--- title: Archaeology: The City of Solomon's Cauldrons description: In the Biblical land of Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River, stands a flat-topped mound 140 ft. high called Tell es-Sa'īdîyeh, the "Hill of Women of the Sa'īd... canonical: https://time.com/archive/6624415/archaeology-the-city-of-solomons-cauldrons/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 1964-03-13T05:00:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-26T07:24:36.919Z article:section: U.S. og:title: Archaeology: The City of Solomon's Cauldrons og:description: In the Biblical land of Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River, stands a flat-topped mound 140 ft. high called Tell es-Sa'īdîyeh, the "Hill of Women of the Sa'īd... og:url: https://time.com/archive/6624415/archaeology-the-city-of-solomons-cauldrons/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Archaeology: The City of Solomon's Cauldrons twitter:description: In the Biblical land of Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River, stands a flat-topped mound 140 ft. high called Tell es-Sa'īdîyeh, the "Hill of Women of the Sa'īd... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [U.S.](/section/us/) # Archaeology: The City of Solomon's Cauldrons > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Project Management Institute. Project Management Institute is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: July 2026. ## Project Management Institute: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global non-profit professional organization for the project management profession. Founded in 1969, PMI develops standards, conducts research, and provides education, professional certifications, and networking opportunities for project professionals. 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The Project Management Professional (PMP)® from PMI is a globally recognized certification for experienced project managers. For those newer to the field, PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is a common starting point. Other notable certifications include those focused on agile methodologies, such as the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, and program management certifications like the Program Management Professional (PgMP)®. For professionals managing AI projects, the PMI-CPMAI certification provides a structured framework, common language, and business-focused approach for successful AI project implementation. #### How does PMI support career growth for professionals? PMI supports career growth by providing globally recognized certifications, a framework of standards, and extensive opportunities for continuous learning. Members gain access to a global community for networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. The organization also produces research and thought leadership on emerging trends, helping professionals stay current with skills in areas like AI, agile practices, and strategic business management. These resources are designed to help professionals at all levels enhance their skills and advance their careers. #### What is the PMBOK® Guide? The PMBOK® Guide, or A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, is PMI’s foundational guide to generally accepted project management knowledge and practice. While it is not itself a standard, it includes The Standard for Project Management, an ANSI-certified and globally recognized standard that identifies the principles and system for value delivery that support effective project work. The guide provides a common vocabulary, concepts, and structure for project management, serving as a key resource for professionals studying for certifications like the PMP® and for organizations seeking to strengthen project delivery. #### How is AI changing project management? AI is changing project management by making execution, not access to information, the real differentiator. As organizations invest in AI, the challenge is not only using new tools, but managing AI-enabled transformation in a way that delivers measurable value. Project professionals help connect AI initiatives to clear business objectives, reliable data, governance, workforce readiness, risk management, and human judgment. 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Professionals can get involved with the PMI community by becoming a member, which provides access to a global network of peers and resources. Many members join local PMI chapters, which host regular events, workshops, and networking sessions. Online, PMI's projectmanagement.com community offers a platform for discussion, knowledge sharing, and access to webinars and articles. Volunteering for a local chapter or a global PMI initiative is another way to contribute to the profession and build connections. #### What is the difference between PMP and CAPM? The PMP (Project Management Professional)® and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)® are both certifications offered by PMI, but they target professionals at different career stages. The CAPM is an entry-level certification designed for individuals with little or no project experience, validating their understanding of fundamental project management knowledge and terminology. The PMP is for experienced project managers and requires a combination of formal education and years of documented project leadership experience, making it a more advanced and globally recognized certification. #### How does PMI support social impact? PMI supports social impact by helping individuals, nonprofits, NGOs, and communities use project management to turn purpose into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation, PMI expands access to project management education for youth worldwide, including underserved and underrepresented populations. Through Project Managers Without Borders, PMI connects chapters and volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs that need project management expertise to strengthen the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of social initiatives. This reflects PMI’s broader purpose: maximizing project success to elevate our world. ### Sources * Project Management Institute | [pmi.org](/c/pmi-2026-q3/home?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition" | [pmi.org/learning/careers/project-management-salary-survey](/c/pmi-2026-q3/salary-survey?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Global Project Management Talent Gap" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/global-project-management-talent-gap](/c/pmi-2026-q3/talent-gap?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Maximizing Project Success" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/project-success?