Documentary Description
2001. A clandestine meeting of leading Israeli archaeologists are
shown a remarkable artefact. It's a stone tablet, apparently from
1,000BC. The writing on its face describes repairs to the temple of King
Solomon. It is the first archaeological evidence ever found of this
legendary building.
The relic caused a sensation. But this was only just the start.
For authentification, the tablet was taken to the Geological Survey
of Israel. Here, after a battery of tests, including radiocarbon dating,
scientists officially pronounced the stone to be genuine. The tests
even revealed microscopic particles of gold in the outer layer of stone.
These were apparently the result of the tablet surviving the fire
which, according to the bible, destroyed the temple when the Babylonians
sacked Jerusalem in 586BC.
The stone tablet was offered for sale to the Israel Museum, home to
many of Israel's greatest treasures. Rumours suggested the asking price
was as high as $10million.
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