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 yesterday.

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. Also found were vessels from Mycenae in Greece, demonstrating evidence of trade links between the two regions.

Archaeologists involved in the two-week dig described the find as "an extremely rare discovery."

"Until now no such pits as these have been found from 3,500 years ago. It is also extraordinary to find scores of vessels that are in such a good state of preservation," said Edwin van den Brink and Uzi Ad, the two archaeologists who led the dig.

"In most excavations, fragments of pottery vessels are found, whereas here the vessels were removed from the rock-hollow intact."

The items were found at the foot of Tel Qashish, a Biblical city located to the east of Mount Carmel. According to the First Book of Kings, recognised as scripture, it was at Tel Qashish, or close to it, that the Hebrew prophet Elijah slaughtered 450 prophets of the pagan god Baal.