A rare Canaanite-language inscription on an ivory comb, found in southern Israel, was unveiled Wednesday by Israeli archaeologists.
Measuring 3.5cm by 2.5cm, this unique luxury item dating back to 1700 BC was found in 2017 at the archaeological site of Tel Lachish but the Canaanite phrase was only decrypted this year , the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement.
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"
May this defense eradicate hair and beard lice
," reads the comb, a phrase that represents "
direct evidence
" of the use of the Canaanite alphabet in daily life at the time. explained Yossef Garfinkel, professor of archeology.
"
This is the first phrase in the Canaanite language found in Israel
," he said.
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The Land of Canaan Mentioned in the Bible
Lachish, located about 40 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem, was an important city in the Canaanite period.
Archaeologists had already found 10 similar inscriptions but never a whole sentence.
The comb must have been imported and considered a luxury item, according to the Hebrew University.
The term Land of Canaan is the one used in the biblical story to describe the territory located between the Mediterranean and the Jordan, before its conquest by Joshua and the tribes of Israel who came out of Egypt, around 1,200 BC.