The Israel Antiquities Authority excavation revealed a site of ritual that was unique for its time, and it was used by inhabitants of Judah some 3,000 years ago.
The structure, now fully presented in the IAA’s scientific journal ‘Atiqot, measures approximately 220 square meters and contains eight rock-hewn rooms. What makes this structure intriguing are an altar, a standing stone (masseba), an oil press, and a winepress. According to the IAA: “This is the only known ritual structure from this period in Jerusalem and one of the few discovered in the land of Israel.”
Each room in the structure seems to have had separate functions. With an oil press and a winepress, oil and wine production formed part of the various rituals here. Another room contained a carved installation with a drainage channel, which researchers interpret as an altar. One room was especially interesting because it had mysterious V-shaped carvings in the floor, which could have served as a stand for a tripod, possibly used in rituals.
In a small cave on the edge of the site, archaeologists discovered a cache of artifacts dating to the eighth century BCE. These items included cooking pots, jars inscribed with fragments of ancient Hebrew, loom weights, scarabs, stamped seals, and grinding stones. “These artifacts provide a vivid glimpse into the daily and ritual life of the site’s users,” Shukron explained.
Archaeologists working in a small cave at the site’s edge found an eighth-century BCE hoard of artifacts. Among them were cooking pots, jars with fragments of ancient Hebrew inscriptions, loom weights, scarabs, stamped seals, and grinding stones.
The abandonment of the structure around the eighth century BCE coincides with the reign of King Hezekiah, the ruler of Judah known for his religious reforms. According to biblical accounts in 2 Kings, Hezekiah sought to establish the Temple in Jerusalem as a central place of worship by dismantling smaller ritual sites dispersed throughout the kingdom. Eli Shukron, who directed the excavation, said: “The structure likely ceased to function during this period as part of Hezekiah’s efforts to consolidate religious practices.”
The northern part of the structure was first uncovered in 1909 by British explorer Montague Parker in his quest to find the Ark of the Covenant. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that Shukron and his colleagues began excavating the site systematically. “The site had been sealed with fill from the eighth century BCE, preserving it exceptionally well,” Shukron said. “The standing stone we uncovered remained upright in its original place, and the other rooms in the structure were also well-preserved.”
Although the discovery has provided an abundance of information, Shukron underscored that the site still has potential for new finds. Additionally, the structure will be open to the public in the future.
