Foundation Stone

[CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ONSITE INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR AREN MAEIR]

The simple setting belies its significance. Here, in the eastern coastal plain a find of immense significance has been uncovered. The ancient Philistine's - those sea-faring folks from the Aegean shores have sent another strong indication as to their origin. A 2-horned altar - unknown until now in ancient Israel/Canaan, has been discovered by Prof. Aren Maeir of Bar Ilan University.

Maeir has been digging in Tel es Safi for over 15 years - and this may prove to be the most important find yet from a site that limits its digging season to just 4 weeks. Four weeks, because the real work of archaeology comes in the analysis, research, and publishing of the finds that has been the bane of many excavators that have come before.

The altar, believed to be the largest (9th c. BCE) monolithic altar yet found in the country (Beersheva has a larger altar - but it is made up of multiple stones) is striking in that it seems either unfinished or simply designed to function with 2 horns - and not the more common 4.

Tune in to the LandMinds show on Wednesday July 27th to hear Prof. Maeir discuss this important find. Or you can download the podcast right here on the Foundation Stone website after the show airs.

In the meantime, you can also check out Aren's blog about the find, here.

Finally, if you really need more on this emerging story, I'm posting a short interview with Amit Dagan (the area supervisor of the find) here - it's in Hebrew.