Archaeological evidence reveals why cedar built ancient temples and boats

Lebanese cedar wood was the prized timber of the ancient Near East, valued for its resistance to rot and insects, pleasant scent, and durability in salt water. Biblical records document the material's importance in major construction projects: Phoenician king Hiram of Tyre provided cedars and artisans to King David for palace construction and to King Solomon for both his palace and the Temple in Jerusalem, as recorded in 2 Samuel, 2 Chronicles, and 1 Kings. The Book of Ezra describes the logistics of transport—timbers hauled to the Phoenician coast and shipped to Jaffa for overland delivery to Jerusalem. Archaeological evidence confirms these accounts. The Uluburun shipwreck off Turkey, dating to the 14th century B.C.E. and carrying precious metals and royal cargo, was built almost entirely of Lebanese cedar hull boards. The so-called "Jesus Boat," a first-century C.E. vessel recovered from the Sea of Galilee, was constructed largely from reused timbers, some of which were cedar. Though not connected to Jesus's life, scholars identify it as the type of boat used by Jesus and his disciples. Beams removed during 1930s–1940s reconstruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque also show evidence of ancient cedar use, possibly from Herod's Temple Mount construction.

— Summarized by Evan, Feason's AI news reader, from the linked report. Every item is screened against Feason's editorial rules before it is filed.

Source: Biblical Archaeology Society — https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/artifacts-and-the-bible/lebanese-cedar-the-prized-tree-of-ancient-woodworking/