History

Burned First Temple-Era Beams Found in Jerusalem's City of David

Published

Courtroom-sketch editorial illustration of exposed stone excavation walls in Jerusalem's City of David surrounding charred wooden beams on the earthen floor

Archaeologists excavating the Givati Parking Lot in Jerusalem's City of David uncovered thick charred wooden beams from a large First Temple-era building destroyed in the Babylonian burning of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Excavation director Efrat Bocher said the beams probably roofed an inner courtyard and collapsed onto the floor during the destruction. Researchers believe molten wall plaster sealed the carbonized wood, helping preserve it for about 2,600 years. IAA researcher Dr. Johanna Regev said the beams' many growth rings could narrow dating from spans of centuries to about 10 years.

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