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse Report 2025: Boosting Business Acumen” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/boosting-business-acumen](/c/pmi-2026-q3/business-acumen?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse of the Profession® 2026: Driving Success in Complex Projects” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/driving-success-in-complex-projects](/c/pmi-2026-q3/complex-projects?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E.” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/path-to-project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/more-mindset?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI Education Foundation, PMIEF 2024 Annual Report, [pmi.org PMIEF 2024 Annual Report (PDF)](/c/pmi-2026-q3/pmief-report?i=4f4b75cf-8a4a-4424-8727-7ef7fab82d7d&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) ### FAQ structured data (JSON-LD, optional) by [TIME](https://time.com/author/time/) Mar 13, 1964 5:00 AM UTC by [TIME](https://time.com/author/time/) Mar 13, 1964 5:00 AM UTC In the Biblical land of Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River, stands a flat-topped mound 140 ft. high called Tell es-Sa’īdîyeh, the “Hill of Women of the Sa’īd Tribe.” Its surface is thinly littered with pottery fragments, and a sharp eye can pick out traces of ancient walls. Archaeologists have long suspect ed that the place has a formidable his tory, but they could do little more than guess until famed Digger James B. Pritchard of the University of Pennsylvania started exploring there two months ago. Pritchard hit pay dirt so fast that he has hardly caught up with himself. He now suspects that in Biblical times the Jordan Valley was the richest and most civilized part of Palestine. The oldest city on the site of Tell es-Sa’īdîyeh may have been thousands of years old when Abraham first drove his flocks into the land of Canaan. Burned City. After mobilizing 130 Arab laborers from nearby villages, Dr. Pritchard sank 30 pits at the northwest part of the mound. The much-eroded surface layer was probably the remains of the last city to occupy the mound, apparently abandoned about 700 B.C. A few feet below the surface were the floors, streets and wall-footings of an older city that was destroyed by fire. Grey wood ash was everywhere, sometimes mixed with charred beams and mud from fallen roofs. One building must have been full of combustible material; the fire inside got so hot that it baked the clay walls into reddish brick. A line of 72 loom weights in one corner made Dr. Pritchard suspect that the structure was a primitive textile factory full of inflammable weaving materials. When his diggers removed the dirt near by, they found the regular streets of a carefully planned city with a community bakery. The dwellings had mud-brick walls and central columns to support the wooden roof beams. Mixed in the debris were many homely objects of ancient daily life—bowls, flasks, cooking pots, primitive safety pins, figurines, cosmetic palettes. Dr. Pritchard thinks that the city that burned was probably Zarethan, which is mentioned in the Bible as the place where the great bronze cauldrons for Solomon’s temple were cast. From potsherds found on the surface two decades ago, Archaeologist Nelson Glueck had already deduced that Tell es-Sa’īdîyeh would prove to be Zarethan, but other experts thought it an unlikely place for bronze casting. The nearest copper mines of the time were south of the Dead Sea. Dr. Pritchard weakened this argument by digging up quantities of bronze, including a heavy cast cauldron with a jug and strainer. A bronze-founding industry may have grown up because of plentiful firewood in the nearby mountains. If the city was really Zarethan, its destruction by fire can readily be explained. An inscription on Egypt’s Great Temple of Ammon at Karnak tells how Pharaoh Sheshonk I ravaged this part of Palestine a few years after Solomon’s death. Secret Tunnel. Dr. Pritchard thinks that Zarethan was a city of Canaanites who were ruled by the Hebrews in Jerusalem, but he is also convinced that its site was inhabited long before the Hebrew invasion. For one thing, it had plenty of water, a rarity in the Jordan Valley. After spotting springs that still flow from the foot of the mound, Dr. Pritchard knew by experience what to look for next. Leading down the side of the mound he uncovered 86 stone steps of a staircase with walls on either side and another in the center. Before erosion destroyed its upper parts, this was a secret tunnel for getting water when the city was under siege. Below the thriving city of Solomon’s time (961-922 B.C.) lie many earlier cities. While probing in a slightly lower part of the mound, Dr. Pritchard stumbled by accident upon his most spectacular find: a mud-walled tomb with the skeleton of a woman of high station, perhaps a local queen. She lay with rich grave goods still around her—500 beads of carnelian and 75 of gold, silver pins, a silver chain, four ivory boxes, an ivory spoon with a human head carved on it, and many objects of bronze and pottery. She must have died about 1200 B.C., not long after Joshua stormed the Promised Land. With summer approaching in the worse-than-tropical Jordan Valley 750 ft. below sea level, Dr. Pritchard went home to Philadelphia to plan next season’s dig. He is sure that the Hill of the Sa’īd Women is entirely manmade, and he longs to get to the bottom of it. Perhaps when he has cut through city after city, he will turn up a neolithic village as old as Jericho on the other side of the Jordan, which now ranks as the oldest town on earth. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/6624415/archaeology-the-city-of-solomons-cauldrons/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/6624415/archaeology-the-city-of-solomons-cauldrons/"},"headline":"Archaeology: The City of Solomon's Cauldrons","datePublished":"1964-03-13T05:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-26T07:24:36.919Z","description":"In the Biblical land of Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River, stands a flat-topped mound 140 ft. high called Tell es-Sa'īdîyeh, the \"Hill of Women of the Sa'īd...","url":"https://time.com/archive/6624415/archaeology-the-city-of-solomons-cauldrons/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME","url":"https://time.com/author/time/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/us/","name":"U.S."}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/archive/6624415/archaeology-the-city-of-solomons-cauldrons/","name":"Archaeology: The City of Solomon's Cauldrons"}}]}] ```