A new radiocarbon study was recently published in the journal PLOS ONE which analyzes 35 radiocarbon dates from seven occupation layers at Gezer. These dates were obtained during recent excavations at Gezer led by the Tandy Institute for Archaeology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and they range from the latter part of the Late Bronze Age (LB IIB) to the Iron Age II. One interesting finding is that stratum 8, which includes the famous six-chambered gate, a casemate wall, and an administrative structure dates to early in the tenth century BC. This means these structures were built within the reign of Solomon, as the Bible says (1 Kgs 9:15). These findings also contradict the view of Israel Finkelstein, who has publicly stated that he believes Gezer was built about a century later by the Omride dynasty of the Northern Kingdom. A link to the study is included below.
NEWS LINKS:
- https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2023-11-15/ty-article/david-and-solomons-biblical-kingdom-may-have-existed-after-all-new-study-suggests/0000018b-cddd-d518-a39b-fffd773b0000
- https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-773513
JOURNAL ARTICLE:
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