Finds from a new excavation in Shiloh

The Israel HaYom Newsletter announced today that new 10 ancient storage jars have been found in a new excavation in Shiloh:

Excavation at ancient Shiloh seeks to locate site of Jewish tabernacle that dates to the time the Jewish people first arrived in the land of Israel • “This is a very exciting find,” says Archaeology Coordinator in the Civil Administration Hanania Hizmi.

Storage vessels unearthed in Shiloh. Photo credit: Shiloh Association

These storage vessels look very similar to those found in the so-called Area C of Israel Finkelstein’s excavations from 1983 on the west side of the tel. Two buildings were found there containing many of similar looking storage jars.

During the excavations in Shiloh in the 1980’s, an Early Israelite house was excavated near the city wall. Evidence shows destruction by fire. The ritual nature of the objects found in the debris above the destruction level suggested a connection with a cultic complex, perhaps that of the Tabernacle that stood here during the time of the Judges.

The report continues:

An exciting find of 10 ancient jugs at Shiloh in southern Samaria could lead researchers to the Jewish tabernacle that existed there in the time of Eli the High Priest of Shiloh and the Prophet Samuel, before the First Temple was built in Jerusalem.

The jugs (storage jars), only some of which were broken, date to the time when the Jewish people first entered the land of Israel. The vessels were unearthed approximately half a meter (20 inches) underground in a large room that is part of an ongoing archaeological excavation.

In recent years, the Archaeological Unit of the Civil Administration, which operates under Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, has been excavating together with the Shiloh Association. The goal of the work is to locate the southern wall of the ancient city of Shiloh.

The jugs indicate that the place was vacated suddenly, with residents not having enough time to collect and pack up their belongings. Among the jugs, the archaeologists also found a goblet known as a kobaat, a type of ritual chalice. The discovery of the kobaat ties in with the stone altar that was unearthed in the vicinity a few years ago, and could indicate that researchers are closing in on the ancient temple.

Hanania Hizmi, coordination officer for archaeology for the Civil Administration, said, “This is a very exciting find. The destruction could have been caused by the Philistine invasion and the fire that raged [at Shiloh].”

HT: Agade list

7 thoughts on “Finds from a new excavation in Shiloh”

  1. You seem to assume that the area generally accepted as being the site of the Tabernacle in Shiloh is not correct. Intrigued to know why you come to this conclusion.
    Daniel

  2. Daniel, archaeologists certainly haven’t accepted the northern location unequivocally. We are assessing 4 different areas where the Tabernacle could have been placed.

  3. Thanks Leen
    We have visited Shiloh many times & always upset that there were no new excavations. Very excited to hear that you are now working there. Maybe we can meet some time on site! When are you there?
    Daniel

  4. As the book of Deuteronomy may have been written at Shiloh at some stage, please be aware that more may be found at Shiloh than only the square of the Tabernacle.

  5. Racham, Moses wrote the Book of Deuteronomy, but he never went to Shiloh as he died before the Israelites entered the Promised land.

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