JERUSALEM — Scientists with Israel’s Geological Institute announced Jan. 13 that they have examined a stone tablet which, if authentic, could be a significant find in the realm of biblical archeology and could fortify Israel’s claim to a sacred site in Jerusalem.
The tablet is described as being approximately 12 to 15 inches in length and is made from stone found in the area around the Dead Sea. Inscribed on the tablet are 15 lines in ancient Phoenician script that closely resemble passages in the 12th chapter of 2 Kings. The inscription references King Joash, who ruled the area nearly 3,000 years ago.
The origins of the tablet is unknown, but an anonymous source told Israel’s Haaretz newspaper that the tablet was uncovered on the site of the Haram as-Sharif mosque, known to Jews and Christians as the Temple Mount.
After it was uncovered, the tablet was acquired by an antiquities dealer in Jerusalem. David Zailer, lawyer for the alleged owner of the tablet, refused to identify his client or disclose any details as to the tablet’s origins.
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