Standing Stone Site Reopened For the First Time In 3,000 Years

In a discovery that bridges ancient history and Biblical tradition, archaeologists have uncovered a nearly 3,000-year-old place of worship in the ancient City of David, just a stone’s throw from Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Frozen in time since the reign of King Hezekiah, an ancestor of Jesus as described in the Gospel of Matthew, the site offers a remarkable glimpse into the religious and cultural transformations of the 8th century BC.

Carved into the rock, the structure contains eight rooms that once served as a hub for ritual practices. Inside, archaeologists uncovered an altar, a sacred standing stone, and facilities for producing olive oil and wine, hinting at the religious and agricultural practices of the time. Eli Shukron, the excavation director for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), believes the site’s destruction aligns with King Hezekiah’s sweeping religious reforms as described in the Bible.

According to Shukron, “The structure ceased to function during the 8th century BC, possibly as part of King Hezekiah’s religious reform.” Hezekiah, known for centralizing worship at the First Temple in Jerusalem, led a campaign to abolish “high places”—localized sites of worship scattered across the kingdom. This effort is vividly recounted in the Second Book of Kings, which describes how Hezekiah “removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones,” and sought to do “what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”

Despite the destruction, one key artifact survived: a sacred standing stone, a central feature of the site’s rituals. Shukron described it as “the most dramatic and important find in the excavation.” Remarkably, the stone was buried beneath earth and preserved in its original position, standing as it did nearly three millennia ago. “When we uncovered it, we found it standing in its place, with stones around it. It was exactly as it was 2,800 years ago,” Shukron said.

The site also revealed an altar with a drainage channel, likely used in ritual sacrifices, and mysterious v-shaped carvings in the floor, whose purpose remains a mystery. Archaeologists speculate that the carvings may have once supported a tripod or other ritual implements.

Additionally, a sealed cave within the structure yielded a treasure trove of 8th-century artifacts, including cooking pots, jars inscribed with ancient Hebrew, loom weights, grinding stones, and scarabs. These items offer a tangible connection to the daily and religious lives of those who once used the site.

The structure’s proximity to the First Temple underscores its significance. While the Temple served as the central site for worship in Jerusalem, this site, like many others Hezekiah targeted, represented the decentralized and polytheistic practices that were common in Judah before his reforms. Its discovery underscores the tension between localized worship and the centralized monotheism Hezekiah sought to establish.

The story of this site is as much about its rediscovery as it is about its history. Though its northern section was first uncovered in 1909 by Montague Parker, a British adventurer searching for the Ark of the Covenant, comprehensive excavations didn’t begin until 2010 under the guidance of the IAA. Over a century later, the site’s full significance is finally coming to light.

Amichai Eliyahu, Israel’s Minister of Heritage, called the find “an exciting testimony to Jerusalem’s rich past.” He emphasized its importance in connecting modern Israel to its ancient roots: “Such discoveries make our connection and historic roots—going back thousands of years—tangible.”

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