3,000-year-old Iron Age purple dye factory found in Israel operated for 500 years

Archaeologists have discovered the first known industrial purple-dye factory in Israel, operating from 1100-600 BCE. The site at Tel Shiqmona contained 176 artifacts related to dye production, including large vats that could hold 350 liters of dye. This groundbreaking find provides direct evidence of purple dye manufacturing in the Iron Age Levant, shedding light on the production of this historically significant color. The discovery may help locate other ancient dye facilities and improve understanding of textile production in Biblical times.