Massive charred wooden beams, sealed beneath melted plaster for 2,600 years, have been uncovered in the City of David. The rare find, reported by Jewish Breaking News ahead of Tisha B'Av, could allow researchers to date the destruction of the First Temple by Babylonian forces to within a decade.
Archaeologists working in the City of David have unearthed massive charred wooden beams that once formed part of the roof of the First Temple, destroyed by Babylonian forces in 586 BCE. The beams were found sealed beneath melted plaster, preserving them for approximately 2,600 years. According to Jewish Breaking News, the rare timbers could allow researchers to date the destruction to within just 10 years — an extraordinary level of precision for an event in antiquity.
As The Zioneer reported earlier today, the discovery comes ahead of Tisha B'Av, the Jewish day of mourning for the Temple's destruction. The new details, including the specific role of the beams as roof timbers and the potential for narrow dating, add significant depth to the find. The excavation is ongoing, and further analysis of the wood may yield additional insights into the building's construction and the fire that consumed it.
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