A 2,800-year-old gemstone seal, unearthed during highway construction in northern Israel, offers a tangible link to the biblical era with its intricate pomegranate carvings and ancient Hebrew inscription.



A 2,800-year-old stone seal dating to the era of the biblical kings has been unearthed in Israel during excavations tied to the construction of a modern highway.

The seal, unveiled this month by the Israel Antiquities Authority, dates to the late eighth century B.C. and is carved from a gemstone, featuring four pomegranates engraved across its upper section, with the remainder bearing an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: “Belonging to Makhach (son of) Amihai.” Although that particular name does not appear in the Old Testament, the seal’s owner would have lived during biblical times under the authority of a king mentioned in Scripture – perhaps Jotham, Ahaz, or Hezekiah, who reigned in succession during that period and governed Judah.

A rare 8th-century BCE stone seal from the biblical Kingdom of Judah was discovered during construction of the Ein Tut Interchange in northern Israel.

It was discovered during the construction of the Ein Tut Interchange in northern Israel.

The Israel Antiquities Authority said it likely would have “hung like a necklace around its owner’s neck,” according to The Jerusalem Post.

“The importance of the seal derives both from its contribution to the treasury of biblical names, and from the fact that, unlike most seals of its type, this seal's origin is from an organized archaeological excavation and not from antiquities collectors,” archaeologist David Amit said of the seal.

It wasn’t the only archaeological find at the site. Jar-handle fragments with royal insignia were also uncovered, including impressions reading “Belonging to the King” alongside the names Hebron and the ancient city Ziph, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Archaeologists Amir Gorzalczany and Gerald Finklestein led the excavation.

"Such seal impressions are a common find at biblical sites in the Judah region,” Gorzalczany said. “However, their presence at a site so northern, deep within the territories of the biblical Kingdom of Israel, is most surprising.”

The Israel Antiquities Authority is the Israeli government agency responsible for overseeing archaeology and preserving the nation’s antiquities.

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