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First-Ever: First-Temple
Building Remains Found Near Temple Mt.
“The Israel Antiquities Authority announces the first
time in the history of the archaeological research of Jerusalem that building
remains from the First Temple period have been exposed so close to the Temple
Mount – on the eastern slopes of the Upper City.
A rich layer of finds from the latter part of the First
Temple period (8th-6th centuries B.C.E.) has been discovered in archaeological
rescue excavations near the Western Wall plaza.
The dig is being carried out in the northwestern part of the Western
Wall plaza, near the staircase leading up towards the Jaffa Gate.
The Israel Antiquties Authority has been conducting the
excavations for the past two years under the direction of archaeologists
Shlomit Wexler-Bdoulah and Alexander Onn, in cooperation with the Western Wall
Heritage Foundation. The remains of a
magnificent colonnaded street [i.e., lined by columns] from the 2nd century
C.E. were uncovered; the street appears on the mosaic Madaba map, and is
referred to by the name Eastern Cardo. The level of the Eastern Cardo is paved
with large heavy limestone pavers that were set directly atop the layer that
dates to the end of the First Temple period. This Roman road thus “seals”
beneath it the finds from the First Temple period, protecting them from being
plundered in later periods.
The walls of the buildings found in the dig are
preserved to a height of more than two meters.
Ring Seal Found, Inscribed with Owner's Name
Another impressive artifact found in the salvage
excavations is a personal Hebrew seal made of a semi-precious stone that was
apparently inlaid in a ring. The seal is elliptical and measures approximately
1 by 1.4 centimeters. ....”
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