Archaeological method uses Earth's magnetic field to verify an Old Testament event

Led by Dr. Yoav Vaknin from Tel Aviv University and The Hebrew University's Palaeomagnetic Laboratory, this multidisciplinary endeavor involved Professors Ron Shaar, Erez Ben-Yosef, and Oded Lipschits from various institutes, along with Dr. Adi Eliyahu Behar from Ariel University and Prof. Aren Maeir from Bar-Ilan University.

The technique relies on measuring the magnetic field 'locked' within a burnt brick during its heating and subsequent cooling. The brick's magnetic particles align with the Earth's magnetic field when heated, retaining this orientation once cooled. The team confirmed the method's efficacy by subjecting bricks to controlled fires, then gradually demagnetizing them in a palaeomagnetic laboratory, proving its reliability in accurately determining firing temperatures as low as 100°C.

Orientation of the bricks cooling method

Moreover, this innovative approach also identifies the orientation in which bricks cooled, crucial in distinguishing whether bricks were fired before construction or during a destructive event. This revelation resolved a dispute concerning a brick structure at Tell es-Safi, identified as the ancient Philistine city of Gath, chronicled in the Old Testament.

By applying their method to the samples from the structure and its debris, the researchers conclusively established that all bricks underwent in-situ burning during a catastrophic event, aligning with the biblical narrative and dispelling previous interpretations suggesting brick firing occurred before construction.

This breakthrough not only confirms historical accounts but also sheds light on the ecological impact of ancient building methods, hinting at the environmental consequences of brick firing in antiquity. The research shows that brick firing might not have been prevalent in the Land of Israel during the Kings of Judah and Israel era.