(Science Blog) New findings from an archaeological excavation led this winter by Dr. Erez Ben-Yosef of Tel Aviv University's Department of Archaeology and Near Eastern Cultures prove that copper mines in Israel thought to have been built by the ancient Egyptians in the 13th century BCE actually originated three centuries later, during the reign of King Solomon. Based on radiocarbon dating of material unearthed at a new site in the Timna Valley in Israel's Arava desert, the findings suggest the mines were operated by the Edomites, a tribal confederation that warred constantly with Israel. "The mines are definitely from the period of King Solomon," says Dr. Ben-Yosef. Now a national park, Timna Valley was an ancient copper production district with thousands of mines and dozens of smelting sites. Impressive cooperation would have been required for thousands of people to operate the mines in the middle of the desert. Dr. Ben-Yosef is leading another dig at Timna in the winter and is looking for volunteers.
2013-09-04 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive