An archaeological team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered an impression of the Royal Seal of King Hezekiah while conducting excavations at the Southern wall of the Temple Mount in the Ophel Archaeological Park. The item was found in a pile of pottery shards during 2009 and has since undergone extensive research at Hebrew University. The discovery was announced on December 2, 2015. The 3-millimeter thick piece of clay bearing an almost immaculate impression of King Hezekiah's Royal Seal is known as a “bulla,” dates back to approximately 700 B.C.E., and was likely set within a ring. Hebrew text on the bulla reads, “Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah.” An archaeologist working with the seal at the University, Dr. Eilat Mazar, stated that, “This is the first time that a seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king has ever come to light in a scientific archeological excavation.” Dr. Mazar is an active archaeologist and was credited with the discovery of the 2013 Ophel Treasure, unearthed at the same site. The discovery of the Royal Seal was reported in “Ophel Excavations 2009-2013 Final Reports,” published on December 3, 2015.