Discovered 5,500-year-old factory corroborates a significant element of the Bible's narrative

Discovery of 5,500-Year-Old Canaanite Blade Factory in Israel Reveals Advanced Technology and Complex Society

In a significant archaeological find, a 5,500-year-old Canaanite workshop for systematic blade production has been discovered near Kiryat Gat, Israel. The discovery, made at the Nahal Qomem archaeological site, was announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) in July 2021.

The workshop, led by archaeologists Eric Cline and Bryan Kraemer, suggests a society with a complex social and economic structure at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age. Hundreds of underground pits and large stones used in shaping and moulding the stoneware for weapons were found.

The blades, made from flint, align with the Canaan's material culture in the Abrahamic period, showcasing advanced technology for the time. These tools were used as knives for cutting and butchering, and as harvesting tools.

The skills required to create the blades indicate a high level of professional expertise among the local society during the Early Bronze Age. Only exceptional individuals would have possessed the skills to create the blades, according to the IAA, indicating a society with professional specialization.

The Canaanites, people mentioned in the Bible, are believed to have lived in the area before the Israelites. The discovery is linked to the "Canaanite blade industry". The scarcity of known systematic blade production workshops in Israel further supports the rarity of such finds.

Some of the artefacts will be displayed at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem. The discovery provides insights into the social and economic structure of the Canaanites during the Early Bronze Age.

The Canaanite workshop discovery adds to the understanding of the material culture and technology of the Abrahamic period. Along with the uniformly shaped blades and large flint cores found at the site, it reinforces the advanced technology of the time. This discovery is a valuable addition to the ongoing study of ancient civilizations and their technological advancements.

Discovered 5,500-year-old factory corroborates a significant element of the Bible's narrative