- Khirbet Sharta
Khirbet Sharta is an ancient site in northern
Israel situated in northeastKiryat Atta upon two hills spaced about 300 meters apart.In 1965
Asher Ovadiah performed an archeological survey (on behalf of theIsrael Antiquities Authority ) of the western hill (site #47 in Map 24 of the Archaeological Survey of Israel) along with a salvage excavation prior to the modern city's construction of residential development. He discovered burial caves with remains from the Bronze, Iron, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Arabic eras.The eastern hill (site #54) is still unexcavated, with visible remains of a 150-meter stone wall built with a double row of large stones, plus rock cuttings including two winepresses.
Khirbet Sharta became the first site in this region scientifically excavated that produced a jar handle with a
LMLK seal impression, previously thought to have been limited to southern Israel. Similar specimens have been recovered from three other northern sites, the most important beingNahal Tut . According to Mr. Ovadiah, the find was "astonishing/astounding".External links
* [http://www.biblewalks.com/sites/Sharta.html BibleWalks entry for Khirbet Sharta]
* [http://www.lmlk.com/research/lmlk_sharta.htm LMLK seal from Khirbet Sharta]
References
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