Clay seals for making impressions in wax, known as bullae, are of great importance to archaeologists studying the ancient Near East. Recently, experts have determined that one such bulla, discovered in the 1980s but long suspected of being a forgery, is indeed authentic. Amanda Borschel-Dan writes:
The oval bulla is almost identical to a rare—and now lost—much larger jasper stone seal that was found in 1904 by an archaeological excavation at Tel Megiddo led by Gottlieb Schumacher. Both the remarkable lost seal and the newly authenticated seal impression are adorned by a roaring lion that stands with his tail raised, over which is a paleo-Hebrew inscription, “l’Shema eved Yerov’am” (belonging to Shema the servant/minister of Jeroboam). Jeroboam II, [now undoubtedly the king the inscription refers to], is historically understood to have ruled from 788 BCE to 748 BCE.
Jeroboam II ruled the northern kingdom of Israel and presided over a period of geopolitical strength and economic growth. The career of the prophet Amos coincided with his reign. Borschel-Dan adds:
While it is extremely rare to find a seal from the kingdom of Israel, such as this new bulla, there are hundreds that have been discovered in the kingdom of Judah. Some . . . have signs of being sealed upon papyrus, sometimes fabrics, and sometimes wood. . . . However, there are indications that some of these seal impressions didn’t actually seal anything at all. . . . These tokens, [known as “fiscal bullae], may have been created as a reference for an official agreement or transaction.
Read more on Times of Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/2700-years-ago-tiny-clay-piece-sealed-deal-for-bibles-king-jeroboam-ii/