King Solomon's Mine Discovered.

[stephendare]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1081107/Solomons-real-3-000-years-archaeologists-uncover-fabled-site-desert.html

Solomon's real mine? 3,000 years on, archaeologists uncover fabled site in desert

By David Derbyshire

In a discovery straight out of an Indiana Jones movie, archaeologists believe they have uncovered one of the lost mines of King Solomon.

The vast copper mine lies in an arid valley in modern-day Jordan and was created in the 10th century BC  -  around the time Solomon is believed to have ruled over the ancient Hebrews.

The mines are enormous and would have generated a huge income for the king, who is famed for bringing extraordinary wealth and stability to the newly-united kingdom
of Israel and Judah.


Ancient: The outline of a large square fortress and more than 100 smaller buildings at Khirbat en-Nahas. The black slag indicates large-scale copper production occurred here

The announcement will today reopen the debate about how much of the Old Testament is myth and how much is history.

According to the Bible, Solomon was the third king of Israel. The son of King David, he was renowned for his wisdom, the size of his harem and the splendour of his kingdom.

During his reign, he is said to have accumulated a huge fortune from mining and trading, some of which was spent on building the grand temple and opulent palace of Jerusalem.

Archaeologists and treasure-hunters have searched for the mines for more than a century since the best-selling Victorian novel, King Solomon's Mines by H Rider Haggard, claimed they could hold a treasure of gold and diamonds.

But now, it seems the real version could have been closer to home, supplying the king with copper.
Powerful: King Solomon supervises the building of a temple - archaeologists believe they have uncovered one of his lost mines


Powerful: King Solomon supervises the building of a temple - archaeologists believe they have uncovered one of his lost mines

The ancient mine was found in a desolate region south of the Dead Sea in southern Jordan in an area called Khirbat en-Nahas, which means 'ruins of copper' in Arabic.

The region was known in the Old Testament as the Kingdom of Edom. By Solomon's time, it had become a vassal state, paying tribute to Jerusalem.

Digs at the site in the 1970s and 1980s suggested metalworking began there in the 7th century, long after the time of Solomon.

But Dr Thomas Levy, of the University of California, San Diego, and Mohammed Najjar, of Jordan's Friends of Archaeology, have dated it to the 10th century BC.

Dr Levy said: 'We have evidence that complex societies were indeed active in the 10th and 9th centuries BC and that brings us back to the debate about the historicity of the Bible narratives related to this period.

'We can't believe everything ancient writings tell us. But this research represents a confluence between the archaeological and scientific data and the Bible.'

The ancient site contains around 100 buildings, including a fortress, in the middle of 24 acres of land covered in black slag. The mine works are covered with trials and holes, and are big enough to be seen on Google Earth's satellite images.

The team also found ancient Egyptian artifacts at the site including a scarab and amulet from the 10th century BC.

When Solomon died, his kingdom was thrown into chaos and the Pharaoh Sheshonq is believed to have attempted to crush economic activity.

The findings are reported in today's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

[JeffreyS]

That is wild. Is the date the only thing tying it to Solomon?

[Driven1]

That is wild. Is the date the only thing tying it to Solomon?

it appears the region too...

The ancient mine was found in a desolate region south of the Dead Sea in southern Jordan in an area called Khirbat en-Nahas, which means 'ruins of copper' in Arabic.

The region was known in the Old Testament as the Kingdom of Edom. By Solomon's time, it had become a vassal state, paying tribute to Jerusalem.

[Driven1]

pretty amazing and exciting. 

[Bostech]

I am sure Jews of the world knew about it all along,thats were they get all that money and now that it run out of it they decided to let archeologiest discover it.

[BridgeTroll]

Wow... just freeking wow...

