Archaeologists have discovered a 2,750-year-old temple along with a cache of sacred artifacts, providing rare insight into religious practices at the time, the Israeli Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday.

The temple was uncovered west of Jerusalem, at the Tel Motza archaeological site, in preparation for work on Highway 1. Among the finds are pottery figurines, fragments of chalices and decorated pedestals, which indicate the site was the stomping ground of a ritual cult.

"The ritual building at Tel Motza is an unusual and striking find, in light of the fact that there are hardly any remains of ritual buildings of the period in Judaea at the time of the First Temple,” said excavation directors Anna Eirikh, Dr. Hamoudi Khalaily and Shua Kisilevitz in a statement.

"There are hardly any remains of ritual buildings of the period in Judaea at the time of the First Temple."

- Excavation directors Anna Eirikh, Dr. Hamoudi Khalaily and Shua Kisilevitz

“The uniqueness of the structure is even more remarkable because of the vicinity of the site's proximity to the capital city of Jerusalem, which acted as the Kingdom's main sacred center at the time."

The surrounding region has been a key archaeological site for the past two decades after the discovery of numerous buildings including a storehouse, which archaeologists believe was run by high-ranking officials at the time for Jerusalem's grain supplies. The Biblical settlement "Mozah" is mentioned in the Book of Joshua, described as a town in the tribal lands of Benjamin bordering on Judaea (Joshua 18: 26).

The latest excavation has revealed a brand new structure, according to the directors, with massive walls and a wide, east-facing entrance, which conform to the tradition of temple construction in the ancient Near East. The archeologists stress that "the find of the sacred structure together with the accompanying cache of sacred vessels, and especially the significant coastal influence evident in the anthropomorphic figurines, still require extensive research."

Such finds are rare because alternative ritual practices were banned after the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon about 3000 years ago, according to archaeological estimates.

The directors believe the site must have existed "prior to the religious reforms throughout the kingdom at the end of the monarchic period (at the time of Hezekiah and Isaiah), which abolished all ritual sites, concentrating ritual practices solely at the Temple in Jerusalem."



http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/12/27/2750-year-old-temple-found-near-jerusalem/

http://www.inquisitr.com/457396/2750-year-old-temple-found-near-jerusalem/


http://times247.com/articles/ancient-temple-found-near-jerusalem

More pictures courtesy of The Israel Antiquities Authority

Incredible.

This temple would most likely have been built during the reign of King Jeroboam. The most interesting aspect of this is that (a), the bible tells us that the ancient Israelites built only one sacred temple for their one and only god, Yahweh. (B) There is no evidence to show that this particular temple was built or dedicated to the worship of Yahweh.
(c) Since temples are built for and dedicated to the worship of a particular deity, one can draw any one of two conclusions from this discovery:

1. That the ancient Israelites did indeed, as I have argued severally, practice polytheism.
or,
2. The ancient Israelites never resided in that geographical area and never had a kingdom as we have been led to believe. Indeed, there have been no remnants of any great Hebrew kingdom ever discovered.

If not for anything, at least, the discovery put paid to the assertions and views held by Palestinians and her allies that Israel has no claim on Jerusalem.

Wonderful!!

Very soon thhey will say they are looking to possibly find Jesus' DNA inside.

*solid*:
Very soon thhey will say they are looking to possibly find Jesus' DNA inside.

plaetton: This temple would most likely have been built during the reign of King Jeroboam. The most interesting aspect of this is that (a), the bible tells us that the ancient Israelites built only one sacred temple for their one and only god, Yahweh. (B) There is no evidence to show that this particular temple was built or dedicated to the worship of Yahweh.
(c) Since temples are built for and dedicated to the worship of a particular deity, one can draw any one of two conclusions from this discovery:

1. That the ancient Israelites did indeed, as I have argued severally, practice polytheism.
or,
2. The ancient Israelites never resided in that geographical area and never had a kingdom as we have been led to believe. Indeed, there have been no remnants of any great Hebrew kingdom ever discovered.

I also believe they practiced polytheism, Yahweh was just the main god. There are alot of hidden things Christians do not know about their religion.

Maxymilliano: If not for anything, at least, the discovery put paid to the assertions and views held by Palestinians and her allies that Israel has no claim on Jerusalem.

In what way? It actually does the opposite.
The temple and artifacts in question do not in any way point to the jews as having settled in, or ever lived there. There are no hebrew inscriptions or anything at all pointing to an ancient hebrew provenance. If anything at all, this discovery shows that the Jews were most likely nowhere in that area.

Now what has it got to do with Christ?

*solid*:
Very soon thhey will say they are looking to possibly find Jesus' DNA inside.

Lol @ ur comment

Wetin oyinbo man no fit du?

Na so dem go discover sotey, dem go discover wier Kane bury Abel.

Dem go stil discover say Mukina2 na mr.seun wife

TO GOD BE D GLORY ALL THIS ATTEST TO THE AUTHENCITY OF THE ONLY HOLY BOOK IN THE WORLD I MEAN BIBLE. ALL OTHER PROFFESS holy book ARE ILLUSION.

It is Muslim practises, they were there over 5 thousand years

Abeg make una Disc0ver M0nEY AbeG.. Biko

NEROSKY: Dem go stil discover say Mukina2 na mr.seun wife

lol...don't let him catch you

plaetton:

In what way? It actually does the opposite.
The temple and artifacts in question do not in any way point to the
jews as having settled in, or ever lived there. There are no hebrew
inscriptions or anything at all pointing to an ancient hebrew
provenance. If anything at all, this discovery shows that the Jews were
most likely nowhere in that area.

What if that place was occupied by aliens ?

Ma hear say i believe al dis nonsense cock and bull story

SEYI_KP: TO GOD BE D GLORY ALL THIS ATTEST TO THE AUTHENCITY OF THE ONLY HOLY BOOK IN THE WORLD I MEAN BIBLE. ALL OTHER PROFFESS holy book ARE ILLUSION.

Oyibo don discover say your bible dey lie and u dey happy

Why are we interested in the life and times of neanderthals?

How does this affect religious wahala we are facing in this country?

stolen palestinian heritage, na today?

oya jesu followers, begin bash me.

Probably a temple to Baal. One of the greatest false gods to lead the Jewish people astray from Yahweh.

Jews of all generations after being taken into exile to Babylon pray facing Jerusalem.

While at it can you say that Arabs / Islam has no claim on Mecca or Medina since they pray facing there.

Keep your opinion to yourself and allow Archeologist and Scientist to come up with a Logical Conclusion of this latest discovery.

Maxymilliano: If not for anything, at least, the discovery put paid to the assertions and views held by Palestinians and her allies that Israel has no claim on Jerusalem.

Since we're all making up stuff, I think it's Orisha's temple

How do I confirm that the years quoted is true