Iron Age temple: Scientists reconstruct cultural history in Israel

Iron Age temple: Scientists reconstruct cultural history in Israel

A major collaboration between Osnabrück University and Tel Aviv University is working on the reconstruction of an Iron Age temple in Tel Moẓa, an important archaeological site near Jerusalem. Since 2019, Prof. Dr. Anselm C. Hagedorn, Dr. Florian Oepping, Prof. Dr. Oded Lipschits and Dr. Shua Kisilevitz involved in this project. The initiative is also supported by Charles University in Prague and the University of Malta.

This research work is funded with around 520,000 euros by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation. The aim of the project is to create a three-dimensional model of the temple complex, which was built between 1000 and 600 BC. is dated. The temple was discovered during a rescue excavation during the construction of a highway to Tel Aviv and is located just seven kilometers north of Jerusalem.

The meaning of Tel Moẓa

Tel Moẓa proves to be a key location for the Iron Age, as well Wikipedia reports. The excavations have uncovered remains of a large Neolithic settlement and an Iron Age Israelite temple. The latter is identified with Mozah in the book of Joshua. Archaeologists discovered numerous artifacts during the excavations, including flint tools, clay pots and stone figures. Particularly significant is that around 2012 an Iron Age IIA temple was uncovered, contemporary with the First Temple in Jerusalem.

The temple complex at Tel Moẓa shows elements of ritual use, such as a find of ceramic figures and other ritual objects. The excavations also point to economic and cultural prosperity in the region and show that, in addition to the temple, there were other public buildings and storage depots from this period.

Scientific perspectives and planned results

The project has wide-ranging objectives, including micromorphological studies that will enable the definition of cultic and economic activities. In addition, a relationship is sought between the archaeological findings and biblical traditions on the construction of the temple. A 3D model and a virtual app are intended to clearly present the scientific findings.

The results of the individual sub-projects will not only be published in a final excavation report, but will also open up new avenues for the conservation of archaeological sites. This will strengthen international cooperation between the universities and further strengthen the profile of the University of Osnabrück.

The archaeological finds in Tel Moẓa, which include, among other things, evidence of animal sacrifices and the religious practices of the time, underline the importance of this location for research. The excavations from 2012 to 2019 were necessary to preserve the more than 9,000-year-old history of the site, which served not only as an economic center but also as a religious site, as well as extensively in List of archaeological sites in Israel and Palestine is documented.