Archaeologists in Jordan have uncovered a site potentially linked to significant events during the reign of King David. This location, buried for centuries, is beginning to reveal its secrets through excavations that connect it to biblical narratives.
Led by archaeologist Israel Finkelstein, the team found remnants of a structure known as Tall adh-Dhahab al-Gharbi, believed to have been used by high-ranking figures, possibly kings. The discovered stone blocks feature engravings depicting scenes such as musicians playing lyres, a lion in a hunting scene, and a banquet symbolizing celebration or worship.
These findings align with biblical descriptions of Mahanaim, a place where King David sought refuge during a conflict with his son Absalom and where Ishbaal, a king of Israel, was crowned. Finkelstein and colleague Tallay Ornan assert that these correlations are significant.
The term Mahanaim, meaning 'two camps' in ancient Hebrew, accurately describes the geography of the site, situated between two hills divided by the Jaboc River. The presence of fortified walls and substantial structures supports the theory that this location hosted important political and religious activities.
Radiocarbon dating indicates that the earliest settlements on the western hill of Tall adh-Dhahab date back to 1300 B.C., during the Late Bronze Age, with continuous occupation until Late Antiquity, when an earthquake forced abandonment.