3000-years-old lost biblical city uncovered by archaeologists

Lead archaeologist of the excavation Aren Maeir, from the country’s Bar-Ilan University, told Live Science: “We knew that Philistine Gath in the 10th to ninth century [BC] was a large city, perhaps the largest in the land at that time”.

Archaeologists believe they have discovered the entrance gate to the biblical city of Gath, Goliath’s hometown, located about halfway between Jerusalem and the coastal city of Ashkelon.

Gath was ruled by the Philistines, regarded as enemies of the Israelites.

In addition to the gate, an impressive fortification wall was discovered, as well as various building in its vicinity, such as a temple and an iron production facility.

“These monumental fortifications stress how large and mighty the city was”.

The city gate that Maeir’s team found is an important part of biblical archaeology as it was referenced in the Bible, 1 Samuel 21, where David was fleeing from King Saul and seeking shelter with the king of Gath. The world in central Israel, within the Tel Zafit National Park within the Judean Foothills, has-been inhabited virtually constantly ’cause the fifth millennium BCE, the researchers note in a press release. However, that ended when the Assyrians under emperor Sargon II swept through the area, and the city forever lost its independence.

With the dig taking place in Tell es-Safi, archaeologists who have been working there since 1899 have revealed that it was abandoned in 1948 after being occupied for almost 5,000 years. Gath was destroyed in 830 BC by Hazael, King of Damascus.

Bar-Ilan University has already conducted extensive investigations at the site, and had previously discovered Philistine temples dating back to the 11th century BCE and what is believed to be the earliest Philistine inscription.