NEW YORK — A historic stone tablet featuring the Ten Commandments was sold for over $5 million at an auction on Wednesday, marking a significant moment in the world of antiquities.

The renowned auction house, Sotheby’s, revealed that the 155-pound (52-kilogram) marble slab was purchased by an anonymous bidder, who intends to donate it to an institution in Israel.

The final bid surpassed the presale estimate of between $1 million and $2 million, following an intense bidding war lasting more than 10 minutes during the competitive auction.

Dating back to between 300 and 800 A.D., the tablet is inscribed with the Ten Commandments in Paleo-Hebrew script and is recognized as the only complete artifact of its kind from ancient times, according to Sotheby’s.

Discovered during railroad construction on Israel’s southern coast in 1913, the tablet initially went unrecognized for its historical value. It continued to be used as a paving stone at a local residence until 1943, when a scholar recognized its true significance and purchased it.

Sotheby’s highlighted that this artifact serves as a tangible connection to ancient beliefs that have significantly influenced global religious and cultural traditions, calling it a rare testament to human history.

The inscribed text on the tablet aligns with the Biblical verses known to both Christian and Jewish faiths, though it notably excludes the third commandment about not taking the Lord’s name in vain. Instead, the slab includes a directive to worship on Mount Gerizim, which holds particular importance to the Samaritan community, according to Sotheby’s.