Wednesday, October 01, 2008

EILAT MAZAR AND GABRIEL BARKAY comment on recent epigraphic discoveries in Jerusalem:
Clay seal connects to Bible
Archaeological find in Jerusalem bears name in Scripture

Jay Bushinksy THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Wednesday, October 1, 2008

AMOS BEN GERSHOM/SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES Archaeological workers collect rubble from the site that has been identified as King David's palace, the first of two clay bullae bearing the names of biblical figures was discovered.

It is the most remarkable find since excavations in the heart of this 3,000-year-old capital of ancient Israel began 140 years ago: a tiny clay seal impression also known as a bulla or stamp, discovered near the ruins of what has been identified as King David's palace and bearing the name of an influential courtier mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

"It is not very often that archaeologists have surprises that bring them so close to the reality of the biblical text," said Eilat Mazar, whose pinpoint dig in a relatively small site this summer led her to a clay bulla whose ancient Hebrew script identifies its owner as Gedalyahu ben Pashhur.

Speaking to an enthusiastic audience of 1,500 Israelis who converged on the Palestinian-Arab Silwan quarter, known as Kfar Hashiloah, or Siloam in the Bible, Mrs. Mazar said, "One could not have asked anything more than this."

[...]
Well, I wouldn't say no to an extensive lapidary royal inscription from the First Temple period, but I take her point.

For the Passhur seal and the Yehukhal/Jehucal seal, see here. For Professor Barkay's project of sifting the Temple Mount material illictly excavated by the Waqf, see here.