The Aramaic Ostracon from Lachish

Abstract

"In the course of my research of Aramaic epigraphical material of Syria- Palestine during the Persian period, I noted the Aramaic ostracon unearthed during the 1932-1938 Wellcome-Marston excavations at the site of Tell ed- Duweir? under the leadership of the late J. L. Starkey. The ostracon was published in 1953 by 0. Tufnell, who described it as "illegible."' Thus, the temptation was strong to pass over the inscription and concentrate on other material with published readings. But after studying the Arad Aramaic material from the Persian period, I noticed several sidarities and undertook a reading of some words and phrases"