2,700-year-old administrative center used by the Kingdom of Judah unearthed in Jerusalem, highlighting impact the Assyrian invasion had on the southern Jewish kingdom.
For the first time in Jerusalem, archeological excavation have found evidence showing the impact of the Biblical-era Assyrian king Sennacherib’s military campaign on the economy of the Kingdom of Judah.
During Israel Antiquities Authority excavations funded by the Israel Land Authority prior to the construction of the new Mordot Arnona neighborhood in the capital, revealed changes in the Judahite administration from the days of King Hezekiah in wake of the Assyrian military campaign and aftermath.
Until now, evidence of the campaign which followed Judah’s rebellion was known from the Judean Lowlands (Judean Shephelah).
From the recent excavations, a picture emerges indicating that the original Judahite administrative structure that existed on this site was completely destroyed.
“We discovered remains of a significant royal administrative center from the days of King Hezekiah, and perhaps even from the reign of his father, King Ahaz,” say Neria Sapir, Natan Ben-Ari and Benyamin Storchan, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“The center functioned in the last third of the 8th century BCE but was destroyed down to its foundations and buried under a massive heap of stones.”
“The stone pile formed a platform upon which subsequent structure was erected, holding a commanding view of all the agricultural areas to the east of the Armon Ha-Natziv – Ramat Raḥel ridge, and could be seen from afar. Large building stones originating from the early structure were deliberately incorporated into the heap.”
“We interpret these dramatic changes as a statement by the Assyrian imperial government, intended to convey a political-diplomatic message to the surrounding region and make it clear ‘who is really in charge’ by overhauling the administrative structure and its function.”
“As the Assyrians were still interested in the agricultural produce and taxes Judah could provide, they did allow for the existence of an independent Judahite administration, buy rather intensified its heavy economic demands.”
Image - 180 stamp impressions of the Judahite administration discovered at Mordot Arnona in Jerusalem. (Yoli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority) - Video - IAA