Jerusalem was ‘burned to the ground’ 2,600 years ago as rare jewel reveals how Babylonian invaders ‘completely destroyed’ ancient city
A RARE fragmented artefact made from finely worked gold and silver has been found during an excavation on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
The find is so special because researchers think it dates back to the the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, a major moment in Jewish history.
The artefact is said to be either a gold and silver tassel or earring.
It may have even been torn from a larger object.
Researchers from the Mount Zion Archaeological Project made the discovery and also found layers of ash, arrowheads from the time period, Iron Age pottery, lamps and a Iron structure, which is yet to be excavated.
This mixture of everyday artefacts as well as ash and arrowheads has led the team to believe that these artefacts date back to the time of the brutal Babylonian conquest which reportedly involved the city being burnt to the ground.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte professor team leader Shimon Gibson : “For archaeologists, an ashen layer can mean a number of different things.
“It could be ashy deposits removed from ovens; or it could be localised burning of garbage.
“However, in this case, the combination of an ashy layer full of artefacts, mixed with arrowheads, and a very special ornament indicates some kind of devastation and destruction.
“Nobody abandons golden jewellery and nobody has arrowheads in their domestic refuse.”
The jewellery could indicate that they are excavating an area where a wealthy person once lived.
Finding artefacts like this is so rare because these are the kinds of things that would have been looted after a battle.
The precious jewel has an upper bell shaped part made of gold and a silver piece shaped like a cluster of grapes.
It fits in with biblical descriptions of Jerusalem as a wealthy city before it was said to be obliterated by infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar in 586BC.
The siege of Jerusalem explained
Here's what you need to know...
- King Nebuchadnezzar II laid siege to Jerusalem in 589BC, which led to the desctution of the city and its temple in the summer of 587 or 586BC
- This happened because Zedekiah was chosen to be ruler of Jerusalem for Nebuchadnezzar but revolted against Babylon and chose to form an allaince with the king of Egypt at the time
- Nebuchadnezzar responded by invading Judah and sieging Jerusalem
- The Bible describes this brutal siege in detail
- Zedekiah was blinded, bound, and taken to Babylon as a captive
- Jerusalem was obiterated and what was left of Judah was given to a Jewish man called Gedaliah to govern
In other archaeology news, archaeologists think they’ve found the lost Biblical city of Ziklag said to be home to ‘Goliath-killing’ King David 3,200 years ago.
And, archaeologists reveal world’s earliest known infant cemetery.
What do you think of this rare discovery? Let us know in the comments…
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