(PHOTO: A seal bearing Hebrew words uncovered in vast
excavation. Credit: Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities
Authority)
excavation. Credit: Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities
Authority)
Over 120 jug handles and other artifacts were discovered in July in Jerusalem
at a huge archaeological site dating back to the First Temple Era. Many of the jug
handles were inscribed with the words “to the King, Hebron.”
at a huge archaeological site dating back to the First Temple Era. Many of the jug
handles were inscribed with the words “to the King, Hebron.”
The ancient LMLK seals,
named for the Hebrew letters meaning “To the King,” or “L’Melech,” were first discovered
by the famous British archaeologist Sir Charles Warren of the Palestine Exploration
Fund who published his findings in 1870.
In the 1970s, more LMLK seal were unearthed in Lachish and later in 1999 in Hebron’s
Tel
Hevron neighborhood.
The new discovery, like the others, includes jugs embossed with the names of four
locations including “To the King, Hebron,” “to the King, Ziph,” “to the King Socho, and
“to the King, MMST.” Ziph and Socho are located in the Hebron Hills region, while the
location of MMST, thought to be Mammeshet, is not confirmed.
The new finds date back 2,700 years ago and were discovered in a huge archeological area
in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem. Some of the jugs and jars also bore Hebrew
names such as Meshalem Elnatan and Naham Hatzlihu. The researchers believe they were the
names of wealthy individuals or royal officials.
Neriya Sapir and Nathan Ben-Ari, the directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel
Antiquities Authority called it “one of the most significant discoveries from the period
of the Kings in Jerusalem made in recent years.”
The IAA said in a statement, the royal storage center was from the days of King
Hezekiyah (Hizkiyahu) and King Manasseh (Menashe), as mentioned in Bible and called the
site “and extraordinary structure in its size and character.”
The dig is located in a barren tract of land near the United States embassy in south
Jerusalem near Derech Hevron (Hebron Road) which connects the two
cities.
“Evidence shows that at this site, taxes were collected in an orderly manner for
agricultural products such as wine and olive oil.” Sapir and Ben-Ari
stated.
Fully intact jugs discovered in previous archeological excavations are on display at the
Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The Hebron finds are on display at the Land of
Judah Museum in Kiryat Arba (Museum Eretz Yehuda). Israeli postage stamps depict
the LMLK seal attesting to their importance.
The jugs were probably used to store food or grain and may have been made in the Hebron
region and then transported to Jerusalem. They indicate the importance of Hebron, the
Hebron Hills and Jerusalem in the days of the Kings of Judea.
NOTES:
* Huge
Kingdom of Judah government complex found – Times of
Israel
Kingdom of Judah government complex found – Times of
Israel
* Key
site from biblical kings’ time unveiled – Jerusalem Post
site from biblical kings’ time unveiled – Jerusalem Post
HEBRON CONTACT INFORMATION
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
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United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronfund
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Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hebronvideo
Israeli contact info:
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office@hebron.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hebron.machpela
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