A Boy’s Discovery Rebuts Temple Mount Revisionism

Wall Street Journal ^ | October 25, 201510/29/2015 | By JEROLD S. AUERBACH

[SeekAndFind]

A 10-year-old Russian boy, Matvei Tcepliaev, recently made an extraordinary discovery in Jerusalem. Working as a volunteer in the Temple Mount Sifting Project, he found a 3,000-year-old seal—engraved limestone about the size of a thimble, with a hole at one end so it could be hung from a string—from the time of King David.

The artifact was nestled in the hundreds of tons of earth and rock that had been illegally excavated from below the Temple Mount in the late 1990s by the Muslim Waqf, a trust that retains authority over the contested site. The Temple Mount is sacred ground for Jews, Muslims and Christians, but Jewish historical claims are denied by many Muslims.

The sifting project in Emek Tzurim National Park in Jerusalem, started in 2005 and has uncovered several historically significant objects, but the seal may be the most important. Dating from the era of King David's conquest of Jerusalem and the building of the Jewish First Temple by his son and successor, Solomon, the seal confirms the ancient Jewish presence in Jerusalem—more than a millennium before the Muslim Dome of the Rock was built above the ruins of the ancient temples.

If it is ironic that the Muslim excavation, undertaken to build an underground mosque, ultimately confirmed Jews' historical claims, it is no less ironic than the fact that the Waqf came to rule the site at Israel's instigation.

Following Israel's extraordinary victory over its Arab foes in the Six-Day War in June 1967, which included capturing the entire city of Jerusalem, Israeli Col. Motta Gur proclaimed: "The Temple Mount is in our hands." Joyous Israeli soldiers gathered at the Western Wall below and sang Hatikva, the national anthem. Shlomo Goren, a brigadier general and future chief rabbi of Israel, exultantly blew his shofar.

[sparklite2]

[snooter55]

Well, the mussie’s ain’t a gonna be happy ‘bout this news !
Hehehehehehe . . .

Snoot ;o)

[Glad2bnuts]

Anyone check out the theory that the “Temple Mount” was in reality a Roman fort, and the real location of the temple was fairly close, but not there. Very interesting and compelling IMO.

[holden]

I realize it's often difficult to put down words that aren't blood libel in one group or another's ears with regard to a story implicitly about treading not only sacred ground, but possibly the "Holy of Holies", where only the High Priest could enter only on Yom Kippur and only after sanctifying himself.

But surely we all would recognize a gratuitous, meaningless phrase when we read it, as with "but Jewish historical claims are denied by many Muslims" zzzzzzzz.

HF

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"but Jewish historical claims are denied by many Muslims."

Are "many Muslims" considered some kind of authority on Jewish history?

[smokingfrog]

interesting!

[sasportas]

If this is a signet, have they figured out what the letters say?

[sparklite2]

Something about ovaltine.

[JudyinCanada]

Hmmmm. I see a smiley face.

[Alas Babylon!]

Walmart Price Cut?

[Sontagged]

Very cool find.

But it's still grotesque how Mohammedans, who should be focusing on Mecca, are maniacally obsessed with displacing all things Judaic from Jerusalem.

Why in (the true) God's name do they think they need to be in Jerusalem?

Satanic.

[jjotto]

It’s two animals. Thought so because of its similarity to other seals and symbols from that era.

[lavaroise]

Muslims, 1 nobel prize out of a billion. yep,these muslims.

[kinsman redeemer]

Cool

[SunkenCiv]

I didn't look closely, this may be a bit of a repeat.

[wildbill]

I think the story about this has been out for some time—unless this is a second seal that has been found.

I remember reading about it somewhere but don’t know if it was previously posted on FR—but that doesn’t matter as its always good to get a reminder on the latest finds in archeology that support history.

[Little Ray]

Of course! Everything you ever need to know is in the Koran.
/sarc

[SunkenCiv]

The year so far in the Biblical Archaeology news pages:

• Ancient Clay Tablet Offers New Insights into the Gilgamesh Epic

  · Robin Ngo · 10/27/2015 ·

• Renowned Collector Shlomo Moussaieff Dies at 92

  · 10/25/2015 ·

• Contested Temple Mount History?

