Burnt wooden beams dating back to the destruction of the First Temple have been discovered during archaeological excavations in the City of David in Jerusalem.
The discovery was made at the Givati Parking Lot site during joint excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University.
According to experts, the large wooden pieces were part of the ceiling structure of an ancient building. The building collapsed as a result of a massive fire, and the beams fell to the ground. Plaster that detached from the walls and melted covered them, ensuring their preservation for approximately 2,600 years.
Archaeologist Yohanna Regev stated that wood samples this old and this well-preserved are very rarely found in Israel. According to her, the discovered beams will allow scientists to determine the history of the events more accurately.
Excavation directors Yiftah Shalev and Professor Yuval Gadot believe that the find is one of the important pieces of evidence confirming the massive destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. In their view, the large structure located at the site was intentionally set on fire and almost completely destroyed.
Scientists note that although people continued to live near the ruins in subsequent periods, they preserved the area as a reminder of the past tragedy.
