Latest news with #TempleMountSiftingProject
Newsweek
2 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Seal That May Back Bible Story
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An archaeologist working with the Temple Mount Sifting Project has uncovered a well-preserved clay seal stamped with Paleo-Hebrew letters that read, according to project researchers, "Belonging to Yed[a']yah (son of) Asayahu." The name Asayahu appears in biblical accounts associated with the reign of King Josiah of Judah. Among Josiah's trusted envoys was a senior official named Asayahu, described as "the king's servant." Researchers said the seal's findspot and style of writing date it to the late First Temple period (late 7th–early 6th century BCE), raising the possibility that it belonged to a high-ranking official connected to Temple administration at a historically significant moment. Given his prominent role, it may be reasonable to assume that Asayahu's son, Yeda'yah, may have also served in a prominent position, either at the same time or shortly thereafter. Why It Matters The seal provides a rare material connection to a name that appears in biblical texts describing reforms under King Josiah and related Temple activity, offering archaeologists a datable artifact that could illuminate administrative practice in Jerusalem before the Babylonian destruction. What To Know Archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich found the clay seal while examining material recovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project, and project researchers rapidly analyzed and publicly announced the artifact shortly before the Jewish fast of Tisha B'Av. Researchers Dr. Anat Mendel-Geberovich and Zachi Dvira read the inscription as "Belonging to Yed[a']yah (son of) Asayahu," and dated the script style to the late First Temple period, approximately the late-7th to early-6th century BCE. A seal thought to bear the Hebrew name Yed[a‛]yah (son of) Asayahu is seen in the image on the left, while archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich is seen holding the seal in the image on the right. A seal thought to bear the Hebrew name Yed[a‛]yah (son of) Asayahu is seen in the image on the left, while archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich is seen holding the seal in the image on the right. Temple Mount Setting Project The reverse of the clay bulla, an inscribed token used as a form of authentication, bore cord marks consistent with its use sealing a bag or container, and the object still displayed a partial fingerprint that specialists interpreted as the impression of its ancient handler. The Temple Mount Sifting Project said that this was only the second nearly complete inscribed seal recovered by the project in more than two decades, and researchers compared it to earlier finds from Temple Mount contexts such as a bulla bearing the name "[He]zelyahu son of Immer," interpreted by some scholars as a Temple treasury official. What People Are Saying Zachi Dvira, archaeologist and co-director of the Temple Mount Sifting Project, told The Times of Israel: "Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible. However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people." What Happens Next Project leaders said they planned to submit a detailed report on the seal to a peer-reviewed journal in the coming weeks and to continue analysis using imaging techniques such as Reflectance Transformation Imaging to document the inscription and fingerprint. If peer review confirms the dating and reading, scholars anticipate the find will inform understanding of Temple and royal household record-keeping; however, researchers cautioned that a direct identification of the seal's owner with the biblical Asayahu could not be established on the basis of the artifact alone.
Fox News
4 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Rare biblical seal with ancient fingerprint found in debris from Jerusalem's Temple Mount
An archaeologist who was recently sifting through debris in Israel uncovered a link to a legendary biblical king from the House of David. The Temple Mount Sifting Project announced the discovery on July 30 of a rare clay seal impression bearing the name "Yed[a‛]yah (son of) Asayahu." The project is dedicated to recovering artifacts from dumped soil that was illegally removed from the Temple Mount during unsupervised construction in 1999 by the Islamic Waqf. The archaeologically rich soil was dumped in the nearby Kidron Valley, where archaeologists, volunteers and tourists now gather to sift through the discarded debris in search of ancient Jewish artifacts. The recent discovery was made on the eve of the 17th of Tammuz, a Jewish fast day marking the breach of Jerusalem's walls before the destruction of the First and Second Temples. Archaeologist Mordechai Ehrlich discovered what the project described as a "rare and exceptionally well-preserved clay sealing, impressed by a stamp seal inscribed with ancient Hebrew letters." "The sealing still retains a clear fingerprint, presumably left by the ancient official who once owned it," the project noted. Based on its script, the artifact dates to the late 7th or early 6th century B.C. – during the reign of King Josiah, who ruled Judah and