The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported on Wednesday that 1,400-year-old iron hammer and nails from the Byzantine period were discovered during excavations in northern Israel.

The findings were unearthed by an Israeli family of many volunteers who joined the archeologists in the site, where the ancient Jewish city of Usha was located during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Previous discoveries of wine goblets and raw glass chunks indicated that the locals were involved in the manufacture of glassware, and now it turns out they were also producing iron tools.

According to the IAA, only 20 ancient hammers are registered in its National Treasures, of which only six are from the Byzantine period.

In addition, complex olive and wine presses were uncovered, showing that the main occupation and livelihood of the Usha residents was the wide processing of the agricultural produce of the vines and olive trees on nearby lands.

Near the presses, two rock-hewn ritual baths with plastered walls and steps were revealed, indicating that the workers were Jews who purified themselves in the baths at the beginning of each working day to produce religiously-pure olive oil and wine. 

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