Ancient Inscription From King Solomon's Time Unearthed

LiveScience ^ | July 10, 2013 | Tia Ghose

[SunkenCiv]

A shard of pottery unearthed near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem bears an inscription that dates to the 10th century B.C.

The inscription is the oldest alphabetic text found in Jerusalem and predates the earliest found Hebrew inscription in the region by 250 years.

The enigmatic letters, which wrap around the top of a neck-less ceramic jar, were written around the time of King David or King Solomon's reign in an early form of Canaanite, not Hebrew. As a result, archaeologists believe a Jebusite or some other non-Israelite tribe member wrote the inscription...

The pottery was found underneath the second floor of a 10th-century B.C. building near the southern wall of the Temple Mount. The ceramics were probably used as fill for the building.

The fragment was found along with pieces of six other jars of its type. The writing, which included letters about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) tall, was inscribed into the jar before it was fired, and all the pottery pieces were likely made from clay that originated in the hills around Jerusalem.

However, the ceramic shard has just the tail end and the very beginning of the inscription left, just seven letters in all, and the meaning of those letters remains a mystery. The combination of phonetic letters has no meaning in any known languages of the region. The archaeologists suspect the inscription bears the name of the owner or the contents of the jar.

[SunkenCiv]

Canaanite my ass.

This jar fragment from the time of Kings David and Solomon is the earliest alphabetical written text ever discovered in Jerusalem. Unearthed near Jerusalem's Temple Mount by Hebrew University archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, it is dated to the tenth century BCE and bears an inscription in the Canaanite language. The text contains a combination of letters approximately 2.5 cm tall, which from left to right translate to m, q, p, h, n, (possibly) l, and n. The archaeologists suspect the inscription could specify the jar's contents or the name of its owner. CREDIT: Photo courtesy of Dr. Eilat Mazar; photographed by Ouria Tadmor [the big one]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks NYer.

[Beowulf9]

So what are the letters? Can they not even tell us what letters they are?

[cookcounty]

Looks like Middle Proto-Navajo to me.

[17th Miss Regt]

It appears to be an early pre-Canaanite inscription. I translate it as “Made in Ch” but there is not enough to guess the rest.

[Swordmaker]

Nah, it says “the surgeon general has determined that wine...” The rest of the inscription is unfortunately missing.

[17th Miss Regt]

“Not for sale to anyone under the age of...”?

[Last Dakotan]

[Swordmaker]

Well, that’s an alternative translation too. I’m partial to: “for centuries to come, years will pass.” An old Phoenecian prophecy that Democrat archaeologists claim is false. . . Because it was uncovered by a Republican archaeologist.

[Lmo56]

Inscription: “5-cent deposit redeemable in Me, NH, Vt, and MI” ,,,,

[Fresh Wind]

“This product contains chemicals known to the State of California...”

[Jimmy Valentine]

You all have me roaring with laughter. Thanks

[ExGeeEye]

m, q, p, h, n, (possibly) l, and n.

The archaeologists suspect the inscription could specify the jar's contents or the name of its owner.

[EternalVigilance]

The archaeologists suspect the inscription could specify the jar's contents

"It say COOKIE!"

[dsrtsage]

Bush’s Fault

[Safetgiver]

DRINK..YOUR... OVALTINE

[Moonmad27]

Hilarious stuff on this thread!

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Canaanite my ass."

I think that may be the first time in the history of the internets that that phrase was ever uttered.

[wildbill]

“Canaanite my ass.”

You cheeky kinky boy, you! You must’ve attended an English school.