  · Robin Ngo · 10/13/2015

  ·
• Tenth-Century B.C. Stone Seal Discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project

  · Henry Curtis Pelgrift · 10/08/2015 ·

• Magnificent Menorah Mosaic Found in Galilee

  · Megan Sauter · 10/05/2015 ·

• The Animals Went in Two by Two, According to Babylonian Ark Tablet

  · Noah Wiener · 10/01/2015 ·

• Where the Heroes of the Maccabean Revolt Lie

  · Robin Ngo · 09/25/2015 ·

• The Cave of Elijah the Prophet under Threat?

  · Henry Curtis Pelgrift · 09/23/2015 ·

• The Washington Post's Gene Weingarten Discovers the True Adam and Eve Story

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 09/15/2015 ·

• Two D.C.-Area Biblical Archaeology Events

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 09/14/2015 ·

• Rare 1,800-Year-Old Sarcophagus Discovered in Ashkelon, Israel

  · Olivia Chapman · 09/13/2015 ·

• Mysterious Podium Uncovered Near Temple Mount

  · Megan Sauter · 09/10/2015 ·

• Satellite Images Confirm ISIS Destruction of Temple of Bel and Other Monuments in Palmyra

  · Robin Ngo · 09/04/2015 ·

• The Ophel Treasure

  · Noah Wiener · 09/01/2015 ·

• Report: Temple of Baal Shamin in Palmyra Blown Up by ISIS

  · Robin Ngo · 08/25/2015 ·

• ISIS Executes Antiquities Scholar in Syrian City of Palmyra

  · Robin Ngo · 08/19/2015 ·

• Tarshish: Hacksilber Hoards Pinpoint Solomon's Silver Source

  · Noah Wiener · 08/15/2015 ·

• Iron Age Gate and Fortifications Uncovered at Philistine Gath

  · Robin Ngo · 08/10/2015 ·

• BAR Bible and Archaeology Survey

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 08/09/2015 ·

• Excavating the Ancient Near East's Oldest Wine Cellar: The Results of the 2015 Season at Tel Kabri

  · Henry Curtis Pelgrift · 08/07/2015 ·

• Thonis -- A Major Egyptian Port Swallowed by the Sea

  · Noah Wiener · 08/01/2015 ·

• Huqoq 2015: New Mosaics Unearthed at Huqoq Synagogue

  · Robin Ngo · 07/30/2015 ·

• Excavating at Mt. Zion: Jerusalem Dig Uncovers Ancient Mansion

  · Estelle Reed · 07/28/2015 ·

• Book of Leviticus Verses Recovered from Burnt Hebrew Bible Scroll

  · Robin Ngo · 07/21/2015 ·

• An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible with Richard Elliott Friedman

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 07/17/2015 ·

• Baptismal Site "Bethany Beyond the Jordan" Added to UNESCO World Heritage List

  · Robin Ngo · 07/14/2015 ·

• An Ancient Jewish Lamp Workshop in the Galilee

  · Robin Ngo · 07/08/2015 ·

• Secret Mikveh Discovered Under a Living Room Floor

  · Megan Sauter · 07/03/2015 ·

• Ancient Dolphin Statue Unearthed in the Negev Desert

  · Robin Ngo · 06/30/2015 ·

• ISIS Plants Explosives in Ancient City of Palmyra

  · Robin Ngo · 06/23/2015 ·

• Byzantine Church Discovered Outside of Jerusalem

  · Robin Ngo · 06/17/2015 ·

• An Archaeological Journey from Genesis through Jesus

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 06/12/2015 ·

• A Second Triumphal Arch of Titus Discovered

  · Estelle Reed · 06/11/2015 ·

• Biblical Name Eshbaal Found Outside of the Bible

  · Robin Ngo · 06/05/2015 ·

• Does a Cylinder Seal Impression Depict the Oldest Musical Scene in Israel?

  · Robin Ngo · 05/27/2015 ·

• Israel's Treasures Online

  · Megan Sauter · 05/25/2015 ·

• ISIS Captures Syrian City of Palmyra

  · Robin Ngo · 05/20/2015 ·

• Hanging Gardens of Babylon : in Assyrian Nineveh

  · Noah Wiener · 05/13/2015 ·

• Neolithic Figurine Could Lead to Reassessment of Prehistoric Israel

  · Robin Ngo · 05/13/2015 ·

• Ten Commandments Dead Sea Scroll to Be Displayed in Israel

  · Robin Ngo · 05/06/2015 ·

• TV Series "Dig" Delivers Drama

  · Ellen White · 05/05/2015 ·

• Roman Baths and Royal Assassinations: Two D.C.-Area Lectures

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 05/04/2015 ·

• Computer Program Learning to Read Paleo-Hebrew Letters

  · Robin Ngo · 04/30/2015 ·

• Is the Gospel of Jesus' Wife a Fake?

  · Ellen White · 04/27/2015 ·

• Shroud of Turin Exhibit Opens in Turin, Italy

  · Robin Ngo · 04/23/2015 ·

• Chapel of King Nectanebo I Uncovered in Ancient Heliopolis, Egypt

  · Robin Ngo · 04/15/2015 ·

• The Roman House and the Neo-Assyrian Empire: Two D.C.-Area Lectures

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 04/07/2015 ·

• Ancient Egyptian Beer Vessels Unearthed in Tel Aviv, Israel

  · Robin Ngo · 04/02/2015 ·

• 4,200-Year-Old Egyptian Skeleton Shows Earliest Evidence of Breast Cancer

  · Robin Ngo · 03/27/2015 ·

• Porcupine Digs Up 1,400-Year-Old Oil Lamp in Israel

  · Robin Ngo · 03/25/2015 ·

• Hippos-Sussita Excavations Unearth Rare Pan Mask

  · Robin Ngo · 03/19/2015 ·

• D.C.-Area Lecture: Biblical Archaeology -- Spade in One Hand, Bible in the Other?

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 03/17/2015 ·

• Spelunkers Find Cache of Jewelry and Coins of Alexander the Great in Israel

  · Robin Ngo · 03/13/2015 ·

• New on CNN: Finding Jesus

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 03/11/2015 ·

• Ancient Mesopotamia and Alexander the Great: Two D.C.-Area Lectures

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 03/11/2015 ·

• Tel 'Eton Excavations Reveal Possible Judahite Administrative Center

  · Robin Ngo · 03/10/2015 ·

• ISIS Destroys Antiquities in Mosul, Iraq

  · Robin Ngo · 02/27/2015 ·

• King Senebkay of 'Lost' Abydos Dynasty Died in Battle

  · Robin Ngo · 02/27/2015 ·

• Archaeological Looting and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage

  · Robin Ngo · 02/23/2015 ·

• Hoard of Gold Coins Found in Caesarea Harbor

  · Robin Ngo · 02/19/2015 ·

• Ancient Wine of Gaza: 1,500-Year-Old Grape Seeds Found in the Negev

  · Robin Ngo · 02/13/2015 ·

• The Expulsion of the Hyksos

  · Noah Wiener · 02/11/2015 ·

• The Gospel of the Lots of Mary

  · Robin Ngo · 02/10/2015 ·

• A Giant Has Fallen

  · Ellen White · 02/09/2015 ·

• Sold to the Highest Bidder: Antiquities as Cash Cows

  · Robin Ngo · 02/04/2015 ·

• D.C.-Area Lecture: Assyrian Attacks Against Lachish and Jerusalem in 701 B.C.E.

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 02/03/2015 ·

• Who Were the Minoans?

  · Noah Wiener · 02/02/2015 ·

• Manot Cave Skull Links Modern Humans to Neanderthals

  · Robin Ngo · 02/02/2015 ·

• D.C.-Area Lecture: The Arch of Titus Digital Restoration Project

  · Biblical Archaeology Society Staff · 01/26/2015 ·

• Amphipolis Excavation: Discoveries in Alexander the Great-Era Tomb Dazzle the World

  · Robin Ngo · 01/22/2015 ·

• Bethsaida Excavations Reveal Possible Royal Escape Tunnel

  · Robin Ngo · 01/16/2015 ·

• Largest Known Ancient Egyptian Fortress Excavated at Tell el-Habua

  · Robin Ngo · 01/15/2015 ·

• Archaeologist Vassilios Tzaferis Passes Away

  · Robin Ngo · 01/12/2015 ·

• Tour Showcases Remains of Herod's Jerusalem Palace -- Possible Site of the Trial of Jesus

  · Robin Ngo · 01/08/2015 ·

• Western Wall Rubble: Caused by Fourth-Century Earthquake?

  · Robin Ngo · 01/06/2015 ·

• In Turkey, Underground City Thought to be World's Largest Has Been Found

  · Robin Ngo · 01/02/2015 ·

[SunkenCiv]