235:
633:(Jerusalem and New York: Shoham Academic Research and Publication, 2009), 66–71. The identity of the seal owners as the biblical officials named in the book of Jeremiah is found to be very reasonable and—in light of the discovery of bullae in the City of David belonging to biblical persons Gemariah son of Shaphan (and, arguably, Azariah son of Hilkiah the priest)—entirely plausible, in Lawrence J. Mykytiuk, "Corrections and Updates to 'Identifying Biblical Persons in Northwest Semitic Inscriptions of 1200–539 B.C.E.
85:
20:
302:
Mazar believed, as of 2007, that the
Stepped Stone Structure connects with and supports the Large Stone Structure. Mazar presents evidence that the Large Stone Structure was an Israelite royal palace in continuous use from the 10th century until 586 BC. Her conclusion that the stepped stone structure
190:
By
February 2007, the second phase of the dig, which took place on a plot adjacent to the first phase, had revealed that the building was larger than Dr. Mazar had previously thought, included walls that are up to 7 m (23 ft) thick, and showed that parts of the building relate to the famous
449:
period; while what they consider the flimsier irregular remains on the eastern side of the site should be treated as a separate entity. The coauthors additionally argued that Mazar's approach was biased. However, the attempt to re-date the site and claim that the two structures were not part of the
440:
and Lily Singer-Avitz coauthored a paper to lower the dating assigned to the structure given by Eilat Mazar. The coauthors also suggested that the walls unearthed by Mazar do not belong to a single building, arguing that the more substantial, more regular walls to the west of the site align with a
502:
rule stating that, in general, the older things are lower down), this implies, according to Eilat Mazar, that the foundation—and hence the building—was constructed somewhere between Iron Age I and Iron Age II (roughly between the eleventh and tenth centuries BC). Israel
Finkelstein argued that
503:(Eilat) Mazar's pottery dating is flawed, concluding that "all one can safely say is that its various elements post-date the late Iron I/early Iron IIA and predate the Roman period. Circumstantial evidence seems to suggest the dating of most elements to the late
458:
noted that Herzog's paper was written prior to the publication of all the excavation material and that its full publication was sufficient to settle the debate in favour of Eilat Mazar's interpretation of the dating of the site. In 2005
72:. The interpretation of the remains as those of one single building, the suggested date, and the association with King David have all been challenged by other well-known archaeologists. The archaeological dig was funded privately by
211:
suggest that they may have decorated a sword handle. A quantity of luxury round, carinated bowls with red slip and hand burnishing support both the tenth century BCE date and a sophisticated and urban life-style. A bone has been
511:
has recently concluded that the archaeological evidence does indicate that the Large Stone
Structure was initially built in the 12th century BCE (Iron Age I) and that it remained in use until at least the early 9th century BCE.
220:, showing a probable date between 1050 and 780 BCE. A large section of a "delicate and elegant" Black-on-Red jug, also found in the structure, is of a kind dated to the second half of the tenth century BCE.
112:, the oldest part of Jerusalem, is just to its north, she started digging there in February 2005. About 2 m (6 ft 7 in) underneath the surface, she discovered fourth to sixth century
368:'s repair of the Millo is mentioned within a list of repairs to military fortifications, and several scholars generally believe that it was something connected to military activity, such as a
60:. Mazar tentatively dated the findings to the tenth to ninth century BCE. Mazar chose this particular name for the alleged structure because of its proximity to another site known as the
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1114:
253:. It is a curved, 60 ft (18 m) high, narrow stone structure which is built as a series of terraces (hence the name). It was uncovered during a series of excavations by
641:
16/1 (2009): 85–100. Distinctive features of the writing on the bullae indicate that all the above-mentioned bullae are from the late seventh or early sixth century BC
542:
Two
Phoenician-styled ivory inlays and a black-and-red jug imported from Cyprus attest to a Phoenician connection, a tenth-century date, and a luxurious life-style.