[civil42806]

I am sure Jews of the world knew about it all along,thats were they get all that money and now that it run out of it they decided to let archeologiest discover it.

its the jewwwwwwwsssssssss 

[Ocklawaha]

Quote from: Bostech on Today at 02:47:49 AM
I am sure Jews of the world knew about it all along,thats were they get all that money and now that it run out of it they decided to let archeologiest discover it.

its the jewwwwwwwsssssssss

Yeah Right! ...and these "Jews" knew where there were perhaps millions of dollars in did nothing for the sake of Israel? Yeah Right! Like I "Know" where the Confederate Treasury Gold is dumped and I'll refuse to go there and borrow a bit, because I'm a dedicated Southron. I THINK NOT! Cha Ching!

OCKLAWAHA
DEO VINDICE!

[JeffreyS]

Can't wait for some video.

[civil42806]

I am sure Jews of the world knew about it all along,thats were they get all that money and now that it run out of it they decided to let archeologiest discover it.

dude this is not acceptable.

While Bosnia may be antisemitic, this forum and boards are not man.

Totally keep the 'jew' talk to yourself, please, no matter what kind of example Driven and River might have set for you in the political forum with the recent Leiberman thread, this is against our rules on the forum.

Its also not a funny joke.

Love ya bos, but its time to learn new ways.

Come on Stephan lighten up, the best way to counter this type of crap is with mockery, they usually can't stand being made fun of.

[Driven1]

I am sure Jews of the world knew about it all along,thats were they get all that money and now that it run out of it they decided to let archeologiest discover it.

dude this is not acceptable.While Bosnia may be antisemitic, this forum and boards are not man.Totally keep the 'jew' talk to yourself, please, no matter what kind of example Driven and River might have set for you in the political forum with the recent Leiberman thread, this is against our rules on the forum.Its also not a funny joke.Love ya bos, but its time to learn new ways.

actually stephen, i really didn't comment on Bos's comments because for most of us, they are kind of par for the course...what we have come to expect from those out there on the FAR left (not the mainstream dems, mind you).  i was actually quite surprised to see you speak out against his comments.

and - just so everyone is not misled - here is the thread that you referenced, that I posted...

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,3521.msg49665.html#msg49665

the title of that thread is "'Jew' Lieberman speaks in Beauclerc area of Jax".

if you read that article that I linked to, you would know why the phrase "Jew Lieberman" was used.  I copied it from the author's blog (the author is a leftist also)...  where the left-wing blogger used that phrase exactly.  i know you may not know this b/c i find many times you aren't reading the threads anyone posts, you seem to just quickly reply to them without reading.  so you see - that was not MY PHRASE, but one of your comrade's.

so...again, this is why i really had no comment on Bos's anti-semitism.  seemed perfectly placed along with his and your other idealogies.

[RiversideGator]

Off topic:  The Left is clearly the new home for anti-Semitism in America as well as Europe.  Unfortunately, our Jewish friends continue to vote for the Democrats in large numbers and against their best interests.  Hopefully this wil begin to change on Tuesday.  Lieberman's endorsement helps also.

Back on topic:  The discovery of the mines is amazing.  I believe the Bible to be an accurate source of historical (and other) information and this find confirms it yet again.

[Driven1]

RSG, you right-wing wacko!!!  yeah, i do too.  this is a particularly strong piece of evidence for the usage of the Bible as a historical document because - as the story mentions - the ONLY place Solomon is mentioned in history is - IN THE BIBLE.

and VOILA - here we are finding (again) the Bible to be backed up by archaeology.  surprise!

[Driven1]

Bos is an intelligent and interesting new citizen from Bosnia.

lol!!  i love how you defend anti-semitism.  you color it so brightly!!

(only when it's coming from the left though, correct?  wink-wink)

[RiversideGator]

Off topic:  The Left is clearly the new home for anti-Semitism in America as well as Europe.  Unfortunately, our Jewish friends continue to vote for the Democrats in large numbers and against their best interests.  Hopefully this wil begin to change on Tuesday.  Lieberman's endorsement helps also.

Back on topic:  The discovery of the mines is amazing.  I believe the Bible to be an accurate source of historical (and other) information and this find confirms it yet again.

Your comments about your imaginary New Left are a direct lie.

As a true "conservative", this new information should not trouble you.  Curious overreaction by Stephen...