Nora Stone

Date created: 700-800 BC
Date found: 1773
Location found at: Southern Sardinia
Notes: This find is of interest to Biblical scholars as the location called "Tarshish" is referred to nine times in the Bible. 1 Kings mentions that King Solomon had a fleet of ships (in association with King Hiram of Tyre) which were called "Ships of Tarshish". In 1 Chronicles Tarshish is mentioned as descending from Javan (thought to be Greece). It is also mentioned in Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Jonah. In the Book of Jonah the prophet seeks to travel to west to Tarshish instead of east to Nineveh. Two locations have been suggested: southern turkey and southern Spain.

The tablet has been translated, as follows:

[a. He fought (?)]
[b. with the Sardinians (?)]
1. at Tarshish
2. and he drove them out.
3. Among the Sardinians
4. he is [now] at peace,
5. (and) his army is at peace:
6. Milkaton son of
7. Shubna (Shebna), general
8. of (king) Pummay.