2,500-year-old woman's stamp of authority discovered

He added: "The owner of the seal was exceptional compared to other women of the First Temple period: she had legal status which allowed her to conduct business and possess property."

Dr Hagai Misgav of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem said that seals that belonged to women represent a very small proportion of all the seals that have been discovered to date.

"This is because of the generally inferior economic status of women, apart from extraordinary instances such as this."

Describing Elihana as having enjoyed "relatively elevated status, Dr Misgav said: "It seems that Elihana maintained her right to property and financial independence even after her marriage."

The ancient seal was one of two found at the site, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced.

The second seal, found in the same area, belonged to a man called "Sa'aryahu ben Shabenyahu."

Archaeologists believe the building where the seals were located, which is now the Givati car park, served as an administrative centre in biblical times.