World History: Seal used for ritual purposes unearthed during excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem

A 2000 year-old seal which was used for ritual purposes in Jerusalem Temple, has been discovered during excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem.

A small, coin-sized clay seal was unearthed not far away from the Western Wall, in the area next to a former site of the Holy Temple. It has an inscription written in Aramaic meaning “Pure for God”.

Excavations are carried out by the archaeological team of Israel Antiquities Authority with a purpose to explore the old area of Jerusalem.

Ronny Reich, an archaeologist from the University of Haifa, said that the find was dated to the period between 1st century B.C. and 70 A.D. – the year when Roman armies suppressed uprisings and destroyed one of the biblical Judaic temples.

So far there are very few finds, which could cast light on the Temple and Temple Mount – a sacred place for Judaism and Islam, which is closed to archaeologists due to religious and political disputes.

Archaeologists believe that Temple’s priests most probably used it for ritual purposes – likely to declare that an object was fit for use in the temple.