An ancient lead amulet was recently found in the remains of an excavation carried out in the 1980s at the archeological site on Mount Ebal in Samaria, where, according to scholars, the biblical altar of Joshua ben Nun is located.
Although the mascot was found about a year ago during a screening carried out on the remains of the dirt collected from the site, only now has its decipherment been completed and an ancient Hebrew script has been identified in it.
This is the first time that there is a find with an ancient Hebrew script from the altar of Joshua, and the researchers estimate that it dates from 1200 BC.
Joshua Altar, Archive, Photo: Yair Almkeys
The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, said that the new findings testify to the deep connection of the Jewish people to Samaria: The late Prof. Adam Zertel is one of the most significant discoveries in the history of archeology in the Land of Israel. "
Researcher Zvi Koenigsberg, who assisted Prof. Zertel in the excavations at the site in the 1980s, said: "After the excavation, we left many piles of dirt we dug. A group of Prof. Zertel's friends moved them to a safe place where they could be inspected. Years later, appropriate measures were developed. For sifting in the dirt. "
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