Yesterday there was an article in The Times of Israel announcing the find of an inscription at Tel Lachish. The inscription was found in 2014 just next to where we were digging this year.

At the left of this picture is the area where the inscription was found. At the right under the sunshade is where we spent our time digging this summer.

An early 12th century BCE Canaanite alphabet inscription found at Lachish in 2014. (courtesy of Yossi Garfinkel, Hebrew University)

The picture above is from the article in the The Times of Israel. The article tells about the importance of this find and how it helps researchers understand the development of the alphabet.

You can also read more about the find by clicking on the following link:
Now I Know My ABC’s: New Lachish Discovery Illuminates Alphabet’s History

Archaeologists at work excavating the biblical city of Lachish, where an early 12th century BCE Canaanite alphabet inscription was found in 2014. (courtesy of Yossi Garfinkel, Hebrew University)

This picture was taken several weeks after we were at the dig, so it is interesting to see how much work was done. You can see the area where we had dug under the sunshade at the far left of the picture.

Based on the finding of the inscription and several other significant items they decided to open squares in this area this season. In this area they made some significant finds that tie in with what they found the previous year.

Inscriptions were also found at Tel Lachish during previous expeditions. The bowl above has an inscription from an even earlier time than the inscription that was found last year.

You can read more about this inscription and others by clicking on the link to my post Ancient Inscriptions.

I also used this picture of a jug with an inscription in my Ancient Inscriptions post. Both the bowl and the jug are on display at the Israel Museum.

It is exciting to read about artifacts that are found near where I was digging. I am hoping that in the future they will publish information about some of the finds in the square where I was digging.

Who wants to go dig with me?

Steven