Deep in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, where the Red Sea meets the horizon, archaeologists have unearthed a remarkable window into the ancient past. Buried beneath layers of time lies a 7,500-year-old cemetery and sanctuary complex dedicated to the goddess Asherah, a significant deity in the pantheon of ancient Canaanite and Israelite cultures.
The site was first discovered in 1978, but a full analysis of the findings only recently came to light. The initial dig, conducted as a salvage operation before the city’s expansion, revealed the presence of an extensive cemetery dating back millennia. Further investigation uncovered not just resting places for the deceased, but also markers and ruins hinting at a place of profound reverence.
One particular structure stood out – a cultic installation estimated to be 7,500 years old. This meticulously crafted space was believed to be dedicated to Asherah, who in later times was worshipped as the wife of Yahweh, the Israelite God.
Leading the excavation were archaeologists Israel Hershkovitz and Uzi Avner. Their meticulous work unearthed a wealth of artifacts, including 11 simple graves and 20 tumulus tombs. The presence of two open-air sanctuaries further solidified the theory of a dedicated worship area.
But the most captivating discovery was yet to come. The archaeologists stumbled upon a collection of beads crafted from exotic materials, including the earliest-ever examples of faience and steatite found in the Levant region. These intricate adornments, likely brought from afar, hinted at the significance of the site.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal unearthed at the location confirmed the cemetery’s impressive age, placing its active use between 5450 and 4250 BCE. For over a thousand years, this sacred ground served as a final resting place for the community, overlooking the bustling modern city that would one day rise nearby.
Among the burials, two intriguing installations captured the archaeologists’ attention. One, meticulously paved with small flagstones and reaching 70 centimeters below ground level, held the remnants of a juniper tree trunk standing tall at 30 centimeters. Carbon dated to 4,540 BC, this wooden relic, likely transported from the distant Edomite mountains, was a powerful symbol. Similar juniper tree trunks have been found at other archaeological sites in the Levant, and they are recognized as representations of the fertility goddess, known by various names including Asherah, Qudshu, and Elath.
The presence of this ancient idol solidified the purpose of the site – a sanctuary dedicated to the worship of the goddess Asherah. It is, without a doubt, the oldest surviving Asherah idol ever discovered in the region.
Prior to this find, only three potential sacred trees associated with Asherah worship were known in the Near East: one in an early Bronze Age sanctuary in Beycesultan, Turkey; another in a Bronze Age sanctuary in Qatna, Syria; and the last from an Iron Age sanctuary in Lachish.
Beyond the symbolic tree trunk, the researchers unearthed hundreds of small, standing stones known as masseboth. These simple yet powerful monuments, a hallmark of pre-Biblical worship practices in the Near East and Levant, further solidified the sacred nature of the location.
Asherah, a prominent figure in the ancient West Semitic pantheon, was considered the consort of the supreme god El. Texts from Ugarit, an ancient city in modern-day Syria, depict her as the mother of 70 deities, solidifying her role as a powerful fertility goddess. Her worship was widespread throughout Syria and Palestine, often paired with the local god Baal.
Interestingly, inscriptions from southern Palestine suggest that Asherah was also worshipped as the consort of Yahweh. The Old Testament itself mentions Asherah, not just as a goddess, but also as a cultic object associated with her worship.
The discovery of this 7,500-year-old sanctuary offers a glimpse into the religious beliefs and practices of a bygone era. It sheds light on the significance of Asherah worship and provides a tangible link to the ancient Canaanite and Israelite cultures. As researchers delve deeper into this remarkable find, we can expect even more fascinating revelations about the lives and beliefs of our ancestors.