Popular vs. Scientific Interest
Probably the most widespread popular interest in the project will center on the Herodian and ancient Davidic periods, deepest down. These have the chief appeal to Christians and Jews. The Herodian period is the time of Jesus, founder of Christianity; the Davidic period that of the beginnings of monarchial government in ancient Israel.
These, however, are not necessarily the periods of chief scientific and historical interest. Scientific interest centers on learning whatever may be revealed about life as it was lived back through the Turkish and the Arabic periods, the Byzantine, and the Roman, as well as the Herodian and ancient Israelitish eras. As a scientific archaeological excavation, every inch of buried ruins and debris is being carefully dug — nearly altogether by hand — and thoroughly examined for artifacts.
Then, as every particle of scientific evidence is sifted out, it is photographed, labeled and systematically filed. Skilled architects — with knowledge of architectural designs, styles, and plannings during the various periods of the past — then reconstruct by drawings, the buildings and pavements as they formerly existed.
After carefully sifting out all objects of value, the remaining debris is hauled off, truckload after truckload. Thus, layer after layer will be removed, all the way across the area of the project, covering a number of acres.
This exciting and important project is gradually clearing off all the accumulated rubble, over the entire area, all the way down to the exact site of the THRONE OF DAVID! If a coming world Ruler is to govern the world from the very spot of the ancient throne of David, the way is certainly being prepared!
This project would be of tremendous scientific and historical interest, even without that "IF." But to millions of people that "IF" adds an exciting, intriguing, tremendously interesting additional fascination — even an aura of sanctity! Millions will want to follow the progress reports of this project. These reports will appear, from time to time as new finds are brought to light, in The PLAIN TRUTH.
Here, in summary is Professor Mazar's first report.
What Excavators Uncovered
The first season of work uncovered spectacular Herodian courses of stone of the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount. We went down some ten courses of stone along the Herodian wall, and reached a street paved in well-shaped stone slabs. The street was of the time of Herod and Jesus — from the end of the Second Temple period. It led up from the Tyropoeon or Cheese-makers Valley, west of the City of David, to the Hulda Gate in the Temple Mount.
It was an impressive sight: a magnificently constructed wall, hidden until now, built in the monumental Herodian manner. The huge flat-bossed masonry blocks of the Temple Mount were meticulously hewn and laid in straight courses with astounding precision. Some masonry blocks were as long as 30 feet, or more.
The paved street was an interesting walkway built in a series of steps with connecting short, flat areas. Usually there were three steps, then a flat area and then three more steps. The pavement of the street was covered with heaps of decorated architectural fragments and sundry Herodian-style building stones. These stones had crashed down from the Temple Mount above when the Roman Legions under Titus destroyed the Second Temple. The piles of rubble overlying the street contained items of Second Temple times, including many coins. Among them were coins from the time of Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate, King Agrippa I and from the four years of the Great Revolt. There is also a silver coin of Roman Emperor Vespasian, the father of Titus.
In the rubble were quantities of pottery, especially oil lamps, and imported ware from as far away as the Roman Province of Gaul — now France. Also found were decorated stone vessels, glass, etc. A lamp was found decorated with a seven-branch candlestick and the shofar (ram's horn). It was probably left there by Jewish tourists of the fourth century. Two fragments of sundials, which were undoubtedly set into the Southern Wall, were also uncovered.
Our excavation began by baring a long, narrow strip, extending approximately 220 feet along the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount. From the southwest corner of the Temple Mount our excavation continued in an easterly direction, until the proximity of a late structure built on the site of the famous blocked-up Double Gate. This Double Gate — also known as the Western Hulda Gate — was one of the most important gates for access to the Temple enclosure during Second Temple times.
The present excavation, reports Professor Mazar, has succeeded in distinguishing 15 different strata. They represent the entire long time-span from the days of the Roman occupation to Turkish times.
The Bridges that Herod Built
Excavation is also taking place around the corner along the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. This is where Robinson's Arch is located. It is a short projection of stone extending from the Western Wall. But it is known to be the remains of the bridge that once connected the upper city of Jerusalem to the Temple Mount. The bridge crossed over what was called the Cheese makers' Valley. It had six arches. The foundation for the pillar supporting the first arch has been located exactly where the Englishman Warren, a century ago, determined it would be. Stones from this Royal Bridge, as it is called, are being located. It is hoped that parts of this ancient bridge can be reconstructed.
A great deal of progress has been made in clearing away the odd assortment of structures that were built against the Western Wall of the Temple Mount.
This clean-up has uncovered what is known as Barclay's Gate. The gate is located midway between Robinson's Arch and the famous Wailing Wall. (The Herodian Wailing Wall is part of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount) More work is still to be done in restoring Barclay's Gate.
Numerous other Herodian finds came to light at the eastern extremity of the strip we had laid bare along the Southern Wall. There we went down to the cellars below the pavement level of the street. We have found that the Herodian pavement is six meters — nearly 20 feet — above bedrock. The whole wall against which the street is built is Herodian and none of it is of the time of Solomon. The various discoveries include, in particular, a fragment of a stone vessel with the Hebrew word Oorban (sacrifice) incised upon it. It also had the representation of two birds on the side. This immediately brings to mind the passage in the Mishna, Tractate Ma'aser Sheni, chap. 4: "He who finds a vessel upon which is written 'sacrifice' if it is of earthenware, etc. . ." The portrayal of the birds, concludes Professor Mazar, could well refer to the sacrifice of two birds offered by a woman who had given birth (Leviticus 15:29-30).
Uncovered unexpectedly was a stone slab with a Latin inscription. It was part of a dedication by the Governor of Aelia Capitolina (the name of the late Roman fortress on the site of Jerusalem) to the Emperor Septimius Severus, and his son Caracalla Caesar.
Excavation Expands
As the 1968 excavations proceeded, the area of the dig was enlarged considerably. It reached the eastern and western Turkish Walls south of the Temple Mount. At this stage of the excavations, we have gained a much clearer general picture of building operations in the area of the City of David during the early Arabic period.
During the Umayyad period of the Arab or Saracen occupation, a large building was erected near the Temple Mount in the City of David, possibly very near or even over the site of David's palace. It was built during the reign of Caliph Abdul-Walik and his son in the early 8th century. This building, constructed in the typical Umayyad style of palace architecture, apparently served as a mansion for the Governor. It did not stand long, however, apparently having been destroyed in the earthquake of 748. Reconstructions of parts of this mansion, and further building from time to time in this area, carried on down to the time of the Crusades. The area was gradually abandoned and finally became uninhabited, with the blocking up of the Double Gate. During the Turkish period which lasted until 1917, there were, consequently, no buildings at all in the area we uncovered in the City of David.
Future Plans
The excavations in all areas are proceeding rapidly and without interruption. Possibly by the time you read this, excavating will be done beyond the Turkish wall that now forms the eastern limits of our excavation and of the present Old City. This is the Ophel of the old Jebusite City of David.
The aim in 1969 is to investigate remains of every period of "Jerusalem down the generations" systematically, and to probe the most ancient strata. The area of Ophel is of special interest, for periods which have not yet come to light in our excavations. Only time cantell what the future may hold. This is the area of the "Hill of Jerusalem," the site of the City of David, which stretched from Mount Moriah southward.
It may well be, says Professor Mazar, "that, as we dig deeper, we shall encounter remains. of the Royal Citadel of the Davidic Monarchy. Many surprises may be in store for us, as we study Jerusalem's topography and history, in the days of the First and Second Temples."