A new scientific study, published in the journal PNAS and conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in collaboration with Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Insтιтute of Science, has provided compelling evidence linking archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem’s City of David to events described in the Bible. This research challenges long-held perceptions of Jerusalem’s development during the reigns of ancient Judean kings, particularly King David and King Solomon.

Credit: Leonardo Gurvitz, City of David Archives

Over almost a decade of meticulous excavations, more than 100 radiocarbon dates were obtained from various excavation sites within the City of David, shedding light on the city’s history from the 12th to the 6th centuries BCE. Advanced techniques, including the use of ancient tree rings from Europe, enabled researchers to achieve an unprecedented level of accuracy in dating these findings.

One of the key revelations from the study is the discovery that Jerusalem was already a significant urban center during the time of Kings David and Solomon, contrary to previous skepticism suggesting otherwise. The research indicates widespread settlement and extensive construction activity during this period, challenging the notion that Jerusalem was merely an insignificant village.

Moreover, the study refutes previous ᴀssumptions about the construction of Jerusalem’s city walls. Contrary to popular belief, the wall in the eastern part of the City of David was not built by King Hezekiah, as previously thought, but rather by his great-grandfather, King Uzziah, following a major earthquake mentioned in the Book of Amos.

Archaeologists Joe Uziel (left) and Professor Yuval Gadot (right). Credit: Yaniv Berman/City of David Foundation

Professor Yuval Gadot of Tel Aviv University said that they demonstrate Jerusalem’s growth towards Mount Zion as early as the 9th century BCE, a century before the ᴀssyrian exile. This expansion, he suggests, was driven by internal demographic growth and the establishment of political and economic systems within Judah.

Dr. Joe Uziel of the Israel Antiquities Authority highlighted the ability of the study to pinpoint specific buildings and correlate them with biblical accounts of kings such as Uzziah, Hezekiah, and Menashe.

Credit: City of David Foundation

The study’s methodology, which involved meticulous fieldwork and innovative radiocarbon dating techniques, sets a precedent for dating other urban contexts. By overcoming challenges posed by Jerusalem’s densely inhabited urban environment and fluctuations in atmospheric carbon-14 concentrations, the research provides a detailed chronology of the city’s history during a crucial period.

More information: Regev, J., Gadot, Y., Uziel, J., Chalaf, O., Shalev, Y., Roth, H., … Boaretto, E. (2024). Radiocarbon chronology of Iron Age Jerusalem reveals calibration offsets and architectural developments. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(19). doi:10.1073/pnas.2321024121