A study has uncovered a structure in Jerusalem's City of David that dates back to the time of the First Temple.

A recently discovered ancient structure on the eastern slope of the City of David within Jerusalem Walls National Park is thought to have been utilized for religious ceremonies during the era of the First Temple, according to a new research.

The structure housed eight rooms with items such as an altar, a standing stone, an oil press, and a wine press.

The uncovered structure, according to Eli Shukron, the excavation director, may have been utilized by the residents of Judah for cultic or religious rituals, as stated in an article published in the scientific journal Antiqot.

The structure, which is in exceptional shape, dates back to the First Temple period and was discovered during excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the City of David.

"In 2010, when we started digging up the City of David, we found that the site had been filled with debris from the 8th century BCE, suggesting it had been abandoned during that era. The standing stone we unearthed remained intact in its original position, and the other parts of the structure were also well-preserved."

Near the Temple Mount, approximately 200 meters away, Shukron's article suggested that the eight rock-hewn rooms were used for ritualistic purposes.

One of the few known structures of its type from the period in Jerusalem was discovered in Israel.

The structure comprises approximately 220 square meters and contains eight distinct rooms, each serving a unique function.

An oil press for producing oil was found in one room, while a wine press for making wine was present in another room.

The altar, large standing stone, and V-shaped carving marks were found in other rooms, but the purpose of the carvings remains unknown to researchers.

Shukron speculated that the carvings could have served as a foundation for a tripod utilized during religious ceremonies.

A small cave on the edge of the structure contains a cache of 8th century BCE items, including cooking pots, jars with ancient Hebrew inscriptions, loom weights, scarabs, stamped seals, and grinding stones for grinding grains.

The structure was used until the 8th century BCE, according to Shukron and his team.

During the 8th century BCE, King Hezekiah's religious reform may have caused the structure to stop functioning, according to Shukron.

Hezekiah aimed to concentrate worship at the Temple in Jerusalem by abolishing the ritual sites scattered throughout the kingdom, as the Bible states.

During the First Temple period, rituals were performed at sites outside the temple. Kings Hezekiah and Josiah implemented reforms to eliminate these sites.

"Jerusalem's Biblical heritage continues to be unearthed in the City of David, and its significance only increases with time, affecting billions of people worldwide. Unlike most ancient sites, Jerusalem's heritage is both timeless and relevant, not limited to museums and history books but a crucial element in comprehending the world today, past, present, and future."

In 1909, British explorer Montague Parker discovered the northern part of the structure in Jerusalem while searching for the Ark of the Covenant and the Temple treasures.

Shukron started excavating the property in 2010 and it took multiple excavation seasons to complete.

Orenstein stated that the recent discovery in the City of David reaffirms the Jewish people's enduring 3,000+ year-old connection with Jerusalem, which is not just a matter of faith but a fact, from biblical times to the present day.