Inscribed Judean seal found at northern site in Israel

NORTHWEST SEMITIC EPIGRAPHY WATCH: Stone seal from biblical Kingdom of Judea discovered during construction in northern Israel. The seal, which is made of a light brown gemstone, is thought by archaeologists to have been “hung like a necklace around its owner’s neck,” and decoratively divided into three (Miriam Sela-Eitam, Jerusalem Post).

Four pomegranates are carved into the upper section of the seal, while the other two sections contain an ancient Hebrew inscription reading: “Belonging to Makhach (son of) Amihai,” the IAA explained.

Not specified in this article, but mentioned in the Arkeonews coverage (which requires you to watch an ad to view), it seems that the carved pomegranates are "a symbol often associated with royal and cultic imagery in ancient Judah." Presumably, that is the reason for assigning this seal to the kingdom of Judah, rather than to the northern kingdom (of Israel) where it was discovered.

The site has also produced some other inscribed materials from the same period.

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