New portions of Western Wall and Roman theatre unveiled in Jerusalem
The Israel Antiquity Authority (IAA) has announced large-scale excavations conducted in the Old City of Jerusalem for the past two years have revealed massive portions of the Western Wall unseen for 1,700 years, as well as an ancient Roman theatre.
A view of the Wilson’s Arch excavation in Jerusalem’s Western Wall Tunnels. Credit: Yaniv Berman/Israel Antiquities Authority
The discoveries were disclosed during a press conference held beneath Wilson’s Arch in the Western Wall Tunnels, with the participation of Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall, IAA Director-General Israel Hasson and others.
“Time after time the amazing archaeological findings allow our generation to actually touch the ancient history of our people and Jewish heritage and its deep connection to Jerusalem,” said Rabinowitz.
The eight stone courses of the Western Wall unveiled Monday had been hidden beneath 26 feet of earth and were perfectly preserved after being excavated. The Roman theatre contains approximately 200 seats and, according to archaeologists, required a “great deal” of investment in its construction.
The discoveries are being presented to the public for the first time during this week’s “New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Environs” conference held in Jerusalem, marking 50 years of archaeological research in Israel’s capital since its reunification.
According to Hasson, the IAA is working to advance a recently approved national project “to unveil ancient Jerusalem.”
The findings from the excavations beneath Wilson’s Arch “enhance the importance of expanding the archaeological excavations in this region,” said Hasson.
JNS.org
Ask Abbas, and what Arafat said—there is no Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
Despite the WAKF ststing in 1929 in their own publication, that the Jewish Temple lay beneath the Dome of the Rock Mosque, now the Wakf denies jewish history, and attempts-unsuccessfully-to dig and destroy jewish artifacts under the ground.
USA and Israel made the right moves in exiting from UNESCO.