oversaw major Temple reforms. "Among Josiah's trusted envoys was a senior official named Asayahu, described as 'the king's servant,'" the release stated. "Given his prominent role, it is reasonable to assume that his son, Yeda‛yah, may have also served in a high-ranking capacity, either at the same time or shortly thereafter." "Thus, the clay sealing's owner was probably involved in Temple administration or the royal household, much like his father." King Josiah was a central figure in Jewish history. After ordering repairs to the First Temple in Jerusalem, his workers found an ancient scroll that the royal scribe then read to the king. The scroll, the project said, contained "warnings about the people's sins and impending divine punishment deeply alarmed the king." The release added, "Josiah then dispatched trusted officials to seek divine counsel from the prophetess Huldah, who foretold Jerusalem's future destruction but assured Josiah that he personally would not live to witness it." Marks on the back of the seal suggest it was used to seal a bag or container – offering a glimpse into the ancient official's life. The Temple Mount Sifting Project said that the possibility of a link between the seal and King Josiah was "highly plausible." "Historically, seals like these were reserved for officials of high rank, and many individuals named in similar discoveries from Jerusalem have been directly identified with biblical-era officials," officials said. "Thus, the clay sealing's owner was probably involved in Temple administration or the royal household, much like his father," the project said. Fox News Digital reached out to the Temple Mount Sifting Project for additional information.
Metro
07-08-2025
- General
- Metro
Archeologists' 2,600-year-old find likely belonged to biblical figure
Hiyah Zaidi Published August 6, 2025 10:42am Updated August 6, 2025 10:42am Link is copied Comments A 2,600-year-old clay seal has been uncovered in Jerusalem - and it could have belonged to biblical figure. Clay seals were used as a form of identification, way before the likes of driving licenses and biometric measures. By having a personalised seal, people were able to show ownership of items such as wine and oil, and they also acted as an theft deterrent. Clay seals are a great way of dating historic finds and this one, marked with a Hebrew name, has sparked intrigue (Picture: Temple Mount Sifting Project) An ongoing excavation by the Temple Mount Sifting Project (TMSP) in Jerusalem revealed the clay seal. Markings on its back showed that it was used as a closure on a bag or storage vessel. And experts say that the style of writing on the clay dates the seal back to the First Temple period – spanning from late-7th century BC to the early-6th century BC. But the most exciting thing to come from the seal was a little fingerprint, likely from the owner (Picture: Temple Mount Sifting Project) Researchers on the study, Anat Mendel-Geberovich and Zachi Dvira, have fully deciphered the name stamped on the artefact. It reads: 'Belonging to Yed[a‛]yah (son of) Asayahu'. The name, Asayahu, appears in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, during the story of King Josiah of Judah. In the tale, King Josiah ordered repairs be made to the temple 2,600 years ago – and during the repairs, his workers found an ancient scroll which warned of a punishment from God (Picture: Getty) Concerned, the King sent trusted consuls to search for counsel from Huldah, a prophetess. One of these trusted consuls was Asayahu – who was also known as 'the king's servant'. Since Asayahu had a high position, it's thought his son would have too, serving a prominent role around the same time. The fate of Yeda‛yah is unknown. But did the seal actually belong to Yeda‛yah? The TMSP researchers say that it is highly likely (Picture: Temple Mount Sifting Project) Speaking to The Times of Israel, Dvira said: 'Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible. However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people. Because of their small size, clay sealings are difficult to identify. In the past, most of the [seals] came from the antiquity market, but as we developed new techniques to sift through massive amounts of dirt, more excavations have started to either employ our sifting services or carry out their own sifting. Now, there are maybe 10 or 20 times more known [seals] found during controlled archaeological work than in the past' (Picture: Getty) The researchers say that historically seals like these were reserved for officials of high rank. The authors added: 'Many individuals named in similar discoveries from Jerusalem have been directly identified with biblical-era officials. The artifact's discovery on the Temple Mount further supports the likelihood of this connection. Thus, the clay sealing's owner was probably involved in Temple administration or in the royal household, much like his father' (Picture: Getty) A few decades after the event of the finding of the Torah scroll, Jerusalem's walls were breached by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. Then, just weeks later, the Temple was destroyed, countless Jerusalemites were killed, and many survivors, including senior officials, were exiled to Babylon (Picture: Getty)
