Archaeologists make unusual find near site where Ark of the Covenant was once kept

Archaeologists precocious uncovered past nutrient remains astatine biblical Shiloh, the past tract wherever the Bible says the Ark of the Covenant was housed for centuries.

The remains were recovered astatine Tel Shiloh, an archaeological tract successful the West Bank that is traditionally identified arsenic biblical Shiloh, wherever the Ark of the Covenant was kept earlier it was taken by the Philistines.

The find was made beneath an Israelite-period ritual deposit and adjacent to an past Canaanite fortification wall, according to the excavation team.

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Two of the jars contained olives, portion a 3rd held lentils, according to archaeobotanical investigation — and 1 of the vessels contained immoderate 500 burned olive pits.

The olives successful the jar were apt preserved successful lipid earlier they were burned thousands of years ago, said Scott Stripling, excavation manager and the president of the Near East Archaeological Society.

Archaeologists uncovered past nutrient remains astatine biblical Shiloh, the tract wherever the Bible says the Ark of the Covenant was housed for centuries. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images; Jordan McClinton)

Stripling, who is based successful Texas, told Fox News Digital that "some benignant of accident" apt started a occurrence — and ended up preserving the olives for thousands of years.

"Once it started connected fire, past it caught that full country connected fire," helium said. "That's what it appears to me. But adjacent twelvemonth we'll person to excavate a broader country to amended recognize precisely what it was."

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Before reaching the jars, archaeologists excavated an Israelite-period ritual deposit containing astir 10,000 carnal bones, pottery vessels and 8 golden and metallic objects, including pendants and earrings, Stripling said.

The deposit was not an mean garbage pit, helium said — but a favissa, wherever the remains of sacrificial offerings were deliberately buried alternatively than discarded with mundane waste.

The past find was made beneath an Israelite-period ritual deposit astatine biblical Shiloh, wherever the Ark of the Covenant was kept earlier its seizure by the Philistines. (Art Images via Getty Images; Jordan McClinton)

"We went done astir 2 meters [6.6 feet] of dense benignant of tumble, and past we came down connected these retention jars," helium said.

"At the top, we could spot the rims. So we were precise cautious not to region immoderate pieces of it, and to support going down deeper and wider truthful that we could permission them intact."

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Eventually, the squad made truthful overmuch advancement that it needed ladders to participate and exit the excavation trench.

Though the standard of the olive pits was surprising, the types of nutrient were not. Stripling described the lentils and olives arsenic "staples of the Mediterranean diet."

"We went done astir 2 meters [6.6 feet] of dense benignant of tumble, and past we came down connected these retention jars," said the excavation director. (Jordan McClinton)

Stripling said the Israelites who aboriginal occupied Shiloh apt had nary thought that overmuch older Canaanite retention jars laic buried beneath the ritual deposit they created.

"These [burned olive pits] are perfect for radiocarbon dating."

"For thousands of years, the Israelites who deposited the remains of the sacrificial strategy supra the jars didn't adjacent cognize they were there," Stripling said.

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He added that the jars are being restored astatine Tel Aviv University, wherever researchers anticipation to larn much astir the artifacts.

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"I volition beryllium shocked if the radiocarbon dates bash not travel backmost arsenic Middle Bronze Age," helium said. "These [burned olive pits] are perfect for radiocarbon dating."

The artifacts were recovered astatine Tel Shiloh, arsenic seen above. (iStock)

Stripling said the squad besides plans to grow excavations adjacent twelvemonth to find whether the jars were stored successful a kitchen, retention country oregon different portion of the past settlement.

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"These jars person been buried determination waiting for america to find them," helium said.