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Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed a series of Oliver Stone rooms and object that were belike used for adoration and ritual practices in the Kingdom of Judah 2,800 class ago , they say .
The uncovering is the only known ritual structure from this period in Jerusalem and one of just a fistful unearthed so far in Israel , harmonize to astatement .
An illustration of the newly unearthed structure as it likely stood 2,800 years ago.
Among the ruination of eight rock - cut bedchamber , archaeologists found an oil press , a winepress , an Lord’s table and a with child standing stone , or sacred column , recognise as a " massebah " in the Hebrew Bible . These artifacts date back to the First Temple period ( 1200 to 586 B.C. ) ofancient Israel , evoke ritual and cultic practices took position close-fitting to the First Temple — the first Jewish tabernacle , built by King Solomon , in which to idolise God , agree to Jewish tradition — which remain firm just a few hundred yards away on Jerusalem ’s Temple Mount .
archaeologist discovered the social structure on the eastern slope of the City of David , an archaeological site in East Jerusalem that is deliberate to be the city ’s ancient colony core . The northern part of the structure was already known , having been unearthed in 1909 by British army officer Montagu Parker , but the situation then stand untouched for 100 years .
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Researchers noted the presence of three V-shaped grooves in room 5 of the structure.
The reason for this could be the implementation of religious reforms by the then King of Judah , Hezekiah , who sought to eliminate ritual land site and concentrate spiritual worship at the First Temple , Shukron said .
" The most crucial discovery was revealed in room 4 , represent the stone massebah and the chopine progress around it , " the research worker wrote in the clause . This elbow room was " doubtlessly " used for adoration , the researchers enunciate , and it ’s likely the elbow room next to it , way 5 , was also used for religious activities and potentially ritual killing .
Room 5 has three V - shaped grooves carved into the stone floor , as well as other shapes engraved on the trading floor and walls . The vallecula are " unique and equivocal , " and worshippers may have used them to crush grape for wine-coloured and nuts for fossil oil , according to the clause .
A reconstruction of the excavation site in the City of David from above.
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" Another possible action is that the V - shaped grooves were used for a loom , " the researcher remark in the article — although Shukron think they may have restrain a tripod used for ritual pattern , according to the command .
Close to the structure , archaeologists found a little cave fill with objects also date to the 8th century B.C. — including preparation pots , jars with ancient Hebrew inscription , scarabs , loom weights , drudge stone and stamped seals .
Although the purpose of the cave remains ill-defined , its discovery supports the interpretation of the site as a cultic complex , agree to the clause . " This building complex offers profound evidence for the diversity of cultic exercise in the capital letter of the Kingdom of Judah , " the researcher pen .
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