Archeologist finds 3,000-year old Hebrew text

[Spawn's dad]

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An Israeli archaeologist has discovered what he says is

the earliest-known Hebrew text, found on a shard of pottery that dates to

the time of King David from the Old Testament, about 3,000 years ago. The

shard -- or ostracon -- contains five lines of text divided by black lines.

 

The shard -- or ostracon -- contains five lines of text divided by black lines.

 

Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem says the

inscribed pottery shard -- known as an ostracon -- was found during

excavations of a fortress from the 10th century BC.

 

Carbon dating of the ostracon, along with pottery analysis, dates the

inscription to time of King David, about a millennium earlier than the

famous Dead Sea Scrolls, the university said.

 

The shard contains five lines of text divided by black lines and measures 15

by 15 centimeters, or about 6 inches square.

 

Archaeologists have yet to decipher the text, but initial interpretation

indicates it formed part of a letter and contains the roots of the words

"judge," "slave," and "king," according to the university. That may indicate

it was a legal text, which archaeologists say would provide insights into

Hebrew law, society, and beliefs.

 

The researchers say the text was clearly written by a trained scribe.

 

The shard was discovered at the Elah Fortress in Khirbet Qeiyafa, about 20

miles southwest of Jerusalem. The fortress, measuring 2.3 hectares (about

5.7 acres), is the earliest-known fortified city of the biblical period in

Israel.

 

Excavations began there in June. So far, just four percent of the site has

been excavated, the university said.

 

Because the ostracon is similar to that found in other Israelite

settlements, and because no pig bones were found at the site, archaeologists

say the site was likely part of the Kingdom of Judea. Jewish dietary laws

forbid the eating of pork.

 

Among the artifacts found at the site are more than 100 jar handles bearing

distinct impressions which may indicate a link to royal vessels, the

university said. Such a large quantity found in such a small area is

"unprecedented," the university said.

 

The site of Khirbet Qeiyafa is located near the place where the Bible

describes the battle between David and Goliath -- the Elah Valley, which

shares its name with the fortress.

 

Garfinkel said it is the only site in Israel in which to investigate King

David.

 

"The chronology and geography of Khirbet Qeiyafa create a unique meeting

point between the mythology, history, historiography and archaeology of King

David," he said.

 

The Dead Sea Scrolls are the earliest-known copies of the Bible, some dating

back about 2,000 years.

 

It is widely believed that the first set of Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered

in 1947 by a Bedouin shepherd who ventured into a cave in the Judean Desert

in search of a lost sheep or goat.

 

The texts, written on crumbling parchment and papyrus, were found wrapped in

linen inside earthenware jars.

[Mrs. Peel]

How cool is that? It's times like these that make me wish I'd stuck with my original Archaelogy major in college. It's so incredible that new things are still being discovered that may alter our perception of history as we know it.

[Sir Stewart]

Are we sure that's not just a very old matzo?

[remphish1]

Why isn't this guy wearing gloves when he is handling this?

 

Anyhoo cool stuff. I visited Israel abotu 15 years ago and the history and sites are overwhelming. I did get to see the Dead Sea Scrolls which was awesome. Visiting the old quarter in Jerusalem is something I believe everyone should do at least once.