Ancient structures discovered on the eastern slopes of the City of David in the Jerusalem Walls National Park are believed to have been used for ritual practices during the time of the First Temple, according to a new study.
The building had eight rooms with an altar, a standing stone, an oil press, a wine press, etc.
Excavation director Eli Shukron said in an article published in the scientific journal Anticot that the exposed structures may have been used by Jewish residents for cultic or religious activities. said.
According to research, the structure has an exceptional overall shape and dates back to the First Temple period, and was uncovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the City of David.
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The ceremonial structures discovered in the City of David are the only ones found in Jerusalem from this period. (Credit: Kobi Harati, City of David)
“When we began excavating the City of David in 2010, we discovered that the site had been sealed off with earthen mounds since the 8th century B.C., indicating that it had fallen into disuse by that time. “There are,” Shukron said. “The standing stones we found remained upright in their original locations, and the other rooms in the building were also well preserved.”
Shukron's article suggests that the structure, consisting of eight rock-hewn chambers, was located not far from the temple on the Temple Mount, nearly a few hundred meters away, and was used for ceremonial purposes. There is.
It is the only known structure of its type in Jerusalem and one of the few found in Israel.
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The carved installation has been identified as an altar with channels for draining liquids. (Credit: Kobi Harati, City of David)
The building itself has an area of approximately 220 square meters and has eight rooms, each of which is used for a different purpose.
One room contained an oil press for producing oil. Another was equipped with a wine press for making wine.
Other rooms contained what researchers identified as altars, what appeared to be carved installations with drainage channels. big standing stone. There are V-shaped carvings on the floor, but researchers are still confused as to the purpose of the carvings.
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A mysterious carving was discovered on the floor of a building. (Credit: Kobi Harati, City of David)
Shukron hypothesized that the carving may have been used as a base for a tripod used during ritual activities.
At the end of the building is a small cave that contains items dating back to the 8th century BC. The cache included a cooking pot, a jar containing fragments of an ancient Hebrew inscription, a loom weight, a scarab beetle, an engraved seal, and a grindstone for grinding grain.
Shukron and his team believe the structure was in use until the 8th century B.C., during the reign of the kings of Judah.
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A collection of artifacts discovered in a cave adjacent to the structure. “The cave served as a repository for artifacts.” (Credit: Eli Shukron)
“The structure ceased to function in the 8th century BC, probably as part of King Hezekiah's religious reforms,” Shukron said.
According to the Bible, Hezekiah wanted to concentrate worship at the Temple in Jerusalem, so he abolished the shrines throughout the kingdom.
It is also noted that during the First Temple period, other areas used for rituals were used outside the temple, and that Kings Hezekiah and Josiah implemented reforms that eliminated these areas.
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Illustration of a carved room discovered in the City of David. (Illustration: Shalom Kveler, City of David)
“Almost 3,000 years later, the Biblical heritage of Jerusalem continues to be unearthed in the City of David, and as time goes on, its relevance and meaning will only increase, reaching not only millions but billions of people around the world.” “It has become important for us,” Zhe said. Ef Orenstein, the City of David's interior director, told Fox News Digital. “Unlike most ancient sites, Jerusalem's Biblical heritage is not limited to museums or history books; it remains timeless and timely, and is relevant to understanding today's world: past, present, and future.” It is a necessary element.”
The northern part of the structure was discovered by British explorer Montagu Parker, who searched Jerusalem for the Ark of the Covenant and Temple treasures in 1909.
It wasn't until 2010 that Škron began excavating the property, which continued over several seasons.
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“This discovery at the City of David confirms that the more than 3,000-year-old bond between Jews and Jerusalem, from Biblical times to modern times, continues as a fact, not just a matter of faith,” Orenstein said. I have confirmed it again.” .
