September 10, 1956
Archaeologist Eilat Mazar is born. A professor of archaeology at Hebrew University, Mazar was a third-generation Israeli archaeologist well known for her work at the City of David site in Jerusalem and for unearthing clay seals.
In 2005, Mazar began a dig at the City of David near the visitor’s center, during which she discovered remnants from what she believed was King David’s palace from the tenth century BC as well as a portion of the city walls from the Second Temple period.
In July 2013, a team led by Mazar discovered a jar with a Canaanite inscription that is the earliest alphabetical written text ever discovered in Jerusalem during a dig near the Temple Mount. The photo shows Mazar with the discovery.
In 2015, also in the City of David, Mazar discovered a seal impression which belonged to King Hezekiah and in 2018 only ten feet away, she discovered another seal which might have belonged to the prophet Isaiah.
Dr. Mazar passed away on May 25, 2021 at the age of 64.
Read about Eilat Mazar’s 2013 discovery, about her 2018 discovery and about her passing.