'Monumental' 3,000-year-old structure discovered that confirms stories from the Bible

Archaeologists have discovered a 3,000-year-old structure that confirms stories found in the Bible.

The structure - a nine metre long moat - can be found in the City of David in Jerusalem and is mentioned in two different books of the Bible.

A moat has been discovered in the City of David. (Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority/Eliyahu Yanai, Eric Marmur and Meir Ganon, City of David)

For decades, scientists have been trying to prove that the City of David was once split in two, and now the moat proves that this was the case.

Archaeologists from the Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University made the discovery of the moat, which is believed to have been formed by the excavation of rock between the City of David and the Temple Mount and Ophel areas.

It's a hugely significant discovery, with the team explaining the findings confirm that the moat was formed in the Iron Age, which corresponds to the time period in which the Book of Kings and the Book of Samuel were written.

In these books, the city is described as being split into two.

Researchers at the Israel Antiquities Association (IAA) explained: "This is a dramatic discovery that opens up a renewed discussion about the terms from the biblical literature that refers to the topography of Jerusalem, such as the Ophel and the Millo."

Meanwhile, Dr Yiftah Shalev, director of the excavation. added: "Such significant construction plants and quarrying in Jerusalem are usually dated to the Middle Bronze Age - about 3,800 years ago (the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE).

"If the moat was dug during this period, then it was intended to protect the city from the north - the only weak point of the City of David slope.

"We are confident that it was used at the time of the First Temple and the Kingdom of Judah (ninth century BCE), so it created a clear buffer between the residential city to the south, and the upper city to the north."

For years, researchers believed the city was split. (Facebook/Israel Antiquities Authority/Eliyahu Yanai, Eric Marmur and Meir Ganon, City of David)

In the first Book of Kings (11:27) there is reference to the separation of the city, as King Solomon 'built up the Millo and closed up the breach of the city of David, his father'.

It is widely believed that the first humans settled in Jerusalem during the Early Bronze Age, which is somewhere around 3500 BC.

"Once again, discoveries are being revealed that shed new and vivid light on the biblical literature," said Eli Escusido, Director of the IAA.

"When you stand at the bottom of this giant excavation, surrounded by enormous hewn walls, it is impossible not to be filled with wonder and appreciation for those ancient people who, about 3,800 years ago, literally moved mountains and hills."