Copper Mines from Time of Solomon

Recently Dr. Thomas Levy of the University of California at San Diego was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.  In conjunction with that, he published an article in their journal (abstract here) about his work at Khirbet en-Nahas, including his belief that the copper mines were in operation here during the time that the Bible records King Solomon as mining copper.  Lots of new sources and blogs have made a big deal out of the story, and while it is a good story, it is not a new story.  If you haven’t read about it before, or if you need a refresher, by all means read it again.  But if it all sounds familiar, you know why (NY Times 2006 article here; see also article in a recent issue of Biblical Archaeology Review). 

The university press release is here.  There’s a good 12-minute video made by the university  (with dozens of BiblePlaces.com photos used without even a kind mention of their source).  You can find many more articles by searching for “Levy copper mines.”

Khirbet en-Nahas, view from southeast

Khirbet en-Nahas, Iron Age workshop

Copper slag remains on surface