In the Middle East they keep digging up fascinating things and each time we get more of a glimpse of how people lived thousands of years ago in the area and greater understanding of the Bible related history. Archaeologists recently found a large building from the First and Second Temple periods near Jerusalem.

The building contained a number of rooms and a courtyard and apparently was the home of a wealthy person. Fascinatingly amongst the artefacts were seals of government officials, Ahimelech ben Amadyahu and Yehochil ben Shahar. These two were senior advisors in the court of King Hezekiah. Other household goods were discovered in the find. A number of biblical inscriptions were discovered on pottery within the house.

Archaeology in Israel and Palestine is highly politicised and both sides accuse the other of using finds for ideological ends. The Palestinians often accuse the Israelis of using Biblical finds to undermine their current need for a homeland.

'Biblical finds, while of interest, should not in any way diminish the Palestinian right to have their own state nor serve to deny the fact that their ancestors too have been here for millennia' one Israeli peace activist noted. 'We need to respect each other's right to this part of the world and come to some sort of compromise' he concluded.