Valuable Iron Age ivory fragments found in Jerusalem
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This is a first in the Holy City. A team of Israeli archaeologists has just presented some 1,500 ivory pieces, encrusted in decorative plaques, dating from the 8the and VIIe century BC. .
Some 1,500 pieces of ivory, formerly encrusted in decorative plates and dating from the Iron Age, were unveiled on Monday, September 5, by Israeli archaeologists in Jerusalemthe first historical discovery of this type in the Holy City.
Adorned with rosettes, lotus flowers and geometric figures, the small ivory pieces were found in the ruins of a building dating from the 8the or VIIe century BC, very close to the Old City in East Jerusalem. “The impressive building, in which the ivory pieces were unearthed, was ravaged by a great fire (…) and the pieces were discovered broken into small pieces and burned”said the Israel Antiquities Authority (AIA).
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The AIA speaks of a “extraordinary discovery”the first of its kind in Jerusalem. “We found some 1,500 pieces of ivory, broken and small fragments, of various sizes and in various conditions. It is a large collection and when we restored it, we discovered an infinite number of designs»told AFP Reli Avisar, archaeologist who participated in the excavations.
Also according to the AIA, these fragments come from richly decorated wooden furniture, used by wealthy inhabitants of the residence, probably local officials or priests. “Such objects are usually discovered in royal palaces so it shows the great wealth and prosperity of the place”, said Reli Avisar. This discovery is important historically since in the 8th century, ivory was one of the most precious goods, more than gold, the AIA specialists further underlined.
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