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Israel archaeologists discover fortress dating back to King David era

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) –
Archaeologists in Israel have discovered an ancient fortress from the time of King David, the Christian Post reports. Announcing the discovery, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said the fortress was found during preparatory work for a new residential area in the Golan region.

According to the Times of Israel, the fortress may have been used by the Geshurite people, whose capital is recorded in the Bible as being nearby. The Biblical account records that King David married Maachah, daughter of Talmai King of Geshur. Following this marriage, 10th century BC Bethsaida became allied with the House of David.

In a statement about the finding, excavation directors Barak Zin and Enno Bron explained: “The complex we exposed was built at a strategic location on the small hilltop, above the El-Al canyon, overlooking the region, at a spot where it was possible to cross the river,” the Christian Post said.

The fort covers more than a quarter of an acre of land and was built with basalt boulders. Its walls are almost 5 feet thick, the Christian Post reports.

“This unique fortified complex raises new research issues on the settlement of the Golan in the Iron Age,” the IAA said in a statement. “Cities of the Kingdom of Geshur are known along the Sea of Galilee shore, including Tel En Gev, Tel Hadar, and Tel Sorag, but sites are hardly known in the Golan,” the IAA added.”