Archaeologists Discover 3,000-Year-Old Structure
in Jerusalem Supporting Biblical Accounts
Archaeologists have uncovered a monumental
structure in Jerusalem mentioned in two books of the Bible. The ruins of an ancient moat,
dating back over 3,000 years, were found in the City of David, one of history's oldest cities
and believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
For 150 years, researchers have attempted to
verify the city's division into two parts as described in the Bible. The newly uncovered
moat separated the southern residential region from the upper city in the north. Measuring
about 30 feet deep and nearly 100 feet wide, with steep cliffs on each side, the moat
was impassable. The findings confirm that it was created during the Iron Age, the same
period when the Book of Kings and the Book of Samuel were written, describing the City
of David as split into Ophel and Millo.
Ophel and Millo are biblical terms for
different parts of the City of David. The first Book of Kings (11:27) describes King
Solomon building the "Millo" and closing the breach in the wall of the City of David.
The ancient city, considered the birthplace of Jerusalem, was built by King David to unite
Israel around one capital. Located on a narrow, steep ridge overlooking hills and valleys, the
city’s geography made movement difficult. Dr. Yiftah Shalev, the excavation director, noted
that while the original cutting date of the moat is unknown, evidence suggests it was used when
Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, nearly 3,000 years ago, beginning
with King Josiah. During those years, the moat separated the southern residential
city from the ruling Acropolis in the north, where the palace and temple were located.
The IAA confirmed that construction plans like this typically date back to the Middle Bronze
Age, around 3,800 years ago. "We are confident that [the moat] was used at the time of the First
Temple and the Kingdom of Judah [in the ninth century BC], so it created a clear buffer between
the residential city in the south and the upper city in the north," Dr. Shalev said. Researchers
believe the moat was designed to alter the City of David's topography, showcasing Jerusalem's
ruler's power and defensive capabilities.
British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon first
discovered the structure in the 1960s, noting its location slightly east of today's
Givati Parking Lot. Initially thought to be a natural valley, Kenyon's discovery turned out to
be a continuation of the moat curving westward.