Archaeologists: Ancient Wall in Jerusalem Supports Biblical Account
In a groundbreaking revelation, a team of archaeologists has uncovered evidence suggesting that a stretch of wall in ancient Jerusalem, previously attributed to King Hezekiah, was actually built by his great-grandfather, King Uzziah. This discovery, made after nearly a decade of research, challenges long-held beliefs and provides further support for the historical accuracy of the Bible.
The wall, located in the City of David, the historic core of Jerusalem according to biblical accounts, has been a subject of scholarly debate for years. While it was commonly thought to have been constructed by King Hezekiah to fortify the city against Assyrian invaders, new findings indicate that it dates back to the era of King Uzziah, who ruled during the eighth century BC.
Joe Uziel of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) explained, “For decades, it was assumed that this wall was built by Hezekiah, King of Judah. But it is now becoming clear that it dates back to the days of King Uzziah, as hinted at in the Bible.”
The study, conducted in collaboration with Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science, employed carbon-14 dating to determine the age of the ancient wall. This technique, which measures the decay of a radioactive isotope of carbon, provided researchers with unprecedented accuracy in dating the structure.
Elisabetta Boaretto of the Weizmann Institute highlighted the significance of this advancement, stating, “With the work we’ve done in the City of David, we succeeded to reach a resolution less than 10 years, which is really something very very new and dramatic.”
By analyzing organic artifacts found at excavation sites within the City of David, including grape seeds, date pits, and bat skeletons, researchers were able to ascertain the true age of the wall. The precision of the carbon-14 dating method not only confirmed the wall’s origins but also shed light on the expansion of the ancient city.
Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University noted that the study’s findings have pushed back the westward expansion of Jerusalem by five generations, further enriching our understanding of the city’s historical development.
