Jewish cultic edifice uncovered in Jerusalem's City of David

Israeli archeologists say unusual building dates to the First Temple period and was likely in use before religious reforms mentioned in the Bible

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An unusual dating to the First Temple period (1200-586 BCE) has been uncovered in Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) excavations in Jerusalem’s City of David Archaeological Park.
A new article, published in the IAA’s journal Atiqot this week, suggests this unique structure, with a series of eight rock-hewn rooms, was used for cultic purposes and was in use during the time the Temple stood on the Temple Mount, a few hundred meters to the north.
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סימני החציבה המסתוריים שהתגלו ברצפת המבנה
סימני החציבה המסתוריים שהתגלו ברצפת המבנה
The mysterious carvings found inside the building
(Photo: Kobi Harati, City of David Park)
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מתקן חצוב המזוהה כמזבח וממנו תעלה לניקוז הנוזלים
מתקן חצוב המזוהה כמזבח וממנו תעלה לניקוז הנוזלים
Carved platform used to lead water
(Photo: Kobi Harati, City of David Park)
According to the IAA, this is the only cultic structure from this period discovered in Jerusalem to date and one of the few found in the country.
The uncovered structure spans an area of about 2,368 square feet (220 m²). Various installations were found inside the eight rooms, such as an olive press for oil production, a winepress, foundations of a hewn structure with a drainage channel that experts identified as an altar and a large upright stone, beside which cultic activity took place.
In one of the rooms, mysterious hewing marks shaped like a "V" were found on the floor, the meaning of which has not yet been clarified by the researchers. Eli Shukron, the site's excavator, said that these hew marks might have been the bases for installations used in the ritual ceremonies held at the site.
A small cave was uncovered at the edge of the cultic structure, containing a collection of tools dating back to the 8th century BCE. Among the tools found were cooking pots, jugs with parts of names written in ancient Hebrew script, loom weights, scarabs, seal impressions with images and grinding stones used for crushing grains.
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מצבור הכלים שהתגלו במערה הסמוכה למבנה. "המערה שימשה כגניזה לכלים"
מצבור הכלים שהתגלו במערה הסמוכה למבנה. "המערה שימשה כגניזה לכלים"
Various tools found in the building
(Photo: Eli Shukron)
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 חרפושית מהמאה ה-8 לפנה"ס שהתגלתה בחפירה
 חרפושית מהמאה ה-8 לפנה"ס שהתגלתה בחפירה
Scarab carving dating to the 8th century BCE found in the dig
(Photo: Vladimir Neichen, Israel Antiquities Authority)
The article’s authors from the Center for the Study of Ancient Jerusalem led by Shukron — who directed the excavation on behalf of the IAA — believe that the unique structure was in use until the middle of the Kingdom of Judah period.
“The structure fell out of use during the 8th century BCE, possibly as part of King Hezekiah’s religious reform, which, according to the Bible, sought to centralize the worship of God at the Temple in Jerusalem, thereby abolishing cultic sites spread throughout the kingdom,” Shukron explained.
“The Bible tells that during the First Temple period, additional cultic sites operated outside the Temple, and two of the Kings of Judah — Hezekiah and Josiah — carried out religious reforms to abolish these cultic sites and centralize worship in the Temple in Jerusalem,” he added.
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הצעת שחזור של המבנה הפולחני
הצעת שחזור של המבנה הפולחני
Possible reconstruction of the building
(Illustration: Sharon Kelver, City of David Park)
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חפירות רשות העתיקות במבנה הנדיר בעיר דוד
חפירות רשות העתיקות במבנה הנדיר בעיר דוד
Archeologists on site
(Photo: Vladimir Neichen, Israel Antiquities Authority)
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“When we started excavating in the City of David in 2010, we were surprised to find that the site was sealed with 8th-century BCE fill — at that point, it had probably fallen out of use. The monumental stone we uncovered remained upright and the other rooms of the structure were well-preserved.”
"The unique structure uncovered in the City of David is a moving testament to Jerusalem’s rich past,” Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu said. “Discoveries of this kind highlight our historical roots and our connection to Jerusalem and the sites where the culture and belief of the Jewish people took shape over millennia."
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