Ancient temple, rare ritual tools discovered near Jerusalem
By Yori Yalon on israelhayom.com
Archeologists got a rare glimpse of religious life in the days of Israel’s Judean kings when they discovered an ancient temple and tools apparently used in rituals around 2,750 years ago at the Tel Motza excavation site west of Jerusalem. The project, which is being managed by the Israel Antiquities Authority, began recently ahead of construction on part of Route 1 between Shaar Hagai and Jerusalem.
Anna Eirikh, Dr. Hamoudi Khalaily and Shua Kisilevitz, who are in charge of the project on behalf of the authority, pointed out that the shape of the ancient temple found at the site was unusual. “It is a rare find in light of the lack of other such discoveries dating back to the time of the Kingdom of Judah and the First Temple. The temple is also an outstanding find due to its proximity to Jerusalem, which served as the Judean kingdom’s ritual center at that time,” Eirikh said. “Among other items, pottery with male figures etched on them, one with a beard, were also found, though we are unsure as to their meaning.”
“The discovery at Tel Motza serves as a rare archeological testimony of temples and structures where rituals were performed in the Judean kingdom, Jerusalem and the surrounding environment prior to the ritual reforms. The reforms were imposed in the entire area (during the times of Hezekiah and Isaiah), banning all ritual sites and concentrating the activities instead at the main temple in Jerusalem,” Eirikh said.
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