Groundbreaking Israeli Study Validates Biblical Account of Gath’s Destruction
Israeli researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique that enables archaeologists to identify burnt materials in excavations and estimate their firing temperatures. This advancement, a collaboration among scholars from Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar-Ilan University, and Ariel University, has provided significant insights into ancient building methods and historical events.
Dr. Yoav Vaknin from Tel Aviv University led the multidisciplinary study, with contributions from various experts, including Prof. Ron Shaar, Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef, Prof. Oded Lipschits, Prof. Aren Maeir, and Dr. Adi Eliyahu Behar. Their findings, published in PLOS ONE, have validated a biblical account of the destruction of Gath (Tell es-Safi) by Hazael, king of Aram, as mentioned in 2 Kings 12:18.
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The researchers’ method is based on measuring the magnetic field recorded in burnt bricks. This technique can determine if a brick was fired at temperatures as low as 200°C, crucial for interpreting archaeological findings accurately. Dr. Vaknin explains that the orientation of magnetic particles in the bricks changes during firing, allowing them to identify if and how the bricks were burned.
The team tested their method by applying it to bricks from Tell es-Safi. Their results confirmed that the bricks were burnt in situ, supporting the narrative of Gath’s destruction by fire. This discovery challenges previous hypotheses and underscores the importance of this new method in understanding ancient building techniques and their ecological implications.
Prof. Maeir highlights the significance of these findings in deciphering the intensity of fires and destruction in historical cities like Gath. Prof. Ben-Yosef notes the ecological impacts of ancient brick-firing technology, emphasizing its role in deforestation and the collapse of industries due to fuel depletion.
