A rare stash of more than 100 pagan worship vessels, all of them intact and dating back more than 3,500 years, have been found in northern Israel, archaeologists said on Monday.

The items were discovered inside a natural hollow in the bedrock which was uncovered during excavations near Tel Qashish, close to the northern port city of Haifa.

Among the items recovered were goblets and bowls, a vessel used for burning incense, and a cup featuring the moulded face of a woman, which would have been used for dedicating a ritual drink offering — or libation — to a god.