Ancient Seal Fragment Reveals an Assyrian Demand: "Pay Your Tribute by the First of Av"

A tiny clay fragment inscribed in Akkadian — the first direct archaeological evidence of official communication between the Neo-Assyrian empire and the kingdom of Judah — was uncovered during excavations in Jerusalem's Old City. The inscription bluntly orders the king of Judah to remit his tribute by the first of Av, warning of severe consequences for failure to comply.

Where and when it was found

The Iron Age shard, roughly an inch across and dated to the late 8th–7th centuries B.C.E. (the First Temple Period), was recovered at Davidson Archaeological Park near the Western Wall. The excavation is directed by Ayala Zilberstein of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

What the inscription says and why it matters

The brief Akkadian text — likely a summary seal that accompanied a longer official dispatch — reads in translation:

“Dear king of Judah, send the tribute quickly by the first of Av—and if not, the consequences will be severe.”

Petrographic analysis indicates the clay originated in the Tigris river basin, north of Jerusalem, tying the object materially to Assyria’s heartland rather than local manufacture. That provenance, together with the language and administrative tone, makes this the first tangible piece of correspondence directly connecting the Assyrian court to Judah.

Historical context

Between the 8th and 7th centuries B.C.E., the Neo-Assyrian empire subdued Judah and other Levantine polities, imposing vassal status and regular tribute. Biblical and Assyrian sources describe King Hezekiah’s resistance to Assyrian demands and the campaign of King Sennacherib. Those records say Hezekiah eventually relented and paid a heavy levy — traditionally recorded as 300 silver talents and 30 gold talents — a detail the new find helps to illuminate.

Discovery and scholarly reaction

The seal fragment was identified while sieving excavation rubble by Moriah Cohen, who recalled first mistaking the marks for decoration and then realizing they were cuneiform. “To think I was the first person in 2,700 years to touch it was incredible,” she told The Jerusalem Post.

Assyriologist Peter Zilberg of Bar-Ilan University commented to The Times of Israel that the artifact "connects archaeology, history, and science" and is important for linking the history of the Land of Israel to Biblical and Near Eastern records.

Why this is significant

This small object strengthens the material record for interactions between empires and vassal states in the Iron Age Levant. It provides direct, datable evidence of an administrative exchange — a terse demand for tribute — and enriches our understanding of how imperial power was asserted and communicated in the ancient Near East.

Key facts:

• Artifact: cuneiform seal fragment inscribed in Akkadian
• Provenance: Davidson Archaeological Park, Jerusalem (near Western Wall)
• Date: late 8th–7th centuries B.C.E. (approx. 2,700 years old)
• Message: orders Judah to send tribute by the first of Av, with threats for nonpayment
• Scientific note: clay traced to the Tigris river basin (Assyrian heartland)