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Israel archaeologists find First Temple era limestone-weight in Jerusalem

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) –
Archaeologists in Jerusalem have unearthed a limestone-weight dating back to the First Temple Biblical era of King Solomon, CBN News reports. The excavation was conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The weight is the size of the current small two-shekel coin and was discovered near the Western Wall, under Wilson’s Arch in Jerusalem, CBN News said. The shekel weight system was used in the First Temple period to collect taxes for maintaining the temple and the sacrifices carried out there.

“The weight is dome-shaped with a flat base. On the top of the weight is an incised Egyptian symbol resembling a Greek gamma (γ), representing the abbreviated unit ‘shekel.’ Two incised lines indicate the double mass: two shekalim,” excavation directors Dr. Barak Monnickendam-Givon and Tehillah Lieberman said in a statement.

“According to previous finds, the known weight of a single shekel is 11.5 grams, thus a double shekel should weigh 23 grams – exactly as this weight does. The accuracy of the weight attests to advanced technological skills as well as to the weight given to precise trade and commerce in ancient Jerusalem, Monnickendam-Givon and Lieberman said.

“Coins were not yet in use during this period, therefore the accuracy of the weights played a significant role in business,” the directors added.