Charred First Temple beams unearthed in City of David

Archaeologists in Jerusalem's City of David have unearthed charred wooden beams, believed to be from the roof of a First Temple-period building, that collapsed during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. The beams, preserved for approximately 2,600 years under melted plaster, were discovered at the Givati Parking Lot site by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University. This find is considered rare due to the exceptional preservation of wood in Israel's climate, allowing for precise dating within a 10-year range. Excavation director Efrat Bocher stated, "The beams appear to have served as the roof of an inner courtyard in a building from the First Temple period." Researchers suggest that returning Jewish residents intentionally left parts of the destruction layer intact when rebuilding, creating a "landscape of memory."