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| Photo © The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization Ostracon. Arad Late 8th century BCE Pottery Israel Antiquities Authority Collection exhibited at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Close to 100 ostraca written in ancient Hebrew have been found in the citadel of Arad, south of Jerusalem. They include orders for wine, flour and oil. |
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| Photo © The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization Jug with inscription. City of David, Jerusalem 7th century BCE Pottery Israel Antiquities Authority Collection exhibited at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Archaeologists in Jerusalem have unearthed many different objects bearing inscriptions in Paleo-Hebrew, including this jug, dating from the time of King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah. |
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| Photo © The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization Seal of Shaphat. Provenance unknown 8th century BCE Amazonite on gold Israel Museum Collection, Jerusalem Once a scribe had finished writing on papyrus, he would roll and tie it up and place a piece of clay on it, stamping it with a seal generally marked with the names of the scroll's owner and the owner's father (as illustrated below). This exceptional gold-mounted seal bears the name "Shaphat," a diminutive of such common Biblical names as Joshaphat or Shephatiah. |
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| Illustration: N. Avigad. Courtesy of the Israel Exploration Society Papyrus marked with three seals. |
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| Photo © The Israel Museum, by Dr. Jean-Luc Pilon, Canadian Museum of Civilization Fragment of a monumental inscription. City of David, Jerusalem 7th century BCE Stone Israel Antiquities Authority Collection exhibited at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Only 13 letters and 5 parts of letters can be seen. |
