The Ark of The Covenant Discovery: The Most Important in Our History?

     I’m not what you would call an archaeology buff; quite the opposite, in fact.  The notion of sifting through dirt for Indian dishes?  I’m thinking that would just suck.  Now, if it was anything like Indiana Jones… that might be a different story.  But, as you have no doubt seen by now, to some degree Dr. Daryl Blankenship is living that dream.  Sans Nazis, rolling boulders and booby traps, perhaps, but to make a discovery of this magnitude….

     If it ends up being authentic… which, based on the roll call of noted scientists visiting the site, they are at least contemplating… this could be one of the most, if not the most significant discovery in the history of the field.

     The legends surrounding the Ark of the Covenant are long and storied.  In short, it is supposedly the container in which the tablets containing the original 10 commandments.  It is referred to in both Christian and Muslim texts, and through biblical lineage can be traced through the Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem.

     The Jordanian government finally granted permission to Dr. Blankenship (famous for hi work with Ron Wyatt in the search for the holy relic) to bring in his team of 12 specialists in Febuary of this year after the discovery of a series of catacombs beneath a 4th century monestary atop Mount Nebo.  The excavations have been kept rather secretive to date, but sources say the bill is approaching the $150 million mark, and a number of corporations both stateside and abroad have apparently contributed significant amounts.

     Rumors have ranged from stories of the Holy Grail to King Solomon’s treasure to Babylonian plunder, but interest soon waned to all but the most die hard zealots and conspiracy theorists until yesterday’s sudden and startling press conference. 

     In Dr. Blankenships preprepared statement, (He answered no questions), he stated:

     “As many of you are aware, we have, with the cooperation of the Jordanian government and a multinational team of experts, been taking part in excavations beneath the Besai temple on Mount Nebo.  We have, over the last 9 months, unearthed a significant number of artifacts.  Several have been tested using carbon dating technology, and it appears possible that many of these relics date to biblical times.

     Information will be provided regarding our discoveries as we are able to more thoroughly test them, but one item in particular it was felt was necessary to share with the general public.

     The item in question very closely bears striking similarities to the Ark of the Covenant described in a number of ancient religious texts.  This is one of the pieces that was tested using the carbon technology, and tests revealed the item to be somewhere between 1500 and 3000 years old.

     The religious ramifications are profound, as could the political.  As such, we have moved the artifact to an undisclosed location.  The contents of the Artifact are as yet undetermined.  A new updated press release will be issued in two weeks time.  Thank you.”

     It has the earmarks of a publicity stunt, but as stated, the list of renowned scientists to visit the sit in the last several weeks lends credence to the notion that something of consequence lies beneath the ruins.

     So for now we are left to ponder.  A number of biblical stories could be at least to seem far more plausible if the artifact is in fact the Ark of legend.  And as the Doctor stated, the political and religious political ramifications are impossible to predict.  So we wait, and ponder.  What else might they have in those catacombs?