Has King David's Biblical City Been Found?
Jul 15, 2011 14:32:03 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 15, 2011 14:32:03 GMT -5
Archaeologists unearth possible biblical city of King David near Jerusalem
Israel News.Net
Friday 15th July, 2011 (ANI)
Astounding new evidence has been unearthed in Israel that could confirm the existence of the biblical city of King David.
Archaeologists have located the remains of the legendary city of King David at Khirbet Qeivafa, in Elah Valley, 30 km outside Jerusalem - the first evidence that the ancient Jewish empire actually existed.
The bible refers to a powerful 10th century B.C. Kingdom of David, Israel's second king, stretching from Egypt to the Euphrates, but little evidence of its existence has ever been found.
Now, the archaeological discovery appears to show signs of a Jewish settlement.
Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said that the evidence found at the site included a single pottery fragment with an inscription believed to be an early form of Hebrew and olive pits dated as 3,000 years old.
"The buildings and the city wall are abutting each other. This is a typical Judan urban concept," he told the CNN.
"We do have animal bones. Thousands of animal bones were on site. We have sheep, cattle and goats. But we have no pigs at all. In Canaanite and Philistine cities you will find up to 20 percent pig bones," he added.
Only 10 percent of the site has been excavated so far, so more significant finds are still likely.
The Kingdom of David was described in the bible as the first Jewish state and features in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but for decades has been dismissed by archaeologists as just a story.
In a region where history, belief and ideology play such an important role, the discovery is set to revive a debate.
Professor Israel Finkelstein, of Tel Aviv University, pointed out that the remains are not evidence of a powerful biblical state.
"We are not talking about some great empire ruled from a wonderful capital, the way we look at Assyria in the 9th century B.C., or even the northern Kingdom of Israel in the 9th century B.C. We are here in a formative phase of the rise of Judah," he said.
"Khirbet Qeiyafa does not make Judah a great empire with great armies," he added.
Garfinkel argued that even if it was not the great empire of the bible, its existence is significant.
"What people try to do is say that the Kingdom of Judah didn't exist. What I am saying is that it existed. It's a small one, not so glorified as the Bible presented. But it doesn't mean there was nothing," he said.
www.israelnews.net/story/811170/ht/Archaeologists-unearth-possible-biblical-city-of-King-David-near-Jerusalem
Israel News.Net
Friday 15th July, 2011 (ANI)
Astounding new evidence has been unearthed in Israel that could confirm the existence of the biblical city of King David.
Archaeologists have located the remains of the legendary city of King David at Khirbet Qeivafa, in Elah Valley, 30 km outside Jerusalem - the first evidence that the ancient Jewish empire actually existed.
The bible refers to a powerful 10th century B.C. Kingdom of David, Israel's second king, stretching from Egypt to the Euphrates, but little evidence of its existence has ever been found.
Now, the archaeological discovery appears to show signs of a Jewish settlement.
Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said that the evidence found at the site included a single pottery fragment with an inscription believed to be an early form of Hebrew and olive pits dated as 3,000 years old.
"The buildings and the city wall are abutting each other. This is a typical Judan urban concept," he told the CNN.
"We do have animal bones. Thousands of animal bones were on site. We have sheep, cattle and goats. But we have no pigs at all. In Canaanite and Philistine cities you will find up to 20 percent pig bones," he added.
Only 10 percent of the site has been excavated so far, so more significant finds are still likely.
The Kingdom of David was described in the bible as the first Jewish state and features in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but for decades has been dismissed by archaeologists as just a story.
In a region where history, belief and ideology play such an important role, the discovery is set to revive a debate.
Professor Israel Finkelstein, of Tel Aviv University, pointed out that the remains are not evidence of a powerful biblical state.
"We are not talking about some great empire ruled from a wonderful capital, the way we look at Assyria in the 9th century B.C., or even the northern Kingdom of Israel in the 9th century B.C. We are here in a formative phase of the rise of Judah," he said.
"Khirbet Qeiyafa does not make Judah a great empire with great armies," he added.
Garfinkel argued that even if it was not the great empire of the bible, its existence is significant.
"What people try to do is say that the Kingdom of Judah didn't exist. What I am saying is that it existed. It's a small one, not so glorified as the Bible presented. But it doesn't mean there was nothing," he said.
www.israelnews.net/story/811170/ht/Archaeologists-unearth-possible-biblical-city-of-King-David-near-Jerusalem