Scholarly skeptics who have doubted that King Solomon ever existed are being told: “Not so fast.”

New archeological discoveries are casting new light on the ancient culture of the Middle East:

A massive copper smelting plant in the biblical land of Edom is at least three centuries older than researchers previously believed, placing it firmly in the traditional timeline of King Solomon, considered the greatest ruler of Israel, researchers reported Monday.

The existence of Solomon 3,000 years ago has been questioned by some scholars over the last two decades because of the paucity of archaeological evidence supporting the biblical record and the belief that there were no complex societies in Israel or Edom capable of building fortresses, monuments and other sophisticated public works, such as large mines, in the 10th century BC.

“This is the most hotly debated period in biblical archaeology today,” said archaeologist Thomas E. Levy of UC San Diego, who reported the new radiocarbon dates for the copper smelting operation in modern-day Jordan in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“We’re not answering the question” of whether Solomon existed, he said. “But we’ve brought empirical data that shows we have to reevaluate those questions. We’re back in the ballgame now.”

Archaeologist William Schniedewind of UCLA agreed, saying Levy “is completely right. The scientific evidence seems to be going in his favor.”

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