If you want to start World War 3, take a trowel to the Temple Mount

Dear readers, I am so sorry that I haven't updated in such a long time. On Monday, we went to the City of David in Jerusalem for one of our archaeological tours. We didn't look around the Old City of Jerusalem, but I was fine with that, since I've already spent quite a bit of time in Jerusalem last summer. It was great to be back though. Jerusalem is really neat, but one thing I don't like about the city is the amount of tourism there and the way that historically questionable "facts" are presented as truths. I think that's just the biblical historian in me though. :)

One of the features that was neat to reexamine is the Stepped Stone Structure just outside the city wall. It's actually a highly controversial topic in archaeology, because some scholars think that it can be the palace of David or one of the fortresses that he took over. The complex actually plays a major role in the debate of the historicity of the United Monarchy, which, of course, I find absolutely fascinating! One of the major problems in the complex is how to date it, since the topography of Jerusalem doesn't really lend itself very well to being able to date stratigraphically.  In archaeology, we like to use layers and pottery typology to figure out a relative dating scheme, but that's difficult to do in Jerusalem for a few reasons including the fact that Jerusalem has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years and the Babylonian destruction of the city in 586 BCE and lastly, there are holy areas in the city that you just can't get to. I'd imagine it'd be any archaeologist's dream to excavate the Temple Mount. However, this would definitely be a really bad idea and anger a ton of people. So unfortunately, the Temple Mount is off-limits.

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Anyways, so the Stepped Stone Structure (seen above) is controversial. The complex is actually made up of two components included the Stepped Stone Structure and the Great Stone Structure.  Part of the debate is whether these two units made up one complex or if they are actually separate entities.  This architectural problem also contributes to the dating problem. Some scholars who read the Bible maximally think that this might be the Fort of Zion from the 11th century BCE (David's time). The minimalists however think that the stone terrace is 11th-10th century BCE and that the mantle should be dated to the 9th century BCE. Pottery typology really doesn't help us too much in this situation either. A collared rim jar (typical ancient Israelite pottery) was found on the floor below the stone terrace dates to the 11th-10th century BCE. This gives us a terminus post quem (Latin for the date after which) but no terminus ante quem (or date before which). So in other words, we know when the structure has to be after but we don't have an upper limit. There were stone houses built into it in the 7th century BCE, which could provide a terminus ante quem, but this isn't that useful. So really all we can say that this complex was built sometime between the 11th century BCE and the 7th century BCE. 

But does this all even matter? The structure obviously is a sign of monumental architecture, so this is a manifestation of the power of the city-state of Jerusalem. What it cannot tell us though is the size and extent of the so-called "Davidic" kingdom during this time.It's really only enough to conclude that Jerusalem was a political base of power not the sprawling capital of a huge kingdom like the Bible says. But it also doesn't mean that it wasn't. Very interesting!

On Monday, we also visited Ramat Rahel, which was used as an administrative city instead of Jerusalem during the Babylonian Period. There were a bunch of stamp impressions found there like the rosette stamp impressions and the lmlk stamp impressions. These were pressed into the handles of jars, which were used for taxes. At Ramat Rahel are also some great examples of the proto-ionic capitals, a number of which were also found at Megiddo!

We also had the opportunity to go to the Israel Museum, which is in New City Jerusalem. We only looked through the archaeology wing really, but it was AMAZING! Their collection is great and every time period of Israel is so well-represented!! One of the highlights might even be like the highlight of my entire academic life, which is that I got to see the TEL DAN STELE!!!! I was sooo pumped! The Tel Dan stele is an inscription that is the only other mention of David outside of the Bible. It was only found in the early 90s, and it's absolutely incredible!!! Unfortunately, pictures aren't allowed inside the museum though. The Ketef Hinnom scrolls are also at the Israel Museum, which is super cool! They are these two tiny little scrolls of silver inscribed with the Priestly Blessing from the Book of Numbers, which was found in a burial chamber. It might be the oldest surviving text of the Hebrew Bible from 600 BCE! Very cool!

I apologize for the lackluster update after such a long blog hiatus. I will try to do better. I've been busy with papers and presentations and readings and furniture shopping, but I think it will calm down a bit next week. It's like 10:30pm here now, and I want to get back to reading Harry Potter. :)

Also completely unrelated to Israel or archaeology, but congratulations to my big brother Jake and his new fiancee Julia! Hope you're ready to be a VanVels!!!