Folia Theologica 16. (2005)
Solomon Pasala: Archaeological Evidences for Solomonic period
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES 141 Dan and the Moabite Mesh Stele from Dibon), is already a strong support that the United Monarchy existed in the tenth century50. Moreover, during the tenth century there is a homogeneity of finds throughout most of the southern Levant, both pottery and architecture, in many parts of Israel (but not an area as large as those claimed in I Kgs 4/21). That this was Israel is indicated by a continuity of material culture with later assemblages in territory in Israel and Judah51. The lavish oriental monarchy of Solomon, as described in the Bible, has produced a gold mine of finds for archaeology. The construction of major cities like Hazor Megiddo and Gezer show that they are concentrated in the north where the house of David was least in control. Solomon carefully placed these royal cites on trade routes to dominate key agricultural regions as well as to control people. He did not seem to pay very much attention to the southern parts of the country, most likely because that is where the grass roots support of the Davidic dynasty was located. However we must mention the administrative buildings at Beersheba V, the fortress at Hazeva, the public buildings at Mahata C, and some of the small Negev Fortresses. These probably reflect administrative reorganization of the old tribal system of Iron I into an aggressive, centralized monarchy. With their palaces and large public buildings, they may have been intending not only to express the glory of the House of David but also to house garrisons to ensure loyalty and to organize the regions in large-scale royal projects. The similarity of the structures at Hazor X, Megiddo VA-IVB, and Gezer VIII, suggests a definite confirmation of I Kgs 9/15, perhaps, even to the point of a master architect designing the fortification systems at the royal cities. However, interpreters have also observed dissimilarities in the style of the wall at Megiddo and the gate's dimensions and construction techniques52. Negatively speaking, with the widespread adoption of modern field techniques, conflicting evidence about the chronology began to appear. The new discoveries must be taken into consideration. For example, recently a six chamber gateway has been uncovered at 50 L.G. HERR, « The Iron Age», 121. 51 L.G. HERR. « The Iron Age», 123. 52 L.G. HERR, «The Iron Age», 123-124.
