CBNNews.com - JORDAN VALLEY - Just two days before the Passover holiday begins, a team of Israeli archaeologists discovered evidence of the Israelites entry into the land of Canaan after their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness.

Led by Israeli professor of archaeology Adam Zertal of the University of Haifa, the team uncovered what Zertal believes are "the first structures the Israelites built upon entering Canaan…[which] testify to the biblical idea of ownership of the land."

The five large, foot-shaped structures, excavated in the Jordan Valley at what may be the site of Gilgal, the first place the Israelites reached after crossing the Jordan River, date to the early Bronze Age (1200 to 1300 BC).

Prof. Zertal, who is certain the find provides concrete evidence of the biblical accounting in the Book of Joshua, calls archaeologists who question the Bible's reliability "Bible deniers."

One of the professor's best known previous discoveries is a large stone alter, excavated on Mt. Ebal near Nablus (biblical Shechem), which may be the first altar built by the Israelites after entering the land of their inheritance.

Archaeologists believe the potsherds found at the Mt. Ebal excavation were made by the ancient Israelites.

According to Prof. Zertal, the foot-shaped structures signified that the Israelites had conquered their enemies and owned the land.

Source: Haaretz