This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7700037.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'Oldest Hebrew script' is found | 'Oldest Hebrew script' is found |
(20 minutes later) | |
Five lines of ancient script on a shard of pottery could be the oldest example of Hebrew writing ever discovered, an archaeologist in Israel says. | Five lines of ancient script on a shard of pottery could be the oldest example of Hebrew writing ever discovered, an archaeologist in Israel says. |
The shard was found by a teenage volunteer during a dig about 20km (12 miles) south-west of Jerusalem. | The shard was found by a teenage volunteer during a dig about 20km (12 miles) south-west of Jerusalem. |
Experts at Hebrew University said dating showed it was written 3,000 years ago - about 1,000 years earlier than the Dead Sea Scrolls. | Experts at Hebrew University said dating showed it was written 3,000 years ago - about 1,000 years earlier than the Dead Sea Scrolls. |
Other scientists cautioned that further study was needed to understand it. | Other scientists cautioned that further study was needed to understand it. |
Preliminary investigations since the shard was found in July have deciphered some words, including judge, slave and king. | Preliminary investigations since the shard was found in July have deciphered some words, including judge, slave and king. |
The characters are written in proto-Canaanite, a precursor of the Hebrew alphabet. | The characters are written in proto-Canaanite, a precursor of the Hebrew alphabet. |
King David | King David |
Lead archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel identified it as Hebrew because of a three-letter verb meaning "to do" which he said was only used in Hebrew. | Lead archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel identified it as Hebrew because of a three-letter verb meaning "to do" which he said was only used in Hebrew. |
"That leads us to believe that this is Hebrew, and that this is the oldest Hebrew inscription that has been found," he said. | "That leads us to believe that this is Hebrew, and that this is the oldest Hebrew inscription that has been found," he said. |
The shard and other artefacts were found at the site of Khirbet Qeiyafa, overlooking the Valley of Elah where the Bible says the Israelite David fought the Philistine giant Goliath. | The shard and other artefacts were found at the site of Khirbet Qeiyafa, overlooking the Valley of Elah where the Bible says the Israelite David fought the Philistine giant Goliath. |
Mr Garfinkel said the findings could shed significant light on the period of King David's reign. | Mr Garfinkel said the findings could shed significant light on the period of King David's reign. |
"The chronology and geography of Khirbet Qeiyafa create a unique meeting point between the mythology, history, historiography and archaeology of King David." | "The chronology and geography of Khirbet Qeiyafa create a unique meeting point between the mythology, history, historiography and archaeology of King David." |
But his colleagues at Hebrew University said the Israelites were not the only ones using proto-Canaanite characters, therefore making it difficult to prove it was Hebrew and not a related tongue spoken in the area at the time. | But his colleagues at Hebrew University said the Israelites were not the only ones using proto-Canaanite characters, therefore making it difficult to prove it was Hebrew and not a related tongue spoken in the area at the time. |
Hebrew University archaeologist Amihai Mazar said the inscription was "very important", as it is the longest proto-Canaanite text ever found. | Hebrew University archaeologist Amihai Mazar said the inscription was "very important", as it is the longest proto-Canaanite text ever found. |
"The differentiation between the scripts, and between the languages themselves in that period, remains unclear," he said. | "The differentiation between the scripts, and between the languages themselves in that period, remains unclear," he said. |
Previous version
1
Next version