Archaeologists Uncover a 2,800-Year-Old Arrangement in Jerusalem Possibly Used for Reverence and Cult Practices
Archaeologists have unearthed multiple rooms and objects in Israel which they believe are evidence that cultic practices happened in the Kingdom of Judah. Researchers spotted these artifacts in Jerusalem, stated Live Science. On examination, all of them were revealed to date back to ancient Israel's First Temple period (1200 to 586 B.C.). Experts claim that the ritual structure is the first of its kind to be unearthed from the period in Jerusalem and the fourth from Israel. Findings regarding these discoveries made in Israel have been published in the journal 'Atiqot.
Archaeologists found ruins of eight rock-cut chambers on the eastern slope of the City of David. In the chambers, they uncovered items like an altar, a large standing stone, and an oil press. These items made researchers speculate that ritualistic practices took place in these structures. The age and locations of these findings implied that such practices were happening near the First Temple (the first Jewish temple made by King Solomon).
Experts are yet to understand what exact rituals took place in these chambers, but as per evidence found in the rooms they were linked to worship and cult practices. Researchers asserted worshipping, because of finding a stone massebah-like artifact in room number four. The Hebrew Bible describes massebah as a sacred pillar, used in various worshipping rituals. Hence, the study stated that this particular room was specifically used for reverence by people. Experts further claimed that the space right next to it, room number five was used for cult practices involving animal sacrifices and religious practices. This room sported three V-shaped grooves carved on the floor, which were possibly used for crushing grapes to produce wine and nuts to procure oil. "Another possibility is that the V-shaped grooves were used for a loom," the researchers added.
The City of David has long been identified as an important archaeological site in Israel. The place has provided evidence associated with an ancient settlement in the past to researchers. Its northern portion was unearthed in 1909 by British army officer Montagu Parker, after which it was left untouched for a century. After a team of archaeologists began excavating the site again they noted from the features that the site possibly was phased out of use.
"When we began excavating the City of David in 2010, we discovered that the site had been sealed with fill from the eighth-century BCE, indicating it had fallen out of use during that time," Eli Shukron, an archaeologist who led the excavations on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority explained. Researchers believe this could have been because of reforms implemented by the then King of Judah, Hezekiah, who wanted to eliminate ritual sites and shift all worshipping to the First Temple.
Archaeologists also spotted a small cave near the structure. The cave contained several items dating back to the eighth century B.C. Some items found in the cave include cooking pots, jars featuring ancient Hebrew inscriptions, grinding stones, scarabs, loom weights, and stamped seals. These findings support the speculation that the area was used as a cultic complex. Researchers and authorities are elated to find a structure that reflects the deep history of the country, according to Israel Nation News. "This unique structure uncovered in the City of David is an exciting testimony to Jerusalem's rich past. Such discoveries make our connection and historic roots – going back thousands of years – tangible, in Jerusalem and other sites where the Jewish culture and belief system emerged," Amichai Eliyahu, Israel's Minister of Heritage said.