King David’s palace found near Jerusalem

Mail Online

Archaeologists have unearthed a palace in what they believe is the fortified Judean city of Shaarayim, where the Bible states King David battled the giant Goliath.
The discovery of what is thought to be King David’s palace, measuring 1,000 square metres, was made by Hebrew University and the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Over the past seven years the teams have also uncovered a huge storehouse containing pots and artefacts that they believe proves the existence of a ruler in Judah in the tenth century BCE.
‘The ruins are the best example to date of the uncovered fortress city of King David,’ professors Yossi Garfinkel and Saar Ganor of Hebrew University said.
‘This is indisputable proof of the existence of a central authority in Judah during the time of King David.’
The biblical city of Shaarayim is thought to have become the modern city of Khirbet Qeiyafa, which is approximately 30 kilometres south west of Jerusalem.
The professors said that the ruins are the two largest known buildings to have existed at the time of King David in Jerusalem.
The archaeologists collected hundreds of artefacts at the site, including religious objects, seals, pottery and tools typical of the time.
The palace is at the centre of the site and is higher than the houses lower in the city.  It is believed that much of the palace was destroyed 1,400 years after it was built when a fortified farmhouse was erected in its place during the Byzantine period.
Professors Garfinkel and Ganor said: ‘The palace that is now being revealed and the fortified city that was uncovered in recent years are another tier in understanding the beginning of the Kingdom of Judah.’
‘This is unequivocal evidence of a kingdom’s existence, which knew to establish administrative centres at strategic points,’ said Professors Garfinkel and Ganor.