St. Nilus Church, Mamshit archaeological site, Israel.

The Israeli Antiquities Authority announced a new archeological find showing that the Hill of Jonah near Ashdod may have been occupied during the time of Jonah the prophet.

Massive walls—remains of a fortress—were discovered and dated to eighth and early seventh century BCE, the Jerusalem Post reported.

“There are two possibilities regarding who inhabited the fortress at that time: one possibility is that it was controlled by the Assyrians who were the regional rulers in the Iron Age. Another possibility is that Josiah, king of Judah, occupied the fort at the time, who we know conquered territory from the Assyrians and controlled Ashdod-Yam in the seventh century BCE,” said Sa’ar Ganor, the Ashkelon District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority.