14 DAY TRIAL // Archaeologists in Israel are almost sure that they have uncovered the remains of King David's palace.
While carrying out excavations at a site some 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Jerusalem, the archaeologists unearthed two very large buildings which they say date back to Israel's biblical past.
The building believed to have been King David's palace used to cover an area of 1,000 square meters, Live Science reports. By the looks of it, the palace was enclosed by a wall.
If the archaeologists are right when assuming that this royal building was home to King David, their discovery would prove that the latter used to rule over a very well organized kingdom.
“This is unequivocal evidence of a kingdom's existence, which knew to establish administrative centers at strategic points,” archaeologists Yossi Garfinkel and Saar Ganor said in a statement.
“This is indisputable proof of the existence of a central authority in Judah during the time of King David,” they went on to argue, as cited by Daily Mail.
The archaeologists explain that the existence of this ruler is also hinted at by the discovery of the remains of an ancient administrative storehouse. More so since pots and several other artifacts were unearthed inside it.
“It was in this building the kingdom stored taxes it received in the form of agricultural produce collected from the residents of the different villages in the Judean Shephelah.”
“Hundreds of large store jars were found at the site whose handles were stamped with an official seal as was customary in the Kingdom of Judah for centuries,” the archaeologists argued.
The area where these two royal buildings have been found is believed to be the site of the Judean city of Shaaraim. According to the Bible, it was here where King David defeated the giant Goliath in battle.
Following these discoveries, the Israel Antiquities Authorities hope that it will not be long before the site is declared a national park.