2,700-Year-Old Assyrian Inscription Found Near Jerusalem's Temple Mount Reveals Historic Tax Dispute

Archaeologists near Jerusalem's Temple Mount have uncovered a rare 2,700-year-old Assyrian inscription on a pottery shard, the first of its kind found in the city from the First Temple period. This small fragment, inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform and likely originating from the Assyrian heartland, probably served as a royal seal for official correspondence between the Assyrian Empire and the Kingdom of Judah, mentioning a delayed tax payment and a courier title. The discovery provides concrete evidence of the Assyrian Empire's administrative influence over Judah and supports historical accounts of the vassal relationship and possible tax revolts, such as those during King Hezekiah's reign. Found through wet sifting near the Western Wall in soil linked to a collapsed First Temple structure, the artifact underscores the political tensions and Assyrian presence in Jerusalem at that time. Petrographic and chemical analyses confirmed the shard was made from clay from the Tigris Basin, affirming its Assyrian origin. This find enriches understanding of Judah's political status and interactions with Assyria during a turbulent historical period.