Biblical red dye found in a cave in Israel

Scarlet red, derived from insects, was the dye of choice for making scarlet-colored textiles in ancient biblical times. Recently, a piece of ancient scarlet cloth was discovered in a cave in Israel, dating back 3,800 years. This rare textile, less than 2cm in size, was dyed using oak scale insects, known in the Bible as the “Tola‛at Hashani” or scarlet worm, mentioned 25 times in the scriptures. The cloth, found in the “Cave of Skulls,” was analyzed by researchers who identified the red dye source and dated the textile to the Middle Bronze Age. The findings were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, shedding light on ancient textile dyeing practices and showcasing early evidence of woolen textiles dyed with kermes insects. This discovery highlights the advanced knowledge of ancient civilizations in dyeing techniques and the prestige associated with scarlet-colored fabrics.