Silver found in 2K yr old Jerusalem pottery hints at city's wealth during late Second Temple period

Jerusalem Post ^ | September 27, 2006 | Judy Siegel-itzkovich

[SunkenCiv]

Many of the samples from Jerusalem and other rural and urban sites were otherwise indistinguishable in date, shape and chemical composition... The geographical distribution of the samples with high silver cannot be explained by natural causes, said the researchers, who deduced that the origin of the silver is related to human activity. The team also concluded that silver was washed into the pottery by the action of groundwater - but it is possible that in some cases the high silver may have been related to the use of the pottery in antiquity. The researchers suggest that the anomalously high silver concentrations they found in the Jerusalem pottery samples may be analytical evidence of the wealth of the city during the period. The findings from this study also suggest that the measurement of silver in pottery may be a useful tool for evaluating archaeological remains and patterns of urban contamination in antiquity... "Our findings," says Adan-Bayewitz, "showed that the silver concentrations in many of the late Second Temple-period Jerusalem samples are distinctly higher than those from all other sites, as well as Jerusalem samples of a later date."

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

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[Slings and Arrows]

Pingy pingy!

[wyattearp]

So how did the silver get into the groundwater? We know that it wasn't photographic waste products, and electroplating is pretty much out the window. What were they doing that resulted in 5.5ppm silver waste leaching into the groundwater?

[Fred Nerks]

David provided Solomon with a large amount of gold and silver with which to build the temple. 100,000 talents (3,000 tons) of gold and 1,000,000 talents (30,000 tons) of silver were brought to the construction of the temple.

http://dictionary.laborlawtalk.com/Temple_of_Solomon

[Fred Nerks]

Now where was it I read that the floor of the temple was made of silver?

Recall reading that Solomon said to the Queen of Sheba that hairy legs were not attractive in a woman...her legs were reflected in the silver floor...like in a mirror.

I'll get back when I find it.

[Salem]

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[SwordofTruth]

Putting silver coins in containers with water or milk was used for its antibacterial properties.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

[unionblue83]

Don't show this to the mohammedans. They'll claim that it was stolen from them. More proof that the land was thriving under Jewish leadership, as opposed to the islamonazi countries which still live in the 7th century.

[Convert from ECUSA]

The buzzards would claim the silver belonged to bloody-heathen-demon-mo'med when his camel stopped on the site to do his business! Feh!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

[Ancesthntr]

Putting silver coins in containers with water or milk was used for its antibacterial properties.

That's the correct answer. Only a relatively wealthy society could do this on a large scale, even if the knowledge was available to all nations.

[VOA]

The researchers suggest that the anomalously high silver concentrations
they found in the Jerusalem pottery samples may be analytical evidence
of the wealth of the city during the period.

So I guess that Jesus guy wasn't hallucinating when he said there
was a lot of filthy lucre floating around the temple.

[Natural Law]

Silver is a proven antibacterial. Having traces of silver in pottery prevented spoilage and bacterial caused sickness.

[SunkenCiv]

Great observation.