Ancient Find: 2,700-Year-Old Weight Uncovered Near the Western Wall

(Photo: Shai Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority)

Recently, a weight valued at two shekels, dating back 2,700 years to the era of the First Temple, was discovered near the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

The limestone weight was revealed during meticulous sifting of earth removed from excavations led by the Israel Antiquities Authority at Wilson's Arch, adjacent to the Wall. These excavations, conducted alongside the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, are part of preparations to open a new visitor path through the Western Wall tunnels. The soil sifting takes place within the City of David Foundation's sifting project at the Tzurim Valley National Park.

According to Dr. Barak Monnickendam-Givon and Tehila Lieberman, the directors of the excavation from the Israel Antiquities Authority, "The weight is dome-shaped with a flat base. At the top, an Egyptian symbol resembling an 'ayin' was engraved, indicative of the word 'shekel,' alongside two lines representing two shekels. Weighing 23 grams, we know from previous Jerusalem findings that a single shekel weighed around 11.5 grams, making this a precise two-shekel weight. This precision reflects the advanced technological capabilities and the significance placed on accurate weights in ancient Jerusalem."

"At that time, they didn’t use silver coins, so precise weight measurements were crucial in trade. People who carried this weight would venture out for shopping here in ancient Jerusalem 2,700 years ago, using it to accurately measure and weigh spices or food on the scales of the marketplace."

Monnickendam-Givon and Lieberman further explain that "The shekel weight system was used during the First Temple period, where a half-shekel was collected as an annual tax for temple uses and sacrifices."

Excavations at Wilson's Arch are conducted adjacent to the Western Wall, where each day new stones unseen for 1,800 years are being uncovered. The ongoing digs at the site continue the previous efforts managed by Tehila Lieberman, Dr. Joe Uziel, and Dr. Avi Solomon.

"This remarkable find, dating to the Roman period, demonstrates that the Western Wall area is rich with artifacts spanning various historical eras, some extremely ancient," add Monnickendam-Givon and Lieberman.

"One can easily envision the bustling scene around the Temple Mount during festivals and pilgrimages. Beyond the temple necessities purchased by the pilgrims, including sacrifices and offerings, they also bought food, basic supplies, and souvenirs from their Jerusalem journey. This weight was likely used in one of ancient Jerusalem's markets during the First Temple period, ensuring merchants offered fair transactions to buyers. Although, unusually this year, the area wasn’t teeming with visitors during the holiday due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this stone weight is a reminder that, even in the days of the First Temple, it was a central and vibrant hub," say the researchers.

Mordechai (Soli) Eliav, CEO of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, commented: "How moving it is to find such a distant relic from the days of the First Temple during Tishrei, a month symbolized by scales of justice. Especially now, when access to the Wall is restricted due to the pandemic, this find strengthens the eternal connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem along with the Western Wall, encouraging us all."