Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 11-21-2006, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Among finds that have emerged are a coin struck during the Jewish revolt against the Romans, arrowheads shot by Babylonian archers and by Roman siege machinery, Christian charms, a 3,300-year-old fragment of Egyptian alabaster, Bronze Age flint instruments, and — the prize discovery — the imprint of a seal possibly linked to a priestly Jewish family mentioned in the Old Testament's Book of Jeremiah.

. . .

In November 1999, the Waqf, the Muslim organization that administers the site's Islamic holy places, opened an emergency exit to an ancient underground chamber of stone pillars and arches known to Jews as Solomon's Stables and to Muslims as the Marwani mosque.

Ignoring fierce protest from Israeli archaeologists who said priceless artifacts were being destroyed to erase traces of Jewish history, the Waqf dug a large pit, removed tons of earth and rubble that had been used as landfill and dumped much of it in the nearby Kidron Valley.

. . .

Zachi Zweig, a 27-year-old archaeology undergraduate at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, showed up at the dump a few days later. . .

There are also relics of the "early Christian era" (this is not clear, but I think it means that there are Jewish relics from the first century after 70 CE, indicating that the Temple was not abandoned in that time.)

mountainman · 11-21-2006, 01:15 AM

Does the article provide any details of the "christian charms" Toto?

Toto · 11-21-2006, 12:28 PM

The article was illustrated with some pendants that were said to be from the 19th century. There is more about them here.

Because this is rubble and thoroughly mixed up, dating items is difficult.

There is a more detailed description of various finding here but it doesn't mention any Christian artifacts.

Vorkosigan · 11-22-2006, 12:51 AM

Wow! A forgers dream. A whole landfill full of items that are old but whose provenance is completely gone.

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11-21-2006, 01:15 AM	#2
mountainman Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Falls Creek, Oz. Posts: 11,192	Does the article provide any details of the "christian charms" Toto?

11-21-2006, 12:28 PM	#3
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The article was illustrated with some pendants that were said to be from the 19th century. There is more about them here. Because this is rubble and thoroughly mixed up, dating items is difficult. There is a more detailed description of various finding here but it doesn't mention any Christian artifacts.

11-22-2006, 12:51 AM	#4
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	Wow! A forgers dream. A whole landfill full of items that are old but whose provenance is completely gone.

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