A place of worship sealed up by the ancestors of Jesus has been discovered in the ancient heart of Jerusalem, frozen in time for nearly 3,000 years. The structure, carved into the rock near Temple Mount, features eight rooms and includes an altar, a sacred standing stone, and presses for olive oil and wine. Archaeologists believe it may have been destroyed by Hezekiah, one of Jesus’ ancestors, as described in the Bible, who smashed idolatrous places of worship and sought to centralize worship at the temple.
The structure has been dated to Hezekiah’s reign in the 8th century BC and features several notable finds, including the surviving sacred standing stone, which has been left largely untouched since it was buried beneath earth and dirt. Another room features the remains of an altar, with a drainage channel that still runs from its corner, while a part of the site includes mysterious v-shaped carvings on the floor that may have supported ritual equipment.
In addition to these discoveries, the excavation also revealed a hoard of artifacts from the 8th century BC, sealed behind a stone wall in a nearby cave. This treasure trove included cooking pots, jars with ancient Hebrew inscriptions, loom weights, scarabs, stamped seals, and grinding stones.
The discovery of this site has shed light on the early religious practices in the area, where it once co-existed with the First Temple on Temple Mount. It provides a unique testament to the region’s rich history, as archaeologist Eli Shukron remarked, “This is what makes this place a cultic site… When we uncovered it, we found it standing in its place, with stones around it.”
This incredible discovery was published in “Atiqot”, the Israel Antiquities Authority’s in-house journal, and further emphasizes the enduring connection to Jerusalem’s ancient roots and historic events that shaped its religious significance over time.
