A rare bell with a buttonhole from the Second Temple period was found Thursday during an excavation at the Ir David (City of David) National Park, just south of the Old City of Jerusalem. It was found in a drainage canal originating just west of the Western Wall of the Temple.
Excavation managers Eli Shukrun and Ronny Reich said, "It appears the bell was sewn on the garment of a man of high standing in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period (first century C.E.)." It is known from the biblical book of Exodus that the high priests wore bells like this. While it is not certain that this bell belonged to a high priest, it cannot be ruled out.