The fragment contains the "earliest known Philistine inscription ever to be discovered [and] mentions two names that are remarkably similar to the name Goliath," according to Bar-Ilan archaeologists. The artifact was found at the Tel es-Safi Gath, between Ashkelon and Jerusalem. According to the Bible, Goliath lived in Gath.
The discovery may give the first post-Biblical evidence of the story of David and Goliath, said Prof. Aren Meir of Bar-Ilan, who has been directing excavations on the site for nine years. He will present his findings next week at an academic conference in Philadelphia, where details of this past week's discovery of 3000-year-old Hebrew writing also will be revealed.
The writing on the ceramic fragment, or shard, is in "proto-Canaanite" letters, dating back 3000 years, and contains two non-Semitic names ("Alwt" and "Wlt") similar to the word Goliath.
"It can be suggested that in 10th-9th century [before the Common Era] Philistine Gath, names quite similar, and possibly identical, to Goliath were in use," said Prof. Meir. "This chronological context from which the inscription was found is only about 100 years after the time of David according to the standard biblical chronology. Thus, this appears to provide evidence that the biblical story of Goliath is, in fact, based on a clear cultural realia [signifying the objects of a local culture] from, more or less, the time which is depicted in the biblical text," he explained.
Other findings at the site include artifacts dating to the rule of King Aram 2800 years ago, along with evidence of the capture and destruction of the city by Hazael, as described in Second Kings (12:18).
The discovery may give the first post-Biblical evidence of the story of David and Goliath, said Prof. Aren Meir of Bar-Ilan, who has been directing excavations on the site for nine years. He will present his findings next week at an academic conference in Philadelphia, where details of this past week's discovery of 3000-year-old Hebrew writing also will be revealed.
The writing on the ceramic fragment, or shard, is in "proto-Canaanite" letters, dating back 3000 years, and contains two non-Semitic names ("Alwt" and "Wlt") similar to the word Goliath.
"It can be suggested that in 10th-9th century [before the Common Era] Philistine Gath, names quite similar, and possibly identical, to Goliath were in use," said Prof. Meir. "This chronological context from which the inscription was found is only about 100 years after the time of David according to the standard biblical chronology. Thus, this appears to provide evidence that the biblical story of Goliath is, in fact, based on a clear cultural realia [signifying the objects of a local culture] from, more or less, the time which is depicted in the biblical text," he explained.
Other findings at the site include artifacts dating to the rule of King Aram 2800 years ago, along with evidence of the capture and destruction of the city by Hazael, as described in Second Kings (12:18).