Cultic shrines from time of King David discovered

[Jim Myers]

During recent archaeological excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a fortified city in Judah adjacent to the Valley of Elah, Hebrew University archaeologist Yosef Garfinkel and colleagues uncovered rich assemblages of pottery, stone and metal tools, and many art and cult objects. These include three large rooms that served as cultic shrines, which in their architecture and finds correspond to the biblical description of a cult at the time of King David. This discovery is extraordinary as it is the first time that shrines from the time of early biblical kings were uncovered. The shrines pre-date the construction of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem by 30 to 40 years.

Read complete article and see pictures at -- http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early+History+-+Archaeology/Cultic_shrines_time_King_David_8-May-2012.htm