{"id":2975,"date":"2017-04-11T22:49:13","date_gmt":"2017-04-11T20:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/tmsifting.org\/en\/?p=2975"},"modified":"2021-10-19T13:26:46","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T10:26:46","slug":"is-this-egyptian-statue-fragment-the-last-artifact-to-be-shared-with-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tmsifting.org\/en\/2017\/04\/11\/is-this-egyptian-statue-fragment-the-last-artifact-to-be-shared-with-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Is this Egyptian statue fragment the last artifact to be shared with you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Has part of an Egyptian Statue been discovered on the Temple Mount?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"finger

Fragment of a finger of an Egyptian statue<\/p><\/div>\n

A finger of a statue has been discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project. The finger is currently being examined by the leading experts in the field who have determined that the statue probably originated in Egypt, though there is a need for further in-depth research in order to accurately date it. The Temple Mount Sifting Project, which is struggling to remain open in the face of depleted funds, has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign calling on the public to support the research and publication of the many finds discovered over the years, and secure the project\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

The statue fragment was discovered within the soil dumped in the Kidron Valley by the Muslim Waqf in 1999; soil which originated from an illegal excavation which took place on the Temple Mount.<\/p>\n

\"thutmose

Statue of Egyptian Pharoah, Thutmose III from the British Museum (GoogleImages)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThis is a fragment of a life-size statue, which was made in Egypt and imported to Canaan,\u201d reports Dr. Gabriel Barkay, co-director of the Temple Mount Sifting Project. \u201cWe clearly notice that this is part of a pinky finger measuring 3.5 cm, from a man\u2019s hand, which includes also a fingernail. The statue is made of a hard black stone originating in Egypt. The statue most likely represented a figure of a god or king. The black stone from which the statue is manufactured testifies to its Egyptian origin.\u201d<\/p>\n

The finger has been examined by archaeologists who specialize in early art from the Land of Israel. Though the identification and dating are not yet certain, according to Dr. Barkay the statue fragment was probably made in the Egyptian art style common during the Late Bronze Age (about 3500 years ago). We cannot exclude the possibility that the statue is from a later period.<\/p>\n

The Temple Mount Sifting Project has yielded additional artifacts which were imported from Egypt or manufactured under Egyptian influence. Among them is an additional statue fragment of a man\u2019s shoulder, scarabs (amulets shaped like dung beetles), seal impressions, and Egyptian-style jewelry<\/a><\/span> all dating to the Late Bronze Age.<\/p>\n\n\t\t