig mused. To that end, do you have a theory for how the handprint wound up in the wall? Share your theory with us at the C2C Facebook page.