Archaeologists Reveal New Temple at Lachish

 

                                                  

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Archaeologists Reveal New Temple at Lachish

 

John C. Haynes, Jr.

University of Central Florida

ANT-2140: Archaeology and the Rise of Human Culture

Dr. Neil Duncan

September 24, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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            Archaeologists have been excavating the ancient site of Lachish in the Levant (modern day Israel) on and off for over 80 years, however, recent discoveries have uncovered a temple with multiple artifacts that may shed an important light into the life of the ancient culture of the Canaanites.  The Canaanites are well-known in their role of sometimes adversary, sometimes helpful neighbor of the Israelites according to the holy texts of Judaism.  While there are multiple archaeological sites across the area, Lachish is one of the oldest and most important.  Multiples layers have been discovered that show the site (today known as Tel Lachish, near the Israeli city of Kiryat Gat) had been built up and destroyed many times. 

            Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been leading the excavation at Lachish.  There is evidence for multiple layers of occupation and the temple remains that have recently been uncovered are from the last period of Canaanite occupation which was built somewhere between 1200 BCE and 1150 BCE, and ultimately destroyed around 1150 BCE.  The temple itself is interesting because it is built in a style similar to Solomon’s temple.  The temple also contained many artifacts, including pottery and stone objects, along with cultic artifacts that may shed light on the pantheon of Canaanite gods and goddesses.  In addition, many relics have been found of Egyptian origin, which could indicate a thriving trade directly with Egypt, or indirectly through traders who used this route.  Also found within, and perhaps most amazing, are two bronze cauldrons which are the first cauldrons to have been found from this culture and period.

            Another find from the site which is of great interest to linguists is a piece of pottery with the letter Samekh inscribed on it.  This letter is a part of the Northwest Semitic languages, including the languages of the Canaanites, such as Ugaritic, along with Hebrew and Aramaic. 

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According to the author of the article, this represents the oldest finding of pottery with this letter on it and the first in a Canaanite context. (Zakrzewski, 2020).

            Ultimately, more excavation and research will need to be done, but initial indications show that the site may prove to enrich the historical and archaeological data that we already have regarding the Canaanite culture.  In addition to understanding this society better, further research may also lend itself to understanding the relationship between the Canaanites and the Israelites.  Both groups volleyed for primacy in the area of the Levant.  Many modern scholars believe the groups were probably closely related.  They certainly shared related language and culture, including parallels in deity names.  It will be interesting to see how much more insight can be gleaned into the daily lives of these cultures.

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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References

Zakrzewski, Arianna. (Summer 2020).  New Revelations at Lachish.  Popular Archaeology.  https://popular-archaeology.com/article/new-revelations-at-lachish/