ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered a 3,800-year-old piece of fabric dyed in a vivid scarlet hue deep within Israel’s Judean Desert.
Found in the Cave of Skulls, this small textile fragment is believed to have been coloured using dye from oak scale insects, a substance thought to be the “scarlet worm” referenced in the Bible.
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The discovery gives unprecedented insights into ancient textile production and its links to priestly garments described in biblical texts.
The team of Israeli researchers behind the extraordinary find included experts from the Israel Antiques Authority, Bar-Ilan University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Their findings, recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, highlight the historical and cultural significance of the tiny artefact, which measures less than two centimetres in size.
Naama Sukenik, curator of the Organic Material Collection at the Israel Antiquities Authority, explained the process behind the creation of the fabric’s scarlet color.
“In ancient times, the dye was produced from female scale insects, which live on kermes oak trees,” she said.
“Collecting these insects was a highly specialised process, done in a short window of time — one month each summer — when the amount of dye was at its peak.”
This challenging process, combined with the rarity of the dye-producing insects, made scarlet a prestigious and valuable color in ancient times.
The “scarlet worm” is mentioned 25 times in biblical scripture, often alongside other prised colours like blue (tekhelet) and purple (argaman), which were similarly associated with wealth and status.
Professor Zohar Amar of Bar-Ilan University highlighted the advanced knowledge of natural dyeing reflected in these ancient texts.
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“The biblical reference to a colour derived from a living creature shows impressive zoological understanding.
Female scale insects are tiny, immobile, and easily mistaken for plant material.
In fact, some ancient Greek and Roman naturalists thought they were plant granules.”
The researchers used advanced techniques, such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), to identify the specific species of insect used in the dye.
Sukenik confirmed: “We can say with high certainty that this textile was dyed using Kermes vermilio, a species of scale insect that produces kermesic acid, which gives the fabric its distinctive red hue.”
Interestingly, Kermes vermilio is not native to Israel, but is found in other Mediterranean regions, indicating long-distance trade networks that likely existed during the Middle Bronze Age.
Uri Davidovich from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem noted, “This fabric, found in a desert cave, speaks to the sophisticated knowledge of wool dyeing in the ancient world.
It also hints at extensive international trade that connected different regions as early as 3,800 years ago.”
The textile provides tangible evidence of a vibrant textile industry and hints at an elite society with access to such prestigious materials.
As Sukenik noted: “This rare find offers a bridge between ancient written sources and archaeological evidence, revealing the complexities of ancient commerce and craftsmanship.”
The discovery, made as part of a broader effort to protect Judean Desert artefacts from antiquities theft, underscores the importance of continued exploration in these historic caves.
Mention of the ‘scarlet worm’ in the bible
THE “scarlet worm” in the Bible refers to a specific insect called the coccus ilicis, also known as the crimson worm or tola‘ath in Hebrew.
This insect was significant in the ancient world for producing a scarlet or crimson dye.
In biblical passages, it is typically referred to in connection with the colour scarlet, representing sin, sacrifice, or royalty.
Here are some notable mentions:
Psalm 22:6: “But I am a worm (tola‘ath), and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.”
This verse is often seen as a messianic prophecy. The term “worm” here is specifically the tola‘ath, which produces the crimson dye.
Some interpret this symbolically, relating the worm’s life cycle (dying to give birth and leave a red stain) to Christ’s sacrifice.
Isaiah 1:18: “Though your sins are like scarlet (shani’), they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson (tola‘ath), they shall be as wool.”
This verse contrasts the deep stain of sin with the possibility of being cleansed.
The term tola‘ath is associated with the deep red dye, which symbolised the stain of sin.
Exodus 25:4, Exodus 26:1, Exodus 26:31, Exodus 28:5: The term “scarlet” (sometimes using tola‘ath or shani’) is used in these passages to describe materials dyed with crimson for use in the construction of the Tabernacle and priestly garments.
The scarlet colour was part of the blue, purple, and scarlet yarns mentioned frequently.
These mentions highlight the crimson or scarlet colour’s significance in ritual, symbolising both human sinfulness and divine grace, with connections to sacrifice and cleansing.
The life cycle of the coccus ilicis worm, which produces red dye through its death, has also been linked to Christ’s redemptive work by some biblical commentators.
