The artifact is a "stamped piece of clay", referred to as a "sealing," from the First Temple period, 1006-586 B.C. It belonged to the "governor of the city" of Jerusalem, which would have been the most prominent local position held in the city 2,700 years ago.

"The Bible mentions two governors of Jerusalem, and this finding thus reveals that such a position was actually held by someone in the city some 2700 years ago," excavator Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah said.

According to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), the tiny "sealing" is about a half inch wide, a little longer in length and about an eighth of an inch thick. It depicts two figures facing each other and has an inscription in ancient Hebrew script.

Archaeologists don't know the exact use of the sealing but Weksler-Bdolah believes it was "attached to an important transport and served as some sort of logo, or as a tiny souvenir, which was sent on behalf of the governor of the city."

"It is likely that one of the buildings in our excavation was the destination of this transport sent by the city governor," said Weksler-Bdolah.

Finding the "sealing" with such a high-ranking title combined with the large amount of actual seals found earlier in the building, "supports the assumption that this area, located on the western slopes of the western hill of ancient Jerusalem, some 100 meters (yards) west of the Temple Mount, was inhabited by highly ranked officials during the First Temple period," she noted.

Hebrew University Professor Tallay Ornan and Tel Aviv University Professor Benjamin Sass studied the sealing. They described the depiction on it as "two standing men, facing each other in a mirror-like manner. Their heads are depicted as large dots, lacking any details. The hands facing outward are dropped down, and the hands facing inward are raised. Each of the figures is wearing a striped, knee-length garment."

Below a double line is the Hebrew inscription translated, "belonging to the governor of the city."

"The title 'governor of the city' is known from the Bible and from extra-Biblical documents, referring to an official appointed by the king," Ornan and Sass said.

"Governors of Jerusalem are mentioned twice in the Bible: in 2 Kings, Joshua is the governor of the city in the days of Hezekiah, and in 2 Chronicles, Maaseiah is the governor of the city in the days of Josiah," they said.

The seal was presented to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat recently. After undergoing scientific examination, it will be on temporary display in the mayor's office. (Photo: Mayor Barkat with the Sealing/via CBN News)

"It is very overwhelming to receive greetings from First Temple-period Jerusalem," Barkat said at the time.

"This shows that already 2700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city. Jerusalem is one of the most ancient capitals of the world, continually populated by the Jewish people for more than 3000 years," he said.

"Today we have the privilege to encounter another one of the long chain of persons and leaders that built and developed the city. We are grateful to be living in a city with such a magnificent past, and are obligated to ensure its strength for generations to come," he added.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Give Him 15: Mercy is Our New Currency

A Little Baby Girl Is Rescued from a Dumpster in Texas. A Dumpster

Nonprofit Asks Feds to Investigate Schools' 'Gender-Affirming Care' Practices

Latest Move by the President to Prevent a Government Shutdown Is Brilliant

Trump Closes Loophole Allowing Illegal Aliens to Drive Commercial Trucks After Tragic Accidents

Trump's Administration Finds 25,000 Missing Migrant Children

Autism, What We Know: Science Backs Up President Trump's Statements

Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted by Grand Jury for Obstruction in Russia Hoax Investigation

The Spiritual Battle is REAL!: Sean McDowell's Son Encounters a 'Demon' While Evangelizing in NYC

3 Suspects Arrested after Houston Youth Baseball Coach Shot during Pregame Prayer With Kids

Explosive Clash: Dearborn Mayor Attacks Resident Who Objected to Terrorist Street Naming

Economy: Second Quarter GDP Revised Up – Again – to Best Quarter Since 2023

DOGE Helped Uncover the Biggest Health Care Heist in American History

Charlie's TPUSA Campus Tours Continue as Virginia Tech Venue Fills to Max Capacity

Justice Department Seeks to Indict Former FBI Director James Comey before Looming Deadline, for Allegedly Lying to Congress

What Happens When You 'Pause' Your Child's Puberty? The Answer Is Even More Devastating Than You'd Think

Texas Bans Gender-Confused People from Using Opposite-Sex Facilities in Public Schools, Prisons

NBC Forced to Retract Claim that ICE Used 5-Year-Old Autistic Girl as 'Bait'; In Reality, Her Criminal Alien Father Abandoned Her in a Car and Agents Rescued the Child

President Trump Urges UN to Protect 'The Most Persecuted Religion on the Planet Today: Christianity'

Secret Service Finds, Dismantles Massive 'Telecommunications Threat' Near UN General Assembly in New York