Archaeologists have made a significant discovery of ancient food remains at biblical Shiloh, a location traditionally identified as the site where the Ark of the Covenant was housed for centuries. The findings were unearthed at Tel Shiloh, an archaeological site in the West Bank.
Site and Discovery
The remains were found beneath an Israelite-period ritual deposit, near an ancient Canaanite fortification wall. This indicates the presence of a significant historical site. The excavation team identified these findings as important archaeological evidence.
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The discovery includes jars containing olives and lentils. One jar held approximately 500 burned olive pits. According to Scott Stripling, excavation director, the olives were likely preserved in oil before a fire, accidentally started, burned them thousands of years ago.
Excavation Details
Before uncovering the jars, archaeologists examined a ritual deposit containing around 10,000 animal bones, pottery vessels, and gold and silver objects. These items were part of a favissa, where sacrificial remains were buried intentionally.
The excavation involved careful removal of the surrounding earth, eventually requiring ladders for archaeologists to enter and exit the excavation trench safely. Although the scale of burned olive pits was unexpected, the discovery of staple Mediterranean foods was not surprising.
Historical Context and Future Work
Stripling noted that Israelites occupying Shiloh had no knowledge of the older Canaanite storage jars buried below their sacrificial deposits. These burned olive pits serve as ideal samples for radiocarbon dating, which is currently being conducted at Tel Aviv University.
The artifacts, after restoration, may yield more information about the past. The team plans to continue excavations to determine the original use of the space where the jars were stored, possibly indicating a kitchen or storage room.
The jars have been preserved underground for centuries, with modern archaeologists now uncovering their secrets.
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