606:
545:
Bullae with names of royal officials mentioned in the Bible attest to royal use continuing until 586 BCE and "illustrate" the reliability of
Biblical sources.
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124:(516 BCE – 70 CE), and finally underneath these she found large foundations of a substantial structure, which she claimed to have been the Palace of David.
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732:
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That the latest pottery found beneath the structure is a "sizable and richly varied" assemblage dated to the twelfth to eleventh centuries BCE.
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Artifacts found within the Large Stone
Structure that support a possible tenth century BCE date include imported luxury goods, including two
1139:
1134:
654:"Second Phase of Dr. Eilat Mazar's City of David Dig Concludes:Building larger than previously thought, relates to Stepped Stone Structure"
582:
1119:
277:; other scholars, after the more recent discoveries by Kenyon and Shiloh, have suggested that it might be a retaining wall, or a
174:
Mazar continues to dig, but right now, three families are living in houses where she would most like to explore. One family is
961:
936:
707:
Herzog, H. and Sinver-Avitz, L., "Redefining the Center: The
Emergence of State in Judah", Tel Aviv, 31/2, 2004, pp. 209–244.
273:
in origin, therefore from the Bronze Age. Macalister, the first to excavate the structure, called the remains he had found a
346:), without giving an explanation of what exactly the Millo was. However it is mentioned as being part of the City of David (
1124:
1015:
694:
Color photo in Mazar, Eilat, "Excavations at the Summit of the City of David: Preliminary Report of
Seasons 2005–2007",
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As of 2005 the dig was ongoing, with progress limited by the current occupants of the land atop the ruins. According to
833:
303:
and the large stone structure are parts of a single, massive royal palace makes sense of the biblical reference to the
653:
631:
The Palace of King David: Excavations at the Summit of the City of David: Preliminary Report of
Seasons 2005–2007
487:
821:
810:
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207:-style ivory inlays, which were once attached to iron objects. Comparable objects found in a Phoenician tomb at
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found above and below the building's remains. The pottery below the foundation is dated by Eilat Mazar to the
343:
217:
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agrees with Mazar's (both Amihai and Eilat) interpretation and dates the structure to the 10th century BCE.
312:
144:, and thus presumably lived in the late seventh or early sixth century BCE (i.e., at about the same time as
524:
The enormous scale of the structure and physical distinctions between it and other contemporary structures.
354:'s construction while building up the City of David after the capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites. The
1003:
976:
Mazar, Eilat, "Excavations at the Summit of the City of David, Preliminary Report of Seasons 2005–2007",
907:
786:
Mazar, Eilat, "Excavations at the Summit of the City of David: Preliminary Report of Seasons 2005–2007",
773:
Mazar, Eilat, "Excavations at the Summit of the City of David: Preliminary Report of Seasons 2005–2007",
681:
Mazar, Eilat, "Excavations at the Summit of the City of David: Preliminary Report of Seasons 2005–2007",
665:
Mazar, Eilat, "Excavations at the Summit of the City of David: Preliminary Report of Seasons 2005-2007",
245:
The Stepped Stone Structure is the name given to the remains at an archaeological site (sometimes termed
64:. Mazar announced the discovery on 4 August 2005, and stated that she believed it may be the remains of
902:
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Pottery found in the attached Stepped Stone Structure also dates its construction to the tenth century.
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suggest that the upper part of the structure is, unlike the lower part, not from the Iron Age, but
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Mazar made the following arguments for an Israelite royal palace from the early tenth century:
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376:, or simply a significant part of a wall. However, taking into account that the potentially
1021:
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392:, it is considered more likely that it was an embankment which flattened the slope between
319:
was assassinated in 799 BC while he slept in his bed. Millo is derived from "fill" (Hebrew
121:
441:
larger rectangular structure, including upper parts of the Stepped Stone Structure, and a
8:
1026:
839:
560:
108:), to estimate where the site might be. Since the only area of higher elevation than the
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148:). The second bulla discovered at this site is that of another government official,
888:
Faust, Avraham. "The large stone structure in the City of David: a reexamination".
