September 10, 1956
Archaeologist Eilat Mazar is born. A professor of archaeology at Hebrew University, Mazar becomes 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 begins a dig at the City of David near the visitors center, during which she discovers remnants from what she believes was King David’s palace from the 10th century B.C.E. as well as a portion of the city walls from the Second Temple period.
In July 2013, a team led by Mazar discovers a jar with a Canaanite inscription that is the earliest alphabetical written text ever discovered in Jerusalem during a dig near the Temple Mount.
In 2015, also in the City of David, Mazar discovers a seal impression that belonged to King Hezekiah, and in 2018, only 10 feet away, she discovers another seal that might have belonged to the prophet Isaiah.
Mazar dies May 25, 2021, at age 64.
Read about Mazar’s 2018 discovery of coins from the Great Jewish Revolt, about her 2018 seal discovery and about her death.
