[AP/Washington Post] Joseph Marks - Archaeologists digging on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives have discovered a nearly 3,000-year-old jar handle bearing ancient Hebrew script, a find significantly older than most inscribed artifacts unearthed in the ancient city. The Iron Age handle is inscribed with the Hebrew name Menachem, which was the name of an Israelite king and is still common among Jews, said archaeologist Ron Beeri, who directed the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority. This is the first time an artifact bearing the name has been unearthed in Jerusalem, Beeri said. Based on the style of the inscription, he dated the handle to around 900 BCE, the time of the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem as recounted in the Bible.
2009-05-22 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive