Despite secrecy, interest builds around mysterious First Temple find outside Bethlehem

The Times of Israel ^ | 5/19/13 | Matti Friedman

[Nachum]

A mysterious First Temple-era archaeological find under a Palestinian orchard near Bethlehem is increasingly gaining attention — despite attempts to keep it quiet.

In February, a tour guide leading a group through an underground tunnel in the rural West Bank, not far from Jerusalem, was surprised to stumble upon the remains of a unique carved pillar.

The pillar matched monumental construction from the 9th or 8th centuries BCE — the time of the First Temple in Jerusalem. That signaled the presence of an important and previously unknown structure from that period.

Buried under earth and rubble, the pillar was now two yards below the surface.

[To Hell With Poverty]

Ping

[King_Corey]

I now HATE Archeologists that use BCE. I will call it “Before the CHRISTIAN era”, or “Before CHRIST” forever. They can suck on that one for the rest of their lives. I will resist this change. Have them explain why it is 2013 and watch them squirm.

On the story, I am also concerned that it is “Palestinian” area. Will it be preserved and studied?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

****The remains are in the politically charged West Bank, on the outskirts of an Arab village and on land privately owned by a Palestinian — all reasons the Israeli government might deem attempting an excavation there a major political headache to be avoided.*****

if the Israelis do not take charge of this now it will end up like the Moabite stone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesha_Stele

“The stone was discovered intact by Frederick Augustus Klein, an Anglican missionary, at the site of ancient Dibon (now Dhiban, Jordan), in August 1868.[2] The next year it was smashed by local villagers during a dispute over its ownership,”

[Mamzelle]

Just remind them that they made the discovery in 2013 Anno Domini—year of our Lord.

[tjd1454]

Very interesting. I lived in Bethlehem for several years back in the 1980’s. I remember exploring what looked like a series of connected underground chambers in the fields outside the town. They were obviously ancient, and I wondered why no one seemed to know anything about them. I happened to be teaching the historical geography and archaeology of the Holy Land at the time.

[ro_dreaming]

BCE - Before Christ Enters
CE - Christian Era

Those that disagree can suck a lemon. And to think, they change the BC/AD, but they still acknowledge “something” happened roughly 2013 years ago to make it special. What a maroon, as Bugs Bunny would say.

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks To Hell With Poverty. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[BenLurkin]

Interesting!

[ZULU]

Those damn Muslims try to stop any archeological research in the Holy Land. ITS NOT THEIRS!!!

They should go back to the desert wastes which spawned them.

[Bigg Red]

Yep, I say “Christian”, also, when I see “BCE”.

It’s “BC” and “AD”, darnit!

[Bigg Red]

...still acknowledge “something” happened roughly 2013 years ago to make it special.

&&&
Exactly.

[Mr. K]

"The next year it was smashed by local villagers during a dispute over its ownership,” "

That tells you everythign you need to know about diaper-heads. They purposely destroy knowlege.

[Fred Nerks]

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Sivan 13, 5773

The article is from an Israeli website.