A 2,700-year-old artifact bearing the inscription « Belonging to the governor of the city » found in Jerusalem was presented to the city’s current mayor.
Jan. 1 (UPI) — A recently found 2,700-year-old artifact — bearing the inscription « belonging to the governor of the city » found in Jerusalem — has been presented to the city’s current mayor.
The object, a half-inch wide and one-10th of an inch thick, was discovered during excavation in the Western Wall plaza and dated to the First Temple period of the 6-7 Centuries B. C.
« This is the first time that such an impression was found in an authorized excavation, » excavator Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah said. « It supports the biblical rendering of the existence of a governor of the city in Jerusalem 2,700 years ago. »
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat received the object during a visit to Davidson’s Center, near the Western Wall, last week and plans to put it on display.
« It is very overwhelming to receive greetings from First Temple-period Jerusalem, » Barkat said. « This shows that already 2,700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city. »
Israel Antiquity Authority conservationists scratched at the surface of the building’s walls to inject preservation materials.
« This extraordinary find is a lump of clay, stamped and pre-fired, » Weksler-Bdolah said Monday.
She said two figures face each other wearing striped garments on the upper portion of the impression. Between them is what could be a moon.
Weksler-Bdolah said the governor centuries ago most likely functioned like today’s mayor.
« The Bible mentions two governors of Jerusalem, and this finding thus reveals that such a position was actually held by someone in the city some 2,700 years ago, » Weksler-Bdolah said.
Weksler-Bdolah said the building probably was an administration center.
« The people who gave orders may have had to sign documents here, » she said. « It may also have been a place for the rich, the more important people, because the location is really important. »
She also said the item served as a tiny souvenir sent on behalf of the governor of the city.
« Jerusalem is one of the most ancient capitals of the world, continually populated by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years, » Barkat said. « Today we have the privilege to encounter another one of the long chain of persons and leaders that built and developed the city. We are grateful to be living in a city with such a magnificent past, and are obligated to ensure its strength for generations to come, as we daily do. »