748:
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316:
153:
141:
140:, son of Shelemiah, son of Shevi. This person seems to be mentioned (twice) in the
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In 1997, Eilat Mazar, seeking to find the Palace of David, used a reference in the
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Pottery and pavements found in the structure and dated to the tenth century.
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Both pottery types and radiocarbon dating point to a date around 1000 BCE.
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420:-economics in Israel. Eilat Mazar was a senior fellow at the foundation.
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292:
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Tel Aviv: Journal of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University
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in the 1970s–1980s. Kathleen Kenyon dated the structure to the start of
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Archaeology and the biblical narrative: the case of the United Monarchy
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The wall of the Large Stone Structure (foreground) overlooking the
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350:). In the Books of Samuel, Millo is mentioned as boundary of King
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I, and the pottery above is dated to the Iron Age II. Due to the
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954:
Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades
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152:, of that same time period, who also seems to be named in the
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739:(2007). "Has King David's Palace in Jerusalem Been Found?".
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That it was erected outside the walls of the Jebusite city.
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323:). The stepped stone support structure is built of fills.
1110:
Buildings and structures completed in the 10th century BC
195:" which was discovered and excavated in the 1920s–1980s.
52:, as being part of a single large public building in the
1115:
Buildings and structures completed in the 9th century BC
358:
identifies Millo as literally "The Landfill", while the
132:
The first of two notable written finds at the site is a
16:
Ancient structure in Jerusalem, attributed to King David
672:
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that the Books of Samuel claim was conquered by David.
412:, a foundation that was established in 1994 to promote
423:
127:
1028:
Israelis seeking the palace of David dig up a dispute
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Eilat Mazar dated the site by the different types of
607:"King David's Palace Is Found, Archaeologist Says"
330:is described in the Bible as having been built by
120:floor. Beneath these she found artifacts from the
719:
717:
715:
713:
1101:
450:same structure received a detailed response by
269:II (1000–900 BC); Macalister believed it to be
710:
445:ritual bath believed to have been used in the
993:
903:"King David's palace found? Scholars differ"
1130:Archaeological discoveries in the West Bank
956:. Oxford University Press. pp. 77–79.
890:Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins
580:Eilat Mazar: Uncovering King David's Palace
56:, presumably the oldest settlement core of
980:, Jerusalem and New York, 2009, pp. 54–56.
669:, Jerusalem and New York, 2009, pp. 52–53.
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362:translates it to "supporting terraces".
315:, describing it as the place where King
233:
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18:
996:"Did I Find King David's Palace? (PDF)"
951:
481:
1102:
790:, Jerusalem and New York, 2009, p. 67.
698:, Jerusalem and New York, 2009, p. 53.
685:, Jerusalem and New York, 2009, p. 52.
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136:(seal) of a government official named
116:artifacts, including a well preserved
924:
867:
644:
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1140:Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)
1135:City of David (archaeological site)
424:Not one building, different periods
128:Bullae from the 7th–6th century BCE
36:
13:
656:, Shalem Center, February 18, 2007
88:Ruins of the Large Stone Structure
23:Part of the large stone structure.
14:
1161:
987:
928:Has Archaeology Buried the Bible?
463:suggested that the site may be a
403:
925:Dever, William G. (2020-08-18).
1120:2005 archaeological discoveries
970:
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863:Peake's Commentary on the Bible
856:
845:
834:Peake's Commentary on the Bible
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815:
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793:
780:
777:, Jerusalem and New York, 2009.
767:
605:Erlanger, Steven (2005-08-05).
1011:(January/February): 16–27, 70.
931:. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
915:news service), August 24, 2005
701:
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216:by Elisabetta Boaretto at the
1:
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408:The dig was sponsored by the
249:) on the eastern side of the
218:Weizmann Institute of Science
68:'s palace as recorded in the
1047:Digging up biblical dynamite
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96:which refers to David going
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7:
1004:Biblical Archaeology Review
908:The San Diego Union-Tribune
753:10.1179/tav.2007.2007.2.142
549:
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1166:
1125:Ancient sites in Jerusalem
284:Holding an opposing view,
227:
1039:Fabled palace 'unearthed'
1017:King David's palace found
360:New International Version
307:as the House of Millo in
150:Gedaliah, son of Pashhur
1086:31.774246°N 35.235777°E
516:Eilat Mazar's arguments
454:. Agreeing with Mazar,
240:Stepped Stone Structure
230:Stepped Stone Structure
224:Stepped Stone Structure
193:stepped stone structure
62:Stepped Stone Structure
952:Magness, Jodi (2024).
873:Mazar, Amihai (2010).
242:
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98:down to the stronghold
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76:, an American banker.
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994:Mazar, Eilat (2006).
237:
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160:Architectural remains
94:Second Book of Samuel
87:
29:Large Stone Structure
22:
1091:31.774246; 35.235777
1022:The Washington Times
556:Biblical archaeology
496:law of superposition
482:Stratigraphy and age
299:) in date or later.
122:Second Temple Period
40:Mivne haEven haGadol
1082: /
852:Jewish Encyclopedia
840:Jewish Encyclopedia
811:2 Samuel 5:9 (NKJV)
725:Finkelstein, Israel
561:2005 in archaeology
344:2 Chronicles 32:4–5
255:R. A.vS. Macalister
1063:The Jerusalem Post
1059:Shards of evidence
822:2 Samuel 5:9 (NIV)
733:Singer-Avitz, Lily
611:The New York Times
585:2007-01-20 at the
505:Hellenistic period
430:Israel Finkelstein
356:King James Version
313:2 Chronicles 24:25
286:Israel Finkelstein
261:in the 1960s, and
243:
167:The New York Times
100:after having been
90:
25:
1033:Houston Chronicle
963:978-0-19-093780-5
938:978-1-4674-5949-5
901:Steven Erlanger,
447:Hasmonean dynasty
214:radiocarbon dated
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614:. Retrieved
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509:Jodi Magness
507:". However,
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469:fortress of
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461:Amihai Mazar
452:Amihai Mazar
434:Ze'ev Herzog
427:
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398:Temple Mount
388:, refers to
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348:2 Samuel 5:9
336:1 Kings 9:24
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74:Roger Hertog
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1089: /
418:free market
293:Hellenistic
50:Eilat Mazar
1104:Categories
1077:35°14′09″E
1074:31°46′27″N
1054:2005/08/06
616:2007-05-24
567:References
390:earthworks
205:Phoenician
182:, and one
66:King David
761:161500349
500:empirical
428:In 2007,
297:Hasmonean
199:Artifacts
180:Christian
80:Discovery
58:Jerusalem
583:Archived
550:See also
492:Iron Age
465:Jebusite
396:and the
386:Assyrian
366:Hezekiah
340:Hezekiah
279:fortress
271:Jebusite
267:Iron Age
146:Jeremiah
102:anointed
488:pottery
414:Zionism
384:, from
378:cognate
374:citadel
332:Solomon
138:Jehucal
44:Israeli
1145:Silwan
978:Shoham
960:
935:
788:Shoham
775:Shoham
759:
696:Shoham
683:Shoham
667:Shoham
639:Maarav
443:mikveh
289:et al.
247:Area G
209:Achziv
184:Jewish
178:, one
176:Muslim
118:mosaic
33:Hebrew
999:(PDF)
757:S2CID
498:(the
394:Ophel
380:term
370:tower
352:David
328:Millo
321:milui
317:Joash
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471:Zion
416:and
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311:and
275:ramp
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