Eilat Mazar

Eilat Mazar is a third-generation Israeli archaeologist, specializing in Jerusalem and Phoenician archaeology. A senior fellow at the Shalem Center, she has worked on the Temple Mount excavations, as well as excavations at Achzib. In addition to heading the Shalem Center's Institute of Archaeology, she is affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

On August 4, 2005, Mazar announced she had discovered in Jerusalem what may have been the palace of the biblical King David, the second king of a united Kingdom of Israel, who ruled from around 1005 to 965 BCE. Now referred to as the Large Stone structure, Mazar's discovery consists of a public building dated from the 10th century BCE, pottery from the same period, and a bulla, or government seal, of Jehucal, son of Shelemiah, son of Shevi, an official mentioned at least twice in the Book of Jeremiah. The dig was sponsored by the Shalem Center and financed by an American investment banker. The land is owned by the Ir David (City of David) Foundation. [1]

Amihai Mazar, a professor of archaeology at Hebrew University, and Mazar's cousin, called the find "something of a miracle." [2]

In 2007 Mazar uncovered what appears to be [Nehemiah]'s wall. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1195546753493&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Mazar obtained her Ph.D. from Hebrew University in 1997. She is the granddaughter of pioneering Israeli archaeologist Benjamin Mazar. She is a mother of four and resides in Jerusalem.

See also

• Biblical archaeology
• History of Israel
• Archaeology of Israel

Publications

• Mazar, Eilat (2006). "Did I Find King David's Palace?". Biblical Archaeology Review. 32 No. 1 (January/February): 16–27, 70. {{cite journal}}: External link in |journal= and |title= (help)
• Mazar, E. 2004. The Phoenician Family Tomb N.1 at the Northern Cemetery of Achziv (10th-6th Centuries BCE). Sam Turner Expedition. Final Report of the Excavations (Cuadernos de Arquelogia Mediterranea 10), Barcelona.
• _______. 2003. The Phoenicians in Achziv, The Southern Cemetery. Jerome L. Joss Expedition. Final Report of Excavations 1988-1990 (Cuadernos de Arquelogia Mediterranea 7), Barcelona.
• _______. 2003. "Final Report, The Temple Mount Excavations in Jerusalem", 1968-1978, Directed by Benjamin Mazar, Vol. I: The Byzantine and Early Islamic Periods (Qedem 43), Jerusalem.
• ________. 2002. The Complete Guide to the Temple Mount Excavations, Jerusalem.
• _______. with Mazar, B. 1989. "Excavations in the South of the Temple Mount". The Ophel of Biblical Jerusalem, Jerusalem.

References

• "King David's Palace Is Found, Archaeologist Says" by Steven Erlanger, August 5, 2005
• Eilat Mazar's work and publications, Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University