Latest News:  

English>>World

Archeologists found earliest alphabetical written text in Jerusalem

(Xinhua)

08:42, July 11, 2013

JERUSALEM, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Working near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, archaeologists have unearthed the earliest alphabetical written text ever uncovered in the city.

Dr. Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University's Institute of Archeology, who led the team, told Xinhua on Wednesday that the inscription dated to the 10th century BC, and predates by 250 years the earliest known alphabetical written text found in Jerusalem.

The excavation was conducted in collaboration with Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and the East Jerusalem Development Company. The findings are published in the current issue of Israel Exploration Journal, in a co-authored article by Mazar, Prof. Shmuel Ahituv of Ben-Gurion University, and Dr. David Ben-Shlomo of the Hebrew University.

The text was engraved on the rim of a large ceramic jar before it was fired, and only a fragment of it has been found, along with fragments of six other jars of the same type.

According to Ahituv, the inscription is engraved in an early Canaanite, an ancient group of Semitic languages spoken by the people of Canaan, a region stretching across modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Syria.

The jar was made before the Israelite rule and the prevalence of Hebrew script, the researchers said. Therefore, according to Ahituv, the text was likely to have been written by one of the non- Israeli residents of Jerusalem, perhaps Jebusites, who were part of the city population in the time of Kings David and Solomon.

Mazar said archeologist can read the letters engraved on the jar -- M, Q, P, H, N, possibly an L, and N, but the meaning of these letters will remain a mystery. "No one today can decipher Canaanite," said Mazar.

We Recommend:

U.S. presidents and their pets

Highlights of 50th Int'l Paris Air Show

Best photos of week (June 17 - June 23)

Venezuelan Army School boat visits Cuba

Afghan refugees at UNHCR registration center

Beauty contest held in Budapest, Hungary

Angelina Jolie visits refugee camp

'Super moon' hangs in the sky over Rotterdam

LA' Chinatown sets up statue of Bruce Lee

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:LiangJun、Yao Chun)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Chinese,Russian naval forces leave for drill

  2. China-Russia joint drill enters 2nd day

  3. Iranian female ninjas show combat skills

  4. Children's hospital full of patients

  5. Pushy parents turn matchmaking events

  6. China's weekly story
    (2013.6.28-7.5)

  7. Egrets enjoy life in forest

  8. Cute cats vs stylish women

  9. China Pan-Asia Stone Expo kicks off

  10. China's 50 best CEOs named

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. China didn't cause German solar firms' bankruptcy
  2. China, U.S. discuss cyber security
  3. Why are we obsessed with selfies?
  4. Israel keen on luring Chinese tourists
  5. 'Bernanke shock' necessary
  6. Safety first for baby formula
  7. Defense paper shows Tokyo's hysteria
  8. Shanghai investor sentiment drops
  9. Graduates need more help to start business
  10. CPC is thriving

What’s happening in China

Wild Siberian tiger kills cattle in NE China

  1. China confirms 132 H7N9 cases, 43 deaths
  2. China completes overhaul of dairy standards
  3. Buddhist life attractive to people under stress
  4. Newborns' weight leads caesarian births rise
  5. New system adopted for fairer access to organs