Jerusalem’s Temple Mount Sifting Project has uncovered many archeological treasures over the years and this week saw the discovery of a 3,000-year-old seal from the time of King David in the 10th century BC. “The seal is the first of its kind to be found in Jerusalem,” said Dr. Gabriel Barkay, co-founder and director of the project. “The dating of the seal corresponds to the historical period of the Jebusites and the conquest of Jerusalem by King David, as well as the construction of the Temple and the royal official compound by his son, King Solomon. What makes this discovery particularly significant, is that it originated from upon the Temple Mount itself.” The seal was discovered by 10-year-old Matvei Tcepliaev, a volunteer from Russia who is one of over 170,000 people who have volunteered on the project since its inception in 2004.
“The discovery of the seal testifies to the administrative activity which took place upon the Temple Mount during those times,” explained Barkay. “All the parallel seals with similar stylistic designs have been found at sites in Israel – among them Tel Beit Shemesh, Tel Gezer and Tel Rehov – and were dated to the 11th-10th centuries BCE.”
