In the course of a regular field trip of the Kfar Etzion school in the Hebron mountains, one of the guides identified a column with a special type of crown (Proto-Aeolic) which is commonly found in structures from the Bayis Rishon era. Such columns and crowns have been found at Hatzor, Megiddo and Jerusalem in areas that are known to date from the First Temple era. It was discovered in a cave in an area of Jewish ownership located however in a region within the limits of the Palestinian Authority.
The column which was subsequently unearthed is the thin thread which probably leads to one of the lost palaces which belonged to Judean kings and which was known to have existed south of Jerusalem in the Judean mountains but had heretofore only been known through reports.
The story of the discovery of this rare find has stirred up archaeologists and historians alike, who hope that the entire palace will be unearthed intact and reveal many other fascinating facts and artifacts of that distant period in Jewish history. Experts believe that the structure was buried intact after the First Temple era and not reused by others in later generations, like so many other sites. If so, it is likely to give much information about life in its era.
It all stemmed from the incidental sighting and identification of the column in a cave. This ornamentation found was placed on top of supporting columns at the entrance of royal buildings and courtyards. Only 30 such ornaments have been reclaimed in Israel and have their counterparts in Jerusalem, Ramat Rachel, Megiddo, Chatzor and Dan, and another eight in Jordan. Due to its historical importance, a representation of this beautiful column crown has been chosen to decorate the new five shekel coins.
The new find is even more important because of its unique inscription and because of the fact that it was found in the exact site where the palace originally stood and was not `recycled' for other uses in later periods of history, as is common. Additionally, it is not only a pillar ornament but part of a huge monolith which must have weighed about five tons. Similar stone ornaments were only used in palaces and royal cities and this one was found in the agricultural nape of Jerusalem. Apparently, the existence of this particular palace was not known to research.
The guides and teachers immediately informed the Antiquities Authority of their find. Those in charge refused to get excited about it but nonetheless told the principal not to publicize it. Subsequently it was found that the Antiquities Authority has known about it for almost two years and did not publicly announce it.
The principal of the Kfar Etzion Field School, Yaron Rosenthal, said, "I am inclined to believe that we are on the brink of discovering an entire royal palace still unknown, but besides, this may actually be the first opportunity to excavate a pristine archaeological site that was not tampered with or ruined, and I am certain that many additional fine surprises await us in the future."
