Israel archaeologists find ancient comb with ‘full sentence’

Archaeologists in Israel recently unearthed a 3,200-year-old comb that contained a full sentence written in ancient Hebrew. The comb was discovered at Tel Michal, a site located in the modern-day city of Ashdod, which was an important city-state in the ancient kingdom of Judah. The comb, which is made of bone, was found among a hoard of other artifacts that date back to the Iron Age. The comb was decorated with a relief of two winged sphinxes facing each other, which is a common symbol in ancient Near Eastern art. The sphinxes were flanked by two lines of ancient Hebrew writing. The writing consists of four words, which together form a full sentence: “My daughter shall not marry.” The discovery of the comb is significant because it is the first known example of an ancient Hebrew inscription written on an artifact. It is also the earliest known example of a full sentence written in ancient Hebrew.

The inscription is thought to be a message to the owner of the comb, either a father or a mother, warning them not to let their daughter marry. The inscription is written in proto-Canaanite script, an early form of Hebrew writing that evolved into the modern Hebrew alphabet. It is thought to date back to the 11th century BCE and is the oldest known example of proto-Canaanite writing. The comb is an important archaeological discovery because it provides insight into the daily lives of the ancient Israelites. It suggests that the people of the time were literate and capable of expressing themselves in writing. It also reveals that the society of the time was patriarchal and that parents had control over their children’s marriages. The comb serves as a reminder of the long and rich history of the region. It is a tangible reminder of the vibrant and diverse culture of the ancient Near East, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the region’s archaeological heritage.